PIPER POV

I woke up only to find myself in a dark room. I was lying on the concrete floor. I could feel my body freezing. I was confused. Where is this place? Who brought me here? I have so many questions I need answers to.

I don't even know who is behind this. "Hello?"

No one was in the room with me. The only thing I could hear was the droplet of water from another door, not far from where I was lying. My hands and legs were tied.

The last thing I remember was those dark eyes staring at me. I don't know who he is or why he came for me. But why am I here? I thought he was my savior. So why am I tied up right here? I thought I was meant to be in a better room, lying down.

"Someone, please help me!" I tried to yell, but only my voice could be heard.

"I can't be here all alone!" I cried out. "Please, someone help me! I need to use the restroom!"

I feel so pressed. My heart won't stop racing fast. All I can think about right now is my safety. Is Dad looking for me already? Will he find me? I can't be here. What if they want to kill me?

The fear began to set in. I don't want my life to be wasted. I've always thought I'd have a better ending. I thought I'd find my mate and then get married someday, but it turned out my mate doesn't want me. He didn't even try to know me before he dumped me.

Why was he so cold toward me? So many questions that need answers. I don't know how I'm going to leave this place.

The door burst open, and a familiar figure walked in. It's him. The man who works for my mate. He glared at me. "I don't know why the Alpha refused to let you leave with your buyer, but trust me, you'll end up getting killed at the end of the day," he said with so much hatred on his face.

I got so scared. "P-please don't hurt me. I beg of you. Don't hurt me. I know a lot of things are going on at the moment, but please don't hurt me. I didn't do anything wrong."

He scoffed. "Of course, you didn't do anything wrong, but your father did, and you'll pay for it."

I gulped. I knew Dad had lots of enemies, but what I didn't expect was his enemies using me for their own game.

"You have issues with Dad, not me. Let me go, please. I won't tell him anything. Just let me leave, and nothing will happen," I tried to talk him out of it, but he wasn't even fazed.

He cackled. "You think I'm stupid? You think you can easily change my mind about you? Oh, little girl, you don't know what you're in for. You'll suffer dearly because of your father."

He approached me. He bent a little to my level because I was sitting. He grabbed my jaw, and that made me wince. "You'll suffer dearly because of your father. If I were you, I'd start praying my last prayer, 'cause this might be your end."

I swallowed hard. Fear was written all over my face, but I tried hard to be strong. I didn't want to say anything that would get me punished, so I shut up.

He hardly released my jaw and stood up straight. He dusted his shirt, then said, "The maid will be here with your food. If you try anything funny, you'll be punished. I'm sure you see where you are right now."

That was when I used the moment to stare at the surroundings. It made me realize I was in a room full of irons and canes for punishment. This is their punishment room.

"Please don't hurt me," I cried out.

He shrugged. "It all depends on your behavior. If you choose to be a good girl, then you won't get punished."

I nodded. "I'll behave. I promise I won't misbehave."

He smirked and turned. He left the room without uttering another word. My heart was racing so badly that I thought I'd fall off my chest. This isn't nice at all. I can't be here. I don't want to suffer a heart attack.

No one knew I had a heart issue. Even Dad doesn't know. This is a pain I endure all on my own. I can't be here and feel the slight pain in my chest. I placed my hand on my chest, trying to massage it, but the pain was unbearable.

I was gasping for air. I tried to calm myself down. I tried counting from one to ten, and it helped calm me down. I rested my back on the wall.

I don't know how long I was in this room alone. The next minute, I heard the sound of the door opening. My eyes were closed because I was trying to calm my racing heart.

"We brought in your food," I heard a calm voice say to me.

That was when I opened my eyes, and I saw her. She was a maid. She should be around my age. I nodded. "Thanks," I said quietly.

She dropped the plate containing food right beside me. She brought water with her too. Water was the first thing my hand reached out to. I needed it so badly.

She watched me as I fought hard to open the cover of the bottle. She saw how hard I found it to do so, so she took it from me and opened it for me. "Here."

I took it from her. "Thanks."

She nodded but didn't say anything. I drank from the bottle like it was my last hope on earth.

I expected her to leave already, but she was still standing. I stared at her strangely. "You know, you can leave. You don't have to stay with me."

"It's an order. I was meant to be here while you finish up the food," she said.

She doesn't seem like one who talks too much, and I didn't want to bother her. She might get in trouble if I continue to ask her questions I shouldn't be asking.

I took the plate up and opened it to see that it was rice and bread. I took one spoonful of the rice, and it tasted so delicious. I was expecting spoiled food, but they gave me something so delicious.

I kept eating until I finished the whole meal. I drank the remaining water. It felt like I haven't eaten in ages.

She bent down to take the plate.

"Thanks so much. This is delicious," I said to her.

She nodded but didn't say anything. She took the plate and made her way to the door. Just as she was about to open the door, she stopped to say to me, "I was meant to give you the leftover, but I couldn't. So please don't make it obvious I gave you good food to eat."

I nodded. "Thanks."

Before I could even say something else, she left the room. I swallowed the words before they even came out. Why is she so nice to me? She doesn't even know me, and she's being too nice.

Does that mean nice people still exist? I hugged myself while I waited for my next visitor. I don't know for how long they are going to keep me here. I don't know what their plan is with me.

What did Dad do to them? I want to know badly.

*****

A loud sound woke me up from my little nap.

I looked around to see where the sound was coming from, then I saw a figure not far from me. From their scent, I knew who it was already.

Mate.

I gulped as he approached me with those murderous eyes of his. "Seems like you've been having a good time here," he said.

I heaved a sigh. "Why am I here?"

They should tell me why I'm here and why I'm being used as a scapegoat for what my father must have done to them. I wasn't going to let my guard down.

"Seems like you've got some nerve to ask me such," he said and leaned close to me, driving me crazy with his wood scent.

I found myself getting drawn to him.

"If only you knew what I want to do with you," he said in a husky voice.

"Please, don't hurt me," I found myself saying. I felt a little braver because I was able to say something. "Don't hurt me. I didn't do anything wrong to you. I've never hurt a fly."

"That's where the fun comes in. That's why we need to tame Daddy's little princess," he taunted.

"What did you mean?" I asked stupidly.

"You'll find out soon," he said and slipped out of the room.

I sat down in my position while I stared at his retreating. What does he mean?