Chapter 2 My choice

Nyra's POV

By the end of the first night, I couldn’t even tell where my body ended and the pain began.

The damp stones pressed against my back. Chains bit into my wrists, rubbed raw from struggling too much, too long.

The air was moldy and something rotten was right next to my cell.I didn’t want to identify it, just to preserve my sanity.

They gave me water once.A cracked bowl. Just half full.I drained it in seconds.

Food? Barely anything. A stale piece of bread tossed onto the ground like I was some rabid stray.I laughed when I saw it.“Wow! Generous.”

No one answered.

By the second day, the cold had already seeped deep into my bones.

It didn’t matter if I curled up or stretched out—there was no escaping it. My muscles ached constantly, like something inside me was slowly breaking apart, piece by piece.

Sleep came in scraps.Ten minutes here. Fifteen there.And the worst part, every time I closed my eyes—I saw Theodore.

Not the present version of him.Not the man who stood in that hall and told me to kneel.

I saw the one who used to tug me closer when I tried to pull away,and he would say. “Nyra, you overthink too much.”

But those memories…they weren’t comforting.They were knives.Every soft moment, every promise—it all felt like a sick joke now.

What a fucking idiot I’d been.

The third day came without me even noticing.

There was no sunlight down here. No sense of time remained with me except the growing weakness in my limbs and the hollow ache in my stomach.

I was half-conscious when I heard footsteps coming closer.

My heart skipped.

Theodore?

He finally decided to show up? Listen to my end of the narrative? Who else would come down here?

I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the way my body screamed in protest.

“Finally decided to visit your prisoner?” I rasped, voice dry as sand.

The footsteps stopped.Then I heard a soft chuckle.My stomach dropped. “Well, don’t you sound lively.”

I opened my eyes.It was Iora.Draped in silk even down here, like the dungeon was just another stage for her. Her lips curved in a smug smile as she stepped closer — My gaze snagged.

“Ah!Isn't it too stuffy down here?” She pulled at her shoulder, deliberately rubbing at her collar bones. That's when I noticed dark marks bloomed across her skin.Bite marks.Fresh.

My chest tightened.Just for a second.A sharp, stupid pang—

Then it was gone…burned away by something colder.I looked up at her , unimpressed. “Congrats,” I muttered. “You got laid. Want a medal?”

Her smile twitched.

Ah! Still got under her skin.

“How crude,” she sighed, though her eyes sharpened. “I simply thought you’d like to know how close Theodore and I have become.”

“Thrilled,” I deadpanned. “Truly warms my heart.”

She clicked her tongue, circling me slowly like I was something on display. “You’re still pretending, I see.” She crouched in front of me, tilting her head. “Does it hurt, Nyra? Knowing he chose me?”

I met her gaze, steady. “No,” I said simply.“ Birds of a feature should flock together!”

Her expression darkened. “Careful,” she murmured. “You’re in no position to act proud.”

“Funny,” I shot back weakly, “I was thinking the same about you.”

Her hand shot out, grabbing my chin hard, forcing my face up. “I could make this so much worse for you.”

“Then do it,” I whispered. “Or stop talking.” For a second, I thought she might actually snap my neck.

Instead, she smiled.A slow, lethal smile. “You must have noticed,” she said lightly, releasing me, “it gets very cold down here at night.”

I didn’t respond.

“And accidents happen,” she continued. “Water spilling… temperature dropping…”

A pause.

“Wolfsbane slipping into your system.”

My fingers curled weakly against the stone.

Yeah!

That got my attention.

Wolfsbane wasn’t just painful.It was torture.Slow,burning,poison eating you alive from the inside. I forced a smirk anyway. “You talk a lot for someone who hasn’t done shit yet.”

“Oh, I can,” she assured softly. “Very easily.” She leaned closer.“But that’s not why I’m here.”

Something in her tone shifted.“Your little friend,” she twirled.

My chest tightened.“…what?”

“That Omega maid,what was her name? Ummm, Shila, ” Iora clarified, watching me carefully. “Such a foolish girl.”

Ice slid down my spine. “What did you do?”

“She was caught,” Iora went on, almost bored. “Trying to steal the dungeon key.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

No.

No, she wouldn’t—

“She said she wanted to free you,” Iora added, almost amused. “Isn’t that adorable?”

My hands clenched, chains rattling. “Where is she?”

Iora smiled. “That depends.”

I stilled.

“If you agree to become the King’s soother,” she said sweetly, “I’ll let her go. I’ll even give her money to leave this pack. Enough to live comfortably.”

My jaw tightened. “And if I don’t?”

Her smile widened. “Then I hand her over to the Rogues outside the territory.”

I could hear my own breath!

“You know what they do to Omegas like her,” Iora continued softly. “They won’t kill her quickly.”

My vision went red. “You fucking—” My voice shook with rage. “You absolute piece of shit—”

“Oh?” she tilted her head. “So you do care.”

“Let her go,” I snarled, pulling against the chains despite the pain tearing through my arms. “This has nothing to do with her!”

“Everything has to do with her now,” Iora said calmly. “Your choice, Nyra.”

I was shaking.Not from cold.From fury.From helplessness. From the image of that girl, the only one who’d treated me like I wasn’t garbage after father died—

Her being thrown to monsters?!

“Go to hell,you fucking cunning bitch,” I spat. “I’d rather die than let you—”

“Enough!” Theodore’s voice cut through everything.

My head snapped towards the entrance.He stood there watching! Great timing again! Just fucking great.

Iora’s entire demeanor shifted instantly.Her shoulders trembled. Her eyes filled with tears. “Theodore…” she whispered, stepping back like she was scared of me. “I was just trying to help her, but she—she keeps cursing me…”

I stared at her.

Unbelievable! Somebody should nominate her for the Oscars!

He looked at me next.Disappointment? Irritation? I no longer gave a shit! “Nyra,” he thundered. “Is this how you behave now?”

I let out a hollow laugh.Said nothing.

“She came down here to check on you,” he continued, voice hard. “And you repay her kindness with insults?”

“Kindness?” I echoed, incredulous.

“Enough,” he snapped. “I won’t tolerate this attitude.”

I shook my head slowly, something inside me going very, very still. “You have no idea what’s going on, do you?”

“Then care to explain,” he challenged.

I opened my mouth.Stopped! What was the point?He’d already decided. “You know what?” I muttered. “Forget it.”

His jaw tightened. “You’re making this harder for yourself,” he said. “If you would just apologize—”

There it was again.Something twisted deeper in my chest.He didn't even see me as a person with dignity anymore, let alone like a person he used to—

Yeah.

That thought needed to die.

Right now!

I exhaled slowly.Then looked him straight in the eye.His expression darkened.“No! I won’t apologize,” I said clearly.

A pause.

“And I’ll go.”

Silence.

“I’ll become the soother,” I added, my voice steadier than I felt.

Iora’s eyes flickered—just for a second.Theodore went still.

“And not because you told me to,” I continued. “Or because I owe you anything.”

My gaze hardened.

“But because at least then… I get to choose something for myself...”

Even if it meant walking straight into hell.