CARLISLE.

　　The bright sun rays woke me up as usual and I immediately jump out of bed to check the door. It is still locked. I scream out in anger and clawed my nails at the ornate door, shaking the knob over and over again but it doesn't budge.

　　My mind boil in anger. How dare they lock me away like a criminal? All I want is to get out of the pack and not play into the desires of my mother and her cohorts, but Damon isn't letting me. I still have my free will and I need to use it somehow to get out of here.

　　Once again, I try placing my fae magic into the door willing it to open, but it stays on the structure, hard as ever. Somehow, my powers don't work on it and I guess that Damon and his mother have invited that witch over again to perform some sort of spell.

　　Desperate for a plan to escape, I quickly freshen up and move to the small window near my bed. I look down at the people moving about, unaware that I am being held against my will. I want to shout for help, but at the last moment, I stop. It is of no use as I have long discovered that the room is sound proof. Besides, I would expend the energy I didn't have.

　　Just at that moment, the scent of food wafts into my nostrils and I frown again and fold my arms. My stomach grumbles in protest but I ignore it and instead watch as the door clicks open. Before I would run to it and try to escape but this time, I only glare at the guard when he enters with a steaming tray of food.

　　"Good morning, my lady. Here is a–," he starts, extending the tray towards me but I bark at him instantly.

　　"What do you want?" It's a question he's already used to and he keeps silent, gesturing at the food. Once again, my stomach complains and he seems to hear it too as a tiny smile crosses his face. The movement gets me more angry and I stone a book at him.

　　"Get out of here before I use my powers on you! I've told you to never bring food to me, yet you still persist," I scream and he backs away from me, now holding the food closer to his body. "Tell me, did Damon send you again? Tell your Alpha that I will not eat until I'm released from this place."

　　I look away from him and wait with bated breath as he bows his head and turns away from me, moving outside the door. As he leaves, I hear him sigh but there's also a look of determination on his face. Damon's guards are loyal to the core and would do anything for him, no matter how impossible the task seems. I know for certain he will come again in the evening and a smile crosses my features as I think of my next step.

　　I can't afford to stay in the pack longer than another day and my journey has been delayed. Coupled with the fact that I need to eat and drink something, only as long as it isn't from Damon and his mother. For all I know, the both of them could be poisoning the food they are giving me to make me stay. I don't trust any one in this pack, nor want to stay any longer.

　　I look out again at the window and sift through the thoughts in my head. Slowly, my plan begins to take shape and my lips slowly curl in a smile. If my plan goes well, I will certainly be out of the pack by nightfall.

　　•

　　•

　　DAMON.

　　A knock sounds on my office door and I look up as the guard comes in with a forlorn expression on his face. I swivel my chair fully and focus on him, crossing my hands in the mahogany table.

　　"Yes, what can I do for you?" I ask him and he bows his head slightly before shaking it once.

　　"It's your mate, Alpha. For the past three days, she has refused to eat food nor drink water."

　　"What do you mean?"

　　"Alpha, she hasn't eaten any of the food that I carried to her. She said she will continue to starve herself and not take anything," the guard explains and I shake my head in disappointment. "I'm not sure what to do, and she has threatened to kill me with her powers if I go near her again.

　　I bury my head in my hands and groan softly. My heart thumps once in my chest for the fact that my mate is alone in her room, without a proper meal for three days. For a second, my resolve to keep her locked up wavers. Is it really necessary to do so if she refuses to listen and understand my way? Her behaviour makes it look like I'm keeping her hostage and making her suffer.

　　But I still can't lose her. Carlisle is the first mate the goddess blessed me with since my birth over 100 years ago. If I let her go, what's to say I would have another mate? I can't afford it. It's obvious that she wants to leave the pack and her mind is made up, but so is mine. If she decides to play stubborn, then I also can. From my experience with hostages, they usually give up after the fourth day.

　　All I need to do is allow another day and hopefully, she'll budge and agree to talk to me. I look up at the guard who's still standing in position, his eyes trained on me.

　　"Continue to give her food. She'll soon understand. Also, her powers can't work well in that room because it's enchanted. So don't worry about that," I assure him with all the confidence I feel, before I focus back on my files which need to be sorted. "You may go. Offer her food again in the evening and if she refuses, leave it there."

　　The guard nods and leaves the room, while I shake my head and turn to the floor to ceiling window behind me. Carlisle can't leave me, not at this time. My people are already celebrating the emergence of a Luna after so many years of my mother playing the role. There is no way I'll disappoint them and confess that my mate rejected me, for no reason. No way.

　　•

　　•

　　CARLISLE.

　　Soon, it is evening again and time for my next meal. My head is spinning and my stomach hurts badly, but I refuse to give up. If I hold on for just one more day, maybe Damon and his mother will understand my need to leave and allow me. My thoughts are cut short when the guard enters my room with a steaming bowl of food.

　　Like always, my stomach growls but I subtly adjust my gown and look into his face as I cross my legs on the window seat. He raises his head to stare at me and I waych as his eyes drip to my legs, exposed under the sheer black gown I'm wearing. He gulps in a breath and stretches out his hand.

　　"Here is your evening meal, umm...Luna," he says with his gaze still trained on my body. I get up and move towards him slowly, taking the plate from him.

　　"Thank you very much," I respond sweetly, lightly trailing my fingers across his hand as I collect the tray. The guard just looks at me and mechanically nods, while I smile at him. Just like I thought, he is entranced by my charms which are heightened by my fae powers. I walk some more steps forward and then stop right in front of him.

　　"Thank you for always bringing food to me. You've been here for me when the others weren't, even my mate," I raise myself to tiptoes and whisper into his ears, "Why don't I repay you?"

　　His body shivers beside me and he looks at me with amazement in his eyes. I smile at him and just as he is about to respond, I quickly move behind him and tap his neck. Instantly, his eyes close and he falls to the floor in an unconscious heap.

　　Mission accomplished. I quietly step away from him and dash to the clothes on my bed which I quickly wear. After that, I carry the bag I have already packed and walk out of the open door.

　　The next thing on my list is to find a way out of the pack house and then out of the pack. I am determined to leave, and I must do so.