As Lila sat on the edge of the luxurious bed in the spacious, antiseptic room that had been designated for her, her heart was pounding. The chamber was filled with a nervous silence as the heavy drapes were pulled, shutting out the world outside the thick walls. The mansion itself seemed to be waiting for something to occur.
The weight of her predicament was getting difficult to ignore, but she had no idea how long she had been there or how many days had gone by since Alexander had taken her inside. She was stuck. Captured.
She glanced about the room, searching for a way out, but she couldn't find one. An intricate chandelier hanging from the ceiling, exquisite furniture, and a huge canopy bed. Although the chamber was opulent, it could have passed for a prison. She had the impression that the walls were getting closer to her every second. Unless she created one for herself, there was no way out.
Lila forced herself to her feet, her fingers tightening on the edge of the wooden frame of the bed. She needed to leave. She didn't know where she was going, but she knew she couldn't remain here, controlled by someone who talked about fate and curses as if they were unavoidable facts.
However, how? How was she going to get out of here? The guards who had been tasked with keeping a check on her were always standing right outside her door, their ears and eyes keenly listening to every noise. Passing them unseen would be impossible.
Nevertheless, there was no option to remain here and live in a pack of werewolves' mansions. Although she was unsure of the implications of this curse for her future, she was certain that she would not simply accept it.
There must have been another route.
Her thoughts were racing, trying to find an answer.
At that moment, she recalled something. The pack was going on a hunting excursion that night, according to one of the guards who had escorted her the day before. Earlier, they had all been in the big courtyard, conversing quietly. The sound of something...celebratory, the clinking of glasses, and laughter had all been heard.
Tonight would have to be the day she made her getaway. When everyone was preoccupied.
As Lila considered the dangers, her breath froze in her throat. She couldn't wait to be connected to someone—to this curse—even if she didn't know where she was going. This was not how she belonged in this world. She refused to die merely because an old curse said so.
Her mind was already formulating the strategy as she paced the room back and forth. She might be able to escape into the woods if she could find the route to the mansion's back exit. She might then travel to the neighboring town.
Her chest pounded with her heart. She needed to hurry. The bond between her and Alexander seemed to deepen the longer she stayed here. More than anything else, it frightened her because she could feel it, like an unseen thread drawing her to him. She wasn't his, even though he had referred to her as his fated mate. She was unable to be.
She became more determined. She needed to get away. This evening.
Lila crept out of her chamber, being careful not to make a sound, and found the mansion strangely still. To blend in as much as possible, she had changed into a basic, dark-colored ensemble. She looked around the hall for any movement, and when she was positive it was deserted, she slipped toward the stairs.
In the days since her arrival, she had committed the mansion's layout to memory. She had seen the patrols, observed the guards, and figured out the routines. It was only a short walk down a service stairway and a few more corridors to the rear exit. She was capable. She was forced to.
The only sign that the pack was preoccupied was the faint sounds of laughter coming from the courtyard. The Alpha—Alexander—was nowhere to be seen, and the festivities were in full flow. This was her opportunity.
She walked stealthily, her footsteps soft on the shiny flooring, her breathing steady. She stopped in front of the service door when she got to the back of the estate. The door was slightly open, just enough to give her a hopeful jolt. Holding her breath, she pushed it open slowly and stepped out into the chilly night air.
The smell of dirt and pine assaulted her senses, making her heart race. In front of her, the woods were dark and unending. She might succeed. She could—
"Are you going somewhere?"
The heart stopped in Lila.
Alexander was standing in the doorway, his figure outlined by the dim light from within the mansion, as she turned around. His golden eyes shone with a mix of amusement and something sinister, and his presence was as dominant as ever.
"Alexander," she exhaled, taking an instinctual step back as her thoughts raced. How had he discovered her so fast? Had he been observing her all along?
"Did you think it would be so easy for you to get out?" Even though he spoke in a calm tone, there was a hint of something he knew that she didn't. Although he didn't approach her, his eyes were fixed on her.
Lila's thoughts were racing. She needed to think quickly. There was the door. If she were able to flee, she could—
However, the atmosphere appeared to shift as soon as she stepped back. Before she could react, Alexander was in front of her as it became heavier and more charged. With unexpected strength, his fingers closed around her wrist and drew her gently but forcefully to him.
Letting go of me! she yelled as she fought him. "I refuse to remain here!"
"You're not going anywhere," he stated plainly in a quiet, authoritative voice. Her blood ran cold because of the finality in his voice, even though he didn't raise it. "You can't."
Lila stopped resisting, but her chest heaved with frustration. She fixed her gaze on his, searching for any trace of the man she had met a few days earlier, the one who had appeared so aloof and in charge. He seemed like a different person today, though. His expression was hard and his eyes were chilly.
Her voice trembled with a mixture of dread and rage as she continued, "You don't understand." "I can't remain here. I am unable to be your mate. I have no idea what that implies, but I refuse to die as a result of some curse in which I had no involvement.
Alexander took a while to reply. As if arguing about something, his hold on her wrist became a little tighter. Something flickered across his features, something that might have been pain or regret, and for a moment his face softened, just a little.
"You believe I am unaware of the danger?" His voice was hardly more than a whisper as he whispered. "Neither do I want this. However, we have no other option. Lila, I'll keep you safe. I promise I will.
With her heart thumping in her chest, Lila gazed up at him. She didn't want to accept his story. She was unable to.
However, there was something in his voice that caused her to pause when he spoke again—something that nearly convinced her to trust him.
"You must trust me for me to protect you."
Her heart pounded. Would she be able to trust him? Was there anyone in this world she could trust? There was no denying their bond, but it was also risky—even fatal.
She muttered, more to herself than to him, "I'll never stop trying to escape."
His eyes remained fixed on hers even as his hold relaxed slightly, allowing her to sense their separation.
Then, he replied quietly, "We'll see who wins."