Chapter 4 The Alpha command

Chapter Four: The Alpha's Command

Lily woke to an unfamiliar silence.

The walls of the room, dark and oppressive, seemed to close in on her. The fire that had roared earlier now only smoldered in the hearth, its warmth barely enough to chase away the cold creeping under the door. She could feel the weight of her body against the soft, dark furs of the bed, but she couldn't shake the heaviness in her chest.

She hadn't meant to fall asleep. But somehow, the fatigue from the night before had claimed her, and now, in the dull quiet of the room, she felt more isolated than ever.

Her thoughts swirled in a haze, piecing together fragments of the previous night. The way Rudolf had carried her into the fortress, the unspoken intensity that had radiated off him-his gaze, fierce and commanding. He had looked at her as if she were a puzzle, a challenge. The sheer dominance in him had unsettled her to her core, but it had also ignited something deeper-a strange pull she couldn't name.

And now... here she was. Alone in his den. His possession.

The bite mark on her wrist throbbed slightly, reminding her of the bond between them. She barely remembered when he'd marked her, but it was there, a permanent reminder of her new reality.

A shiver ran through her. She rose from the bed, feeling the chill of the room settle into her bones. The furs felt like a prison, not comfort. She wrapped them tighter around her body, stepping toward the small window that overlooked the dark expanse of the forest below.

The world outside seemed so different from the one she had left behind. So wild. So free.

But it was a world she didn't belong in.

What would happen to me now?

The question lingered in her mind, unanswered.

She was still pondering when the door to the room creaked open.

Rudolf stepped inside, his silhouette dark and imposing against the low light from the hall. His sharp features, set in stone, were unreadable as always. His eyes flickered briefly to her before narrowing with a hint of something... almost like approval.

"You're awake," he stated, his voice low and cutting through the silence like a blade.

Lily didn't respond. She couldn't.

His gaze softened for the briefest moment as he crossed the room, stopping just in front of her. The air between them crackled with tension, thick and suffocating.

"Don't think this changes anything," he said, his voice a growl that made her skin prickle. "You belong to me now. Your life is mine to control. But you will not be harmed-so long as you obey."

Lily wanted to retort, to argue, to fight back against the injustice of it all. But as his eyes locked onto hers, she knew it would be futile. The power he exuded was more than just physical. It was something deep in his bones, a presence that demanded obedience.

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then, Rudolf exhaled sharply, as if something had shifted in the air. He turned toward the door.

"You'll meet the others soon. The pack. They'll need to know that you're here. That you belong to me."

His words sent a chill through her. The pack. She hadn't thought of them. She'd heard whispers of them, the way they worshipped their Alpha, how they feared him. But to actually meet them... to face the eyes of the wolves who followed him without question? She wasn't ready for that.

"You'll stay here until then," he continued, his back still to her. "Don't try to run. Don't even think about it."

Lily clenched her fists at her sides, biting down on the surge of defiance that rose within her. She was strong. She was always strong. But right now, with him standing there, she felt small. Helpless.

As if reading her mind, he turned back, his gaze sweeping over her once more. "I don't expect you to understand. But this is the way it is now. You're mine. And I don't share."

A shiver ran through her, but she refused to let it show. She wanted to speak, wanted to demand an explanation, but the words caught in her throat.

Rudolf's eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, then, without another word, he strode out of the room, the door shutting with a resounding click behind him.

Lily stood there, her body frozen, her mind racing.

She was trapped. Trapped in his world, bound by the mark on her wrist. A world where she didn't belong, where every movement, every breath felt controlled by him.

She could feel it, even now-the way the bond pulled at her. As if the very air she breathed was tethered to him, to his power, to his will.

And yet... there was something more. Something deeper in the way he spoke to her, in the way he looked at her. It was cold, calculating-but also... possessive.

Lily's heart pounded in her chest as the realization hit her.

What does he want from me?

The question lingered, unanswered, as she turned away from the window and sat back down on the bed, the soft furs no longer offering any comfort. Her mind swirled with confusion, frustration, and a growing unease.

She was a prisoner here. There was no denying that.

But beneath the surface, something else stirred. Something she couldn't name.

Does he want me to love him?

No.

She couldn't. She wouldn't.

But the deeper question remained: Could she even fight this?

As if in answer, the door creaked open again. This time, a servant entered, a young woman who bowed deeply. Her face was downcast, and her movements were quick, efficient.

"You'll need to prepare," the servant said softly. "The Alpha expects you in the hall for introductions."

Lily didn't say anything. She simply nodded.

The servant, seemingly hesitant, looked up briefly. "Don't worry. The pack will accept you. They always do."

But Lily wasn't so sure. She wasn't ready for what was coming next. She wasn't ready to face the wolves who would look at her with both awe and fear.

The servant left as quickly as she came, leaving Lily alone once again, the weight of her fate pressing down on her chest.

Lily stood, her legs shaky as she moved toward the door.

One thing was certain-today would change everything.