Kapitel 2: Worse Than Betrayal

Leslie POV:

I lost track of time in the dungeon. It could have been five days or a week; the damp, oppressive darkness made it impossible to tell. What made my confinement even more unbearable were the conversations I overheard between the two warriors who brought me meager food once a day and filthy water. They spoke in hushed tones about how the Alpha had announced that I had betrayed the pack and run away.

Shock coursed through me. I didn't think anyone would care if I left, let alone fabricate such a vicious lie. Branding me a traitor and claiming I had escaped while I was rotting away in this dungeon was beyond cruel. If they wanted me gone, I would gladly become a rogue. But to smear my name and lock me up in this awful place? That was pure evil.

Every night, Jake continued his visits, lying silently outside my cell. His presence puzzled me, and I wondered what he was thinking. Elsie, on the other hand, seemed content with his presence, which made me believe that Jake shared the same sentiments. Perhaps that was why he came each night—to see me and stay close, even in silence.

As I lay on the cold stone floor, I couldn't help but think about the depth of the betrayal I was enduring. The pack had turned against me, branding me a traitor for crimes I hadn't committed. And yet, despite everything, Jake's nightly visits were a small comfort, a silent testament to the bond we shared. It was a cruel irony that the very bond I loathed was also the only thing providing me with a shred of solace in this nightmare.

Elsie's silence spoke volumes. She was healing in her own way, just as I was trying to. We both knew that this bond, this connection, was something neither of us could sever, no matter how much we wanted to. The dungeon, with its suffocating darkness and cold, became a place of introspection and quiet resilience. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew one thing for certain: I would survive this, and somehow, I would find a way to reclaim my life and my name.

They never bothered feeding me meat, oblivious to the fact that I had a wolf. This drained Elsie significantly since she was the one who regulated my body temperature in this cold, damp cell. The lack of proper nutrition weakened me further, making every day a struggle for survival. I could feel Elsie's strength waning, her energy sapped by the inadequate food and harsh conditions.

One day, not during his usual night visit, Jaden came to me. He opened the cell, wrinkling his nose at the oppressive smell—I assumed it was me, having not showered since they locked me up. His gaze was intense as he looked at me, his expression unreadable, then he ordered me to follow him.

I obeyed without question, my mind racing with possibilities. Was this it? The day Jaden finally rebelled against his father and found an ounce of kindness and mercy in his dark, hardened heart? Elsie stirred, sensing something different. She was happy and spoke for the first time in days, "He's come to rescue us. He's our mate."

Jaden led me through the dimly lit corridors of the dungeon, his grip firm but not painful. I tried to keep up, my weakened body protesting with every step. The silence between us was heavy, filled with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and hope battling within me.

As we ascended the stairs, I couldn't help but hope that this was a turning point. Maybe, just maybe, Jaden had realized the cruelty of my imprisonment and decided to act. Elsie's renewed spirit gave me a glimmer of hope, something I hadn't felt in a long time.

But as we emerged into the brighter halls of the pack house, doubt crept in. What if this wasn't a rescue? What if Jaden had other plans, ones that didn't involve kindness or mercy? I pushed the thought aside, clinging to the fragile hope that this was the start of something better.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I allowed myself to believe that things might change. Elsie's optimism fueled my own, and I silently prayed that Jaden's actions were guided by a newfound sense of justice and compassion.

Jaden led me through the grand corridors of the pack house, past ornate decorations and lavish furnishings that stood in stark contrast to the bleakness of the dungeon. Every step echoed with the uncertainty of my fate. I couldn't help but steal glances at him, searching for any sign of the boy I once knew, the one who had been my friend before everything went wrong. His jaw was set, his eyes forward, betraying no emotion.

We passed by pack members who gave us curious and suspicious looks. I felt their gazes burn into me, whispers trailing behind us. "Isn't that the traitor?" "What is Jaden doing with her?" The weight of their judgment was almost unbearable, but I forced myself to keep moving, my legs trembling beneath me.

Eventually, we reached a room at the far end of the house, a place I had never been before. Jaden opened the door and motioned for me to enter. The room was small but clean, a stark improvement from the dungeon. There was a bed with fresh linens, a small table with a chair, and a window that let in the soft light of the early morning.

"Stay here," Jaden said, his voice flat and devoid of any warmth. "Someone will bring you food and clothes."

I nodded, too exhausted to speak. As he turned to leave, I couldn't stop myself from asking, "Why are you doing this?"

He paused, his back to me. For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he said, "I don't know." And with that, he left, closing the door behind him.

I stood there, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and hope. Elsie's presence was a comforting hum in the back of my mind, her belief in our mate unwavering. "He's trying," she whispered. "Give him time."

I collapsed onto the bed, the softness a welcome relief after days on the cold, hard floor. Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of relief, fear, and uncertainty. I didn't know what the future held, but for now, I was out of the dungeon, and that was a start.

As I lay there, I couldn't help but think about the days ahead. Would Jaden continue to show kindness? Would the Alpha allow it? And what about my father? I knew he would never accept me, never forgive me for the loss of my mother. But maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to survive this, to carve out a life for myself despite the odds.

For now, all I could do was wait and see what tomorrow would bring, holding onto the fragile hope that things might, somehow, get better.

I managed to shower before the food and clothes arrived. The warm water renewed my energy, and I felt a bit more like myself again. I ate the warm food, savoring each bite, and put on the clean clothes. Sleep was already beckoning me to the warm, soft bed, and I couldn't resist.

It was the middle of the night when I sensed someone in the room. The scent of rain-soaked soil filled my nostrils, and I recognized it instantly—my mate. Joy surged through me; he had come. Waking up and sitting up, I found him standing at the door, watching me.

I don't know why, but the hair on my neck stood up. There was something in his look that wasn't right. His smirk was that of a mischievous child about to do something bad, knowing he would get away with it. Slowly and steadily, he approached me. I wanted to stand up and bolt into the bathroom, but my legs had turned to jelly

As he stood just beyond the bed, he started to drag the covers, revealing my bare legs exposed due to the shorts I was wearing. "Beautiful," he murmured, and I knew what he was up to.

"Jaden, I'm not comfortable. I'm...I'm not ready," I murmured, hoping he would turn back and leave or regain his senses. But my words seemed to enter one ear and leave through the other. He forcefully grabbed my legs and pulled me to him. At that moment, I knew I was a goner, truly fucked up.

Elsie, who had been quiet and subdued, seemed to retreat further into the recesses of my mind. She was as shocked and disheartened as I was, her presence a distant whisper rather than the comforting force she had been before. We both grappled with the gravity of what is about to transpire, trying to come to terms with the betrayal that had cut so deeply. I had no strength to push Jaden off as he forced himself on me, tearing my clothes in the process.

I couldn't do anything. This was not what I thought would come from his 'kind' change. Tears streamed down my face as the weight of his betrayal crushed me. The hope that had flickered so briefly was snuffed out, replaced by a deep, consuming darkness.

Each tear that fell was a testament to my shattered spirit, my broken trust. Jaden's actions destroyed any remnants of faith I had left. The room, once a symbol of potential salvation, now felt like a prison of despair.

In that moment, I realized the true extent of my isolation. Not only had my pack turned against me, but my mate, the one person who should have been my protector, had become my tormentor. I was utterly alone, abandoned even by Elsie.

As the night dragged on, my thoughts became a chaotic swirl of pain and disbelief. How could Jaden do this to me? The boy I once considered my friend was now the source of my deepest agony. He had taken me in every inhumane possible. Making matters worse he even let jake had a go at me I never would have thought the loving Jaden wolf – would also be despicable thank the goddess he choice to stay in Jaden form.

It was then that Jake's words cut through the fragile hope I had been clinging to. His expression hardened as he revealed the truth I had been too desperate to see.

"I was just acting," he said, his voice devoid of warmth. "All those nights, it was a ploy to lure you into my trap. And just like a good prey, you fell right into my marvelous plan."

His eyes were cold and calculating, devoid of any trace of the kindness I had hoped for. "Jaden almost lost you," he continued, a bitter edge to his voice. "But we needed you to become super strong. Now, after mating with you, my weakling mate, I'll gain the strength every male wolf acquires from their mate after the first time."

Elsie froze up and then vanished completely. She was gone. This was the final straw that broke her. I couldn't feel or sense her. Is it even possible to lose one's wolf from emotional torture? The impact of his words was more devastating than any physical blow. Each syllable felt like a dagger, slicing through the remnants of my hope and the illusion of compassion I had harbored. The walls he had so aggressively breached were nothing compared to the walls he had torn down within me.

I had been wrong to think that Jaden/Jake might come to understand, to show a sliver of humanity. The realization hit me with brutal clarity: he had no intention of showing mercy. His actions were driven by a cold, calculated ambition, not by the bond we shared.

I stopped begging, stopped pleading. The energy to do so vanished as I faced the harsh truth. Jaden/Jake wasn't the savior I had hoped for. He was just another predator, and I was nothing more than a means to an end.

The harshness of his betrayal shattered something inside me. My heart ached with a profound sense of loss and disillusionment. I had hoped for kindness, for redemption, but instead, I was met with cruelty and exploitation. The man I had once thought of as a friend, and later as a potential rescuer, had only ever been a part of a sinister plan.

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the weight of my broken trust and the realization that I had been deceived. Jake's words echoed in my mind, a chilling reminder of the depths of his ruthlessness. In that dark moment, I understood that I was truly alone, stripped of illusions and left to face the harsh reality of my situation.

The room, once filled with a glimmer of hope, now felt like a cage of despair. I lay there, numb and defeated, as the weight of Jaden's words settled heavily on my shoulders. When he finally left, I was left in tatters, both physically and emotionally. My body ached from the assault, and my heart was heavy with a grief I had never known. I curled up on the bed, pulling the torn covers around me, and let the darkness take over. Sleep was my only escape, even if it was filled with nightmares.

The morning light brought no solace, only the harsh reality of my situation. The pack house, which had seemed like a place of refuge, was now a reminder of my suffering. I knew I had to find a way to survive, to gather the shattered pieces of my spirit and rebuild.

But for now, all I could do was lie there, broken and defeated, praying for the strength to endure whatever came next.

Little did I know that the nightmare was far from over. The Luna entered the room, her presence as cold and imposing as the stone walls surrounding me. Her gaze fell upon my shattered form with an unsettling gleam of satisfaction, as if my suffering were a source of delight for her.

With a cruel smile, she spoke the words that would cement the depth of their treachery. "You've been accused of betrayal," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "And for that, you are to be executed."

The announcement hit me like a sledgehammer, crushing any remaining flickers of hope. So this was their plan all along—to use me, extract whatever they could, and then dispose of me like a broken tool. The realization that I had been nothing more than a pawn in their cruel game was a bitter pill to swallow. They had lured me in, exploited my vulnerabilities, and now they were preparing to end my life as if it were nothing more than an afterthought.

The Luna's expression was one of twisted satisfaction, her eyes glittering with a cruel pleasure at the thought of my impending demise. She reveled in the power she held over me, the control she had exercised to bring me to this point.

I was left alone in the room, the weight of her words sinking in. The realization of what was to come was both terrifying and numbing. I had been betrayed by those I once hoped would protect me, used for their gain, and now condemned to an unjust end.

As the hours passed, the reality of my situation became increasingly clear. The room, once a small sanctuary, now felt like a tomb. The fear of the unknown, combined with the raw pain of betrayal, overwhelmed me. I lay there, my mind a storm of thoughts and emotions, trying to come to terms with the fact that my life was being extinguished in such a brutal and callous manner.

In the solitude of that room, I grappled with the harsh truth of my impending execution. The Luna's visit had solidified the end of my hope, leaving me to confront the bitter reality of being discarded after all I had endured. The sense of impending finality was overwhelming, and I could only brace myself for the inevitable conclusion of this horrific chapter in my life.

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