Chapter 40. Captured

Steffy's eyelids felt heavy.

Her body ached. Her breaths came ragged and dull as a numbing cold wrapped around her bare skin.

How long had it been? The days had blurred into an endless cycle of pain and exhaustion.

Her arms hung above her, wrists bound and spread wide. The metal cuffs dug into her skin, leaving behind angry red marks. She had lost count of how many times she had been left in that dark, freezing room alone.

A while later, the door creaked open.

A rush of cold water slammed against her body, soaking her already shivering frame.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Charlotte chirped, dropping the empty bucket onto the floor with a clatter. Steffy gritted her teeth. 'That bitch.'

"Did you enjoy our little game last night?" Charlotte smirked, arms crossed.

"Fuck you." Steffy's voice was hoarse but laced with venom. "When I get out of here, I swear I'm going to kill you."

Charlotte pouted mockingly. "Oh, that was rude."

A sharp slap cracked across Steffy's cheek. The pain burned through her face, but she refused to cry out. Instead, she swung her leg up, kicking Charlotte square in the stomach.

Charlotte stumbled back but let out a low, amused laugh. "You're so pathetic, Steffy." Charlotte sneered, rubbing her side. "Look at you. Karma's already caught up."

She grabbed a small shard of glass from the floor, tilting it so Steffy could see her own reflection on it.

Steffy's breath hitched.

Her hair—gone.

A cruel, uneven shave left behind jagged strands, exposing her scalp. Her fingers curled into fists.

"Bitch!" she snarled.

Charlotte chuckled. "I just did what you did to me. Now we're even. Oh, and I have a surprise for you."

She turned and pranced out of the room, leaving Steffy alone again.

Her heart pounded. 'What now?'

"If you're going to kill me, then do it already!" Steffy roared after her. "You'll regret not finishing me off when you had the chance!"

Charlotte reappeared, holding a tablet in her hands.

Steffy's breath caught in her throat. The video playing on the screen sent a shudder through her spine.

'No… No, this can't be…'

"It hurts, doesn't it?" Charlotte cooed. "The Alphas abandoned you. We sent them one message about your capture, and guess what?"

She let out a mocking sigh.

"They sent this footage instead. What a pity."

Steffy refused to react, but her chest tightened. Charlotte raised her gun, pressing it against Steffy's temple. "They're not coming for you," she whispered. "Which means… you're useless to us now."

Her finger tightened on the trigger. Steffy shut her eyes, bracing herself from what was about to come…

"Charlotte, what the fuck do you think you're doing?"

A deep, commanding voice echoed through the room.

Steffy's gaze snapped to the doorway, and she stilled.

Lucio Hernandez.

His presence filled the room—broad-shouldered, calm but lethal. He wore a simple tee and loose jeans that showed a strategic rip just below the knee. But despite the casual look, he was still alluring.

He moved forward, his eyes locked onto Charlotte.

"Who told you to kill her without my permission?" His voice was calm, but edged with warning.

Charlotte's lips pressed into a thin line. "I-I'm just fooling around , sir."

"Go get a towel for Steffy."

"What?! I'm not your maid!"

Lucio grabbed her wrist, his grip tight and dangerous. His lips barely moved as he murmured against her ear, "I let you have your fun torturing her. That was our deal. But you almost disobeyed me, little slut."

Charlotte stiffened.

"You are not my queen," he continued, voice sharp as a blade. "So stop acting like one and do what I told you. Or next time, I'll seal your mouth with a bullet."

Humiliated and furious, Charlotte stomped out of the room.

Steffy swallowed, her body tense as Lucio turned his gaze to her. Once alone, he deliberately moved toward her, the delicious scent from his body surfacing from where he stood.

"How are you, Alpha Princess?"

She felt his fingers brush her thigh, slow and deliberate, and being pregnant with his baby only intensified her cravings for him. And yet, Steffy glared at him, refusing to flinch.

"W-what do you want?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

Lucio's lips curved into a dark smile. "Tell me," he murmured, trailing his fingers along her exposed skin. "Do you still feel horny now?"

Heat flared in her face. She clenched her jaw. "No," she bit out.

Lucio chuckled. "Too bad," he mused. "Because I am."

Steffy's breath hitched as his mouth descended—claiming hers with a fierce, possessive kiss.

Her body shook—from anger, confusion… and intense desire.

Lucio's grip tightened as he tilted her head back, deepening the kiss.

"Why don't you kill me, Lucio?" she hissed when he pulled back, his lips hovering over hers.

His dark eyes searched hers. "Because I can't let you die," he whispered.

His fingers slid along her jaw, down her throat, over her racing pulse.

"I saw you in Ormon City," he murmured. "I knew it was you behind the mask. My heart told me so."

Steffy's breathing grew uneven as Lucio's hands explored, heat radiating between them.

"You were born to rule, Steffy," he whispered. "You are an heiress. You should be my queen."

His lips brushed against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Steffy hated him. She hated the way her body betrayed her under his touch. And yet—

Lucio's breath was warm, his presence overwhelming, and her own body was craving something dangerous.

Steffy swallowed hard, her voice quieter now.