Bound by fate to the future Alpha.

** Chapter Thirty: A dark place - Malia's POV

They tossed her into a damp, dimly lit cell, the iron door slamming shut behind her. Malia's eyes adjusted slowly to the faint light, and she scanned her new prison, searching for any sign of escape. The walls were cold and grey, the air thick with the stench of mould and decay. She shivered despite the warmth of the summer night outside.

My mind raced with thoughts of Blake, wondering if he was searching for me, if he had any idea where i was. I thought back to our conversation, the way he had smiled at me, the way his eyes had crinkled at the corners. I knew he would move heaven and earth to find me, to rescue me from this nightmare.

But as the minutes ticked by, the silence began to suffocate me. fear gave way to desperation, and i started to shout, my voice echoing off the cold stone walls. “Blake! Help! Someone, please!”

The only response was the faint sound of footsteps, growing fainter with each passing moment. My heart sank, and i slumped against the wall, tears of frustration and fear streaming down my face. I was alone, and i had no idea how to escape. But i refused to give up and refused to lose hope.

I wiped the tears away, my eyes burning from the salty streaks. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Think, Malia, think. You’ve gotten out of tighter spots before. Okay, maybe not exactly like this, but still. My pulse raced as I surveyed the dim confines of my cell again, desperately searching for any sign of weakness, any crack that might lead to freedom. The concrete walls loomed around me like the harsh embrace of fate, and the heavy iron door felt like an impenetrable fortress. Just as hopelessness began to creep in, my gaze locked onto the small, barred window high above, a mere sliver of hope amid the despair. If I could just get up there, I could fit through it. I scanned the grimy floor for anything that could serve as a makeshift ladder, my heart racing with both fear and determination.

That's when I spotted it—a rusty old bucket in the corner, nearly hidden by the shadows, as if it were waiting for this very moment. Adrenaline surged through me; this was my chance, a possible lifeline amidst the madness. I dragged the bucket over to the wall, my heart pounding with excitement and trepidation. Climbing onto it, my legs trembled beneath me, but I squared my shoulders and reached up toward the window. My fingers brushed against the cold metal bars, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a surge of hope that maybe this time, my plans could be successful. The brief elation was quickly dashed when the sound of approaching footsteps pierced the stillness of the cell, growing louder with each passing second. My heart raced, and I froze, hand still grasping the bars, listening intently as the footsteps halted just outside.

The rusted iron door creaked ominously, swinging open to reveal a figure shrouded in shadows. It wasn’t Blake or anyone I recognized, but rather a woman—tall and imposing, with striking green eyes that seemed to bore straight into my very soul. "Well, well, well," she said, her voice smooth yet dripping with malice. "Look what we have here. The little rebel, all alone and scared." I straightened my shoulders, forcing myself to meet her gaze with defiance, though my heart threatened to betray me. "Who are you?" I demanded, striving to keep my voice steady despite the quiver of fear that lurked just beneath the surface. Her smile was cold and cruel, like a predator revelling in the fear of its prey. "I’m your worst nightmare, Malia. And you’re going to find out just how bad things can get." In that moment,

...I knew I was in grave danger. The woman's eyes seemed to bore deeper into my soul, as if searching for the perfect way to break me. Her presence was suffocating, making the already cramped cell feel like a tiny, airless box. I tried to stand taller, to appear braver than I felt, but my legs trembled beneath me like leaves in a hurricane.

"You know, Malia," she continued, her voice dripping with sadistic pleasure, "I've been waiting for you. You're quite the legend among our little group. The girl who thinks she can take on the system and win." Her eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing through me like a dagger. "I'm here to show you just how wrong you are."

I swallowed hard, trying to push back the fear that threatened to overwhelm me. I had to keep my wits about me if I was going to survive this. "What do you want from me?" I asked, trying to sound bold, but my voice came out barely above a whisper.

The woman chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "Oh, I want a lot of things from you, Malia. But first and foremost, I want to break you. I want to see you beg to see you crawl, to see you surrender." Her eyes gleamed with excitement, and I knew I was in the presence of a monster.

I raised an eyebrow, trying to appear unfazed despite the chill running down my spine. "And who might you be? The queen of mean or just another wannabe trying to take me down?" I shot back, my voice laced with sarcasm.

Her smile grew wider, revealing perfect white teeth. "Oh, I'm so much more than that, Malia. I'm the one who's been watching you, studying your every move. I know your strengths and weaknesses, your deepest fears and desires." She leaned in, her breath cold against my ear. "And I'm going to use that knowledge to destroy you."

You know there are several people willing to pay a small fortune to have you out of the way for good, but me I do this for fun. I've been waiting for the perfect moment to strike, and now that I have you right where I want you, I'm going to savour every second of it. "You see, Malia, I've been playing the game for a long time, and I've got the skills to take you down without even breaking a sweat. You're just a pawn in my game, and it's time for you to make your exit." Her eyes glinted with excitement as she whispered the final blow: "And when I'm done with you, no one will even remember your name."