I felt myself slipping backward, my feet losing balance on the stairs. My heart thudded violently in my chest, and in that terrifying moment, all I could think of was the sharp pain that would shoot through my body when I hit the ground.
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the crash.
But instead of the hard slap of pain, I felt fingers wrap tightly around my wrist. My body jerked midair as someone's grip stopped my fall.
I opened my eyes and saw Alexander. His cold, strong hand was locked around my wrist, the muscles in his arm flexing as he pulled me up with effortless strength.
For a brief moment, I let out a shaky sigh of relief. I was about to whisper a quiet thank you when I noticed something that made my stomach twist.
Alexander was smiling but it wasn't a kind smile. It was the type that made your heart stop, dark and cruel, laced with mischief.
And then, he let go.
A scream tore from my throat as I felt myself drop again, but before I could hit the stairs, he caught me again, yanking me roughly toward him.
I crashed into his chest with a soft thud, the sound of his low chuckle rumbling in my ear. My heart was pounding so fast I could barely breathe. Anger and embarrassment boiled inside me, drowning out the fear.
I shoved him with all the strength I could muster, but he only staggered back a step or two. My push didn't even make him lose balance.
He laughed deep, arrogant, and utterly amused.
"Are you out of your mind?!" I snapped, my voice trembling from anger. "Do you think this is funny?!"
"The look on your face," he said between laughs, his eyes gleaming. "It was priceless. You should've seen yourself."
"You almost killed me!" I shouted, my whole body shaking.
"You wouldn't have died, Elena," he said casually, brushing invisible dust off his shirt. "You're a wolf. You'd have healed in minutes. Maybe a few scratches here and there." He smirked. "You're fine."
I was beyond furious now. "You're unbelievable! You could've—"
Before I could finish, Kael came in between us. His expression on his face calm.
"Let's not get physical, okay?" Kael said softly. His voice carried the kind of calm that instantly cooled tempers.
"Tell him to stay away from me," I snapped, glaring at Alexander.
Kael sighed and gently placed a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, Elena. Let's go have breakfast."
I was still fuming as Kael led me downstairs, away from the smug Alpha who had nearly sent me rolling down the stairs. My fists clenched tightly at my sides I wanted to wipe that smirk off his face so badly.
Getting to the dining hall, it was massive, almost as large as our entire pack house back home. The long table could easily seat fifty people, though right now only Kathy was there, waiting for us.
When she heard us approach, she turned in her seat, her eyes widening the moment she saw me.
"Elena! What happened to your face?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Confused, I raised a hand to my cheek. It was hot to the touch. My reflection in the silver tray beside me showed flushed red skin, anger still painted across my face.
"It's nothing," I said quickly, forcing a small smile. "Just a… heated morning."
Kathy still looked doubtful, but she nodded slowly and motioned for me to sit beside her.
The maids began bringing in food...so much food that my jaw nearly dropped. Platters of meat, bread, fruits, and steaming dishes I couldn't even name were placed before us. The aroma filled the entire hall, making my stomach growl despite my earlier anger.
At home, meals were simple, and everyone served themselves. But here, the servants bowed and waited at attention, ready to refill our plates at a word.
A young maid approached me timidly. "What would you like, miss?"
"I can serve myself," I said kindly. "Thank you."
She looked surprised, but she bowed and retreated quietly.
As I began to eat, I couldn't help glancing at the servants again. They moved silently, their faces expressionless, their bodies tense. Something about it unsettled me. Were these… pack members?
Did Alexander turn his own people into servants?
The thought made my stomach twist.
Across the table, Kael was deep in conversation with Kathy, making her laugh with every sentence. I smiled faintly, grateful she was finally smiling again after all the fear and pain we'd been through.
Alexander, however, sat silently at the far end of the table, his expression unreadable. After a while, he stood abruptly and left the room without a word.
I exhaled slowly, relieved he was gone. His presence always made me so angry every time I see him.
After breakfast, Kael offered to show me around the mansion. I eagerly agreed, and Kathy followed since Alexander hadn't finished their tour.
The day passed quicker than I expected. Kael led us through corridors lined with portraits and marble pillars, vast gardens that smelled like lavender and cedar, but every single corridor or room we pas by, I still didn't catch sight of a pack member only the servants and that made me more curious.
Kathy and Kael chatted endlessly, their laughter echoing through the halls. I found myself relaxing around Kael, he was nothing like Alexander. He was calm, thoughtful, and almost too kind for someone who is a vampire.
By evening, I felt better. For the first time since arriving, I felt almost normal... almost at peace.
Dinner that night was a feast. Alexander was absent which made me more than happy and joyous and what more could I asked for, the dishes were divine, each bite better than the last. I tasted everything, laughing at Kathy's teasing when I couldn't stop eating.
When the meal ended, a maid escorted me to my room so I wouldn't get lost again. The corridors all looked the same elegant but confusing.
The moment I stepped inside my room, I threw myself onto the bed with a groan of relief. My stomach was full, my body heavy. The soft sheets felt like clouds.
As I stared up at the ceiling, my mind drifted to my family. Mother… Peter… Father… Were they safe? Did they even know I was still alive?
A pang of worry struck my chest, but I forced myself to breathe. I needed to rest. I needed to stay strong for them.
Eventually, sleep pulled me under.
---
The next morning came earlier than expected. Sunlight spilled through the tall windows, warming my face. I stretched, feeling surprisingly well-rested.
After a quick shower, I dressed in white pants and a pink top and made my way downstairs. This time, I didn't get lost.
Kael was in the living room, lounging on the couch with a controller in his hand, focused intently on a video game. The faint sound effects echoed across the quiet house.
"Good morning," he said with a small grin, his eyes still on the screen.
"Good morning," I replied, sitting beside him. "Playing games this early?"
He chuckled. "It's what I do when Alex and Lucian aren't home."
"Alexander isn't home?" I asked, a bit surprised.
He paused the game and turned to me. "Nope. They've got some business to handle. They'll be gone for a while."
I smiled, my smile wider than ever, "What kind of business?"
Kael hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. "The kind that's… better not talked about."
I raised a brow. "That sounds suspicious."
He laughed softly. "Everything Alexander does sounds suspicious."
Who cares where he goes to, as long as he isn't around to annoy me.
Just as I was about to say something else, a sudden crash echoed from upstairs. It was loud—like something heavy had been thrown against a wall.
We both froze.
The sound came again, followed by a deep, growl that sent a chill crawling up my spine.
Kael's expression changed instantly. His relaxed demeanor vanished, replaced by sharp alertness. The controller slipped from his hand, landing on the floor with a dull clack.
"Elena," he whispered, his voice low. "Stay here."
My heart started to pound again, the same way it had on the stairs the day before. "What's going on?" I asked, standing halfway.
He didn't answer. His fangs flashed briefly as his senses sharpened, his eyes glowing faintly red. He moved toward the staircase like a predator, every step silent and measured.
I swallowed hard, torn between curiosity and fear. Something didn't feel right.
Kael looked up toward the ceiling, his expression tightening. "No," he muttered under his breath. "That's impossible."
Before I could ask what he meant, a cold gust of wind rushed through the living room, flickering the lights. The air suddenly felt different thick, heavy, almost suffocating.
But before I could even ask what was happening, a shadow moved across the top of the stairs—tall, fast, and definitely not human, it was a wolf.
And it was coming straight for Kael.