Ren's POV
I walked outside, my hands shaking as I looked around.
No one came after me.
No one even cared enough to check.
I started walking down the staircase, but my wolf—Purple—growled inside my mind.
"We will die if you don't eat right now. Go back."
I froze.
Then slowly… I turned back.
I walked inside again, sat down in my chair, and grabbed the food, serving myself before I started eating.
I could feel everyone staring at me.
But above all—
I felt my dad.
Dante Gambino
His red alpha eyes were fixed on me.
I flinched slightly, gripping my plate tighter as I kept eating, my body trembling—like I wanted to be anywhere but here.
Even the maids were staring.
Then Elena spoke.
"Your presence makes me want to vomit, brat."
I looked at her and stopped eating.
My leg bounced under the table, like I was one second away from running out.
Beside her, her mate Alexander was staring at me like he wanted to rip me apart.
But I didn't reply.
I just kept eating.
Even though I was only a second away from running out of there.
Instead, I felt Kaeris staring at me, disgust clear in his eyes.
My gaze drifted toward the wooden door.
Freedom.
I gripped my fork tightly, forcing myself to stay as the silence grew heavy and suffocating.
My wolf, Purple, kept scolding me in the back of my mind for not standing up for myself.
The air felt unbearable—
Until my dad spoke.
"Keep the food down."
It wasn't a suggestion.
It was a command.
Like he was ordering a guard… not his own son.
I forced the food down, my body obeying before my mind could resist.
Then he spoke again.
"Carlos, take your brother. Lock him in the punishment room."
Carlos—my second brother, twenty-five—did exactly what he was told.
He grabbed my arm and dragged me out.
It hurt like hell.
Behind me, I could hear Elena laughing.
Mocking.
Twisting something deep inside my chest.
I looked back once.
My dad's eyes were cold.
Empty.
And Kaeris…
He was smirking.
No one felt bad.
No one tried to stop it.
If anything—
They looked satisfied.
Like I deserved it.
My chest tightened painfully, like my heart was being torn apart.
Carlos shoved me into a small, dark room.
The door slammed shut.
And then—
Lock.
My body shook violently as fear took over.
My breathing turned uneven.
And in that darkness…
I was alone.
I was sitting a corner hugging my legs praying the Moon goodness why am i like this.
My body was unable to stay in that dark room.
I collapsed at the floor.