Chapter 164. You Won’t Run

After that restless night spent entangled beneath his weight and the unforgiving cuffs, I found myself confined to this room day after day. It wasn’t my choice; the Alpha had ordered it. Now, the door was locked not just by the bolt I could hear behind me, but also by guards stationed outside, ensuring my wrists stayed bound to the headboard of the bed. My attempts at escape had only tightened his resolve. Five days passed in this forced solitude, with no word from him, no late-night visits, no shackles undone. Surprisingly, I felt a moment’s relief at the reprieve—at least he was busy negotiating with the surrounding packs, and that gave me some measure of freedom within these walls. Except for the cuffs, of course. The cold iron around my wrists was a constant reminder of my captivity.

Each night, I watched from the window as the moon shifted its slow course across the sky. I counted its phases. Tonight, the moon was full, a pale sentinel in a sky blotched with clouds. And t