Matilda Anderson's pov
That night, I forced myself to sleep, trying to push away the lingering fear from how Marco had forced me to eat. My body was exhausted, but my mind refused to quiet. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his cold, commanding stare, the undeniable authority in his voice. Sleep came eventually, but it was restless.
The next morning, Ana entered my room with fresh clothes and warm water for a bath. She placed a tray of food on the table, her usual gentle smile in place.
"You should eat," she said softly, but I hesitated.
A part of me wanted to refuse. After all, I hadn't chosen to be here,I had been taken. But then Ana's expression turned wary. "The Alpha will be angry if you don't," she warned.
Fear gripped me instantly. I swallowed hard, then muttered, "Only if you eat with me."
Ana looked surprised but eventually nodded. We ate together, though I barely tasted the food.
Later that evening, I found myself waiting for Ana again, hoping she would keep me company. But she never came. The silence in the room was suffocating, pressing against me like an invisible weight.
I couldn't take it anymore.
Slowly, I walked to the door, half-expecting it to be locked. But to my surprise, it wasn't. Even more shocking there were no guards. My heart pounded as I stepped into the dimly lit hallway, my bare feet barely making a sound against the cold stone floor.
I didn't know where I was going, only that I needed to move.
After wandering through the halls, I finally found a door that smelled of fresh bread and spices. The kitchen.When I entered, I saw a slender woman with soft brown hair tied back in a loose braid. She turned at the sound of my footsteps, her sharp yet kind eyes meeting mine."You must be the new girl," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "I'm Elera."
Something about her felt… safe. Safer than anything I had felt since arriving here. Without thinking, the words spilled from my lips.
"I was kidnapped," I whispered, my voice trembling.Elera stilled. Her brows furrowed, and a flicker of anger crossed her face, quickly followed by something softer sadness.
For the first time since I arrived, I felt like someone truly saw me.
Elera stared at me for a long moment, her hands tightening around the cloth she had been using. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but then she glanced toward the door, as if checking for anyone nearby.
I swallowed hard. "I don't belong here," I whispered. "I was taken."
Elera exhaled slowly, her gaze filled with something I couldn't quite place pity, frustration, maybe even helplessness.
"I figured as much," she muttered, setting the cloth down. "Marco Draven isn't the type to ask for things. He takes."Her words sent a chill down my spine. She knew what he was like.
I clutched the edge of the wooden counter, my fingers digging into the surface. "Then help me," I pleaded, my voice barely above a breath. "Please. I need to get out of here."
Elera's eyes flickered with conflict. She opened her mouth, then shut it again, shaking her head. "I wish I could, but " She hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Marco's kingdom is surrounded by his warriors. No one gets in or out without his command."
My stomach dropped. I had expected it to be difficult, but hearing it confirmed made my escape feel even more impossible.
"But there has to be a way," I insisted, my voice desperate now. "I can't stay here. I won't."Elera sighed, glancing around again before stepping closer. "You need to be careful, Matilda," she warned. "Marco isn't just any alpha. He's the King. If you push him too far…" She didn't finish the sentence, but she didn't have to. The warning was clear.
I bit my lip, frustration burning in my chest. "Then what am I supposed to do?"
Elara hesitated before finally speaking. "For now, you survive."
Survive.
Elera studied me carefully, as if weighing her next words. Then, with a sigh, she leaned against the counter and spoke in a low, measured tone.
"There is something I can do," she said. "But you have to listen carefully."I straightened, my heart pounding. "What is it?"
She hesitated, then met my gaze. "Give him a chance."
I blinked. "What?"
"Marco," she clarified. "He's not the monster you think he is. He's… complicated. But he does love you, Matilda. Maybe not in the way you expect, He won't let you go, not unless he truly believes there's no hope."
I scoffed, crossing my arms. "So you're telling me to just accept this? To stay with the man who kidnapped me?"
Elera shook her head. "No. I'm saying you should give him a chance just four months. If, by then, you still don't love him, I'll help you leave myself."I stared at her, my mind racing. Four months. It sounded like a long time, but if it meant a real chance at freedom…
"And you swear," I asked cautiously, "that if I still want to leave after that, you'll let me go?"
Elera nodded. "I swear it."
I exhaled shakily, my thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty.
Four months.
Elera's gaze softened as she reached out, placing a gentle hand on my arm. "Stop running away from him, Matilda," she said firmly. "Give him a real chance."
I swallowed hard, my chest tightening.
"For the next four months," she continued, "eat properly, stop fighting him at every turn. Come out more, relate to people here. Let yourself see this place, see him not just as your captor, but as the man who chose you."
I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up a hand. "If after four months you still don't love him, I'll help you leave myself. I promise."
I bit my lip, doubt swirling inside me. Could I really do this? Pretend things were normal? Act like I wasn't trapped?
But then again, wasn't this the only chance I had?Four months.
Could I survive that long?
As I stood up to leave, I offered Elera a small nod. "Goodnight," I murmured before slipping out of the kitchen.
Walking through the dimly lit passage, an eerie sensation crept over me like someone was watching. My steps faltered, and my breath hitched as I glanced over my shoulder.
Nothing.
The hallway was empty, shadows stretching long against the walls. My heart pounded, but I forced myself to keep moving, shaking off the unease.Once inside my room, I leaned against the door, exhaling shakily. My mind was restless, replaying everything Elera had said.Give him a chance
Stop running.
Four months.
Lying down, I stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. I didn't know what scared me morebeing trapped here forever or the terrifying possibility that, deep down, a part of me might actually start to understand Marco Draven.