Chapter 2 The wolf in silk

The silence in the gold-draped basement was suffocating.

Alina stood frozen. Her body trembled-not from fear, but from the overwhelming pressure building inside her chest. Rage. Helplessness. Confusion. She was a hostage in paradise.

The walls reflected her image back at her-dishevelled hair, red eyes, bare feet, defiant posture.

She didn't want to cry. Not in front of him.

The door opened again.

This time, it was not Zayd, but the younger man from earlier. The one with sharp eyes and a scar along his jawline.

"You should eat," he said, placing a tray on the velvet bench near the golden mirror.

"I'm not hungry."

"You'll want your strength."

"For what? Another interrogation?"

He smiled. "You're not in a prison. This is a test."

"A test for what?"

"For survival."

She blinked. "What does that mean?"

The man stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Don't fight him. Zayd doesn't like games. He wins them."

"Who are you to warn me?"

"I'm someone who's seen what happens when people try to outsmart the Don."

Alina swallowed hard. Her mind raced. If she played smart, maybe she'd survive long enough to escape.

---

Hours Later

Night had fallen. She had no clock, but the changing light outside the curtained windows told her time was moving. Slowly.

She paced the bedroom. Her bare feet brushed over marble floors. A chandelier glittered above like frozen stars, mocking her.

The same man-his name was Amir, she'd learned-brought her clothes. A deep red silk dress. Thin straps. Short. No underwear.

Alina stared at it in disgust.

"Tell Zayd I'm not putting this on."

Amir raised an eyebrow. "Tell him yourself."

He left.

Fifteen minutes later, the door opened again.

Zayd entered, dressed in black. Black shirt. Black pants. A glass of dark liquor in his hand. His presence filled the room like smoke-dangerous and inescapable.

His gaze swept her body, down to the jeans and loose t-shirt she still wore.

"You ignored my gift."

"I'm not dressing like a whore to please my captor."

Zayd took a slow sip, watching her over the rim of the glass. "You should watch how you speak in my house."

"You kidnapped me."

"I saved you."

She laughed bitterly. "You call this saving?"

Zayd walked toward her, taking silent steps. "You would've been dead by now if it weren't for me. Those men you saw? They don't leave witnesses."

"Then let me leave."

"No."

He closed the space between them, now inches away. "Because you intrigue me. And I like keeping things that intrigue me."

His hand brushed a strand of hair from her face. Alina tried not to flinch, but her skin was burning. Every cell screamed for distance, but her body didn't move.

Zayd leaned closer, his voice dark velvet. "The moment you saw me, your life changed. You're not going back to normal. You're not going back at all."

Alina looked up, fire in her eyes. "I will never belong to you."

Zayd didn't smile this time. "You already do."

And with that, he turned and walked out, locking the door behind him.

---

Later That Night

Alina sat by the window, knees pulled tightly to her chest. Her heart ached. Her mind screamed for logic, for control, for home.

But something was shifting.

The way Zayd looked at her-like he saw through her soul-it terrified her. Not because he was cold. But because, somehow, he wasn't.

She had seen flickers of something else.

Pain. Hunger. Regret.

Why would a man like him feel anything?

And why did she care?

---

Somewhere Else in the Mansion

Zayd stood on the rooftop balcony, cigar in hand, staring down at the glittering lights of Dubai's skyline. His mind was not on the city.

It was on her.

He had seen thousands of women. Hired them. Touched them. Left them. None had looked at him like she did-with fury and fire. Like she wasn't afraid to die.

It made him furious. And it made him want her more.

Amir appeared beside him. "She won't break easily."

Zayd took a drag from the cigar. "Good. I'm not interested in broken things."

"She might ruin everything."

Zayd exhaled. "Then let her ruin me."

---

Meanwhile, Back in the Room

Alina had a plan.

It wasn't smart. It wasn't foolproof.

But it was the only thing she had.

She pulled the dress from the hanger and slipped into it. The silk clung to her skin. She hated how good it looked on her. Hated that part of her wanted him to see.

She knocked on the door. No answer.

She banged harder.

Finally, the lock turned. Amir opened the door, surprised.

"I want to talk to him."

Amir hesitated. "Now?"

"Yes."

He radioed someone, speaking in low Arabic. Then nodded. "Follow me."

The halls were endless and golden. Alina felt like a prisoner in a dream. Every man she passed looked armed. Dead-eyed. Dangerous.

They led her to a grand study. Bookshelves. Persian carpet. A fireplace. And him-Zayd-seated behind a mahogany desk, flipping through documents.

He looked up slowly. "Well. You clean up nicely."

"I came to make a deal."

"Did you?"

Alina walked to the desk, standing tall. "Let me go, and I won't tell a soul what I saw."

Zayd chuckled. "You think this is a negotiation?"

"I think you like control. But you're afraid of losing it."

His smile vanished.

"You want to cage me? Fine. But just know this-every cage has a door, and every man has a weakness."

Zayd rose from his chair and walked around the desk.

He reached her in three strides, grabbing her wrist-not with violence, but with intensity. He pulled her close, eyes boring into hers.

"You think I'm afraid of you?" he whispered.

"No. But I think you should be."

For a long second, neither of them moved.

Then Zayd let go, brushing past her.

"You'll stay. You'll learn your place. And if you don't... you'll wish you had."

He left the room.

Alina stood there, breathless, pulse wild.

And for the first time since her kidnapping... she smiled.

Because she saw it.

The flicker in his eyes.

Fear.