3. Stay Alive.

~ LAYLA ~

His question hangs in the air between us, waiting to be answered.

“Yes,” I finally speak, my voice barely above a whisper. “You have to believe me. I would never just wander into your pack territory despite knowing how cruel you are to the likes of me.”

“Is that so?” He asks, still giving me the deathly stare.

For a moment, I pray inwardly for him to believe me and stop asking me more questions.

I don't know if I can keep talking any longer with the intense pain I am feeling deep inside my throat.

Unfortunately for me, I watch his teal eyes as they instantly switch to a fierce red, burning into mine. I feel the unleashed power of his alpha aura wrapping around me and pressing down on me, suffocating my mind at the same time.

Dear Selene.

He does not believe me.

I am a rogue. Of course he will never believe whatever comes out of my lips.

I have never felt so small and so dejected in my entire life, but now is not the time for me to drown in my helplessness.

I need to stay alive.

And if achieving that means that I have to do anything to resist telling him the truth no matter what, I will do it.

I close my eyes, trying to use the measly strength I have left to fight back, but his aura is everywhere inside my mind, hunting for the truth like a hungry wolf searching for that spicy bloody meat.

Every instinct in me is fighting to succumb, to bow my head.

To submit.

Yes, I may be weak right now, but my mind is mine. I refuse to allow my mind to be controlled by someone else.

I am in charge of my own mind. And Raelin Michaelson is not my alpha.

I have no alpha.

The only true, ultimate alpha that I will ever acknowledge in my life is my father, even though he is dead now.

I try to focus on memories of my dad, trying to draw more of the strength I need from them. Raelin is still messing with my mind, still trying to grasp control over me.

But I have lived my life so far like some hunted animal. I have survived a lot of dehumanizing tortures just to survive and protect my family, even though I lost them all in the end.

This situation is no different. And I refuse to let it be different this time.

I am strong. I will not submit to anyone.

Not even to Raelin Michaelson.

The silence around us stretches on, thick and heavy. The truth is, I want him to stop torturing me.

But he is so fucking persistent. He is truly merciless. I can't believe he is my mate.

Moments that feel like ages of torment pass between us, and just when I begin contemplating whether to say something to interrupt him from punishing me, his eyes rapidly switch back to their normal teal color, freeing my mind.

And he laughs. He fucking laughs.

What the hell is going on here?

“I like you.” He chuckles, his laughter dying down with one of his fingers lifting up my chin to him. “You must be a strong one, rogue darling, but I can't wait to find out how long you can resist telling me the truth.”

“I am telling you the truth.” I hiss out, the pain deep in my throat becoming unbearable. “Please, I can't keep talking. My …my throat hurts.”

I cough involuntarily, and the instant pain from the action burns through my gullet like hell.

I hate that I sound so pitiful and pathetic, but I am clawing at whatever straws I hope I have left to save myself from becoming dumb forever.

I feel like if I dare so much as whisper just one more word without first tasting even the slightest droplet of water, I am going to damage my throat and never speak forever.

“You're thirsty?” He asks.

I nod, not wanting to speak again.

Intense silence passes between us, no words spoken. He stares at me for a moment, but that moment ends when he turns his back on me.

And then, more silence.

Please, just fucking help me.

Another silence.

The corners of my eyes sting. He is not going to help me. He is truly heartless.

I shut my eyes, now almost at the brink of shedding tears. Ever since the day I lost my family, I have suffered and endured various ranges and kinds of punishments that nearly drove me into madness.

But this one time…. Just this one time that I am begging for a fucking droplet of water, I feel like I am being tormented with the worst weapon I have always feared since I lost my family.

The weapon of neglect. Especially from the one person I always thought that Selene would use to change my fugitive life for the better.

I do not know what hurts more—my burning throat, or my stupid bet of relying on miserable hope.

Seconds later, I hear rushing footsteps outside the dim cell corridor, and I open my eyes.

When I do, I see Raelin looking at me—no, down at my locket necklace.

Why does his eyes keep going there?

I am pulled out of my thoughts when my cell door creaks. Raelin and I both dart our attention to the entrance and instantly see a young girl scuttling into my cell, carrying a full transparent bottle of water.

“Here Uncle Ray. I brought the—”

“Shit! What are you doing down here?!” Raelin asks sharply, his eyes growing wide in shock.

Mine widens in surprise and curiosity too.

“No curse words Uncle Ray. Mum doesn't know I'm here.” The girl's voice is chirpy and very fast. “Please don't tell her. I don't want Nora getting in trouble because of me. I just wanted to see—”

“It’s alright, Cupcake.” Raelin cuts her off, his intimidating physique squatting down before the little girl.

Gently, he tries collecting the water from her, but she holds back, her small hands squeezing around the bottle.