Alison’s Point of View
A sharp, searing pain throbbed through my skull as I woke, my eyes fluttering open to the sight of cold, cracked stone below me. I tried to reach for my head, to touch the aching spot, but my hands were bound tightly to my legs, keeping me curled in a fetal position. A gag pressed against my mouth, rough and biting into the corners, muffling any sound I tried to make.
I was trapped. Somewhere dark and damp, with a chill that seeped into my bones. The last thing I remembered was stepping out of my room’s bathroom, humming some tune in anticipation of the wedding I was invited to be Xander’s plus one, my mind light and hopeful. Then… then something hard and cold had slammed into my head, and I’d blacked out. Now, here I was, waking up to what felt like a nightmare.
I twisted, wriggling as much as I could against the ropes binding my limbs, panic clawing at my insides. This wasn’t some accident, someone wanted me here, bound and helpless. The thought of it made fear skitter up my spine. My mind raced as I fought to stay calm, wondering if Xander even knew I was missing, or if he’d left Silver Moon without me. No, he wouldn’t do that. Not after the excitement I saw in his eyes… right?
But what if he couldn’t find me? What if I was stuck here, abandoned in some dark pit, and he’d never even know where I was? Tears pricked at my eyes, but I blinked them back, desperate to stay in control.
“Moon Goddess, please,” I prayed silently, if you’re listening, help me. Send someone, anyone to get me out of here.”
Time dragged on, the silence pressing in like a weight, suffocating. Every so often, I’d hear faint sounds above, footsteps, muffled voices. But no one came for me, no one even looked my way. Desperation grew sharper with each passing second, churning in my chest until I could barely breathe.
Then, finally, I heard something… a loud, scraping noise, as though a metal grate or door was being moved. My heart raced as the sounds grew louder, closer. I inched back instinctively, pressing myself against the freezing stone wall, trying to make myself as small as possible. Two figures were approaching, a flashlight bobbing between them, casting long shadows that twisted and stretched as they neared.
“Ally?” a voice called, low and urgent.
I’d know that voice anywhere. Relief crashed over me as I recognized it to be Xander, his silhouette appearing in the dim light.
“Ally,” he repeated, his tone raw with concern as he rushed forward, kneeling down to untie me. The ropes fell away, and he pulled the gag from my mouth, his hands cradling my face for a moment as he searched my eyes. “Are you alright? What happened?”
I shook my head, my voice hoarse as I whispered, “I… I don’t know. I was in my room, and someone… someone hit me from behind.”
Xander’s jaw clenched, a fierce light in his eyes as he glanced over his shoulder at Luke, who had stepped closer, his gaze scanning the room. “Get her out of here,” Xander barked at Luke, then turned back to me, pulling me gently but firmly to my feet. I leaned into him, my legs shaky, feeling the warmth of his coat as he draped it around my shoulders.
With his arm around me, we moved up the narrow, hidden passageway, the cold air thinning as we neared the surface. I realized, as we emerged, that I’d been locked in some kind of chamber beneath my own room. How long had this tunnel been here? How come I didn’t notice it all these while
Xander guided me back into my room, where he sat me gently on the edge of the bed, his gaze flickering over me with worry and something darker. rage.
“Did you see the person who did this?” he asked, his voice steady but tense.
I shook my head. “No. I just remember… singing, feeling happy, and then… ” My voice caught, the memory of that sudden blow sending a shiver down my spine.
“Why does this have Kendrick’s doing written all over it?,” Xander muttered, barely audible, his hands tightening into fists. “I know it just has to be him.”
A deep anger burned in his eyes as he turned to Luke. “Get the car ready. We’re leaving this minute before I end up doing something that would be disastrous.”
Luke gave a quick nod, vanishing out the door. Xander turned back to me, his gaze softening just slightly as he knelt down, slipping his coat around my shoulders more securely. “I’m sorry it took me this long to find you,” he murmured, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. “But I’m here now. And I’m not leaving without you. I will never let any more harm come to you”
His leaned in and kissed my forehead, his words melted the fear that had been twisting in my chest, filling me with warmth and a fragile sense of safety. I leaned into him, feeling the steady beat of his heart under my cheek as he held me close.
“Let’s go home,” he promised, his tone firm. “Night Fang is waiting for us.”
As we left my quarters and made our way outside, I saw Kendrick standing near the entrance to the main hall, his expression unreadable. He looked from me to Xander, a frown formed on his lips as he realized that his plan had failed. The satisfaction that would usually display in his eyes turned to frustration, but he kept his face neutral, unwilling to make a scene at his own wedding.
Xander’s grip on me tightened protectively as we walked past Kendrick, our eyes locking for a heartbeat. I knew that look too well.. the barely contained fury behind his calm mask. There would have been consequences for this if she was still a slave to Kendrick. But I know that Kendrick’s fury lied on the fact that he couldn’t do anything to wage war against Xander’s Pack, Silver Moon were too fragile to face war with a pack as strong as Night Fang.
Once we were inside the car, I leaned my head on Xander’s shoulder, exhaustion overtaking me as we pulled away from the Pack House. The distant trees blurred past, the cold, fresh air bringing clarity and calm. I watched the landscape slip by, feeling safe for the first time since waking up in that dark chamber.
I knew that this was only the beginning. Kendrick’s actions had drawn a line, and now there was no going back. Whatever happened next would be a battle between packs, a fight for power, and I’d been dragged right into the heart of it. But for now, nestled against Xander, I allowed myself to feel a sliver of relief, to think just for a moment that perhaps everything might be okay.
But that thought faded as another one crept in. If i knew Kendrick as I should, I know that he would not let me go just like that, he would pull every stunt up his sleeve to repossess a mate he had Rejected. As we crossed the borders of Silver Moon, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our troubles had only just begun.
The encroaching darkness outside the car loomed, as if it held secrets and shadows waiting for us. I closed my eyes, trying to push away the thoughts that were creeping into my mind, the fear and worry that lingered just below the surface. But even as I drifted toward sleep, I could feel the tension thickening around us, like a storm gathering on the horizon.
Little did I know, freedom was just an illusion… one that could shatter in an instant.