Jacky’s POV
The cell was suffocating, a cold, filthy pit where the walls seemed to close in with every breath I took. Dust hung thick in the air, and the floor was hard with grime, the stone beneath me jagged and unforgiving. There was no warmth, no comfort here. No escape from the cruel reality of being locked away. I was alone-alone with my thoughts, my anger, and the deep ache of loss.
I could hear the distant sounds of the palace above me, but here, it felt like I was a world away from everything.
But it didn’t matter. This cell was just a cage, and cages could be broken.
I was already plotting, already thinking of ways to escape, to hurt the ones who wronged me. To hurt the Alpha. The one who had taken everything from me. I had to make him pay. I would make him feel the same fear, the same helplessness I felt when I watched Eloise die.
Then, I heard it-the unmistakable sound of footsteps. Heavy, deliberate. The kind of steps that made the ground tremble, as though the very earth recognized the weight of the person who walked upon it. It was him.
Alpha Roman.
My heart skipped a beat, but I refused to let fear take hold. He was a monster, but I would not bow to him. I had seen too much, suffered too much, to let him walk all over me like everyone else.
When the bars of my cell creaked open, and he stepped inside, I didn’t flinch. I stared at him with the same intensity I always had, my gaze unyielding.
“Jacky,” Alpha Roman’s voice was low, smooth, as if he were speaking to a pet. A warning. “How are you holding up?”
I swallowed back the anger rising in my throat.
His gaze flicked over me, scanning me with a chilling amusement. “Grief can make people act… irrationally,” he said, his tone laced with mock sympathy. “I’m sure losing Eloise must be difficult for you. For your… sister.”
I clenched my fists, feeling the sting of his words. He had no right to speak of Eloise like that. “Don’t pretend you care about her,” I spat, stepping forward, glaring up at him. “You never did.”
Alpha Roman tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. “She had… potential. I saw that in her. But it seems she was just… too much of a risk.” His lips curled into a smirk. “Such a pity.”
I felt the rage burn through me. I wanted to scream, to tear him apart with my bare hands, but I didn’t. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.
“You didn’t just lose her, did you?” I whispered, my voice low and dangerous. “You had her killed.”
His eyes locked onto mine, and for the briefest moment, there was a flicker of something in them-something that resembled a challenge. But he was a master at hiding his true emotions.
“I’m sorry?” he asked, his voice a low growl, and I could feel the tension between us building. “What did you say?”
“You killed her.” The words were out before I could stop them. I saw the anger flash in his eyes, but I didn’t flinch. I stood my ground, glaring at him as he took a step closer.
Alpha Roman’s lips twisted into a cruel smile, his gaze cold, calculating. “You think you know everything, don’t you?” He took another step forward, closing the space between us. “Do you have any idea what kind of power I hold, Jacky? Do you think you can just speak to me like that without consequences?”
My breath hitched, and my pulse quickened, but I refused to show any fear. I would not beg, not for him, not for anyone.
He didn’t give me a chance to answer. Before I could react, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist in an unyielding grip, and yanking me forward. I stumbled against his chest, my heart racing. I could feel the heat of his body seeping into mine, his power almost overwhelming.
“I could snap your neck in an instant, Jacky,” he whispered, his voice thick with menace. “I could end you right here. But I won’t. I’m feeling generous today.”
His words sent a jolt of fear down my spine, but I held my ground, looking him dead in the eye. “You think you can intimidate me?” I growled, my voice dripping with defiance. “You can kill me if you want, Alpha. But I will never bow to you.”
Alpha Roman’s grip on my wrist tightened, forcing me to my knees in front of him. His free hand slid up to my throat, his fingers digging into my skin. The pressure was unbearable, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
“I could make you beg,” he said softly, his lips brushing my ear. “But I’m not sure you’re worthy of that.”
My chest heaved, my pulse roaring in my ears. My hands tried to claw at his wrist, but it was useless. His grip was unbreakable. “You’re not going to break me,” I rasped, every word an effort.
His lips curled into a cruel smile. “You think you’re special? You think you’re immune to me? You’re nothing, Jacky. Nothing but another contestant in my trials. Just like the others. You all think you can stand up to me. But in the end, I always win.”
His words were like daggers, piercing through me, but I refused to let him see the effect they had. My breath was ragged, my vision swimming as I tried to regain control of myself. But his proximity-his heat-was suffocating. The way his breath fanned across my neck made my skin burn, and despite everything, despite my hatred for him, my body betrayed me.
“I can hear your heartbeat,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with dark amusement. “I can smell it. You’re scared. You’re *turned on.* Just like every other contestant. You all react the same way to me.”
His fingers slipped to my chin, forcing me to look up at him, his eyes locked onto mine. “You’re nothing special,” he breathed, his lips brushing mine, just enough for me to feel the heat of his skin against my own.
I fought the urge to pull away, to shove him off me, but I was trapped-trapped by his power, by his presence. My heart hammered in my chest as he leaned in, his breath warm against my lips.
And then, just as quickly as it had started, he released me. My body collapsed to the floor, gasping for air, my chest heaving. I didn’t beg. I wouldn’t.
Alpha Roman stood over me, his expression cold, almost satisfied. “You’re free to go, Jacky,” he said, his tone dismissive. “Resume the trials. But remember who holds the power here. Remember who the real god is.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My mind was a blur, my body trembling.
The door slammed shut behind him, and I was left alone again, gasping, my skin still tingling from his touch, his words, his dominance. I hated this man. He was my mate, a disease I wanted to shake off and bury for good.
But why? Why was he right? Why was I turned on by him?