Chapter 15: Adorable Friend

Words : 1355 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 15: Adorable Friend Natalie~ The door clicked shut, and the cold, quiet room closed in around me. My knees buckled, and I sank onto the bed, hugging my arms tightly around my body. The gravity of my situation wrapped around my chest like a cold snake. Zane's accusations, his icy glare, and the sharpness of his words all replayed in the back of my mind like a haunting lullaby, one that wasn't meant for sleeping. I couldn't hold back my tears any longer as they spilled over, hot and heavy, streaming down my cheeks as I buried my face in my hands. Why me? Why was the goddess doing this to me? What wrong did I do? My crying filled the room, raw and unstoppable, bouncing against the walls like tennis balls. I think hours passed—or maybe it was minutes; I couldn't tell; time felt meaningless to me. My throat ached from crying, and my eyes burned, but my tears wouldn't stop falling. Every attempt to collect myself, to think straight, it all failed, and the fear gnawed at me relentlessly. The sound of a key turning in the lock of the bedroom door startled me. My head snapped up in the direction as the door creaked open, revealing Zane's mother, Nora. She stepped inside carefully, carrying a silver tray filled to the brim with food. The aroma hit me immediately—roasted chicken glistening with golden skin, creamy mashed potatoes drizzled with gravy, vegetables, and a slice of fresh-baked bread still steaming. A glass of sparkling water completed the spread. Nora placed the tray on a small table near the bed and gave me a tentative smile, her eyes soft but sad. "I brought you something to eat," she said, her voice gentle but firm. I barely glanced at the food. "Please," I begged, my voice cracking. "Let me go. I swear I've done nothing wrong. You have to believe me!" Her expression faltered, and for a moment, I thought she might relent. But she shook her head, the sadness deepening in her gaze. "I can't," she whispered. "Zane hasn't given the order. I'm sorry." "Please," I tried again, desperation clawing at my voice. "You seem kind. You must know I'm innocent!" Nora looked away, avoiding my gaze. "It's not my place," she murmured. "I can't help you." "What time is it?" I asked, my voice trembling. She glanced at the watch on her wrist. "A little past five," she said softly before stepping back toward the door. "Try to eat something," she added, though her tone suggested she didn't expect me to. The door clicked shut behind her, and the lock slid into place again. I didn't touch the food. The sight of it only reminded me of my captivity. Instead, I curled up on the bed, hugging my knees to my chest as fresh tears welled up. The minutes stretched into an eternity, my mind racing with hopeless thoughts. It was almost an hour later when the lock clicked again. This time, the door swung open slowly, revealing a small boy. He couldn't have been older than six or seven. His blonde hair was wild and unruly, and to my shock, he was completely naked. I bolted upright, stunned. "Who are you?" I asked, my voice hushed and wary. The boy didn't answer. Instead, he ran toward me, flinging his tiny arms around my waist. His body was cold against mine, and he shivered uncontrollably. "Wait—" I stammered, completely thrown off. My instinct to protect took over, and I grabbed a small blanket from the bed, wrapping it around him. He snuggled into the warmth, still clinging to me like his life depended on it. "Are you okay?" I asked, gently brushing his hair back. "What's your name?" He didn't respond, his silence unnerving. Instead, he grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the door. "You want me to go with you?" I asked, confused. He nodded, his grip insistent. Against my better judgment, I followed him, half-expecting Zane or one of his men to appear and drag me back. But the corridor was shockingly empty. The boy paused at the doorway, peeking outside before pulling me along. At one point, he stopped and tapped my leg, raising his arms as if asking to be carried. His large, pleading eyes left me no choice. I lifted him into my arms, and he snuggled against me, the blanket trailing behind us. He directed me through a maze of hallways and turns, his tiny finger pointing the way. Finally, we reached what looked like a wine storage room. The boy squirmed out of my arms and pushed an empty barrel aside with surprising strength, revealing a small trapdoor. He opened it and crawled through, turning back to gesture for me to follow. I hesitated for a moment before squeezing through the narrow space. The chill of the evening air hit me instantly, and I realized we were outside. The boy pointed toward a narrow trail that led into a sprawling garden. "Thank you," I whispered, crouching to his level. I cupped his face gently, my heart aching as I kissed his forehead. "But I can't take you with me. It's too dangerous." His eyes filled with tears, and he clung to my leg. "Mommy," he whimpered, his voice breaking for the first time. "Don't leave me." His words were so sad and it broke my heart. "I'm not your mommy," I said softly, though my chest tightened at the thought. "I wish I could stay with you, but I can't. If the owner of this house is your father... he'll surely punish me if I take you with me." The boy sobbed harder, his small frame trembling. I hugged him tightly, fighting back my tears. "Listen to me," I said, pulling back to look into his tear-streaked face. "Go back inside and find something warm to wear. It's too cold out here for you. Please dear. I promise if I can help it, we will meet again." He nodded reluctantly, his tears still flowing. I kissed his forehead one last time and gently nudged him back toward the trapdoor. He crawled through, looking back at me one final time before disappearing. The moment he was gone, I turned to my heels and ran. The trail wound through the garden and led to a fence lined with barbed wire. I found a small break in the metal and squeezed through, scraping my arms in the process. The city lights shimmered in the distance, and I sprinted toward them, my breath ragged and my legs aching. By the time I reached the bustling streets, exhaustion had set in. I had no idea where I was or where to go. My stomach growled, and the cold seeped into my bones. I stopped a few passersby, asking for directions to the nearest homeless shelter but they all ignored me except one kind-looking woman. She hesitated before pointing me down the road. "It's a bit far," she said. "You'd better hurry before it gets too dark." I thanked her and set off, my feet heavy but determined. As I walked passed an alley behind a club or was it a bar, I heard the unmistakable sounds of a scuffle. My instincts screamed at me to keep moving, but something about the scene made me pause. A group of men was beating someone mercilessly. I turned to leave, but a voice stopped me cold in my tracks. "Hey, wolfless!." I froze, dread pooling in my stomach. That voice... I knew it. Slowly, I turned to face the man who had said that. Standing there, his smirk as cold and menacing as ever, was Timothy—Alpha Darius's Beta. My blood turned to ice. Without a word, I bolted down the alley, my heart pounding in terror. But Timothy was fast—too fast. As his footsteps echoed behind me, I knew I couldn't escape.

Chapter 15: Adorable Friend

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