Chapter 3

The interior of the fortress was even more sinister than its exterior. Ancient stone walls were lined with torches, their orange flames casting twisted shadows across the surfaces. Our footsteps echoed through the corridors, mingling with low growls emanating from the darkness beyond.

I could feel countless pairs of eyes watching me from the shadows, green lights flickering in the darkness, sending chills down my spine.

"This way." Fenrir's voice reverberated through the empty corridor. He didn't look back at me, just continued walking forward.

We passed door after door, climbing a spiral staircase. The higher we went, the quieter it became, yet the feeling of being watched only intensified.

Finally, we stopped before a heavy wooden door. Fenrir pulled out an ancient key and unlocked it with a sharp click.

"Go in." He stepped aside, his voice devoid of emotion.

I hesitated for a second, then walked through. Behind me came the sound of the door closing, followed by the click of the key turning.

The heavy stone door closed slowly behind me with a dull thud. I stood at the entrance, surveying what he called my "room."

Crystal chandeliers cast warm light, silk curtains, leather sofas, expensive carpets—everything spoke of luxury. But when my gaze fell upon the windows, my heart sank.

Ornate iron bars gripped each window like claws, slicing the moonlight outside into fragments.

"No..." I rushed to the door, frantically pushing and pulling the handle.

Click. The door was locked from the outside.

"Damn it!" I pounded on the door panel, my knuckles quickly reddening. "Let me out! Do you hear me? Fenrir!"

The only response was the sound of footsteps fading down the corridor.

I slumped against the door, surveying this exquisite prison. On the nightstand sat my favorite chocolates, the wardrobe was filled with expensive silk dresses, and on the coffee table lay a novel I had once mentioned.

Every item told the same story—he remembered everything about me.

But that made it all the more terrifying. My hands began to tremble, not from fear, but from rage. How dare he? How dare he use these memories to adorn my cage?

I stood up and swept the chocolates to the floor without hesitation, tearing the silk dresses from their hangers and trampling them underfoot.

"I don't need any of your charity." I spoke to the empty air, my voice echoing in the room, sounding more resolute than I had expected.

Three hours later, the door opened again.

Fenrir appeared in the doorway, carrying a tray of exquisite dinner. His gaze swept over the chaos on the floor, his expression unchanged. His presence made the air in the room feel thin, setting my instincts on edge.

"This is the finest room in the entire fortress." He entered, placing the tray on the coffee table. "You'll get used to it."

I stood with my back to him by the window, not wanting to turn around. That commanding tone made me sick. "I don't need a gilded cage."

"Eat." His voice carried an unquestionable command, that predatory aura pressing down on me until I could barely breathe. "That's an order."

My body trembled instinctively, but my will was stronger than my flesh. I slowly turned around, letting him see the cold fury burning in my eyes. "I don't take orders from you."

We stared at each other, and I could feel the dangerous tension in the air. To my surprise, something complex flickered in Fenrir's eyes, and he stepped closer, actually trying to soften his tone.

"Ella, you don't understand. I'm doing this to protect you." His voice was low, carrying a twisted tenderness that made my skin crawl. "The world out there is too dangerous for you."

What? Protect? I felt my blood boil.

"Protect?" I suddenly exploded, my voice so sharp it startled even me. "You ruined my wedding, threatened my friends, and now you talk about protection?"

I stepped closer, my anger making me ignore the oppressive aura surrounding him: "You just can't stand someone else having something you once saved! This isn't protection, this is possession!"

I saw Fenrir's pupils contract instantly, his eyes flashing with dangerous golden light. That beast-like ferocity should have frightened me, but I was beyond fear now.

"Watch your words, Ella." His voice was low as thunder.

"Or what?" I met his gaze fearlessly. "You'll tear me apart like you do to others? Then do it. Prove you're exactly the beast they say you are!"

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, interrupting the volatile atmosphere. I felt both relief and strangely, disappointment.

"Enter." Fenrir didn't look away, his voice rumbling like thunder.

A gray-eyed man entered with three elders, and I immediately felt their contemptuous gazes. The leading man had sharp jawlines and emanated an uncomfortable arrogance.

"Alpha." The man bowed slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips. "We've come to visit your... guest."

His gaze roamed over me like I was merchandise. The feeling made me sick.

"Though we're curious, are you certain about shaming our entire bloodline for a... human?"

An elder behind him chimed in: "There are so many excellent purebloods in the clan. Why would the Alpha choose to..."

I couldn't stand it anymore. "I'm right here." I interrupted angrily. "No need to talk about me like I'm not here."

The man's smile grew more contemptuous, an expression that made me want to slap him: "Air is actually a fitting comparison. At least air serves some purpose."

The other elders chuckled lowly, sounds more chilling than any beast's howl. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms.

"A human female," another elder shook his head, "without even basic wolf bloodline, how could she bear the Alpha's offspring?"

"She'd probably faint from the Alpha's pheromones during heat," the third elder mocked. "Such a plaything should be discarded when you tire of it, not..."

I felt rage shooting to my head, my vision blurring. Plaything? They saw me as a plaything?

"Enough." Fenrir's voice was like a glacier cracking, and I felt the room's temperature plummet.

But they clearly weren't stopping: "Alpha, we understand your youthful... sentimentality. But now you're the Alpha, you should consider the clan's future. Why don't I arrange some purebloods..."

"Get out." Fenrir's voice had completely changed, carrying a beast-like growl.

The elders exchanged glances, but the man still wanted to say more. Just then, I felt a violent dizziness, my body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

"Wait." Fenrir's voice suddenly changed, carrying a certain panic. "How long has it been since you've eaten?"

I felt his gaze burning into me, but I lifted my chin. Despite my swaying body, my voice remained firm: "Since last night."

"What?!" Fenrir's voice carried panic I'd never heard before. "Are you trying to die?!"

I smiled weakly, but the smile was full of determination: "Better than living in this cage. I'd rather starve than touch anything of yours."

The man sneered from the side: "See, Alpha. A human is just so..."

"Lucas, shut up!" Fenrir's roar shook the entire room, I felt the floor trembling. Golden flames I'd never seen before burned in his eyes. "Get those wastes out of here! Anyone who dares disrespect her again, I'll tear them apart!"

I stared in shock at this scene. He... he was angry for me?

The elders were stunned by this sudden fury. I could see they'd never witnessed the Alpha lose control like this.

"Alpha, you..." The man called Lucas tried to explain.

"I said GET OUT!" Fenrir's voice was now completely a beast's roar, the glassware in the room vibrating slightly.

The elders paled and hurriedly left the room. Lucas turned back at the door, and I saw his eyes filled with malicious light—a look that made me feel inexplicably dangerous.

The door closed again, leaving just the two of us in the room.

Fenrir turned to me. I was leaning against the windowsill, feeling my strength rapidly draining, but I wouldn't let him see my weakness.

"I can force-feed you." He threatened, but I heard the panic in his voice.

I smiled weakly, using all my remaining strength to say: "Then you'd become exactly the beast they say you are."

I slowly slid to the floor, my body no longer able to support me, but my will remained clear: "I once saved an injured little wolf. I thought that kindness would leave a trace in his heart."

I saw Fenrir freeze in place, his expression reminding me of something, but I was too tired to remember what.

"But that little wolf is dead, isn't he?" I closed my eyes, feeling tears welling up. "He died in the blood pool beneath the throne. What stands before me now is just a possessive monster."

In the darkness, I heard an almost inaudible sound of something breaking, like something precious had completely shattered. The sound was so faint, yet it stirred a strange pain in my heart.

When I opened my eyes again, Fenrir had vanished. Only the plate of cold food remained on the table, glowing faintly in the moonlight.

I leaned against the wall, feeling the last of my strength ebbing away. But I knew I had done the right thing. I would rather die than become his caged bird.

But why was there this hollow feeling in my heart? Why did I feel a glimmer of... hope when he angrily defended me?

No, I shook my head. That gentle little wolf was dead. I couldn't be deceived by illusions anymore.