Page 105 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

I like your fighting spirit, Valerie. Keep it up!Cheers Ailia.

I’m a bit surprised myself. Shouldn’t I be scared?

I like you better with a cool head,she says calmly.So don’t question why you feel so composed. Maybe it’s because you know they need something from you,she points out.

I nod.They’ve provided me with a room and a bed. There is even a blanket and a little bathroom.I look around and take in my general surroundings. The windows are barred, and I’m sure the door is locked, but still… there is furniture, and my basic needs appear to be covered.I don’t think they would go to these lengths if they truly wanted to kill me or hurt me.

Don’t forget what Marius told you,Ailia says.

He quoted Odyssey,I mutter.When Odysseus was captured by the cyclops Polyphemus, he said his name was nobody. When he hurt Polyphemus, Polyphemus claimed to the other cyclops that nobody had hurt him, so they walked away.I pause.I’m not sure if I understand… What does Odysseus tricking the cyclops have to do with anything? Aside from…

A trick… Odysseus used a trick to escape Polyphemus.

Odyssey was known to be cunning. He was famous for his sharp mind, not for his strength. You could be the same. Alpha Celine and Alpha Elden were convinced that our attackers need your gift. Stall for time, pretend you can help and play your cards right.Ailia pauses before continuing with more insistence.Valerie, they didn’t inject us with wolfsbane, they didn’t chain us in silver. You have your full strength. They need you, always remember that.

I nod, carefully getting up. I’m a bit wobbly on my feet, but I manage to walk around the room. It’s still dark outside. I shove the desk over to the outside wall and climb up to look through the window. What is this place even? Where am I? It’s like I’m in a castle tower, really high above the ground. There are cliffs leading down a mountain. I climb down again and head towards the door this time, tugging slightly at it just to check that it’s really locked.

Okay, I knew there wouldn’t be an easy way out, but I still wanted to make sure. Now I need to work out how to play my cards right, as Ailia put it. They need me for my gift. The problem is… I’m not sure if I’ll be any use to them. I’ve only started training recently, and I’m still not really sure what I can do. My best option is to try and find a way to stall for time…

I sit down on the bed, legs crossed, while eyeing the door. I don’t know for how long I keep staring at it, but eventually, I hear keys being turned.

The man who walks in is the same man I saw when I followed that little girl. I figure she was probably just an illusion. A cheap trick, and I fell for it. I examine the man carefully; he’s older, maybe a bit older than my dad. He’s gaunt and pale, like he hasn’t eaten or slept for days.

I decide to go for a direct approach without provoking him too much. “You brought me here, right? My head hurts, I hope you can at least get me some water?” I ask coldly.

The man looks contrite and guilty. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Why am I here?” I ask with emphasis. “Why did you abduct me?”

“I didn’t abduct you,” the man huffs angrily. “I just need to borrow you.”

Borrow? I’m not a freaking book! Also, does he really believe that he will use me here, and then return me to my pack? He’s seriously lying to himself. Yet, in his eyes, I see pure anguish, like something deep inside of him is slowly being torn apart.

He probably lost his sanity a while ago. “You could have asked me for help,” I say. “I would have helped, if I could.”

The man shakes his head fiercely. “You wouldn’t have.”

“We’ll never know now.”

I don’t know why I’m feeling so calm. Maybe it’s Ailia helping me, or the fact that I know he needs me alive and that I’m here for a reason. I can’t show any weakness or fear. Meanwhile, I know that my friends and family will be looking for me. I have people I love, and who I deeply care for, and I know they deeply care for me too.

I stand up and walk towards the man, noting how he steps back as if he’s afraid of me. “Why am I here?”

“You…” he pauses, before turning on his heel and rushing outside. He slams the door roughly, hurrying away like he’s actually afraid of me. “I’ll get someone to bring you water and food shortly.”

I sit back down on the bed and sigh. I’m alone again. I still don’t know what he wants from me. The sooner I know, the sooner I can figure out a plan.

*CELINE*

Aryanna drops me off right in front of Red Claw’s infirmary. I stare at it with mixed feelings… there is just so much running through my head right now, my feelings and thoughts are confusing me to no end. I’m worried for both Marius and Valerie, pissed that someone abducted a pack member, and now here I am… about to save the life of the man who doesn’t want me.

Things really haven’t gone as planned.

I call Harmony on my phone. “I want everyone available and ready to search for Valerie,” I remind her. “I will be there as soon as possible.”

“Of course, Alpha. Everything is set into motion already. I will keep everything on track until you return.”

“Link me if you need or find anything,” I say.