Chapter 3 New task

The next day, Aria was summoned by Alpha Lucas, and she quickly dressed herself in her boy's attire. She made her way to the alpha's office, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. As she entered the office, she bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Alpha Lucas," she greeted, trying to sound confident.

The alpha nodded at her, his expression serious. "I want to assign you to a task," he said, his voice firm. "I noticed your reaction when we entered the dungeon yesterday. The cleaners have been too scared to go in there lately, and I think you might be the right person for the job."

Aria's eyes widened as she realized what the alpha was asking her to do. She was to clean the dungeon where the lycan was being held? Her mind racing, she tried to think of a way to refuse, but the alpha's expectant gaze held her back. She swallowed hard and managed to nod. "Yes...yes, I can manage," she stammered, trying to sound convincing.

The alpha's expression didn't change, but he nodded. "You should be fine. He's chained up. No need to be scared," he said, his voice dismissive of any potential danger. Aria nodded again, trying to hide her fear. She knew that the lycan was powerful, and being alone with him, even chained, was not exactly the most comforting thought.

"Go get the cleaning supplies, and the guards will escort you there," the alpha instructed, dismissing her. Aria nodded and quickly left the office, her heart pounding in her chest. She made her way to the storage room, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. As she gathered the cleaning supplies, she couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into.

The guards escorted Aria to the dungeon, and as they arrived, one of them patted her on the back. "You'd be alright, fella," he said, his voice gruff but reassuring. The pat was a bit too hard, and Aria winced slightly, but she tried not to make a face.

As the guards left her alone, Aria's gaze drifted to the cell holding the lycan. Her breath caught as she took in his imposing figure. His head was bowed, his eyes closed, and for a moment, Aria thought he was asleep. She walked a little closer, her footsteps quiet on the stone floor.

The lycan's features were striking, even in repose. His eyelashes were long and dark, framing his sharp cheekbones. His hair was black and rich, falling across his forehead in a messy tangle. Aria's gaze lingered on him, remembering the way his blue eyes had captivated her yesterday.

As she studied him, the lycan stirred, his movements subtle but unmistakable. Aria's heart skipped a beat, and she stiffened, her eyes snapping back to his face. She sprang to her feet immediately, trying to compose herself. She began to clean the floor with a vengeance, scrubbing the stones with a fierce intensity.

She tried to ignore the lycan, focusing on her task. She wanted to hurry up and get out of there as soon as possible. Despite the chains holding him captive, Aria couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Being in close proximity to the lycan made her anxious, and she didn't like it one bit.

As she worked, Aria's mind wandered to the task at hand. She would get in and out of there quickly, without drawing attention to herself. She wouldn't look at him, wouldn't think about him. She would just clean and leave.

As Aria continued cleaning, she decided to glance up, and her heart sank when she caught the lycan already looking at her. Her throat dried up completely, and her breathing became shallow. His intense gaze pinned her in place, and a look of hatred was plastered on his face.

Aria quickly diverted her gaze, trying to focus on her task. But the tension in the air was palpable, and she could feel the lycan's eyes still on her. The sound of chains clanking together made her spin around, her heart racing in her chest.

"Come here, human," the lycan muttered huskily, his voice low and menacing. Aria's eyes widened, and she shook her head emphatically. "No," she said, trying to sound firm.

The lycan smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Are you scared of me?" he taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Aria shook her head again, trying to maintain her composure. "I'm not scared of you," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

The lycan raised a brow, his expression incredulous. "Oh, really? What bravery for a little...lady like you," he said, his eyes scanning her face. Aria's eyes widened, and she felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Her breathing seemed to have stopped altogether.

"What are you talking about? I'm a boy," she said, trying to defend herself, her voice shaking slightly. The lycan's smirk grew wider, and he leaned forward, his chains rattling ominously. "Truly?" he drawled, his voice dripping with skepticism.

Aria's eyes darted around the cell, feeling nervous and trapped. She narrowed her eyes, trying to appear confident, but her heart was racing with fear. She knew she had to get out of there, and fast. But for now, she was stuck, facing the lycan's piercing gaze and biting wit.

Aria's voice trembled as she asked, "How...how did you know?" The lycan's snicker sent shivers down her spine, and she felt her body tremble uncontrollably.

"I'm no fool," he said, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "I know the difference between a male and a female. And you, my little human, are definitely a female." His gaze raked over her, from head to toe, making Aria feel like she was being stripped bare.

She felt a surge of embarrassment and vulnerability, her eyes darting around the cell nervously. The lycan's words hung in the air, taunting her. "Your alpha is a fool," he continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "A fool who would be caught by his own trap soon."

Aria's mind reeled as she tried to process the lycan's words. What did he mean? What trap was he talking about? She looked at him, unsure of what to say or do. The lycan's gaze seemed to bore into her soul, making her feel like she was trapped.

As she stood there, frozen in uncertainty, the lycan's eyes never left hers. He seemed to be enjoying her discomfort, his expression twisted in a mixture of amusement and contempt. Aria knew she had to be careful, but she couldn't help but wonder what the lycan's true intentions were. Was he a threat, or was there more to him than met the eye?

Aria's bravery faltered for a moment, but she managed to ask, "What are you going to do to him?" The lycan's eyes flashed with a fierce intensity, and he growled, "Wait until then, and you, my little human, won't be spared too. I promise you that."

His words sent shivers down her spine, and Aria felt a scream building up inside her. But she bit her lip, composing herself with effort. She didn't want to show the lycan any more weakness.

The lycan's growl grew louder, more menacing, and Aria knew she had to get out of there - fast. "Get out now," he snarled, his voice like thunder in the small cell.

Aria didn't need to be told twice. She grabbed her cleaning supplies and turned to flee, her heart racing with fear. Her steps echoed throughout the dungeon as she ran, the sound of her own ragged breathing loud in her ears.

Just as she reached the door, a deep growl shook the whole wall, making Aria stumble. The sound was like nothing she had ever heard before primal, fierce, and terrifying. She regained her balance and burst through the door, slamming it shut behind her.

As she leaned against the door, panting, Aria felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had escaped the lycan's cell, but she knew she wouldn't soon forget the encounter. The lycan's words still echoed in her mind, filling her with a sense of foreboding. What did he plan to do to the alpha? And what did he mean by saying she wouldn't be spared? Aria's heart was racing with questions, and she knew she had to find answers before it was too late.