ELIZABETH'S POV
It was hard to sleep in this place, even when given the chance. Most of us found solace in late-night conversations, sharing stories, and connecting. It gave us a flicker of hope-a reminder that we were still alive, still human.
Tonight was one of those nights. A small group of us gathered to talk quietly, breaking the suffocating silence of captivity.
Ora sat on the edge of her bed, her hands folded in her lap, and a faint smile gracing her lips. "I've been here for five years, and I'm just grateful to be alive. The group I used to travel with... they were all killed. Somehow, they just took me. I don't know why."
Sophie leaned against the bedpost, her tone flat but laced with a sharp edge. "That's their thing. Leave one alive or none at all."
I frowned, curious. *Why leave anyone alive? What was the point?*
Ora shrugged, brushing her dark hair behind her ear. "Like I said, I'm just grateful to be alive."
Ellis, cross-legged on her bed, leaned forward. "Aren't you afraid? I mean... people say the Alpha claimed you as his mate."
I sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. "I am. I don't even know what that means. So far, I'm just a slave, like everyone else."
"They say he's a different kind of monster," Ellis whispered, her voice barely audible, as if she feared being overheard. "Worse than all of them. Some say he's the devil."
Anna nodded from her bed, wrapped tightly in her blanket. "The devil-devil. And I believe it. I felt it the first time I was dragged here, ten years ago."
My eyes widened. "You've been here for ten years?"
Anna's smile was faint, tinged with melancholy. "Yes. I've seen things... Things I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. There's something off about the Alpha. Stay away from him as much as you can."
I nodded, keeping my thoughts to myself. "Oh, I plan to do just that. Until we..." I clamped my mouth shut before saying too much.
"Until we what?" Ora asked curiously.
I ducked under my blanket. "Nothing. We should sleep. It's going to be another long day tomorrow."
"Yeah," Anna yawned. "Goodnight, my girls."
"Goodnight," I murmured, my voice already fading as sleep pulled me under.
It felt like I had only blinked before sunlight pierced through my eyelids, dragging me from restless dreams. I groaned, hearing the others chatter and move about with far too much energy.
"Come on, up, up, up!" Anna said, yanking the blanket off me with a teasing grin.
I groaned again, burying my head under a pillow. "What in the world do you people take? Why is everyone so full of life this early?"
"You'll get used to it," Lily laughed, already tying her hair back.
With another groan, I forced myself up and trudged to the showers. After a quick rinse, I threw on my plain gray dress and boots, tying my hair into a bun before heading out.
Today, Lily and I were assigned office-cleaning duty. The thought made me groan again. The pack house was enormous, and I could already feel the ache in my arms from all the scrubbing ahead.
"I hate cleaning days," Lily muttered, her face twisted in a pout.
I couldn't help but laugh. "Of course, you prefer the kitchen. Honestly, I think I do too."
"It's our safe space," she said with a small smile, nudging my shoulder lightly.
"Exactly."
Lily sighed, tilting her head. "First floor or second floor?"
My stomach churned at the thought of the second floor, where *he* was. "First floor," I said quickly.
She grinned. "See you later. And stay out of trouble, please."
I frowned, tossing her a look. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"
---
The offices were a challenge. I'd cleaned two so far, and my arms already felt like jelly. When I stepped into the third, I froze. This one was massive, with walls lined with bookshelves and sunlight streaming in through French doors. It was beautiful-and daunting.
Books. My eyes scanned the shelves, heart quickening. It had been so long since I'd seen so many books in one place. Reading had always been my passion. It was my escape.
I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder before reaching out to touch the spines. Fiction. History. Philosophy. My fingers hovered over a worn copy of *Flowers in the Attic*, a story I'd read once before. Peculiar and unsettling, it had opened my eyes to the strange, dark corners of the world.
I clutched it to my chest, wondering if I dared sneak it away. Suddenly, I froze.
A presence.
Warm breath brushed against my ear, and I felt the faintest prickle at the nape of my neck. His voice, low and deliberate, sent a shiver down my spine. "I told you to stay out of trouble, little raven."
It was Elijah. He was the only one who called me that.
I turned slowly, clutching the book tighter, my heart pounding. His presence was overwhelming, filling the room without effort. He wasn't like Damon, whose mere proximity filled me with dread. No, Elijah's closeness was different. His heat was palpable, his gaze an enigma I couldn't quite decipher.
"I..." My voice faltered. "I never got to thank you for helping me. Thank you."
He tilted his head, studying me with an unreadable expression. "I have a feeling you'll find yourself in need of saving often," he said, his tone calm, almost amused.
My throat felt dry. I prayed he would step back, but he didn't.
"You like to read," he observed, glancing at the book I held. His hand rose, brushing just above my shoulder as he reached for a specific book on the shelf. Slowly, he took the one I was holding and replaced it with his selection.
"Then you'll like this one," he said, stepping back at last.
The space between us felt like a relief.
Before he could leave, I found my voice. "Why... why do you hate us?"
His steps faltered. Turning back, he leaned close again, his lips near my ear. His voice was a whisper, rich with meaning. "I do not hate your kind. We were once just like you. The question is, why do you hate your kind?"
I blinked, confused, as he strode out of the room.
My eyes fell to the book he'd given me. The title was strange: 'The First'. I sighed, tucking it into my bag.
Elijah was an enigma. Unlike the others, he wasn't cold or cruel. He wasn't even indifferent. He was 'him'-a mystery I couldn't quite unravel.