The Alpha's Prisoner: Between Two Worlds
Synopsis
The plane crash claimed countless lives, but it stranded Adeline in the fantastical realm of Remus. Here, luck and curse blur. Though alive, she found herself a prisoner of the most captivatingly dangerous man she had ever met—her captor, the Alpha named Gideon. Oozing with rugged, irresistible charm, there was a flicker of something warm in his gaze, a possessiveness that made her traitorous heart skip a beat. As the lines between prisoner and protector blurred, Adeline found herself torn. Was Gideon her salvation or the monster she should fear most? Or, in this untamed world, love might just be the most dangerous beast of all?
The Alpha's Prisoner: Between Two Worlds Free Chapters
1 - Another World, another what? | The Alpha's Prisoner: Between Two Worlds
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My eyes fluttered open, the cold seeping into my bones the first thing I registered. Blinking away the sleep, I frowned. This wasn't my comfy bed. This... this was a room made entirely of cold, smooth metal, with thick bars separating me from the outside world!
My ankles felt strangely heavy, and a glance down revealed them chained to the floor, like something out of a movie.
A throbbing ache pulsed in my forehead, making me wince. What happened last? Memories flooded back in a rush – the airplane, the scary noises, people screaming, then… darkness!
My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drum solo of fear and confusion. Did we crash? Was I dead? But where were the fiery underworld and creepy demons?
"Maybe I'm alive?" I whispered, dazed, checking myself for gruesome injuries. Thankfully, just a few bumps and bruises.
Then, I saw a guard. A guard standing outside the bars, his face unreadable. Relief washed over me. At least someone was here! I scrambled to my feet, brushing off my clothes that were too dusty for a decent night's sleep.
"Um, excuse me," I began, voice a nervous squeak. "Where am I?"
The man just stared. No answer. Okay, maybe a little gruff, but at least he was there, right? Deep breath, stay positive.
My voice came out a little stronger this time, "Hey! Still no answer? Where am I?" The guard guy just gave me another eyebrow raise, like he was judging my geography skills. Rude!
Maybe he was mute? Or maybe he was like one of those fancy vending machines at the mall that needed a special card to work.
Sighing dramatically, I plopped back down on the cold floor, leaning against the metal wall. My brain was officially on overdrive, trying to figure out why I was alive, yet stuck in what felt like a giant metal can.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a mountain of a man walked in. Even the guard guy bowed a little, which totally put this newcomer in the "important dude" category. I scrambled to my feet, suddenly feeling like I should curtsy or something. Judging by the way everyone was treating him, this guy was clearly in charge.
He stopped a few feet away, the dim light making it hard to see his face clearly. Ugh, thanks to all those late-night study sessions for cramming finals, my eyes weren't exactly eagle-sharp anymore! He spoke in this deep voice that sent shivers down my spine, not in a bad way, but definitely in a "wow, that's a powerful voice" way.
"Is the prisoner awake?" His voice was deep and boomed around the tiny cell, making my stomach do a nervous flip.
"Yes, Beta," the guard said. Beta? Okay, that was a new one. Maybe it was some kind of fancy security code or something?
"Hi there," I chirped, trying to sound friendly despite the knot forming in my stomach. The big dude scanned me head-to-toe, making me feel like a bug under a magnifying glass. Ugh, I must look awful – all dusty and sweaty. How long had I even been asleep?
"May I ask who you guys are?" I blurted out, "And where I am?" He couldn't possibly hurt a harmless college student like me, right?
"Those are questions we should probably be asking you, miss," he drawled. "Who are you, and what are you doing on our turf? Don't tell me, a spy?"
Spy? Turf? My brow furrowed in confusion. "A spy? Seriously? And what turf exactly? Do I look like a James Bond wannabe?" I shot back, trying to sound tougher than I felt.
"True, not exactly the picture of a secret agent. But most packs wouldn't send a weakling for recon. Maybe you're an escaped… slave? Though, it's weird I can't pick up any scent from another pack on you."
Slave? Pack? My head spun. Did I land in some weird historical reenactment or something? "What… what pack?" I stammered, completely lost. This guy was speaking a language I didn't understand. Panic started to bubble up in my chest.
The man sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Alright, alright," he said, his voice softer now. "Where are you really from?"
Taking a deep breath, I tried to piece it all together. "I… I was on a plane," I stammered, "going home to Santa Catalina. I was coming back from Switzerland." His brow furrowed even deeper. This clearly meant nothing to him. My heart plummeted. Where in the world – or maybe even off-world – had this crazy plane crash taken me?
"Ugh, seriously?" I mumbled after he didn't answer. Spilling everything at once probably wasn't the best idea. Taking a deep breath, I tried a more measured approach. "Look, I really don't remember much. There was a plane, some trouble, and then... nothing. I woke up here."
Beta raised an eyebrow that practically reached his hairline. "An airplane? Sounds like some fantastical story," he scoffed. My jaw dropped.
"Fantastical story? You've never seen a plane? It, uh, flies. Through the air?" I stammered, gesturing vaguely with my hands. He just smirked, that infuriatingly amused look back on his face. Great. Stuck in the middle of nowhere with a guy who thinks airplanes are fairytales. This was officially the worst day ever.
"Well, you seem to come from a very... interesting place."
Interesting? More like terrifying! "So, can I, you know, leave now?" I asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not. You stay here until the Alpha decides your fate." He turned to leave, his broad shoulders brushing past the cell door.
Deflated, I slumped back against the cold wall. Everything felt wrong. This place, these people – they were like something out of a history book, not real life. Exhaustion finally took over, and my eyelids fluttered shut, my thoughts swirling in confusion as I drifted off to a restless sleep.
***
The metal door screeched open, jolting me awake. Beta sauntered back in, a tray in his hand. "Thought you might be getting peckish," he announced, setting the tray down with a clatter.
Peeking over the edge, I saw what looked like roasted meat and some strange, colorful fruits. My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn't eaten since... well, since whenever I'd passed out on that plane. Still, caution gnawed at me.
"This isn't poisoned, is it?" I blurted out, eyeing the food warily.
Beta threw his head back and smirked, a booming sound that echoed in the small cell. "Poison? If we wanted you gone, it wouldn't be so fancy. More like a heart-ripped-out-and-fed-to-the-vultures kind of deal."
My stomach lurched. Vultures? This guy wasn't exactly putting my mind at ease with his barbaric metaphors. Still, the rumble in my belly was getting hard to ignore!
"And no love potions in there either, right?" I tacked on hesitantly, spearing a piece of the meat with a cautious finger. It smelled good, at least. Honestly, who cared about good food when you were stuck in a dungeon?
2 - Under the moonlight | The Alpha's Prisoner: Between Two Worlds
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Beta just shook his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You are easy on the eyes, but I'm sure my mate is even more stunning."
My eyebrows shot up. Mate? This conversation was getting stranger by the second.
I took a slow bite of the mystery meat, chewing thoughtfully. The word mate echoed in my mind. As an avid reader, it wasn't unfamiliar; it frequently appeared in genres featuring creatures of the night-werewolves and vampires. But this was real life, not some fantasy novel!
I kept my face neutral, finishing the bite before asking nonchalantly, "So, about this 'mate' thing..." Maybe a casual approach would work better.
"It's not something we discuss with outsiders," he said curtly.
But the seed of suspicion was planted. His earlier words - Beta, Pack, Mate - kept circling in my mind. No matter how fantastical, it all seemed to point towards one conclusion. Unless I'd somehow stumbled onto the set of a very realistic werewolf movie...
Taking a deep breath, I decided a more direct approach was needed. "Beta, is that just your name, or...?" I trailed off, letting the question hang in the air.
He raised an eyebrow, a knowing look in his eyes. "Tyler," he replied. "But within the pack, I hold the title of Beta."
My heart hammered against my ribs. I set the meat down, suddenly unappetizing, and took a long gulp of water, trying to calm the rising panic.
With a half-serious smile, I blurted out, "Okay, let me guess. You're some kind of werewolf, related to a Jacob Black, and I'm on the set of Twilight, right?"
The tension in the cell was thick enough to cut with a knife. Tyler stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Was I right? The silence stretched on, making my stomach churn with a mix of fear and morbid curiosity. I had to know. My eyes narrowed, a nervous edge creeping into my voice.
"This isn't some kind of joke, is it? Where am I?"
"You are saying you don't know about werewolves?"
I slumped weakly against the wall, rubbing my face with my hands in disbelief. Oh my gosh. Where did a plane crash even land me? This was some next-level mystery!
"Tyler," I started again, hesitant but needing clarification. "Are you saying you're a real, actual werewolf?"
The corner of his mouth twitched. Was he trying not to laugh, or was I seriously annoying him?
"Does it look like I'm telling bedtime stories?" he countered, raising an eyebrow.
I bit my lip. Those things weren't real. Unless... He could totally be messing with me, right? Yeah, that had to be it. I wouldn't believe it until I saw it.
"Uh-huh," I mumbled, crossing my arms. "I'll believe it when I see it. Shift right in front of me, big bad wolf."
Okay, maybe that last part wasn't my brightest idea. But hey, a girl had to be sure.
An idea sparked in my head, a memory from all those nights spent devouring fantasy novels. Silver! That was supposed to be a werewolf's weakness, right?
With a determined glint in my eye, I rolled up my sleeve a little, revealing a silver bracelet I always wore. As I dangled it in front of Tyler, his whole demeanor shifted. He shot up from his crouch, a startled yelp escaping his lips.
A guttural growl erupted from his throat, a sound so primal, so raw, that it made the hairs on my arms stand on end. He lunged forward, fangs bared in a snarl that promised a gruesome end.
I flinched back, my heart hammering against my ribs. This was it. This was proof.
Scrambling, I shoved the silver bracelet back into my pocket, raising my hands in a desperate attempt to surrender. "Woah, there, Tyler! Easy! I was just... testing a theory!"
His breaths came in ragged gasps, his body trembling with barely contained rage. Slowly, the silver faded from his eyes, returning to their normal brown. He stared at me for a long, tense moment, before finally speaking.
He glared at me, his voice low and dangerous. "Be mindful of your actions, miss. My wolf side isn't exactly known for its patience, and that little stunt of yours was a definite threat."
With that ominous warning, he stormed out of the cell, leaving me alone with a pounding heart and a head full of swirling thoughts. One thing was crystal clear - I wasn't on earth anymore, or even close.
***
My eyes flew open at a weird tickle on my ankle. Was a fuzzy caterpillar on the loose in my room? Ugh, gross. Blinking away sleep, I focused on the source of the annoyance. It wasn't a caterpillar, but a guard! He loomed over me, his face shrouded in shadow. My breath hitched like a record player skipping.
"W-what do you want?" I stammered, scooting back until my spine hit the cold stone wall of my room.
The guard chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine like ice cream melting down my back. "Easy there, tiger," he said, taking a step closer. "No need to get scared. Just makes things a little more exciting."
Panic clawed at my throat. This was officially not a prank. This was a full-blown horror movie come to life. Panic clenched my throat, squeezing out any witty remarks I might have had.
My eyes darted around the tiny cell, searching for anything, anything at all, that could help me out of this situation. But there was nothing. Just me, and the cold floor!
"Hey! Back off!" I shrieked, tears pricking my eyes. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real! But the smirk on the guard's face told a different story.
He lunged for me, fast and sneaky like a cheetah with a bad case of the munchies. In a pure panic attack of self-preservation, I kicked out with all my might, catching him squarely in the shin. He stumbled back with a roar of pain, clutching his leg and momentarily stunned.
But that one little victory was like a tiny splash of water on a raging fire. The guard's face contorted into a mask of fury, his eyes glowing like a pair of angry flashlights.
"You little wretch!" he roared, clearly not a fan of my defensive kick.
Fear turned into full-blown panic mode as he lunged for me again, this time way faster and way angrier.
"No! Please no! Help!" I screamed, my voice echoing uselessly in the tiny cell. Tears streamed down my face as the guard reached for me, his giant hands tearing at my favorite clothes. The fabric ripped with a satisfying shred, leaving me in my underwear.
The shivers wouldn't stop. Fear gnawed at me, icy and sharp.
"I'll make sure you're dead by morning!" he boomed, a scary smile stretched across his face.
He grabbed my hair roughly, trying to plant a kiss on my cheek. I flinched away with all my might, but his grip tightened on my arm like a vice.
"Stop it! Please!" I cried, my voice cracking with panic. Hope seemed like a distant dream, lost in a fog of fear. Stuck here, who could possibly save me from this nightmare?
"Who would have thought you had such hidden beauty?" he sneered, his eyes lingering on my chest in a way that made me want to crawl into a corner and hide.