Chapter 4

~ELENA~

“Emmet…” I whispered.

The moment his name left my lips, he didn't just move but disappeared- faster than I'd ever seen. One breath, one single blink- and he was standing in front of me, his hand rooted in my hair, yanking my head back so I had no choice but to meet the fire in his eyes.

Pain sparked at my scalp, but I barely felt it. It was the way he looked at me- not like a mate, but a curse.

“Have you forgotten,” he growled, voice thick with restrained fury, “how you’re supposed to address me?”

My heart plummeted. “S… Sire.” Tears stung my lashes. I hated the way I sounded -small, frightened, broken. But he had warned me for years. I was never to speak his name.

He let go of my hair, but not the fury. “So now that you wear my mark,” he scoffed, “you think you can do whatever the hell you want? I leave you alone for one moment, and you run off to meet some… stranger?” His lips curled into a cruel smile. “Is he your sweet lover?”

“No! It’s not like that,” I said quickly, my voice shaking. “He came out of nowhere ... I didn’t even know him. He... he just kissed me. I didn’t kiss him back...” I started a step towards him.

“Liar!!” he was jealous. It was obvious.

My breath got caught and my steps drew me back to the wall.

“You really think I’ll believe that? You think I'm that stupid, blind?” His voice cracked with something deeper than rage -disappointment, betrayal. “You’ve proven exactly what you are. A cheap, dishonest little...”

“Please!” I stepped forward again, but he advanced, until the heat of his breath mingled with mine and my back meets the wall again. “I swear I didn’t do anything...”

“Shut up!” The command hit like a whip. “I’ve had enough of your lies. You're just cheap and full of lies. I could never believe anything that came out of that mouth of yours anyway. I have been too soft with you.” His eyes narrowed. “But I’ll give you one chance. Tell me who he was, where he came from, where I can find him... and maybe I’ll show mercy.”

“I don’t know...” I whispered, my voice cracking from the weight of my truth.

His stare fell flat on me. "But..." I was going to tell him the man was with Stephanie but a single raise of his palm sent my words choking back in my throat. Then he turned.

“You’ve made your choice.”

I dropped to my knees. “...please!”

“You’ll stay here. No food. No water. For three days,” He didn’t even glance at me. “Perhaps then you’ll learn how to behave.”

After his sentence came the slam of the iron gate.

And silence after.

* * *

The dark was suffocating.

Time blurred. The shadows never shifted. I cried until I had no tears left. All I could think about was how he hadn’t even let me explain. How he had looked at me like I was filth. How much I had hoped -foolishly -that being his mate meant he’d protect me. Start listening to me... Believe me. But he just called me a liar and refused to hear a word from me.

Suddenly, I heard the clanking of locks.

I straightened up at once, fear and hope twisting in my stomach. It was the guards.

“Sire wants you out.”

I blinked. “Emmet?” I asked, heart thudding.

Outside the cell, my maid Gotha was already there, wrapping her arms around me despite the filth. She helped me walk, not a word spoken between us until we reached my chambers.

“Why has he let me out?” I rasped, my throat dry. I had only been there for a few hours.

“I… I don’t know, mistress,” she said softly, handing me water. “Only that we were told to prepare you for the sire’s chambers.”

My breath caught again. Was this mercy? Or another test?

After a bath and clean clothes, I was escorted to his chambers and left alone as expected and the door closed behind me.

The room was empty.

I stood frozen until I heard that unmistakable voice sliding out from the shadows.

“Little shrimp… who's now a cheating shrimp.” He laughed quietly.

Emmet stepped into the light, dressed in nothing but a bath robe, his hair damp, his expression unreadable as usual.

“Why did you have me released?” I asked, summoning all the courage I could from what little pride remained.

He didn’t answer immediately. He just stared, and I felt the weight of his silence settle like a chain on my chest.

“Honestly?” he said at last, with a strange softness. “I don’t know.”

He walked past me, his voice echoing across the cold room. “Maybe I just wanted to see if you’d grovel again. Or maybe…” he turned, eyes locked with mine, “maybe I wanted to give you a chance. To redeem yourself. To earn back what you’ve already lost.” He shrugged. "If you can...."

My voice came out quieter than I expected. “And what… do you need me to do… sire?”

That word again. His gaze darkened with satisfaction, and I hated how well he wore control like a crown.

He stepped forward, close enough to brush the sleeve of my dress.

“You’re going to prove to me,” he murmured, “that you still belong to me.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. The knot in my throat had returned, and all I could do was breathe carefully to keep from unraveling.

I watched his eyes -cold and wanting.

My eyes traced the movement of his hand as he slowly tugged at the string running down the front of my dress. The fabric loosened with one pull, and instinctively, I clutched it to my chest, as if shielding myself from more than just physical exposure.

Then suddenly, he stepped back.

“I want submission, little shrimp,” he said, voice cooler now. “I don’t want tears or theatrics. I want obedience.”

He walked to the sofa, slouching lazily into it like a king.

“Now you're gonna get on all fours,” he said, eyes glinting with authority.

I hesitated, clutching my dress to myself the more. "I won't repeat it."

I knew he wouldn't. Slowly, I lowered myself towards the floor and his voice cuts through my movement putting me to a halt.

"Let. The dress. Go!!"

Obediently, I let go and the dress slip from my body pooling at my feet. He then relaxed back on his seat.

"On all fours, little shrimp," he said, voice low and commanding. "Let me hear you howl."

I obeyed, my knees sinking into the rug. He rose before me, and I pressed my face to the floor, heart pounding.

Not because I didn’t know what he wanted but because I hated that I still longed to be near him. Even now. Even after everything.

"Howl like a little weak cheating wolf that you are."

I wanted to obey. I opened my mouth -but all that came out was a low, broken cry.

He let out a satisfied chuckle at the sound of my sobs. My tears slipped down, landing on my trembling fingers pressed to the floor.

Then he bent down, his hand finding my chin. With a firm grip, he tilted my face up and brushed my hair aside, as if needing a clearer view of my shame.

I listened to the sound of his footsteps as he arose. He stopped behind me, and I heard the soft rustle of his robe falling to the floor.

I didn’t dare look back. I didn’t dare move.

His hand settles on my shoulder, and I shiver beneath his touch. His bare body met mine, warm and unrelenting, and then his lips brushed my ear.

"I suppose I’ll help you howl, then," he murmured, voice deep and deliberate. "And I’m not getting off until you do. How’s that?"

I nodded quickly -too quickly -and he gave a dark, amused chuckle.

"Let’s find out," he said, "whether you really want to return to your dungeon... or if you're ready to earn my forgiveness tonight...."