A fragile, pale-looking lady hung in the air, bound by heavy chains. A long, sheer gown clung to her curves like mist, its delicate fabric leaving little to the imagination beneath the moon's cold reflection. Every corner of her form was visible, from the gentle slope of her waist to the peaks of her breasts, barely concealed by the see-through fabric.
A low groan escaped her lips as her eyelids fluttered open, her vision adjusting to the dimness before widening in alarm. She gasped for breath, her gaze darting around, taking in her surroundings. She was in a room, dark and foreboding, the only illumination granted by the moon.
Suddenly a voice spoke, "So, you have awoken?" Slithering down her spine like ice water. Never before had mere words unsettled her so, but this one did. It was laced with menace, whispering of danger…of death.
As she shifted, pain lashed through her body, sharp and stinging. She winced, squeezing her eyes shut against the agony, only to realize her situation. She was bound, barely clothed, and trapped.
How did this happen?
She had been on her way to her husband's house and…oh, no. He had betrayed her!
"Who are you?" She demanded, forcing herself to swallow her fear, to summon courage despite the quiver in her voice. She strained to see the source of the voice, but the oppressive darkness yielded nothing. Frustration flared within her.
"Humans…" The word dripped with disdain and disgust. "Always asking unnecessary questions." His hatred was palpable, seething. One wrong word, and he would not hesitate to end her.
"Whip her."
She barely had time to react before the order was given. The lash struck her back, sharp and searing. A cry of agony tore from her throat as the pain ignited her nerves like fire.
Lilith bit her tongue, her body jerking with each cruel strike. She could barely comprehend what was happening, and already, she was being tortured. She should have never trusted that bastard. She had always suspected he was too good to be true, yet she had allowed herself to drown in pleasure and lies.
Just when she teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, the air shifted. The stillness was deafening. The whipping ceased.
Panting, she lifted her head toward the voice once more. And this time, she saw them…two pairs of golden eyes gleaming in the darkness. Her breath hitched, her brows knitting together in confusion. Only one Lycan in the entire pack was rumored to bear such a distinctive gaze.
"You… You are Alpha Lycan Zayd?" She whispered, though it came out as more of a question.
A slow, predatory smile curled his lips. "Good. You are catching on quickly." His deep, husky voice rumbled through the space, sending a shudder through her battered body.
Lilith's mouth parted, her heart hammering wildly. Disbelief clawed at her. How had she ended up here, in chains, in the domain of the most feared Alpha Lycan of their pack? The rumors about him were not just terrifying; they were monstrous.
He was rumored to have lived for over a century yet remained youthful. His hatred for humans was well known. Lycans hated humans. Lilith walked amongst them, adopted by Lycan, but she had never been acknowledged.
She had nobody. Nobody until she met her husband and dreamt of leaving the Purple Phoenix pack for good. But now she was in chains. She was a fool to trust a Lycan. But that didn't matter now.
Now all she could think of was escaping. But with the most dangerous known Lycan in front of her, she wasn't confident. She didn't even have a plan.
"Now, tell me, slave," he said, rising to his feet. His next words sent a chill through her bones. "Do you know what that means?"
Slave?
"Slave? You got the wrong person. I…"
"Whip her!"
The command came swift and merciless, and Lilith tensed in horror. Why? Why was he doing this to her?
"I…" She barely managed to speak before another lash struck her back, searing through her flesh. A cry tore from her throat as she coughed up blood.
"What is your duty as my slave?" He demanded, his patience thinning.
"I am not your slave!" She spat, defiance burning through her pain.
His voice turned cold. "Yet you are naked, chained, and only alive because of me."
Silence fell over the room, heavy and oppressive.
Zayd roughly cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"What is your duty, slave?" He asked once more, his voice cold and stern.
His nails dug into her skin, drawing blood.
"You monster!" She spat.
Her defiance earned her another strike of the whip. It continued relentlessly for what felt like an eternity.
Days passed.
The whipping continued, lasting for thirty minutes each day but Alpha Zayd never returned. Lilith noticed something. Though the whipping was brutal, it was never strong enough to kill her. It was all wielded with restraint.
If he despised humans so much, why hadn't he killed her? Why was he so determined to make her his slave? To bend her to his will?
"I…I want to see Alpha Zayd," she demanded.
And as if summoned by her words, she felt him before she saw him. His presence filled the room, lurking in the shadows, but those golden eyes, glowing like molten fire, gave him away.
"Tell me one thing," she said, steadying herself. "How did I end up here?"
"Slaves do not have the right to ask questions," he replied. "And here I thought you were ready to bow and submit."
Then, she understood. That was what he had meant all along.
"Like I said, I am not a slave. You maniac!"
The moment the words left her lips, she regretted them.
"Kill her. She is of no use."
But instead of despair, something unexpected flared within her…hope.
"I will be your slave," she whispered, forcing the words out. "And I will offer my body only to you, Alpha Zayd."
He stilled. His golden gaze flickered toward her, considering.
"Take her to my bed," he ordered. Then, just as swiftly as he had appeared, he was gone.
A shuddering breath left Lilith as relief flooded her. She had survived, for now. This was only the first step. Once she was out of here, she would find a way to escape. First, she would find her husband and make him suffer. Then, her foster parents and they would all pay, ten times over, for what she had endured.