Chapter 5 TONIGHT'S THE FULL MOON

"Oh," she said, retreating back inside her room. So, this was his response to her escape plan-someone to guard the window and stop her from leaving. If the female was down by the window, Nyra had a feeling that her brother would probably be right outside her door.

For someone who kept to himself, the Alpha King was going to such extreme measures just to make sure she didn't get out.

She let out a groan, covering her face with both hands as she came to sit by the bed again. How could she escape when she was being guarded? She was in a locked room and surrounded by creatures that were faster, stronger, and more powerful than her. So even if she managed to get out, they could easily find her.

It's impossible. That beast is never going to stop until he finds me and brings me back.

"No!" She groaned again, standing back up and starting to pace the room.

There was no reason for her to simply give up and accept that she would be a prisoner here for the rest of her life or for as long as the Alpha wanted to keep her around. She still didn't even know what he intended to do with her, but she definitely didn't want to stick around to find out.

She looked back toward the shopping bags that were essentially a Trojan horse. He probably wanted her to relax and get comfortable enough to stop fighting him and stop trying to escape.

A tiny smile raised the corners of her mouth. If that was what he wanted, she would play the part. She could pretend for as long as it took to get him to stop being suspicious of her, and then when her chance to escape came, she would seize it and get out of this cursed place.

"Sounds like a plan," Nyra said to herself. She paused for a moment and wondered if it was weird how often she was talking to herself now, but then she shrugged it off and went back to the shopping bags. She picked out the one that was filled with toiletries along with a towel and carried them to the adjoining bathroom, which thankfully wasn't last updated during the renaissance.

The room had gleaming turquoise tile walls, a huge clawfoot tub, and all the modern conveniences a woman from the 21st century might desire. The shower was huge, with a bench to sit on, a huge rain shower head and bunches of fragrant branches hanging in the corner, making the whole place smell like heaven.

Quickly, she stripped and took a shower before someone could waltz into the room again and catch her off guard. The water was blissfully warm, and she was instantly relieved by it, letting out a soft moan. She scrubbed herself with lavender-scented soap and decided against washing her hair. The bathroom door was bolted, and she knew the room was locked too, but didn't want to take any chances.

After wrapping herself in the fuzzy towel, she unlocked the door and stepped out, then promptly let out a scream.

The Alpha-Lucian-stood in front of the bathroom door, his eyes ablaze as they traced their way down her body. She gulped and stepped back, feeling the weight of his gaze on her, making it feel like it were his hands on her instead. It made her tighten her hold on the towel, just to make sure it was still there.

That consuming feeling was back. He looked the same as he did this morning, but something in the moment felt heated. It made it even more intense. She worried for a moment about what he would do because she knew that if he made a move now, her treacherous body would take over again and give in.

His eyes gradually rose back to hers, and she hated the way her whole body was aflame with a blush so red, she was practically feverish. Without a word, he turned back and walked to the main door, his footsteps slow as though it took every ounce of strength he had to walk away.

Nyra felt herself start to breathe again, thankful for the space between them. She started to the opposite side of the room, close to the armoire, but it was also on the opposite side to all her clothes.

She watched the Alpha at the door as he stood so still, it was almost like he was frozen in place. He turned his gaze upwards, and she wondered if he was praying for strength.

Her eyes shifted from his back to the bags on the floor, wondering if she would have enough time to reach out and grab something to wear or at least go back to the bathroom and put on her clothes, but then he turned.

Lucian let out a long sigh, running a hand through his dark curls. Nyra felt her hand twitch with the urge to run it through his hair again, and so she held them behind her back to stop herself from doing anything of the sort.

"You," the Alpha growled, his eyes still ablaze as he pinned her with a look that set her skin on fire.

"What?" She managed to say, hating how raspy her voice had gotten.

This is good, she thought to herself. This way he'll think I'm going along with what he wants. If I pretend to be meek, he'll get soft eventually and then I'll get my chance to escape.

Though it was hard to picture the mountain of a man in front of her as anything but cold and impenetrable. Nyra doubted if he'd ever been soft for a minute. If he even knew what the word meant.

"You," he said again before turning his back once more. "You will stay in your room, and no matter what you hear tonight, you will not open the door. You will not try any stunts with the window. You will stay inside."

"The door is always locked from the outside. How do you expect me to even open it?" Nyra said, giving him a pointed look.

"The door isn't locked," he opened it now to show her the other side. Nyra shifted and saw that he was right-there wasn't a key. She opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off. "What you've been hearing is the ward sliding into place. It's guarded with a spell."

"Oh," she answered dumbly. Of course. She had been wrong to assume that things here would be done like they were in her world. These creatures weren't human, and she was only underestimating them by assuming they would do things the way humans would. If she underestimated them, then there'd be no chance for escape.

"When I go out of this room, the ward will reverse and this will only open when you open it. Whatever you hear tonight, no matter what happens, you will not open this door."

Nyra felt her stomach sink and panic start to set in again. Lucian had made this declaration with his back still turned to her, but she could tell how grim he was being now. "What do you mean? What's going to happen?"

He let out another long sigh, and she watched it ripple across his shoulders. "Tonight is the full moon."