Chapter Three ;The Alpha's Property

The iron bars closed shut behind me, the cold metal shaking as if laughing at my situation. The cage was small—barely enough for me to stay comfortably—but it was strong, fortified with thick iron rods that vibrated with something unnatural. Not just metal. Magic.

I put my palm against one of the bars, a slight warmth covering my skin. My body moved away instinctively, a sick feeling flowing in my stomach. Whatever enchantment laced the cage was meant to contain something stronger than a human. A werewolf, maybe.

Which meant escape wasn't as simple as waiting for an opening.

Not that there was one.

I balled my fingers into a fist, digging my nails into my palm to keep my hands from shaking. The camp around me busy with movement—men and women sharpening weapons, preparing food over open fires, and talking in low voices. It was a world different from the wealth of the auction house, yet it smelt of the same brutality.

This was a war camp.

And I was its newest prisoner.

A sharp chuckle drew my attention.

"Pathetic."

A man stood outside my cage, arms crossed over his broad chest. His uniform was dark, similar to Kale's, but where the Alpha had carried an aura of quiet, suffocating dominance, this man radiated amusement laced with cruelty. His lips curled, showing a hint of elongated canines.

A werewolf.

The golden emblem pinned to his jacket marked him as high-ranking.

"Imagine," he mused, tilting his head. "A weak little human, bought like cattle, dragged into an Alpha's den."

My spine stiffened, but I stayed silent.

I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

"Do you know what happens to humans who enter our camp?" he continued, stepping closer. His fingers wrapped around one of the bars, his grip firm enough to make the iron groan. "They die. Quickly, if they're lucky. Painfully, if they're not."

I swallowed, keeping my expression blank.

He wanted fear.

I wouldn't give it to him.

His smirk widened. "Nothing to say, little doll? No tears? No begging?"

I lifted my chin. "If you wanted a show, you should've gone to the auction house."

His eyes darkened. "You've got a mouth on you."

"So do you," I shot back, feigning boredom. "Unfortunately, yours keeps spouting nonsense."

The lieutenant's smirk froze for a bit of a second. Then, to my surprise, he laughed out loud.

"Spirited. I'll give you that." He moved a step back, as he shook his head. "But spirit doesn't keep you alive here. It gets you killed faster."

I didn't respond.

Because I knew he was right.

The world I'd been thrown into wasn't fair. Strength ruled here. And I had none.

Yet.

He turned to leave but paused. "You won't last the night, human," he murmured. "Not unless the Alpha takes an interest in keeping you alive."

Then he was gone.

I breath out slowly, my body shaking now that I was alone. My fingers folded around the iron bars, my nails scratching against the rough surface.

I hated this.

The helplessness.

The weakness.

My old life had ended with a gun to my head. This one had started with chains around my wrists.

Was this my fate?

To always be a prisoner?

No.

I shoved the thought away, gritting my teeth. I wasn't Jiang Yue anymore. And Liana—whoever she had been before I woke up in her body—was dead.

But I was alive.

And as long as I was alive, I had a chance.

I just needed to be patient.

Hours passed.

The camp remained lively, soldiers moving in and out of tents, preparing for whatever war they were waging. The scent of roasted meat drifted through the air, but my stomach twisted, rejecting the thought of food.

I focused on the details instead.

The way the guards rotated positions.

The weapons they carried.

The wolves who moved silently, their eyes glowing under the moonlight.

The ones who were human.

The ones who weren't.

It was a well-organized army, disciplined and lethal. But no army was perfect. There were always cracks.

I just had to find one.

A gust of wind moved around the campfire nearest to me, sending embers winding into the night. The light flickered, casting long, dancing shadows.

Then—

Silence.

The change was subtle, but I felt it. The weight of something unseen pressing against the air.

And then, I heard him.

Footsteps. Slow. Measured.

My pulse quickened.

The soldiers who had been talking fell silent, stepping aside as a figure moved through the camp.

The same figure who had bought me.

Alpha Kale.

He stopped outside my cage, his golden eyes glinting in the dim light.

He was even more imposing up close, his presence swallowing the space between us. His coat was open, showing a dark tunic inside, the fabric stretching over his broad shoulders. He was not just tall—he was built like a warrior god, every inch of him carved from strength and danger.

He didn't speak immediately.

He just looked at me.

And I looked back.

The weight of his gaze pressed against my skin, assessing, measuring.

Waiting.

I refused to be the first to break.

Finally, after what felt like a life time, he turned his head slightly. "You don't fear me."

It wasn't a question.

I forced my shoulders to relax, despite the sharp instinct clawing at my ribs. "Should I?"

A spark of something—amusement?—crossed his face. Then it disappeared, replaced by something icy.

"You're an interesting one," he murmured. "But interest doesn't guarantee survival."

I swallowed but held his gaze.

He crouched, his fingers wrapping around one of the iron bars, his knuckles grazing mine through the gap. The touch was brief—barely there—but it sent a shiver down my spine.

Because it wasn't human.

The energy rolling off him was something else. Something ancient.

Predatory.

"Survive," he said, his voice soft, almost cruel. "And I might let you live."

Then, just as quickly as he came, he was gone.

And I was alone again.