The Alpha King's Mistress Chapter 17: Out

I hugged my knees, trying to find some warmth in this cold, desolate place. The chill seeped into my bones, and I could feel my energy draining away. I couldn't afford to let myself get sick; I had to stay strong. My lips were dry and stinging, and my throat begged for water. It had been almost four days since my last meal, and I was shivering uncontrollably, barely able to move.

Since the day I confronted Nicholas, no one had visited me. I had no sense of time except for the faint ray of sunlight that occasionally found its way into this dungeon. The absence of light made me guess that it was already night. Darkness had become my only companion for the past three days.

Despite my weakness from hunger, I didn't scream for help. This was nothing compared to what I had endured before. I closed my eyes and held onto my knees tightly, seeking some comfort in the darkness.

A few minutes later, as I was about to drift off to sleep, I heard a woman's voice, unfamiliar to me. I hadn't heard any footsteps or sensed anyone's presence, which made me uneasy. Perhaps I had let my guard down for a moment.

"Get up," the authoritative voice echoed through my prison cell.

I opened my eyes and found myself face-to-face with a pair of combat boots. I pushed myself against the wall, using a feeble palm to support my weight.

The candlelight revealed the woman's appearance. She was tall with black hair in braids, wearing a maroon sleeveless top that accentuated her toned body. I could sense an aura of authority around her, although not as strong as the man who was with Nicholas the other day. She seemed like a squad commander.

"Who are you?" I asked, meeting her dark brown eyes.

She rolled her eyes at me. "It's none of your business. Now get up. The Alpha wants to talk to you."

My face paled. "Is he with an old woman?"

The woman looked at me as if I had grown two heads and sighed in frustration. "Look, I don't know, okay? I was just ordered to fetch you and let you get cleaned up. I don't know who was with the Alpha or the reason you're being summoned."

"Fine," I weakly replied.

I tried my best to stand up, but my legs were wobbly, lacking the strength to support me. They gave out as soon as I took a step forward.

"Damn," I hissed in frustration.

"For goodness sake," the woman grumbled, grabbing my arm and helping me up.

I struggled to steady my legs while she practically carried my weight. She was undoubtedly a Lycan and a warrior, but I was grateful that she was kind enough to assist me.

As we made our way out of the dungeon, I couldn't help but look around. It was a place of nightmares, with numerous jail cells and heavy metal doors. One particular hallway caught my attention, devoid of any trace of light. Something about it felt different, intriguing.

The woman's voice interrupted my thoughts. "That way leads to the jail cells for the most hideous criminals before they are transferred to the penitentiary."

"Disaris Penitentiary," I said, remembering the name.

I noticed a slight widening of the woman's eyes. Disaris Penitentiary was not widely known. Only a select few, mostly Alphas and those members of the Werewolf Council, were aware of its existence. It served to keep unwanted attention away from the masses. Disaris Penitentiary was where the most deranged and dangerous werewolves and rogues were held. If regular rogues were fearsome, those in Disaris would terrify anyone.

"You're the first commoner I've met who knows about that place. Honestly, I'm impressed," the woman commented.

Her kind attitude surprised me. I had expected cruelty from those who dealt with prisoners like me.

"Would you believe me if I said I know someone there?" I asked, focusing on our path. The floor was made of rough stone, adding to the dreariness of the place.

The woman suddenly stopped, causing me to fall with a loud thud, scraping my knee. Pain surged through me, and the metallic scent of blood reached my senses.

"Oh my god! I'm sorry," the woman quickly pulled me back up.

I winced but shook my head. The woman's tight grip had surely left a bruise on my upper arm. I tapped my fingers lightly on the bruised area.

The woman sheepishly grinned at me, loosening her hold. "I'm sorry again. Sometimes I can't control my strength."

I managed a smile as we continued walking, this time at a slower pace. I appreciated her consideration of matching her steps to my weakened state.

"Back to what you said earlier, is it true that you know someone there?" she inquired.

I chuckled softly. "I was just kidding. How can my poor and weak self possibly know someone there?"

"Well, you're right. You seem weak. You can't possibly know someone there," she replied, laughing along.

"Yeah," I muttered, knowing the truth was far from what I had said. Changing the subject, I asked, "Can I know your name if that is alright?"

"Of course, I'm Gayle"

"I'm Florence," I introduced myself.

“Why would you even contemplate asking that?” she chuckled.

I forced a smile, “Well, I just thought your Alpha will forbid you or others to give their names to me or worse talk to me”

Gayle frowned at me but I looked away and she didn't raise any question after. As we reached the top of a long spiral staircase and stepped outside through another heavy metal door, my eyes took in the sight of a long, dark hallway. The old architectural designs intrigued me.

"This is Garley Keep. We need to go to the East Wing; that's where you'll be meeting the Alpha," Gayle explained.

I simply nodded and let her lead the way. I had no idea where we were going but I had no energy to start a fight or question the woman. The long hallway stretched out before us, finally leading to a double metal door guarded by two burly sentinels on either side.