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A trap

CAGED TO THE MOON KING

CHAPTER 4

Heaven.

The chill that crept up my spine was a testament to the gravity in Sebastian's voice. The conviction behind his words left no room for doubt; he meant every syllable. I'd witnessed his lethal grace firsthand, the way he dispatched the rogues with a blind man's sight. He was no ordinary prince, no mere Alpha. His aura was a tangible force, commanding and powerful, even as he sat in silence.

I caught myself staring at him, at the bruise marring the side of his otherwise flawless, pale complexion. His lips were a tight line, a clear sign of his annoyance or perhaps his focus. But his eyes—those were the masterpiece on his visage. They shone like moonlight, their pupils like jewels forged in flame, a stunning contrast to the severity etched on the rest of his face.

"Stop it," he snapped suddenly.

Confusion furrowed my brow. He couldn't possibly have seen me staring, could he? "Huh?"

"Quit stepping on me!" His irritation was evident, and I glanced down to find my foot carelessly placed atop his. No wonder I'd felt as if I were floating, walking on air.

"Sorry," I mumbled, genuinely contrite as I refocused on him, trying to ignore the strange flutter in my chest.

"I knew you would say that. You're not just weak, but clumsy too."

The words stung, and I retorted before I could stop myself, "You're not just blind but insulting!" His scoff was a clear dismissal, and when his men moved to intervene, I fought against their touch.

"Don't touch her ever again unless I command it," Sebastian ordered, and they retreated with apologies. "I'll personally punish her if I lose my temper."

"Oh, as if you could see me to do it. I might be powerless, but I'm a fast runner," I shot back, my words a mix of defiance and jest. He sighed, and I sensed a reluctant admission of defeat.

Why on earth was a prince walking, anyway? Where was his horse, his carriage, his entourage? The rogue prince had halted his men's aggression, and the townspeople had shown him a peculiar mix of respect and fear. It all made no sense, and my curiosity was a gnawing ache in my chest.

"Where is your pack?" I blurted out, unable to contain my questions any longer, though I expected no answer. And true to form, he ignored me, so I continued my barrage of inquiries.

"Why would your pack let a prince like you travel without any means of transportation? Is this how they treat royalty where you're from?"

I felt him tense, but his stride never wavered, his grip on my wrist unyielding.

"Do you even know those men who attacked us? What were they? They looked...inhuman, with those terrifying teeth and scars."

"Tch! You're a boring prince," I declared, unable to stop the flow of my thoughts. It was absurd how he could slap me one moment and act as if it never happened the next.

"Would your pack even accept someone like me? Why bother with me when there are powerful Alphas and wolves to take as your Luna?" My voice cracked, betraying the emotions I fought to keep at bay.

I didn't want to endure the same treatment I'd faced in my own pack. "Please, just... tell your people not to be harsh with me. I've had enough of that for a lifetime," I murmured, more to myself than to him. Tears betrayed me, sliding down my cheeks, and I hastily wiped them away, angry at myself for showing weakness.

I was a slave and a punching bag in Athens, I've seen fire,hell,and brimstone and I'm still wondering how I survived their cruelty.

Athens were filled with powerful but ruthless Wolves.

I cringed at the thought of going back in the first place, I would rather die now with this prince than going to meet flocks of Herod and Jezebels.

Sebastian's POV:

I heard her sniffle, and a tiny sigh escaped my lips. I was intrigued by the being before me as she mumbled to herself, asking questions she knew I wouldn't answer. A sweet sensation flowed through me when she called me beautiful. I wanted to deny that I liked the compliment, but her voice echoed in my ears, calling me that again.

She became quiet suddenly after mentioning her pack. I didn't understand why, but I felt a sudden urge to obliterate that place for treating her like trash. I didn't know what she'd been through, but this feisty princess of mine was not one to break easily.

I sensed we were approaching the Moon Pack territory and I quickened my pace. We would be there before the moon rose.

"I'm hungry," Heaven blurted out suddenly, but I ignored her.

Her stomach rumbled, and she tried to wriggle free from my grip.

"I'm going to faint... Prince," she said, her voice dizzy, and I sighed, biting my upper lip and wondering why this princess had to interrupt our journey.

There was nowhere to get food around here.

"Salvador," I called out to one of my men, who promptly appeared.

"Is there any grass around?" I asked, and Salvador looked at me, confused.

"Yes, Prince."

"Good. She's hungry. Cut as much as you can and give it to her to eat," I instructed nonchalantly, and Heaven gasped, glaring at me while my men suppressed muffled laughter.

"Sure, My Prince," Salvador bowed and moved to fulfill the order, but Heaven grabbed him.

"What are you trying to do, huh? D-d-don't do it. Don't mind your prince," she stammered.

"I'm obliged to obey him, my princess," Salvador replied, and began to clear a path in the woods to fetch fresh green grass, while Heaven snorted angrily.

"I asked for food, not grass. Do I look like an animal to you?" she yelled, still trying to pull away from my grip.

"Yes, you are. A stubborn goat and a parrot," I retorted, and she gritted her teeth, wanting to yell but only managed to groan.

"You shouldn't call your princess that!"

"I can call her whatever she resembles."

"You're such a wicked, blind Prince!" she exclaimed, her frustration boiling over.

"Can you believe it?" she screamed, cursing.

"You don't only hit women; you also feed them grass and flaunt your stupid pride."

"I discipline stubborn women and dispose of the useless ones. I have plenty locked up in cages in my kingdom. There's much more for you to learn about your prince," I said, my voice a mix of ice and fire.

"You will not be my Prince!" she declared with finality.

"Are we really having this discussion again? I could personally deliver you to those Rogues; I'm sure they'd relish tearing your weak flesh apart."

"I hate you," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. I could only imagine the look of defeat she wore.

"I know. Now be silent, or I'll force that silence upon you with a mouthful of grass," I threatened.

She hissed but continued to walk in silence, likely wondering when this relentless journey would come to an end.

After enduring another hour, she abruptly sat down beside a large, shady tree.

"Fine... bring the grass. I'll eat it. I can't go on," Heaven murmured, her voice weak with resignation.

I snapped my fingers, signaling my defeat, and Salvador produced a bag.

I heard him rummaging inside before he brought out grapes, strawberries, oranges, cabbages, and an assortment of wild fruits. Heaven's eyes widened in surprise.

I can't believe I'm letting her have my fruits.

She accepted the bounty and quietly thanked us before indulging in the feast.

"I can't believe you call this 'grass,'" she said, clearly expecting a reaction, but I was too preoccupied, staring into the distance.

She ate her fill and offered the rest to the men, who made to discard the leftovers.

"Don't!" Sanctify protested.

"At least offer it to the prince. He hasn't eaten since he came for me."

"Our prince doesn't consume leftovers," one of them retorted.

"So you'll discard the plate as well?" she asked. They nodded, and I sensed her approach me with the offer, but I remained detached, as if in another realm.

"Please, don't waste it. I might eat it later," she insisted, but they paid her no heed, and she exhaled in resignation.

"Fine. I'll leave it for the animals. At least the monkeys will eat. Let me dispose of it myself," she pleaded. They looked to me for approval, which I didn't give, yet they relented, watching her skip away to leave the food on a path well-trodden by animals.

Seconds later, her agonized scream pierced the air, prompting everyone to rush to her aid.

They found her with her leg caught in a massive animal trap, the metal biting into her flesh, pinning her leg in a vice-like grip. She sobbed in pain, struggling to free herself.

My men attempted to pry the trap open, but it was unyielding to their efforts. We feared her bone would snap under the pressure.

My eyes shifted, anger and realization dawning on me.

"Why did you let her wander off?" I bellowed, and Salvador collapsed to the ground, weeping.

"I'm sorry, my prince. She... Oh no! Just kill me, Prince. I deserve death," he lamented.

Heaven, even in her agony, begged me not to act in haste. She admitted her fault, having forgotten the dangers that lurked off the beaten path.

She wished desperately for the trap to release her, to spare Salvador from blame.

Enraged by my men's negligence, I drew my sword, ready to intervene. But in that instant, the trap snapped open of its own accord, shattering into pieces and leaving everyone in a state of shock and awe.

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