Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 103: 103

POV Savannah Bowen

Clothes were thrown on top of me abruptly. I blinked, adjusting my eyes to the bright light that illuminated the room we were in.

I propped myself up on my elbows and looked around, noticing the worn paint on the walls and the smell of mildew and dirt.

"Take a shower," Hunter said, standing with his hands on his hips in front of the bed I was lying on. "I’ll bring you something to eat."

"Where are we?" I asked in a hoarse voice.

My throat was dry, and speaking felt like an enormous effort, as if I were scratching it with sharp claws.

"It doesn’t matter, but we’re almost home," he answered, looking me up and down. "Don’t try anything funny, Savannah. My men are watching every corner, keeping an eye on you. They’re not as patient as I am, believe me."

I stayed silent, nodding.

Sighing, Hunter turned and left the room through the side door, slamming it and locking it behind him.

My head was pounding, and I felt weak and dizzy. Taking a deep breath, I sat up on the hard mattress, surveying my captivity more carefully.

It was a room in some cheap hotel. The faded red paint barely covered the walls. The mildew on the ceiling exhaled its odor throughout the space. The cleanliness was poor, with spider webs and a thin layer of dust covering the few pieces of furniture.

Apart from the bed I was in, there was a table with two chairs; a full kitchen; a sofa and a TV.

I stood with difficulty, holding the clothes Hunter had thrown at me. Holding myself against the wall, I staggered toward the door leading to the bathroom.

It was even worse than the rest.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself and focus. The shower would help me recharge, and I needed food.

There was no key in the door. I became nervous about that, especially after hearing them talk about me. Anyone could come in and attack me.

I stopped in front of the sink and stared at my reflection in the stained mirror. My eyes were swollen from crying and red from the sleep I had been induced into. My hair was messy, and some dried blood stained my skin and clothes.

I undressed with stiff fingers and rigid muscles. I stepped into the shower, letting the steaming water fall over my skin. There was no soap, and the towel hanging on the door looked used and dirty.

I allowed myself to stay there for a moment, feeling the comforting embrace of the hot shower that relaxed my stiff body. It was the first good thing I had felt in days. My salty tears mixed with the fresh water covering me, being washed away from my face.

I cupped my hands, filling them with the liquid before drinking it, soothing my throat. I repeated the motion several times, noticing the intensity of my thirst that I hadn't even realized I was feeling.

My head was a mess; even though I had been sleeping, I felt exhausted both physically and emotionally.

I heard a noise outside the room, alerting me.

I didn’t linger in the shower any longer, afraid that Hunter might arrive or that one of his men would invade my privacy.

I grabbed the towel, ignoring the strange yellowish stains on it, and quickly dried myself.

The clothes Hunter brought me were new, purchased from some cheap store. Pants, a wool sweater, a coat, and boots. They still had the tags on them and were a little loose, but that wasn’t a problem for me.

I brushed my hair with the tips of my fingers, trying to detangle the matted strands.

My reflection was still a mess. Although the shower had washed the dirt off my skin, it didn’t undo the pain reflected in my eyes.

I heard the sound of the door to the room opening, and I tensed up, going rigid. The smell of Hunter reached me. I heard his footsteps on the other side, followed by the sound of plastic objects.

"Savannah, I brought you your dinner," he announced.

My stomach growled at the mention of food.

Slowly, I dragged myself out of the bathroom, finding him sitting at the edge of the bed, waiting for me. His eyes roamed over me, and he smiled.

"You’re a wreck," he said, pressing his lips together.

I growled.

"How kind of you to notice," I mocked.

He smiled.

"Don’t be so upset, Sava. We’re close to home. Once you remove that mark on your neck, you’ll have a bit of freedom."

I pulled out one of the chairs from the table and sat down, feeling the old wood creak under my weight. I opened the bags Hunter had placed on the table and checked the food. Water and a bowl of green soup that didn’t smell very good.

"Fenrir will come after me and end you," I hissed.

I dipped the spoon into the sticky broth. My stomach churned. I ignored the texture of the food that didn’t look good and forced myself to eat.

It took all my effort not to vomit on the table.

The soup wasn’t just ugly; it was horrible. It had a sour taste that burned my tongue, as if the food was expired. I swallowed, holding my breath.

"I don’t think you’re aware of my plans yet," he murmured, studying me carefully. "I’m going to keep our marriage. Don’t worry, this time, I won’t reject you at the altar. We’ll pretend that never happened and move on with our lives."

I opened the water bottle and drank the entire contents in a few gulps, satisfying my stomach.

I looked at him, incredulous.

"Wow..." I muttered.

"So, you’ll be my wife. As you should know, with your father’s death and no successor to his leadership, the remaining wolves have promised to serve me and my father, so we’re dealing with two packs to care for," he explained, as if it were obvious. "Our pup will be the leader of both packs."

"Who said I’d give you pups?" I grunted.

He shrugged.

"I did."

"If you think I’m going along with this, Hunter, you’re very mistaken. I’ll never marry you. I’ll never give you any pups. I hate you with all my strength."

He rolled his eyes, snorting.

"I know some things happened between us, but let’s leave the past behind. Think about it, if I had never rejected you, you’d be my wife today, and you might even be carrying my pup."

I clenched my jaw.

"The only thing I regret, Hunter, is not having killed you on the day of that damn wedding."

He gestured dismissively.

"You’re so out of practice since you ran away from me. As soon as we get back to the house, I’ll train you, make you remember your old origins and who’s in charge at home."

I stood up in one swift motion, dragging the chair back, irritated. Hunter didn’t even move, staying seated with his posture straight at the edge of the bed.

"You’re a damn psychopath!" I yelled. "You killed Anton, who was my friend. You killed my parents, hunted me down, and attacked a pack that means a lot to me."

"I didn’t know that wolf meant so much to you. If I had known, I would’ve been quicker with his death." He clicked his tongue. "You know, less suffering."

I was speechless, just staring at him.