Chapter 29 - the prison

Chapter 29: 29 - the prison 29 ~Lisa’s POV I couldn’t stop the tears anymore. Kael’s hands were still fresh in my memory. His breath on my skin. His weight pressing me to the wall. The way I had to push and shove just to get away. I felt so tired. So helpless. So used. It wasn’t fair. Why did they get to treat me like this? Like I was nothing more than a body they could grab when they wanted, speak to however they liked, toss aside once they were done? Why did I even come here? I dropped to the floor, burying my face in my hands. My shoulders shook with each sob. The pain in my chest felt like it was splitting me open. Then I heard it. "Lisa?" I turned my head slightly. It was Milo. His eyes widened when he saw me, and he rushed over. "Lisa, what happened? Why are you crying like this?" I tried to speak, but nothing came out at first. My lips trembled, and I could barely breathe. Then finally, in a broken whisper, I said it. "Kael... he...he almost forced himself on me." Milo’s face hardened. He looked so shocked. So angry. But he didn’t speak. He just knelt beside me and gently pulled me into a hug. And I broke again. I sobbed into his chest, clutching his shirt like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely. He rubbed my back gently, whispering calming words. "I’m here. You’re safe. He didn’t hurt you. I won’t let anyone hurt you." But the moment didn’t last. Kael walked in. Milo and I froze. My breath caught in my throat, and my whole body stiffened. My heart thudded loudly...too loud. We both scrambled apart instinctively, guilt and panic flashing across our faces, though we’d done nothing wrong. Kael’s cold eyes landed on us like daggers. Milo immediately dropped to his knees, bowing low, his head nearly touching the floor. "Alpha Kael," he said quickly, voice low and shaking. But Kael didn’t respond right away. He just stared. And I could feel the storm building behind his silence. My hands started to tremble. I took a step back without meaning to. "What the hell do you think you’re doing with her?!" Kael’s voice exploded across the room, louder and sharper than a slap. I flinched, my whole body jerking. Milo didn’t even lift his head...he stayed kneeling, still as stone, but I could see the way his back rose and fell too fast. He was trying to breathe. Trying not to show fear. But I knew he was scared. I was too. I opened my mouth, trying to speak, to say something that might calm Kael down...but nothing came out. My throat was dry, my mind blank. "I...I wasn’t doing anything, Alpha," Milo stammered quickly, his gaze fixed to the ground. His voice was thin, shaking. "We’re just friends." Kael’s laugh was low and bitter, completely humorless. The sound echoed off the walls, making the air feel heavier. He took a slow step forward, boots clicking against the marble floor. "Friends?" he said again, drawing the word out like it tasted sour. "Do you even know who she is?" Milo stayed kneeling, shoulders stiff. I could feel the tension radiating from him. I took a shaky step back, trying to collect myself, but Kael’s words froze me. "She’s our mate." Time stopped. He said it like it was a title. A mark. Not something sacred or cherished, but claimed. Possessed. Not someone who deserved care. Or love. Just a possession. That’s how Kael saw me. Not a girl with feelings or pain, not someone trying to survive in a palace full of cruelty. Just an object. Something to own. Something to control. And still... even after those cold, sharp words, something in his voice, something in his eyes, told me it wasn’t just about pride or dominance. There was more. A storm behind all that rage. But it wasn’t love. Not like what Milo had shown me. Milo, who brought me food when I was hungry. Who comforted me when I cried. Who didn’t ask for anything in return. Kael didn’t care like Milo did. Then why? Why was he so angry? Why did his whole body shake with fury just from seeing me near someone else? "You dare touch what’s mine?" he roared suddenly, spinning back toward Milo. Milo flinched but didn’t rise from the ground. His mouth opened, but no words came out. I could see it in his eyes, fear, frustration, helplessness. And that’s when Kael said it. Words so sharp they tore right through me. "She’s nothing. A weak little thing we picked out of pity." My breath caught. Milo looked up at me in shock, as if even he couldn’t believe Kael had said that. I felt like the ground had dropped from beneath me. My throat burned. My stomach twisted. Tears welled up, but I held them back. I couldn’t cry now. Not in front of him. Not when he wanted to see me break. "She belongs to us," Kael went on, voice lower now but full of warning. "That means no one else lays a hand on her. Not even a finger." "You," he snapped, pointing right at me, "are you messing around with him?" "What?" I gasped. "No! I swear, I wasn’t..." "Liar!" he barked, eyes filled with fury. "You let a servant touch you like that? You disgust me!" I couldn’t breathe. Everything was spiraling again. "GUARDS!" Kael shouted. The two guards rushed in. "Take him to the prison," Kael ordered coldly, not even looking at Milo anymore. "And lock her in her room. No food. No water. No sunlight. Until I say otherwise." "No, please..." I cried out, but the guards already grabbed Milo. His eyes met mine one last time, apologetic, pained, and then they dragged him out. The second guard grabbed me roughly by the arm. I didn’t fight it. I was too numb. Too broken. Kael didn’t even look back.