17. ARIA

As I sat in the dimly lit cell, the faint sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor signaled the arrival of another day. The meal served this morning was a tad better than the rest, a small consolation in my captivity.

It was oatmeal in a tin container, bland and unappetizing, but I knew better than to expect anything more.

As usual, I was untied for a brief five minutes to gobble down my food before being securely bound once again. Hunger pains cramped my stomach, and it was as if they didn't want me to forget my predicament.

But I knew what the meal was for. It was not meant to nourish me or provide sustenance; it was meant to keep me alive and prolong my suffering for another day.

From their conversation outside my cell, I heard snippets of their plans. The mention of the boss coming to see me left a cold dread settling in the pit of my stomach. It was then that it hit me — the reason for the slightly improved meal. Their Alpha, Harris Kane, was visiting, and they wanted to present me as a token of their dominance and power.

Despite the fear and uncertainty swirling inside me, I refused to give up. I knew I had to stay strong and keep fighting for my freedom and justice. With every fiber of my being, I vowed to resist their attempts to break me, to defy their control, and to assert my strength.

As I waited for the confrontation with their Alpha, I steeled myself. As the heavy footsteps drew nearer, my heart raced.

The cell door creaked open, and a tall, imposing figure stepped inside. I recognized him as the Alpha of the Black Moon pack, and he was an intimidating sight, tall and muscular, with a sinister air. He was dressed in a black leather jacket, and his piercing gaze fixed upon me with unnerving intensity.

"Well, well, look at what we have here," he drawled, his voice dripping with malice as he surveyed me from head to toe.

"Why are you doing this to your own kind?" I demanded, my voice trembling with anger and indignation.

The Alpha"s lips curled into a cruel smirk as he took a step closer, his presence looming over me like a dark shadow. "I just need this one little thing from you," he replied cryptically, his eyes gleaming with malevolence.

"You will never get me to submit," I spat, my defiance burning bright despite the fear that gripped me.

"You are from a strong line of wolves, but in time, you will beg me to share my bed," he predicted.

"I will never strengthen your line," I retorted.

"Funny, that's what your father said when I told him of my intentions of mating with you," he replied casually as if discussing the weather. "Just before I killed him."

I growled and tried to change despite the pain of the suppressant. I fell to my knees as the rage became too much. All I could do was growl as the tears fell from my eyes.

Harris roared with laughter, the sound reverberating ominously in the cramped space. My chains rattled, and the suddenness of it made him pause.

"Aria, dear, you will be here for a long time. If Ethan shows up, he will be declaring war," he warned, his tone giving me chills as the truth of the statement sank in.

"Am I hearing you correctly? You want to use me as a common breeding animal and you will prevent a war?" I exclaimed, my voice rising with indignation.

The Alpha"s smirk widened as he shrugged. "Don"t put it that way..."

"I won"t do it," I declared, refusing to bow to his demands.

Harris Kane"s anger was palpable, evident in the way his eyes glowed red in the dimly lit room.

"You will do as I say or remain here indefinitely," he growled.

Despite Harris' warning, I refused to back down. Ethan and my pack would not rest until they found me.

"You can"t keep me here forever," I countered, my voice steady despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm me. "My pack doesn"t need to come; I will kill you myself. "

Harris chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowed into slits as he leaned in closer. "Your confidence is commendable, Aria," he said. "But you underestimate the power of the Black Moon pack. We have resources you can"t even begin to imagine."

I squared my shoulders, refusing to show weakness in front of my captor. "I won"t be a pawn in your twisted game," I declared firmly. "You'll regret the day you crossed me."

Harris" expression hardened, his features twisting into a mask of cold fury. "Stubborn to the end, aren"t you?" he spat. "Very well, Aria. But the only regret here will come from you. You"ll soon learn that in this world, there are consequences for crossing the wrong people."

With that frightening warning, Harris turned and stalked out of the room, leaving me alone in the darkness once again. Still, I held onto the idea that Ethan would find me.

From where I was held captive, I strained to listen as Harris Kane issued orders to his men. Their voices echoed faintly through the corridor, but I caught fragments of their conversation.

"Keep a close watch on her," Harris" voice rang out, low and commanding. "I want guards stationed outside her cell at all times. We can"t afford any slip-ups."

His words sent a chill down my spine, confirming my suspicions that escaping from this place would be no easy feat. But I refused to give in.

As Harris continued to bark orders, his men responded with a mix of obedience and apprehension. They knew the stakes were high, and failure was not an option.

"We need to be battle-ready at all times," Harris declared, his tone brooking no argument. "The Grayson pack won"t hesitate to attack if they discover our location. I won"t tolerate mistakes."

His men nodded solemnly, their expressions somber as they braced themselves for the impending confrontation. I could sense the tension in the air, an anticipation of the inevitable clash that loomed.

Harris"s motivations became very clear: He was the wolf that had fought to overthrow my father when I was just a baby.

Would I fall prey to his dangerous hand? How could I escape if my father had not?

As these questions swirled in my mind, I strained to catch any further snippets of conversation, hoping to glean some insight into Harris" plans. But the voices faded into the distance, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the oppressive uncertainty.

During the silence that followed, I found myself grappling with a myriad of emotions. Fear, anger, and frustration churned within me, each vying for dominance as I struggled to make sense of my predicament.

The cold, damp walls of my cell seemed to close in, amplifying the sense of claustrophobia that threatened to overwhelm my senses. I longed for the freedom of the open forest, where the scent of pine trees and the soft rustle of leaves offered solace from the confines of captivity.

But even as dread threatened to devour me, I refused to allow myself to be broken by the cruelty of these barbarians. If I had learned one thing from my time with the Black Moon pack, it was that they were very united and did not allow mistakes.

I resolved to bide my time and wait for the right opportunity to escape. I knew Harris and his men would be vigilant, but I refused to be overpowered into submission, to allow myself to become a pawn in their twisted game of power and control.

As the hours stretched on, I retreated into the recesses of my mind, seeking comfort in memories of happier times. I recalled the warmth of the sun on my fur as I raced through the forest, and the laughter of my packmates echoing in the air. And in the darkness of my captivity, I found a spark of resistance that refused to be extinguished.

I knew that no matter how dire the circumstances, I would not lose sight of who I was —a wolf, strong and resilient, with a spirit that could not be broken. And with that knowledge burning brightly within me, I awaited a new day, ready to fight for my freedom with every ounce of strength I possessed.