3. Stay Alive.

~ LAYLA ~

His question hangs between us.

“Yes,” I finally answer. “You have to believe me. I would never just wander into your pack territory, especially knowing how cruel you are to rogues like me.”

“Is that so?” His eyes narrow and he tilts his head slightly.

The way he looks at me sends chills shivering down my spine.

“Yes."

My eyes silently beg him to believe me. I also beg Selene for a miracle. I can’t take more of this. I am already in so much pain, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep talking.

But my prayer turns out to be a foolish one. Instead of backing off, the Midnight Alpha growls, and his eyes suddenly change from teal to a glowing red.

And then, I gasp painfully when his Alpha aura slams into me like a punch to the chest.

I can’t breathe. I can’t think. It wraps around me a vine of thorns, pressing down on my mind and pushing to crush me from the inside out.

He doesn’t believe me.

Of course he doesn’t. I’m a rogue. Why would he?

Nothing I say will ever matter. But I can’t give up.

I have to survive, even if that means staying quiet about the truth until I can find an escape, no matter how much he tries to break me.

Closing my eyes, I try to resist his aura from tormenting me. But I feel it everywhere. It’s inside my head, hunting and searching for my weaknesses through my thoughts like a wild beast.

My body wants to give in. To bow down. To surrender.

But I won’t.

My body may be weak now, my voice nearly gone, but my mind is still my own. Raelin Michaelson is not my Alpha.

I have no Alpha.

The only one who ever earned that title in my life was my father.

He is my real and only Alpha. And even though he is gone now, he still holds that sacred title in my heart. I will never let anyone take that place. Not even this man.

I think about my dad. About his strength. His laugh. His love.

And I hold onto all that.

Raelin Michaelson is still digging and pushing into every corner of my mind, seeking control over me. But I’ve been through worse. I’ve lived my life hunted, scarred, and shattered. I’ve fought to survive every day. I’ve been tortured and used and broken. I’ve lost everything; my family, my home, my peace.

But I survived. I am still alive. And I am going to stay alive.

This? This is just another battlefield.

And I won’t lose. Not this time..I won’t break. Not for him. Not for anyone. Especially not for the mate that I have been cruelly bound to.

The silence between us feels endless. I want him to stop punishing me. I want him to leave me alone.

But he doesn’t.

He keeps pushing.

And just when I think I’m going to faint from all the endless pain, his aura suddenly pulls away, and his eyes change back to teal green.

I suck in a shaky breath, staggering under the sudden release.

And then... he laughs. He actually laughs.

What the hell?

“I like you,” he says, smirking as he lifts my chin with his finger. “You’re strong, rogue darling. But I wonder how long you can hold out before you break and tell me the truth.”

“I am telling you the truth,” I rasp weakly through gritted teeth. My throat burns. “Please… I can’t keep talking. My throat… it hurts.”

I hate that I sound pathetic. But I need help. I need water before this agony turns me permanently dumb. If I try to speak again without water, I’m afraid I’ll never be able to talk again.

I cough, and pain shoots through me like fire. It hurts so bad I want to cry, but I can’t show more weaknesses.

“You’re thirsty?” he asks.

I nod weakly. I don’t want to open my mouth again.

He stares at me for a long moment. And then, he turns his back on me, saying nothing.

Silence falls again.

"Please… help me."

Still nothing.

Hot tears sting my eyes.

He is not going to help me.

He is really going to leave me like this.

He is truly heartless.

I close my eyes, trying to hold back the tears. Since the day I lost my family, I’ve gone through nothing but pain after pain. I’ve been punished in every way possible.

But this?

This feels worse. So little, but so much worse.

All I want is a sip of water. Just one.

But he is using that to hurt me now. To torture me.

Somehow, I had suddenly hoped deep down that he might be different. That maybe, as my mate, he kept me alive because I meant something to him than just a rogue.

Now, I don’t know what hurts more; my throat, or my broken flimsy hope.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps outside the cell.

Fast ones.

My eyes open, and I find Raelin still here, but his back is no longer turned on me.

Instead, he is now staring at my locket with curiosity.

Why does he keep staring at it? Does he think it is some kind of weapon?

Before I can figure out anything, the cell door opens.

Both of us turn at the sound.

A little girl rushes in, holding a clear water bottle tightly in her arms.

“Here Uncle Ray, I brought the—”

“Shit!" Raelin shouts, his whole body tensing up. "What are you doing down here?!”

The girl’s eyes go wide, but she doesn't flinch at his loud voice.

“No curse words, Uncle Ray,” she scolds him like it’s the most normal thing in the world. “Mum doesn’t know I’m here.”

Who is this?

“Please don’t tell my mom." Her voice is fast and bubbly. “I don’t want Nora getting in trouble because of me. I just wanted to see—”

“It’s alright, Cupcake,” Raelin cuts in, his voice suddenly calm.

He crouches down in front of her, looking almost… gentle. He reaches out to take the bottle.

But she pulls it back, holding the water firmly in her tiny hands like her life depends on it.