154

Lia's POV

The cold stone floor beneath me was a cruel reminder of my reality, my back pressed against the damp wall of the cellar. My body ached with exhaustion and pain, each bruise a testament to the torment I had endured at the hands of Dean and Alina. The cell was stifling, suffocating in its silence, and I could feel my breath becoming shallow as panic bubbled just beneath the surface. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been here, but the isolation and darkness were wearing me down.

The faint creak of the cellar door jolted me to attention. Footsteps echoed down the stairs, slow and deliberate. I already knew who it was, even before she stepped into view.

Alina.

Her presence filled the room as she approached, her polished, composed demeanor standing in stark contrast to the grim surroundings. She held something in her hand something that glinted in the dim light. A dress. A ridiculous gesture of control. She tossed it onto the floor in front of me like I was nothing more than an object she could manipulate.

“Get up,” she ordered sharply, “and put this on.”

I didn’t move at first. My muscles were stiff from sitting too long, and the idea of playing along with whatever twisted game she was setting up felt nauseating. “Why?” I croaked, my throat dry from the lack of water.

Alina’s lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes narrowed with disdain. “You’re meeting the elders, Lia. You’re not going to that meeting looking like a prisoner. You’ll put this on, and you’ll do exactly as I say, or I’ll drag you out of here in chains.”

A sickening surge of dread gripped my chest, but I fought it down. She was trying to break me. Trying to make me fear the inevitable. But I wouldn’t give her that satisfaction.

I slowly stood up, my legs trembling as I reached for the dress. It was an elegant piece, but the fabric felt like a mockery against the cold stone of the cellar. The irony wasn’t lost on me Alina had no respect for anything except power, and this was just another way for her to exert control.

“What’s the plan, Alina?” I asked, my voice coming out raspier than I intended. I had to know. I had to understand what game she was playing.

Alina’s eyes flashed with impatience as she stared at me, her arms crossing over her chest. “I’ve already told the elders everything,” she said, her voice dripping with venom. “That you escaped from prison on your own, that you started the fire, and that you killed Finn.” Her words were meant to sting, and they did. “Now you’re going to play your part. You’re going to confess to everything I’ve accused you of, and then we’ll see what happens to you.”

I felt a surge of anger rise within me, hotter than anything I had felt before. “You’re lying,” I spat, the words laced with venom. “I didn’t kill Finn. And I didn’t start that fire. You’re the one behind all of this. You and Dean.”

Alina’s lips twisted into a cruel smile, but there was a flash of something dark in her eyes. She took a step toward me, her gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. “You’re not in a position to make demands, Lia,” she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “If you don’t keep quiet, I’ll finish you off. No one will care, and no one will ever know. And you know what? I’ll make sure your precious son suffers for your disobedience.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Merlin. She was threatening my son now. My heart raced, a cold sweat breaking out across my forehead. “Don’t you dare touch him,” I whispered through gritted teeth. “If you do, you’ll regret it. I swear to you.”

Alina’s smile only widened, as if she found my defiance amusing. She grabbed my arm roughly, dragging me toward the stairs, my feet stumbling as I was pulled upward. “You’re not in control here, Lia. And you never will be.”

My chest tightened as we ascended the stairs, and I tried to steady my breath, to focus. This wasn’t the end. It couldn’t be. I couldn’t let her win. I wouldn’t.

When we reached the top of the stairs, Alina pulled open the door to the hallway. The bright light from the elders’ chamber filtered in, and I could hear the murmur of voices. My heart pounded in my chest, my body instinctively tensing as we approached the large double doors.

“This is it,” Alina said, her voice tinged with satisfaction. “You’ll confess. You’ll tell them everything I’ve said, and you’ll accept whatever punishment they decide. Or I’ll make sure you never see the light of day again.”

I forced my feet to move, my body betraying me as I was pulled forward, the door swinging open before us. The elders were already gathered inside, their faces grim and expectant.

I stood tall, despite the fear gnawing at me from within. “You can do whatever you want to me, Alina,” I said, my voice unwavering. “But I will never admit to something I didn’t do. I won’t be your puppet.”

She shoved me forward into the room, and as the heavy doors slammed shut behind us, I realized that this was only the beginning. I would find a way to expose her, to protect Merlin and the truth. And no matter what Alina thought, this game wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

___

Alina's POV

The doors to the large hall swung open with a heavy, resounding thud as I pushed Lia forward. She stumbled slightly, still weak from her time in the cellar, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. This was her punishment, and it was long overdue. She had become a thorn in my side, a complication I hadn’t expected, but now I was in control. She had no choice but to bend to my will.

I watched as Lia stood, head held high, despite the obvious strain in her posture. She had spirit, that was for sure, but spirit didn’t win in this game. Power did. And I had it all. I could already see the looks on the elders' faces—some of them sympathetic, some of them indifferent, but all of them eager to see what would happen next.

I walked to my seat at the head of the table, my eyes never leaving Lia. “Take your seat,” I ordered, my voice laced with authority. She hesitated for a brief moment, but eventually, she complied, sitting down at the center of the room, her eyes scanning the faces around her. It didn’t matter. None of them would help her. They were all too afraid of me to challenge anything I said.

The meeting commenced with a few formalities, but I was already lost in my thoughts, anticipating Lia’s response to the charges against her. She would confess. She had no other choice. I had prepared the narrative perfectly: that Lia had escaped from prison, that she had caused the fire, and that she was responsible for Finn’s death. The elders would have no reason not to believe me. But Lia, of course, had other plans.

When the floor was opened for her defense, I couldn’t help but feel a slight stir of irritation as she stood and denied everything. Her voice was steady, but there was no mistaking the defiance in her eyes.

“I didn’t kill Finn,” Lia said, her voice firm and unwavering. “I didn’t start that fire. You’re the one who’s behind all of this. You, Alina.”

Her accusation was nothing short of audacious. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, and for a moment, I felt the sting of her words. But I couldn’t let her get away with this. Not now, not after everything I’d done to ensure her guilt would be seen by everyone.

“Lia,” I said calmly, masking my anger with a veneer of patience. “You’re only digging yourself a deeper hole. This defiance won’t save you.”

But she didn’t listen. She stared at me defiantly, and that only fueled my rage. Her refusal to acknowledge the truth was insufferable, and in that moment, I made a decision. I signaled to the elders to adjourn the meeting, to give Lia a brief respite before we continued. But I knew what would happen next—there was no way in hell she would escape the punishment she deserved.

The room cleared, and I walked out of the hall, a cold determination building within me. I had to deal with Lia. And I would do it in a way that made her understand exactly who was in charge.

I made my way to the dungeons, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls as I descended into the depths of the pack house. The air was thick with a damp, oppressive scent, and the dim lighting cast shadows across the walls, making the space feel even more claustrophobic. I entered the cell where Lia was being held, my eyes narrowing as I took in her form. She was slumped against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest, her face set in that same stubborn defiance.

“Lia,” I said, my voice low, as I walked toward her. “You’re being very foolish. Your denial is only making things worse for you. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

She lifted her head slowly, her eyes meeting mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. “You think I’m afraid of you?” she asked, her voice steady but tinged with exhaustion. “You think I’m going to bend to your threats? You’re wrong.”

I smirked, leaning in closer, my face just inches from hers. “I don’t need you to be afraid of me. I just need you to understand that you have no choice. You will confess in the next meeting. If you don’t, I’ll make sure that the consequences are worse than anything you’ve ever imagined. I’ll take everything from you—your son, your freedom, your life. And there won’t be anyone left to save you.”

Her face remained stoic, but I could see the flicker of fear in her eyes. She wasn’t as strong as she pretended to be. And I was going to make her break.

“I’ll never confess to something I didn’t do,” Lia muttered, the words coming out barely above a whisper. “You can threaten me all you want, but I’ll never be your pawn.”

I laughed, the sound echoing in the cold, empty space. “You’ll see, Lia. You’ll confess, or I’ll make sure you wish you had.”

I turned on my heel, walking toward the door, but I paused before I left, turning back to face her one last time. “You’ve made your choice, Lia. And now you’ll suffer the consequences.”

With that, I left the dungeon, the heavy door slamming shut behind me. I didn’t need to hear any more of her useless defiance. The next time we met with the elders, she would h

ave no choice but to admit to the crimes she had committed—or face a far worse fate.