Held Captive by the Lycan King

I carried the tray of food to Raphaella’s room again, my steps slower this time. Every visit to her had to be perfectly calculated. Too much kindness, and she’d suspect. Too much pressure, and she’d retreat even further. I had to be gentle with her now—at least until I found the right moment to strike.

Knocking softly on the door, I waited for a few seconds before pushing it open. Raphaella was exactly where I expected her to be, curled up on the small couch by the window, her back facing me. She hadn’t eaten the last meal I brought, and I knew she was getting weaker.

"Raphaella," I called softly as I approached, setting the tray down on the small table beside her. "I’ve brought you some food again. You need to eat. You know how Lycan King is. He doesn’t tolerate disobedience. If you keep refusing to eat, he might..." I paused, letting my words hang in the air. "He might take more drastic measures."

She didn’t respond, her body stiff, her gaze fixed out the window.

I leaned in closer, my voice dropping lower, almost conspiratorial. "He’s cruel, Raph. You’ve only been here a short time, but I’ve seen it. He will kill anyone who offends him."

"I heard about what he did to an entire village once," I continued, my tone darkening as I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. "They disrespected him, and he slaughtered them all. Men, women, children. He didn’t care. Pierre only cares about one thing—power. He’ll use anyone and destroy anyone who gets in his way."

“Even his own men... he’s had them killed for the slightest mistakes.” I lowered my voice even more, as though I were revealing something too terrible to say aloud. “I heard he kept a woman locked away for years because she rejected him.”

Raphaella’s hands clenched into fists, her knuckles white. The anger, the disgust—I could see it all simmering beneath the surface. I smiled inwardly, knowing my words were sinking in. Soon, she would despise Pierre so completely that she wouldn’t even want to look at him.

“I just thought you should know,” I added softly, turning away as though the conversation pained me. “I can’t stand to see you hurt, Raph. You deserve better.”

"But he told me he loves me," Raphaella muttered. "He rejected his fated mate for me. Why would he say that if he’s so cruel?"

Shaking my head, I scoffed. "Love? That’s not love, Raph. It’s an obsession. Pierre doesn’t know how to love. He only knows how to possess and control. He sees you as something that belongs to him. That’s all you are in his eyes—another prize to add to his collection."

"What do I do?" she whispered. "I can’t stay here with him, but I have nowhere else to go. Matthias abandoned me, and I just don’t know what to do."

Hearing her words, my expression softened. "We’ll figure something out. We just have to be smart about it. Pierre is powerful, but he’s not invincible. We can find a way to escape."

Without waiting for her to respond, I left the room, a victorious smirk curling on my lips. It was too easy. Raphaella was always so trusting, so naive. It was laughable how easily she believed every word I said.

Once I was out of sight, I headed straight for Pierre’s study.

I knocked on the door lightly, before stepping inside. Pierre sat behind his desk, his brows furrowed as though he hadn’t slept in days.

“Any change?” He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

I shook my head, pretending to be disappointed. “I’m afraid not, Lycan King. I’ve tried talking to her, but Raph... she’s stone-cold. She won’t eat, won’t respond. She despises you more and more with each passing day.”

His expression darkened, frustration boiling over. “What am I supposed to do, then? She won’t even look at me.”

I hesitated for the effect, then stepped closer, my voice gentle and coaxing. “Maybe it’s time to make her feel something. Jealousy, perhaps. Show her that you won’t wait forever.”

Pierre’s eyes flickered with doubt, just as I expected. "Are you sure you're not suggesting it to your own benefit?"

“Of course not,” I insisted, my voice soft and persuasive. “I know my sister. Sometimes, people need to see what they’re about to lose before they understand their true feelings. You love her, Pierre, and I know she can love you too... but she needs to be shown.”

He hesitated, but I could see the conflict in his eyes. He wanted Raphaella to love him, but he was afraid of pushing her too far. I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice to a whisper. “You’ve tried everything else. What harm could it do to show her that someone else might take her place if she continues to push you away?”

His jaw tightened, and after a long moment, he finally nodded, though reluctantly. “Alright. We’ll try it your way. But I won’t go too far.”

A rush of excitement shot through me, though I kept my expression calm and understanding. “Of course, my King. I’ll help you however I can.”

As I left his study, my heart pounded with victory. He was finally starting to see things my way. Soon, I would be the one standing at his side—not Raphaella.

I passed a group of maids as I made my way down the hall, their eyes widening as they saw me. I gave them a small, subtle smile, watching as they exchanged glances. Soon, they would see me as the future Lycan Queen, the one destined to be Pierre’s wife.

And Raphaella? She would be nothing more than a distant memory.