Chapter 6 The Enemy Mate.

Nova's Point of View.

As I sat in the cold, dimly lit conference room, my heart pounded with a mix of dread and anger. The tension in the air was suffocating, but not as suffocating as the overwhelming presence of Alpha VuK seated just a few feet away from me. His eyes were on me-burning holes into my skin. I could feel the weight of his gaze, and it made me uneasy, restless. His scent filled the room, crisp like fresh rainwater after a storm, but it wasn't soothing. Instead, it felt like chains tightenieng around me, reminding me of everything I had lost because of him.

The same man who had taken everything from me-my freedom, my pack, my dignity-was now my mate. The very thought of it made my stomach churn. The Moon Goddess had to be laughing at me right now. Out of all the souls in the world, why him? Why my enemy?

"No, you are not being interrogated. We just need to know about you," Logan, a Beta, said casually from the head of the table. His voice snapped me out of my internal rant, but I barely registered what he said. All I could think about was the man sitting next to him, too close for comfort.

"I'm hungry," I blurted out, the first excuse that came to mind. I wasn't actually hungry-I had eaten just before this meeting-but I needed an escape, any excuse to get away from VuK's suffocating presence.

Logan looked puzzled. "I thought Sarah just gave you food?"

Immediately, Alpha VuK cleared his throat, a low sound that rumbled through the room like thunder. Logan's eyes flicked nervously toward VuK, seeking confirmation before he nodded and said, "Sarah is outside waiting for you. You can go."

I didn't need to be told twice. I shot up from my chair and made my way toward the large door, my heart racing. There was no way I could endure another second of VuK's scent or his silent judgment. My skin prickled with the urge to run, but I kept my pace steady, pretending I was in control.

"Hello, Miss Nova," Sarah greeted me as I stepped into the hallway. Her voice was soft, and she gave me a polite nod, but I barely acknowledged her. My mind was elsewhere, scanning the surroundings, looking for any sign of security. To my surprise, there was none-at least none that I could see. No guards. No cameras. No obvious traps. It seemed too good to be true.

We walked in silence toward my room, Sarah leading the way. I kept my eyes moving, checking every corner, every shadow. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. There's no way they would leave me here unguarded, especially after everything that had happened.

"So, Miss, I'll come back for your dinner," Sarah said as we reached the door to my room. "In the meantime, rest."

Rest. As if I could rest. I forced a smile and nodded, but as soon as the door closed behind me, I collapsed onto the floor. I wasn't going to sleep in that bed. I couldn't afford to get too comfortable. I had to stay alert. I had to save Emma, my best friend. She was the only one that was kind to me in cell.

Time passed slowly, and the night dragged on without any sign of Sarah. I tossed and turned on the cold floor, my body aching from the hard surface, but my mind was too active to sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened, about being mated to VuK, my worst enemy. The very idea made my skin crawl.

When Sarah didn't return, I realized I couldn't wait any longer. I had to make my move now.

"I'll have to pick the door," I muttered to myself as I stood in the center of the room, my heart racing with anticipation. I reached into my hair and pulled out a small pin, the same one I had kept hidden there for emergencies. The beta from my pack had taught me everything I knew about picking locks, and now was the time to put those skills to use.

I knelt in front of the door and set to work. It was a difficult lock, but I was determined. My hands worked quickly, and after what felt like an eternity, I heard the satisfying click of the lock turning. The door creaked open, and I couldn't help but smile in victory.

"Yes," I whispered, the sound barely audible as I stepped into the hallway.

The moonlight streamed through the high windows, casting pale beams of light across the floor. It wasn't much, but it was enough to guide me. I moved cautiously, using my hands to feel my way through the shadows. My heart was pounding in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn't afford any mistakes.

I finally reached the lobby, where paintings hung on the walls like silent sentinels. The air was thick with tension, and I moved as quietly as possible, making my way toward the large conference room door. But just as I reached it, a strong hand shot out of the darkness and slammed me against the wall.

I gasped, the air knocked out of me as a guard's large hand wrapped around my throat. He squeezed, cutting off my air, and I struggled against him, my vision blurring as tears filled my eyes.

"You intruder," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

"N-No, I...I'm not..." I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. My lungs burned as I fought for breath, my hands clawing at his arm, trying to pry him off me, but he was too strong.

Everything started to go dark. I could feel myself slipping into unconsciousness, my body going limp as the guard's grip tightened. Just when I thought it was over, the pressure suddenly vanished.

I collapsed to the floor, coughing and gasping for air, my throat raw and aching. Through blurry eyes, I saw the guard lying on the floor a few feet away, struggling to get up. Then I heard the voice I least wanted to hear.

"Leave. Now," Alpha VuK commanded, his voice cold and authoritative. The guard scrambled to his feet and hurried away without another word.

I stayed on the floor, my body trembling as I tried to catch my breath. VuK stood over me, his face emotionless as always, but there was a sharp edge to his gaze.

"If you're going to escape, at least do it with sense," he said, his tone sharp but calm. "I knew you would run."

"I...I'm not running," I lied, my voice shaky. I couldn't afford to tell him the truth. I couldn't let him know about Emma or my real plans. "I was hungry," I added, hoping to sound convincing.

"Lie. You're lying," he said without hesitation, his eyes narrowing as he studied me.

"I'm not lying!" I shouted back at him, the frustration bubbling up inside me. "I don't come from a luxury family where I get to eat whenever I want. I'm just hungry! Is that a crime?"

I forced more tears to spill from my eyes, hoping they would distract him, make him believe my story. "I'm just tired and hungry," I repeated, my voice breaking.

"I didn't ask for this," I said, my voice quieter now. "Not to be an orphan, not to be mated to you. So just reject me while you can."

The words hung in the air, my tears streaming down my face as I looked up at him, waiting for some kind of response. But VuK's face remained unreadable. He stood there in silence, his expression giving nothing away.

I had no idea if my tears were working or if he was just as heartless as I had always believed. He didn't speak. He didn't react. He simply watched me, his eyes as cold as ever.