Chapter 1 - The First Night
Harper stood perfectly still as the heavy oak doors clicked shut behind her.
The room was completely suffocating.
Kane Croft radiated an intense, violent energy that made the air feel like thick water.
His golden eyes tracked her every single movement with lethal precision.
He pointed a trembling hand toward the silver panic button on the wall.
He told her to press it when she inevitably started screaming.
Harper did not look at the button.
She looked at the heavy dark circles under the Alpha King's eyes.
She asked him if he was tired.
Kane flinched as if she had physically struck him across the face.
Nobody had asked him a human question in five agonizing years.
Harper walked slowly toward the massive leather sofa and sat down.
She patted the empty space beside her.
Kane hesitated before collapsing onto the cushions with a heavy sigh.
His monstrous aura began to recede the longer she sat in quiet solidarity.
Twenty minutes later, exhaustion completely overtook her battered body.
Harper fell fast asleep against the armrest.
Kane stared at her peaceful face in absolute shock.
Before dawn, the freezing temperature in the room caused her to shiver.
Kane gently pulled her into his massive arms to keep her warm.
Harper woke up abruptly to the sound of his heart pounding against her cheek.
She smiled softly, realizing the monster was just a broken man.
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Then she heard the distinct sound of the deadbolt locking from the outside.
A thick, purple smoke began pouring violently through the overhead ventilation shafts.
