Chapter 349
The Dark Side Of Fate
Somewhere Away From Home
~Sophia~
The sun and moon became a precious luxury, as I only caught fleeting glimpses of the moon and felt the
warm rays of the sun through a tiny window in the room where we were being held captive.
In this confined space, my mother and I lived in fear, desperately holding onto hope for a miracle. Since
the video my father had recorded, showcasing our plight, I hadnât seen him again.
My mother worried that something terrible had befallen him, but deep down, I couldnât believe it.
Somehow, I had an inexplicable sense that as long as he was alive, they would keep us alive as well.
I had lost track of time, but it was evident that several weeks had flown by quickly. The phone I used to
communicate with Liam had died, and I had no means to charge it, leaving me anxious about what might
be happening on his end. Was he still searching for me, or had he given up and moved on?
The way the people around us handled our captivity gave me a strong inkling that Liam had indeed used
his influence. It seemed evident that he had pulled some strings, and our captors had ensured we had no
freedom as a result. The recent tightening of security further supported my suspicion that the search for
us had intensified.
My mother believed that efforts to locate my father had also intensified, but I couldnât share her
confidence. I knew Liam well enough to understand that he never made empty promises, so I had no
doubt that he was diligently working to find us and save us.
I regretted not attending Liamâs graduation that night. Perhaps he could have found a way to help me
escape this nightmare. But how could I have known?
My father had insisted that I skip the party, and now I couldnât help but wonder if he had orchestrated this
situation intentionally rather than it being a mere coincidence. The thought of him intentionally risking our
lives was infuriating, and I felt anger towards him and even my mother for failing to see his errors.
My mother seemed oblivious to his faults, which only added to my frustration. I understood support, but
her blindness to his actions was unhealthy for both of us.
Suddenly, the sound of the lock turning on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to face the
door, and my mother sat up on her single bed, her face filled with paranoia. I chose to ignore it; being
paranoid wouldnât solve anything right now. The truth was, we were in a dire situation, and our lives were
no longer in our control. These people held all the power, and they could end us at their whim, without
anyone ever knowing.
The Alpha of the place where we were held captive entered the room, accompanied by another man
carrying two trays of food. As the Alpha nodded, the man placed the food on the tables beside our beds.
My mother stood up and respectfully bowed to greet the Alpha, but he wasnât my Alpha, and I refused to
show him any form of respect. I had refused to greet him ever since our arrival. As expected, the man
who was serving the food forcefully pulled me up and slapped me hard across the face, causing me to
fall back down. My mother gasped in shock, as she always did, but I remained silent, showing no sign of
pain. I knew I was intentionally frustrating the Alpha with my stoic response.
âYouâre quite the tough one,â the Alpha remarked, amusement evident in his voice. The man was about
to pull me up and strike me once more, but the Alpha intervened, halting his actions.
âSheâd rather face death than show me any respect,â the Alpha said aloud, accurately pinpointing my
stance. He was right; I would rather endure any consequence than bow to the douchebag. Whatever his
issues were with my father, it didnât entitle him to my respect. He shouldnât expect any kindness or
compliance from me. I was resolute in standing my ground.
The Alpha approached me and forcefully made me stand up, then he lifted my chin to peer into my eyes.
âWhat connection do you have with the crowned prince?â he inquired, trying to search for answers in my
eyes. However, I remained steadfast and refused to respond. I had made it a point to never speak to him
or answer any of his questions. Seeing how my actions frustrated him brought me some satisfaction, and
I intended to keep frustrating him until I was either freed or dead.
âIs he your boyfriend?â he probed further, and I couldnât help but find amusement in that question. Oh,
how I wished that were true. I had secretly crushed on and admired Liam for many years, but he had
never reciprocated those feelings. He never asked me out or professed any romantic affection towards
me. We remained good friends, but I knew I wasnât his type, and that reality was a bittersweet truth for
me.
The Alpha released his grip on me and began to laugh.
âIf someone had told me that capturing you would lure the brat right into my trap, I would have dismissed
it as a lie. But letâs see what unfolds. If your presence doesnât bring him to us, then weâll have no choice
but to dispose of you, your mother, and your father,â he taunted, his laughter echoing through the room. I
frowned, trying to comprehend what Liam had to do with all of this. The urge to question the Alpha about
his cryptic words arose within me, but I knew it would be futile; he would never give me a straight
answer.
In fact, I didnât even know his name or any pertinent information. It all felt like a twisted mind game, and I
was left in the dark, unaware of the significance of Alpha Thompsonâs death or how it tied into our
captivity. It seemed I would remain clueless for now, confined to this small room with its tiny window and
locked door, limiting my ability to uncover the truth. There was only so much I could discover under these
conditions.
âIf you behave, I might allow you and your mother some time in the sun. Of course, thatâs only if you
cooperate and provide the information I seek,â he taunted, his laughter echoing as he turned around and
exited the room. He didnât even give me a chance to respond, likely assuming my reply already. But he
was right; I had no intention of saying a word. No matter how many times they resorted to violence, I
wouldnât give in.
This was my fatherâs mess, and I wouldnât let these despicable individuals drag my friend into it. They
could slap me as much as they wanted, but my lips remained sealed, resolute in protecting Liam from
whatever tangled web my father had woven.
After they had left, my mother began to scold me for antagonising the Alpha.
âYou need to stop provoking him, Sophie; you really do,â she chided.
âCall me Sophia, Mom; only my friends call me Sophie,â I retorted, making it clear that I was upset with
her and we werenât on friendly terms.
âWhy are you mad at me?â she asked, and I couldnât believe she would ask such a question.
âHow can you side with Father in all of this? Look at what heâs done. Did he really have to kill the Alpha?
If he disagreed with Alpha Thompsonâs methods, he could have resigned and left Grizlo peacefully.
Instead, he robbed us of our future and freedom by taking the manâs life and that of his family,â I
expressed, my frustration evident.
She seemed haunted by my words as she replied, âYou wouldnât understand, but he had good intentions,
Sophia.â
I shook my head in disbelief, unable to accept her explanation.
âThen tell me why he did it. Tell me why, Mommy?â I pleaded, hoping for some clarity. But she remained
silent, refusing to divulge my fatherâs reasons for his heinous acts. I sensed that it must be something
she believed I wouldnât approve of, something that could deepen my resentment towards them,
something inherently selfish.
âAnyway, I hope Liâ¦â I began to say, but she interrupted with a chuckle.
âThe Royal family cannot intervene in this matter, Sophia. Iâve told you this countless times. Donât get
your hopes up. Liam may be the crowned prince, but thatâs the extent of it. He holds no official power.
The king and queen wonât get involved; this matter falls solely under Alpha Christianâs jurisdiction. Only
he will decide our fate. Grizloâs issues rest on his shoulders; he has no reason to bring it before the
council unless it spirals out of control,â she sighed, bowing her head in frustration.
âHunting for a murderer isnât an issue; itâs not like your father is a serial killer roaming different regions
and killing people. The royal family canât intervene, and Liam canât assist you either. It might have been
different if Liam were King, but heâs just a prince, and there are protocols in place. Please, Sophia, stop
dreaming that he will save you because he canât,â she urged, and though I had tried to convince myself
otherwise, deep down, I knew there was some truth in her words.
âIf heâs not pulling any strings, then why is that alpha trying to dig into our relationship?â I pressed her,
and she shrugged, attempting to act nonchalant, but her eyes betrayed her. It was evident she was
hiding something, and that only fueled my frustration. How could she keep silent about something so
significant?
âTrust me, Liam canât assist us. Heâs probably focused on his first assignment and searching for his
mate. Your paths were never meant to align in that way. If he truly had feelings for you, he would have
asked you out by now. Heâs royalty, and weâre just a middle-class family from a small town. Itâs just not
feasible,â she asserted, trying to persuade me to let go of any hope involving Liam.
âWe donât have to be dating for him to help me. Liam is a loyal friend, my best friend, and I know he wonât
rest until heâs done everything within his power to aid me,â I responded confidently.
Having known Liam since I was eight, I knew he had never broken a promise to me. I would hold on for
as long as possible and keep my lips sealed. I wouldnât divulge anything about the royal family or Liam to
the Alpha. I was determined to persevere until my very last breath.