Dominated by the Twin Alphas

5: Aurora

5: Aurora

I had been restless, the dreams of my mates haunting me relentlessly. The moonlight cast eerie shadows on the ground as I slept inside the small cave I found, teasing me with the memory of their touch. Yet, it was in that vulnerable state between wakefulness and slumber that I felt it – a cold, sinister presence lurking nearby. I’d found an old cabin and laid down to rest. Day 3 of my adventure to independence.

"Who's there?" I whispered as creaks sounded around me, fear twisting in my gut as I sat up.

"Shhh," came the chilling reply, followed by an icy caress along my cheek. "You're safe with me, Aurora."

"Lucius!" I gasped, recognizing the voice. My heart raced, adrenaline pumping through my veins. "What do you want?"

"Only what's best for you, my dear," he purred, his red eyes gleaming with malice in the darkness. The temperature in the room seemed to drop, as if the very air were bending to his will.

"Stay away from me," I warned, trying to summon my Seraphina powers, but they remained dormant, unresponsive to my pleas.

"Ah, such a feisty spirit," Lucius chuckled, stepping closer. "But I have no intention of harming you, dear girl. You're far too valuable."

"Valuable?” I demanded, though my voice trembled slightly at the implication. It was then that I noticed the silken ropes in his hands, fear amplifying the erratic rhythm of my pulse.

"Your bloodline, my precious Aurora. You are the key to creating a new breed of hybrids – stronger, faster, more powerful than any creature this world has ever seen. And I intend to unlock that potential."

"Never," I spat defiantly, backing away from him until I collided with the cold wall behind me. "You'll never use me for your twisted experiments."

"Ah, but you see," he murmured, his voice a seductive whisper as he closed the distance between us. "You don't have a choice."

With that, he lashed out with unnatural speed, ensnaring me in the ropes before I could even register what was happening. Panic surged through me, along with a perverse thrill at being so utterly helpless. I struggled against my bonds, desperate to escape, but it only served to tighten their grip on me.

"Let me go!" I cried, tears streaming down my cheeks as the reality of my situation crashed over me like a tidal wave. "Tristan! Sebastian!"

"Save your breath, my sweet," Lucius admonished coldly, his fingers tracing a chilling path down my throat. "Your wolves cannot help you now. You belong to me."

"Never," I repeated, my voice barely a whisper as I stared defiantly into his blood-red eyes. "I will fight you every step of the way."

"Ah, but that's half the fun, isn't it?" he mused, baring his fangs in a sinister grin. "We have all eternity to test your resolve, Aurora. And I am nothing if not patient."

As darkness consumed me, I clung to the knowledge that Tristan and Sebastian would never abandon me to this monster. They were my mates, after all, bound to me by something far stronger than Lucius's dark desires. And they would come for me – I just had to hold on until they did. Then it hit me… I’d not accepted their mark… they have no idea where I am… or where I was going. The world faded to black as fear seeped into my pores.

The darkness that once shrouded me slowly receded, giving way to a dimly lit chamber. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the scarce light as I took in my surroundings. The room was exquisitely adorned with silken drapes and rich tapestries that hung from the walls, their intricate patterns seeming to dance in the flickering candlelight. A beautiful canopy bed stood in the center of the space, its ebony frame contrasting starkly against the delicate white linens that pooled around it like a waterfall.

As my gaze continued to wander, I abruptly realized that the bed – and by extension, myself – were confined within an enormous cage made of unfamiliar metal. The bars loomed above and around me, encasing me like a trapped bird. Panic surged through me, my heart pounding wildly in my chest as I scrambled off the bed and grasped the bars, desperate to find a way out. But no matter how much I tugged and pulled, they remained steadfast, refusing to yield to my efforts.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. My powers seemed useless against this strange metal, leaving me utterly helpless and at the mercy of my captor.

"Ah, so the little bird is finally awake," a voice drawled from the shadows, sending a shiver down my spine. Lucius emerged from the darkness, his tall, imposing figure framed by the flickering candles. His red eyes seemed to glow, holding me captive in their sinister depths.

"Lucius," I spat, hatred coursing through me like venom. "What do you want from me? I won't agree to help you make these hybrids. Just let me go, please."

"Patience, my dear," he replied smoothly, circling the cage like a predator stalking its prey. "All will be revealed in due time."

"Release me!" I demanded, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to keep it steady. "You have no right to keep me here."

"Ah, but therein lies the beauty of our situation," Lucius murmured, stopping just inches from the cage. "I can do whatever I wish with you, and there's nothing you or your precious wolves can do about it."

"Tristan and Sebastian will come for me," I warned. "They won't stop until they find me."

"Let them try," he said dismissively. "But in the meantime, allow me to enlighten you on my intentions." He paused, a sinister smile creeping across his face as his eyes bore into mine. "My dear Aurora, I intend to create a new breed of hybrids – beings more powerful than any vampire, werewolf, or Seraphina that has ever walked this earth, as we discussed before you passed out so willingly in my arms. You will be my queen."

"Hybrids?" I echoed, my mind reeling at the thought. "What does that have to do with me? And why on earth would you think I'd be your queen?"

"Everything," Lucius replied, his gaze darkening with hunger. "With your unique heritage, you are the key to unlocking a power beyond anything we've ever known. And together, we will rule this world."

"Never," I whispered fiercely, my hands clenched into fists as I stared him down. "I'd rather die than help you with your twisted plans."

"Such defiance," he mused, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "It's almost... endearing. But make no mistake, my sweet Aurora – when the time comes, you will submit to me. Willingly or not."

"Over my dead body," I vowed, every fiber of my being screaming its refusal to bow to his desires.

"Time will tell," Lucius said ominously before vanishing back into the shadows, leaving me alone in my gilded prison.

The silence that followed Lucius's departure was deafening, punctuated only by the beating of my own heart. I could feel it pounding against my ribcage, a frantic rhythm fueled by adrenaline and fear. But beneath it all, there was something else – a spark of defiance that refused to be extinguished.

As I paced the confines of my ornate cage, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer size of it. The walls were adorned with intricate patterns, weaving in and out like a maze, while the floor was littered with plush carpets and cushions. Yet despite the beauty surrounding me, I couldn't shake the oppressive feeling of captivity, as if the very air was tainted by Lucius's sinister intentions.

"Think, Aurora," I muttered under my breath, my eyes roaming every inch of the enclosure for even the smallest hint of a weakness. "There must be some way out of here."

"Escape is futile, my dear," came Lucius's voice, smooth as silk yet somehow more chilling than ice. In his hand, he carried a tray of food. "But do not fret – your stay here will be most... enjoyable."

"Your twisted idea of 'enjoyable' is a far cry from mine," I retorted, my voice trembling slightly despite my best efforts to sound confident.

"Is that so?" He mused, stepping out of the shadows and into the dim light cast by flickering candles. His gaze swept over me hungrily, lingering on the curve of my neck and the swell of my breasts. "I believe you will learn to appreciate the pleasures I have to offer."

"Never," I shouted. "You may have taken me from my life, but you won't break me."

"Ah, such fire," Lucius murmured appreciatively, a wicked grin playing at the corners of his lips. "It will make your eventual surrender all the more satisfying."

"Keep dreaming," I shot back.

"Very well," he conceded with a shrug, seemingly unfazed by my resistance. "But remember, Aurora – you are mine now, whether you accept it or not."

"Only in your twisted fantasies," I replied, my voice laden with contempt. But as Lucius shoved dinner through the bars and sat to watch me eat, I had no choice but to devour the meal. I was famished.

As the hours passed, I found myself growing increasingly restless. My thoughts raced, constantly searching for an escape plan, a weakness in the cage that held me captive. And although my Seraphina abilities were useless against the metal bars, I refused to give up hope. There he sat, in the dark corner of my room, watching me.

"Sebastian... Tristan..." I whispered their names like a prayer, a lifeline to the life I had left behind. "Please... find me."

I couldn't afford to waste any more time. If I was going to escape from Lucius's clutches, I needed a plan – and fast. With determination, I set my mind to the task, mentally cataloguing every detail of my surroundings and considering every possible angle. I knew that my captor had underestimated me, and it was time to prove him wrong.

"Watch me, Lucius," I vowed, my eyes blazing with conviction. "You won't break me, and I will find a way out of this hell."

"Such foolish bravado," Lucius taunted, though his voice sounded fainter now, as if he was losing interest in our game of cat and mouse. "It will be your undoing."

"Or perhaps it will be yours," I retorted, feeling a surge of confidence as I embraced my inner strength and eccentricity. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."

"Neither do you, my dear," he replied with a chuckle, his voice fading into the darkness. "But soon enough, we shall see who prevails."

"Indeed," I murmured, a fierce determination taking root in my heart. "Let the games begin."

Such brave words were my last as a noxious gas poured into the room and knocked me out.