**Chapter 6: Trapped in His Shadow**
🌙 Lia
Valor drags me across the stone floor, his grip like iron on my arm, and shoves me into a cold, tiled bathroom. I stumble, catching myself against the wall, my wrists still raw from the silver chains.
He stands in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes glinting with something cruel. "What are you waiting for?" he says, his voice sharp and mocking. "Undress. You should know by now—you stink."
I stare at him, wide-eyed, my heart pounding so hard it hurts. He expects me to strip right here, in front of him? No way.
My face burns with shame and anger, and I stand straighter, glaring back. "Get out," I say, my voice trembling but firm. "If I'm taking a bath, you shouldn't be here. Leave."
He chuckles, a low, chilling sound that makes my skin crawl. He steps closer, his boots echoing on the tiles, and I flinch as his breath brushes my neck, his lips grazing my ear.
"You're my mate, Lia," he whispers, his voice dark and taunting. "Why hide what I'll see soon enough?"
I cover my chest with my arms, stepping back, my voice shaking with fury. "You're a pervert!" I snap. "You're an Alpha—don't you have better things to do? Like checking your pack for danger instead of tormenting me?"
He laughs, a sharp, cruel sound, and takes another step. I back away, my heart racing, but he keeps coming, his steps slow and deliberate.
"Oh, Lia," he says, his voice dripping with mockery. "You think I'm neglecting my pack? I'm exactly where I need to be."
I hit the wall, the cold tiles pressing against my back, and he slams his hands on either side of me, trapping me. "Sooner or later," he says, his eyes boring into mine, "you'll learn who you belong to."
I glare at him, my breath shaky, but I force the words out. "My father will come for me," I say, my voice fierce despite the fear choking me. "He'll find me, and he'll make you pay for this."
Valor laughs, a cold, bitter sound that cuts through me. "Your father?" he says, his smirk cruel. "The Alpha who wants you dead? You think he'll march into my pack to save you?"
He leans closer, his voice dropping to a hiss. "No one's coming, Lia. Not your father, not your pack. And while you're here, you don't speak of them. Ever."
I shake my head, tears burning my eyes. "You're wrong," I say, my voice breaking. "Someone will come. I'm not yours to keep!"
He grabs my shoulders, spinning me around so my back's against his chest. His hands slide down my arms, and I close my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself.
"What you're doing is wrong," I whisper, my voice trembling. "You can't just… treat me like this."
He growls, his breath hot against my neck. "You're my mate," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "Stop acting like a stranger. You belong to me, whether you like it or not."
"You're the stranger!" I shout, twisting in his grip, but his hands hold me tight. "You don't know me! And I don't want you! How do you know I won't run the first chance I get?"
He spins me back to face him, his chuckle dark and menacing. "Run?" he says, his eyes glinting. "We'll see about that, Lia." He steps back, his smirk cold, and walks toward the door. "Clean yourself up," he says without looking back. "Don't make me come back in here."
The door slams shut, and I'm alone, my breath coming in shaky gasps. I slide to the floor, my hands trembling as I clutch my torn clothes.
The mate bond burns in my chest, a cruel reminder of him, his touch, his voice. My wolf growls, *He's dangerous. Let me out.* I shake my head, tears falling. "No," I whisper. "You've caused enough trouble."
I force myself to stand, my legs shaky, and bathe as quickly as I can, the cold water stinging my raw wrists. The blood—her blood—swirls down the drain, but it doesn't wash away the guilt. The kind lady's face haunts me, her smile gone, her body broken by my claws. I scrub harder, but it's no use. I'm still cursed.
When I'm done, I wrap myself in a thin towel and step back into the room, my heart heavy. But I freeze. She's there—the lady from before, the one with the cold eyes and cruel smile.
She's leaning against the wall, a smirk on her face, her arms crossed. "Well, look at you," she says, her voice dripping with scorn. "The Alpha's little pet, all cleaned up."
I glare at her, my hands tightening on the towel. "What do you want?" I ask, my voice sharp. "Why are you here?"
She steps closer, her smirk widening. "Out of everyone, the Alpha chose me to take care of you," she says, her tone mocking. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
"Fun?" I snap, stepping back. "You think tormenting me is fun? Who are you, anyway?"
She laughs, a sharp, cruel sound. "I'm the one who gets to watch you squirm," she says, her eyes glinting with hate. "You're nothing here, dog. Just a cursed thing the Alpha dragged in."
"Stop calling me that!" I shout, my wolf growling inside me. "I'm not a dog, and I'm not your plaything!"
"Oh, you're exactly what I say you are," she says, stepping closer, her voice low and venomous. "A filthy Lycan who doesn't belong. You think you're special because you're his mate? You're nothing but a problem."
"I didn't ask for this!" I say, my voice breaking. "I didn't ask to be here, or to be his mate, or to be… this!" Tears burn my eyes, but I blink them back, refusing to let her see me break.
"Cry all you want," she says, her smirk cold. "It won't change anything. You're stuck here, and I'm going to enjoy every second of making your life hell."
"Why do you hate me?" I ask, my voice trembling. "What did I ever do to you?"
"You exist," she says, her voice sharp. "That's enough." She turns toward the door, then pauses, looking back with that cruel smirk. "Get used to it, dog. This is your life now."
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