Suffocating silence

Leah's POV

The silence was oppressive, broken only by the soft whisper of the wind outside the small, dimly lit room. My heart pounded violently in my chest like a drumbeat that refused to calm down. I had never felt so powerless, so trapped.

My throat was sore from screaming, and my voice had long since failed me. Alpha Keah ignored my pleas, covering my mouth with his hand, silencing my cries. His expression was a mask of cold determination as he loomed over me.

The roughness of his palm pressed against my lips forcing me to taste the saltniess of his skin. Making it difficult for me to breathe properly.The air in the room was thick and suffocating. My body ached, my heart pounding loudly in my ears, drowning out all other sounds. Sweat soaked my clothes and tangled my hair. Every attempt to push him off was futile.

“Stop it!” I shouted, twisting and turning beneath his weight, but he was too strong. His body was tense, his heat unbearable.

“Stop fighting,” he growled, his voice deep and guttural.

I refused.

His hand silenced my cries again, the scent of his skin suffocating. My chest heaved as I struggled for breath. Tears mixed with sweat, burning my skin. I hated him with every fiber of my being. His glowing eyes pinned me down, his breathing uneven as if he were fighting some internal battle.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked.

He didn’t answer, pressing my shoulder down effortlessly. His weight and presence were overwhelming, making me wish I could disappear. My body shook, weak and useless against his strength. My mind raced with panic and growing hopelessness.

When he finally pulled back, it wasn’t out of mercy. It was the sound of approaching footsteps that interrupted him.  I watched him as he rose, his movements swift and precise.  His head snapped toward the door, his face darkening. “Damn it,” he muttered. His weight lifted, and I gasped for air, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

The air burning in my lungs as I struggled to regain control.

Immediately, he started dressing, his broad shoulders heaving. For a brief moment, his eyes flicked to me, something unspoken in their depths. I lay there, frozen, drenched in sweat, my heart racing. I wanted to scream, to curse him, but all I could do was glare at him, my hatred growing stronger.

"Get up," he commanded immediately, his voice a harsh command that left no room for argument.

The knocking grew more insistent, and Alpha Keah shot me a look that made it clear he wasn’t making a request.

“Now,” he snapped, sharper this time.

I flinched, my hands shaking as I obeyed. My mind raced, replaying what had just happened. The knocking grew louder, and Alpha Keah shot me a look that left no room for argument.

“Dress up immediately,” he growled, his voice low but filled with authority.

I struggled with the buttons on my blouse, my hands were shaking so badly that I could barely align the pieces pieces of fabric. My breathing was quick and irregular, and every muscle in my body screamed in protest. I hated him. My anger flowed through me like flames, but fear—sharp and paralyzing—kept me silent.

Behind me, Alpha Keah loomed, his imposing figure casting a dark shadow over the dimly lit room. I could feel his gaze on me, heavy and suffocating, even though I dared not meet his eyes.

As I reached for the bottom of my skirt to adjust it, his voice sliced through the tense silence.

“Listen to me carefully,” he began, his tone low and deliberate, each word filled with threat. “If you dare tell anyone about what just happened, I will lock you up so tightly you’ll beg for freedom you’ll never see again.”

I stood still, my breath catching in my throat. His words were like chains, binding me to his command, forcing me to nod silently in understanding.

“And believe me,” he continued, stepping closer until I could feel his presence just inches behind me, “if you think this was bad, you have no idea the kind of lesson I can teach.”

I bit my lips, refusing to let the tears filling in my eyes fall. Showing weakness to him would only make things worse. With a quick nod, I continued dressing, my hands moving as fast as they could despite the fear flowing through me.

The knock on the door came again, louder this time, accompanied by a voice. “Alpha Keah! It’s me—Beta Marcus. Open the door!”

The sound made me jump, my eyes darting toward the source. The beta? Here? My heart raced, hope mixing with fear. What would he think if he saw me like this? What would Alpha Keah do if I tell the beta about had happened.?

Keah’s hand gripped my shoulder, dragging me back into the presence. “Fix your face,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. “And stay quiet.”

I nodded again, swallowing the lump in my throat as I quickly ran a hand through my hair, trying to compose myself.

The knock at the door persisted, more urgent now. “Alpha! Are you alright? What’s taking you so long?”

Keah cursed under his breath before turning toward the door. He straightened his posture, running a hand through his dark hair and wiping the sweat from his forehead. His breathing was still uneven, and his shirt clung to his damp skin, betraying his agitation.

He slowly unlocked the door, as though each second bought him more time to compose himself. The door creaked open, revealing Beta Marcus on the other side.

Marcus’s sharp eyes quickly landed on Keah, his brows furrowing. “Alpha, are you alright? You look…” His voice faded as his gaze took in Keah’s unkept look —his heavy breathing, the droplets of sweat rolling down from his brow.

“I’m fine,” Keah replied quickly, his tone firm but not convincing.

Marcus stepped closer, his nose twitching slightly as if he were catching a scent in the air. His eyes narrowed. “You don’t seem to be fine, Alpha. What’s going happening here?”

Keah’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of unease cross his face. But it was gone just as quickly as it came, replaced by his usual mask of control.

“It’s nothing,” Keah said, his voice steady now. He gestured toward me, his hand motioning toward my direction. “This is Leah—the human herbalist. I was told she’s the only one who could treat to my wounds properly. She’s here to help me heal.”

I felt my stomach twist at the blatant lie. Every part of me screamed to speak up, to expose him for who he truly was, but his earlier threat echoed in my mind, silencing me before I could even think about it.

Marcus’s gaze shifted to me, his expression unreadable. I tried to look composed, keeping my head slightly bowed and my hands held together in front of me. The last thing I needed was to draw more attention to myself.