Dark.
Cold.
Silent.
I stood still, letting my eyes adjust. The cell was small. Stone walls. Iron bars. No windows.
A prison.
A slow breath left my lips.
"They think this will hold me?"
My wolf stirred.
No.
Good.
Footsteps echoed.
I turned.
The door creaked open.
Not a guard.
Him.
The enemy.
My body tensed instantly.
"Come to watch?" I asked, voice flat.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
"No."
A pause.
"I came to see."
"See what?" I shot back. "If I've broken yet?"
His gaze held mine.
"You haven't."
Not a question.
A statement.
I crossed my arms. "Then you've seen enough."
"Not even close."
Annoying.
Dangerous.
And far too calm.
He moved closer.
I didn't step back.
"I've seen wolves beg after one rejection," he said. "You survived three."
"I didn't survive," I replied. "I refused."
Something flickered in his eyes.
Interest.
"Why?" he asked.
The question caught me off guard.
"Why what?"
"Why refuse power?" he said. "An Alpha. A Beta. Me."
I laughed once. Dry.
"That wasn't power."
I met his gaze.
"That was control."
Silence.
Then
"You're different," he said.
I stiffened.
"Don't start that," I warned.
He ignored me.
"Three bonds don't happen by chance."
"I didn't ask for them."
"No," he said quietly. "But your blood did."
My chest tightened.
"What does that mean?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Typical.
"You felt it," he said instead. "The last bond."
I went still.
Because I had.
Stronger.
Deeper.
Wrong.
"I broke it," I said.
"You delayed it."
My jaw clenched.
"No bond holds without acceptance."
"That's where you're wrong."
His voice dropped.
"That bond… isn't like the others."
Silence stretched.
I hated that my heart reacted.
Hated that a small part of me listened.
"What are you?" I asked quietly.
His lips curved slightly.
"Careful, Diana."
A step closer.
"You're asking dangerous questions."
"Then give me a safe answer."
"You don't have one."
Frustrating.
I looked away briefly, then back at him.
"Why are you here?" I asked. "Really."
This time, he didn't dodge.
"Because they don't understand you."
A pause.
"I might."
I almost laughed.
"You?" I shook my head. "You tried to claim me."
"And you resisted."
Something dark crossed his face.
"I've never seen that before."
Good.
"Get used to it," I said.
Silence again.
Then
"They'll punish you," he said.
"I figured."
"Not lightly."
"I'm not afraid."
"I know."
That made me pause.
His gaze didn't waver.
"That's why you're dangerous."
A beat.
Then he turned slightly, heading for the door.
"You should be worried," he added.
"Why?"
He stopped.
Half-turned.
"Because next time…"
His eyes locked onto mine.
"I won't hold back."
The door opened.
Then shut.
Silence returned.
But it felt different now.
Heavier.
My chest rose slowly.
My wolf stirred again.
Not afraid.
Alert.
Awake.
"Something is wrong," I whispered.
Not with them.
Not with the bonds.
With me.