"Home?" I scoffed, anger flaring inside me. "This isn't my home!" Verity's smile didn't falter as she replied,
"Well, I'm sure you'll come around." With that, she headed into the bathroom.
As I followed Verity into the bathroom, I couldn't help but notice how good everything smelled. The fragrant steam rising from the tub, the familiar scent of my favourite soap... It was all so utterly tempting, and I hated myself for even considering it. But dammit, I was tired of feeling dirty and broken.
"Shower," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Verity nodded and turned on the water, adjusting the temperature to perfection. As the steam filled the small room, I could feel my resolve melting away.
I trailed behind Verity, my mind a chaotic mess as I tried to comprehend how my friend could be so cheerful in these circumstances. What kind of twisted loyalty had she developed to this pack that held me captive? She pointed out various amenities, but her words were just noise to me. My focus was on the internal battle raging within, on the disbelief and betrayal that threatened to consume me.
"Alright, Erica," Verity said, giving me one last smile before exiting the bathroom. "I'll leave you to it." The moment the door clicked shut behind her, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Wide-eyed, tear-streaked, and covered in dirt, I hardly recognised myself. This wasn't the strong, resilient woman who had faced countless adversities head-on. This was a broken shell, worn down by the weight of continuous betrayals.
"Get it together, Erica," I whispered to myself, sighing deeply as I turned towards the shower. Stepping under the warm spray, I couldn't deny the relief it provided. The water cascaded over my battered body, washing away layers of grime and despair. But as much as I wanted to enjoy this small comfort, I couldn't shake the bitter knowledge that it came from Verity, the traitor I once considered a friend. As I lathered my hair with soap, anger bubbled up inside me, mingling with confusion and fear. I couldn't fathom what had driven Verity to side with the Shadow Night pack or why she seemed so determined to make me accept this new reality.
Climbing out of the shower, I couldn't help but feel a small twinge of relief. It had been six days since I'd experienced anything close to luxury, and the sensation of hot water cascading over my body washed away some of the grime of my captivity. My skin tingled with warmth, and for a moment, I allowed myself to pretend that everything was okay. As I brushed my teeth, I caught my reflection in the mirror. The girl staring back at me seemed like a stranger, her hair matted, her eyes rimmed with red from crying. I blinked, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. There would be time for self-pity later. Realising I had no clothes in the bathroom, I peeked into the bedroom and saw it was empty. I darted into the walk-in closet, my eyes scanning the rows of garments Verity had chosen for me. Part of me wanted to reject them outright, a petty act of defiance, but I knew it wouldn't change anything.
"Fine," I muttered, selecting a pair of black leggings and a long t-shirt adorned with flowers and skulls. Running a brush through my damp hair, I managed to untangle it enough to pull it into a ponytail.
The double doors opened just as I reentered the bedroom, revealing Verity with a tray of steaming, delicious-smelling food. My stomach growled loudly, betraying my hunger, and I gritted my teeth in annoyance.
"Here you are, Erica!" Verity said, her voice unnaturally cheerful. She placed the tray on the coffee table, and although I could tell her smile was fake, I couldn't bring myself to care. The aroma of real food was too enticing.
"Thanks," I muttered, more out of habit than genuine gratitude. I didn't want to give Verity the satisfaction of knowing how much I appreciated the meal, but my hunger quickly overrode any lingering resentment. I dug in, savouring each bite and trying not to wolf it down like an animal.
"Everything okay?" Verity asked, her eyes searching my face for any sign of discomfort.
"Sure," I lied, swallowing a mouthful of food. "Just peachy." Verity hesitated for a moment but then nodded, apparently satisfied with my answer.
The moment the beep sounded, my heart began to race. The green light flashed and the double doors swung open, revealing Jasper's imposing figure. He strode into the room with an air of casual confidence, his blue eyes scanning the space before landing on me, sitting on the sofa. I tensed at his gaze and felt the remnants of my meal churn uneasily in my stomach.
"Verity, you can leave now," he said, his voice smooth as silk. She nodded, her eyes betraying a hint of concern as they flickered towards me.
"Yes, Alpha," she replied obediently, then slipped out of the room, leaving me alone with the monster who held me captive.
Jasper wasted no time, sauntering over and seating himself beside me on the sofa. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, and it took every ounce of willpower not to recoil. As he reached out to touch me, I couldn't suppress a low growl of warning. His hand paused mid-air, and a slow grin spread across his face. Amusement dancing in his eyes. He withdrew his hand and leaned back, plastering on a smile that failed to reach those cold, calculating eyes. "It's time we talked about our mating ceremony."
Chapter 21
Jasper
Thedoorslammedshutbehind me, and I leaned against it for a moment, trying to get a grip on my frustration. My father had done it again, tearing me down, reminding me that I wasn't good enough to be an Alpha. That I hadn't found the Key Stone prophecy child, even though the little brat had slipped through his fingers twenty years ago. But I couldn't let my anger show, not after what happened last time. When I'd dared to remind my father of his own failure, he'd turned his wrath on Kieran instead. My Irish beta had been beaten nearly to death by my father's goons. I'd vowed then to be more careful with my words, to protect those I cared about from my father's vicious temper.
"Jasper." Kieran's voice cut through my thoughts, his light brown hair framing his hazel eyes as he approached me. "Are you alright?"
"Fine," I muttered, pushing away from the door and striding past him. "Just... ready to be done with this whole damn prophecy."
"Understandable," Kieran agreed, falling into step beside me. "But at least we're closer now, aren't we? We have Erica."
"Right," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because having her locked up and pissed off is really going to help us unlock her power."
"Give it time, Jasper," Kieran advised. "She's bound to come around, eventually."
"Time isn't something we have a lot of," I snapped. "My father wants results, and I don't think he'll be satisfied until I've claimed Erica and her power for myself." Kieran hesitated, then laid a hand on my shoulder.
"Just remember," he said quietly, "whatever happens, I've got your back."
"Thanks, Kieran," I murmured, touched by his loyalty. As much as I tried to keep him at arm's length, to shield him from my father's cruelty, I knew that Kieran would always stand by me. It was a rare thing, and it meant more to me than I could ever admit.
I was left doubting the plan I had crafted to make Erica confused about her feelings for me in the cells. I thought it would impress my father, and what better way to torment Liam than finding out she betrayed him for me? But my father dismissed the idea as stupid and told me to simply deal with the girl. But as I prepared to step up my torture of the fiery redhead, a revelation struck. Myron, my father's pet sorcerer, informed us that Erica was the Key Stone child. My father confirmed it upon inspecting her eyes, recognising her from when he'd almost captured her years ago. This knowledge shifted everything. My father and Myron became secretive, and my father's expectations grew. He told me that once I mated with Erica, I'd reap the rewards of her prophesied power. Unsure but intrigued, I saw an opportunity to both possess the beautiful redhead and undermine her fated mate, Liam.
