Chapter 3

Sunniva's POV

After hours in the damp cell, a severe fever forced a cold sweat from my pores.

Outside the iron door, I could hear guards and maids whispering.

"Did you see? The Alpha put the ancestral black diamond ring on Anniken."

"That’s the Luna's ring! I heard Anniken is carrying the Alpha’s pup, and they'll announce it right after the engagement party. The one inside is done for; she'll be kicked out any day now."

The rusty lock popped open.

Anniken walked in, wearing stilettos and an haute couture gown, looking down at me curled on the floor.

Benson, the head butler, rushed in behind her, his face panicked as he pulled out his phone. "Miss Anniken, the Luna's fever is too high, it might be fatal! I have to call the doctor!"

Anniken slapped the phone out of his hand, her voice sharp and contemptuous. "Call a doctor for a prisoner who broke the rules? Who are you to waste Pack medical resources?"

"But she really could die—"

"A fever? Physical cooling works best." Anniken sneered, pointing to the dark, foul-smelling pit at the back of the dungeon. "Throw her in the water prison. A cold bath will wake her up."

"That water is freezing! Her body can't take it!"

"Shut up, Benson! I am the future Luna of the Ulvarr Pack! What I say goes!"

Two guards instantly stepped forward. Ignoring Benson's protests, they grabbed me by the arms, dragged me to the edge, and tossed me violently into the water dungeon.

The freezing water instantly submerged my head.

It felt like a thousand dull knives slowly carving my flesh. I shivered violently, unable to control it, my consciousness fading away bit by bit.

Then, deep into the night, a tearing agony ripped through my abdomen.

A warm liquid snaked down my thighs, melting into the freezing water.

Under the moonlight, I looked down—around the edges of the pool, a glaring ring of crimson was bleeding out.

The blood flowed faster. A heavy, metallic stench filled the air.

"Help..." I used the last ounce of my strength to claw at the rusted iron bars, my nails splitting and bleeding. A dying gasp spilled from my throat. "Save me..."

Chaotic footsteps suddenly thundered down the stairs.

"Sunniva!"

Geirolf burst into the dungeon. By the dim light of the wall lamp, his eyes locked onto the terrifying pool of deep red.

Without a second thought, he waded into the waist-deep freezing water, his arms shaking as he violently pulled my dying body out, crushing me against his chest.

"Fuck! Where is all this blood coming from?! Hold on, I'm taking you to the hospital!"

There was a rare, raw terror in his voice.

But just as he carried me out of the pool, the sharp clacking of heels stopped them at the door.

"Geirolf, what are you doing?"

Anniken stood at the entrance, her face dark, glaring fiercely at his arms wrapped around me.

Geirolf, soaked to the bone, roared, "She's hemorrhaging! I need to take her now!"

"So you're blaming me?" Anniken's eyes instantly reddened, tears spilling perfectly. "Her fever wouldn't break, I had them use ice water to cool her down. I was saving her life!"

"I know! But right now—"

"No, you just feel sorry for her!" Anniken's voice shot up, heavy tears hitting the stone floor. "You always take her side! If you think I'm so vicious, if you think I'm torturing her, then I’ll just leave! I won't stay here and be a thorn in your side!"

She covered her face and ran up the stairs.

"Anniken! Damn it, come back, stop this!"

The terror in Geirolf’s eyes instantly shifted targets.

He looked down at me—deathly pale, bleeding out in his arms—then at Anniken’s retreating figure.

Instantly, he let go.

I dropped like a bag of garbage, slamming heavily onto the wet, freezing stone.

He stepped right over my bleeding body, sprinting out and grabbing Anniken into a tight embrace.

"Let go of me!"

"I'm sorry, baby, it's my fault," he coaxed, holding her struggling body tight, his voice overwhelmingly tender. "I shouldn't have yelled. Don't be mad, it's too cold down here."

Lying in my own pool of blood, watching the two of them clutching each other just steps away, even my pain went numb.

After pacifying Anniken, Geirolf finally turned back.

He stopped two feet away, careful not to let his shoes touch my blood.

"The day after tomorrow is my engagement party with Anniken."

His voice was back to the cold, arrogant tone of an Alpha.

"I’ll have them let you out on the day. Take these two days to reflect on what you've done."

"As long as you stop acting like a psycho and targeting her, you’ll always have a place to stay in this manor. After all—you have nowhere else to go without me."

His arm around Anniken's waist, he walked out of the dungeon without looking back.

The day of the engagement party. Noon.

Deafening music pierced the thick walls. The dungeon door finally opened.

Dragging my broken body up from the dried blood and filth, I stumbled to my old room while the staff were busy in the front yard.

I grabbed my hidden passport and put on my last clean trench coat.

The moment I pushed open the back door of the manor, the grand spectacle on the lawn crashed into view—

Under a shower of falling petals, Geirolf, in a perfectly tailored white suit, smiled as he held Anniken's hand, sliding the black diamond ring onto her finger.

To the roaring cheers of the entire Pack, he leaned down and kissed her passionately.

No heartache. No tears.

I pulled down my brim, turned, grabbed my suitcase, and left the manor without looking back.