_Leah's POV_

I didn’t know how many days I had spent in that dark cellar. The cold stone walls seemed to close in on me and the silence was unbearable. Every so often, the guards would come to give me some food, if you could even call it that. A few scraps of bread, maybe a piece of old meat, and a small cup of water. I didn’t even feel hungry anymore. I was just tired. Tired of being imprisoned here, of being alone, of the pain that seemed to follow me everywhere.

Time didn’t mean anything down here. I didn’t know whether it was day or night, whether it had been a week or more since they had thrown me into this miserable place. All I knew was that each day bled into the next, and my mind grew numb to the suffering. My body ached. The constant chill had settled into my bones, making it hard to move.

I curled up on the hard floor, hugging myself, trying to find warmth, trying to remember what it felt like to be free. But there was nothing left for me out there. Kayden had rejected me. My mate, the one the Moon Goddess had fated me to be with, had turned his back on me. The pain of that rejection still burned in my chest, but now it was mixed with the fear of what would happen next.

Would they leave me here forever? Would anyone come for me? Or was this my end, a slow, torturous end in the dark?

I was deep in those thoughts when I heard footsteps echoing in the hallway outside my cell. At first, I thought it was just the guards again, bringing more scraps of food, but the footsteps were different this time. They were lighter and faster. I pushed myself up, leaning against the wall, my heart pounding in my chest.

The door creaked open, and there they were: Selena and Kayden. My heart sank.

Selena looked radiant, as always, her long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders. Her face was still smug, but there was a bandage wrapped around her nose. It looked like she had suffered a little from the fight, but not nearly as much as I had. The satisfaction in her eyes sent chills down my spine. She enjoyed seeing me like this; broken, weak, and imprisoned.

Kayden stood beside her, his expression hard. There was no trace of the man I had once hoped could be my mate, the man I had dreamed about. Now, there was only anger in his eyes.

Selena’s voice was as sweet as poison as she spoke. “Look at her, Kayden. She is still alive. How unfortunate,” she said, tilting her head in mock pity. “After everything she has done to me, I would have thought she would be dead by now.”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. I didn’t have the energy to fight her anymore. I just wanted it all to end.

Selena stepped closer, her heels clicking against the stone floor. “Kayden, you see how much I have suffered because of her.” She gestured to her bandaged nose, a pout on her lips. “Every time I look in the mirror, I am reminded of what she did to me. The pain… I think she should pay for that, don’t you?”

Kayden’s gaze flickered toward her, softening. “Yes, sweetheart,” he said, his voice low. “You have been through so much because of her.”

I swallowed, my throat dry and tight. There was no escape. I knew what was coming and it terrified me.

Kayden turned to the guards standing at the door. “Bring me a whip,” he commanded.

The guards hesitated for a second, their eyes flicking to me. I saw something there, maybe pity, but they couldn’t do anything. They were under Kayden’s orders, and disobeying him meant punishment for them, too.

The guards quickly fetched the whip, a long, black leather strap that looked menacing even in the dim light of the cellar. Kayden took it in his hands, testing its weight.

“This is what you deserve, Leah,” he said quietly, stepping toward me. “You dared to hurt my mate. Now, you’ll know what it feels like to suffer.”

I pressed myself against the wall, my heart racing in my chest. “Kayden, please,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I didn’t mean to hurt her… She was....”

“Enough!” he shouted, cutting me off. “You had your chance to explain, but your actions spoke louder than your words. Now, take your punishment like the omega you are.”

The first strike came hard and fast, the whip cracking through the air and slashing across my back. I screamed in pain as the leather tore through my clothes and cut into my skin. The sharp sting was unbearable, and I felt blood begin to seep from the wound almost immediately.

I fell to my knees, my hands trembling as I tried to brace myself for the next blow, but it came just as hard as the first. Another scream tore from my throat as the whip lashed across my side, sending waves of agony through my body.

Kayden didn’t stop. He struck me again and again, each blow more painful than the last. My clothes were shredded, hanging in tatters, and blood soaked through the fabric, staining the floor beneath me. I tried to stay conscious, tried to endure the pain, but it was too much.

Each time the whip cracked against my skin, I felt myself breaking a little more. My mind was spinning, the pain overwhelming everything else. I wanted to scream, to beg for mercy, but I knew it wouldn’t help. Kayden wouldn’t stop until he was satisfied, and Selena… Selena watched with a twisted smile on her face, enjoying every second of my suffering.

My vision blurred as the world around me began to fade. The pain was too much. I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted it to stop, to just end. I wanted to die.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I collapsed to the floor, unable to hold myself up any longer. My body was drenched in blood, my skin raw and torn from the whipping. I could barely move, barely breathe. Every inch of me hurt, inside and out.

Kayden stood over me, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. He lowered the whip, finally satisfied with what he had done. “Let this be a lesson, Leah,” he said coldly. “You’ll never attempt to hurt anyone again. Especially not Selena.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My body was too broken, too drained of energy to even speak.

Selena walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Kayden,” she purred. “I feel so much better now.”

He kissed her on the forehead. “Anything for you, sweetheart.”

They left the room, the door slamming shut behind them. The guards lingered for a moment, their expressions filled with pity as they looked at me lying on the floor. But they couldn’t help me. They were just as powerless as I was.

Once they were gone, I lay there in the darkness, my body trembling with pain. Every breath hurt, every movement sent sharp stabs of agony through me. I wanted to cry, but I was too weak to even shed a tear.

All I could do was beg silently to the Moon Goddess. "Please, let me die," I thought. "Please, just end this pain. I can’t take it anymore. I don’t want to live like this."

But there was no answer. No comfort. Only the cold, unyielding darkness of the cellar, wrapping around me like a suffocating blanket.

I didn’t know how long I stayed there, drifting in and out of consciousness, the pain never leaving me. My mind was numb, my body broken, and I felt like I was slipping away. Maybe the Moon Goddess would answer my prayers after all. Maybe she would let me die here, alone and forgotten.

And maybe… that would be a mercy.

_Leah's POV_

I didn’t know how many days had passed but I was in constant pain. The cuts on my back, sides, and arms never stopped burning. The guards came once in a while, dropping scraps of food that were barely enough to keep me alive. A piece of old bread, a cup of dirty water and nothing to heal my wounds. My skin had become raw, and I could feel the infection starting to set in.

Fever raged through my body, making me shiver uncontrollably. Sweat poured from my forehead, but I was still cold, so cold. I didn’t know how much longer I could take it. My whole body ached. The fever brought on strange dreams, visions of my past life, of what could have been. I had once been hopeful. I had once believed that my mate, Kayden, would love and protect me. How foolish I had been.

Now, there was nothing left for me. No love. No future. Only pain.

I lay on the hard, cold floor, staring up at the ceiling. I was too weak to move, too tired to cry. My body was failing and I knew that I was going to die soon. The thought didn’t scare me anymore. In fact, it brought a strange kind of relief. Death would be a release from this suffering, and at least I wouldn’t have to feel the constant sting of rejection and betrayal any longer.

My thoughts drifted in and out of focus as the fever took hold of me again. I could hear voices in my head, faint and distant. Was it the Moon Goddess calling me? Was she finally answering my prayers?

A soft noise broke through the haze of my mind. It wasn’t the usual clank of guards’ boots or the metallic scrape of keys. It was quieter, more deliberate, like someone trying to be careful. I blinked. I was struggling to focus. The door to my cell creaked open, but it wasn’t the guards.

A figure stepped inside. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with golden hair that glimmered even in the dim light of the cellar. His eyes, a striking shade of blue, locked onto mine. I felt my breath catch in my throat. He wasn’t wearing the uniform of the guards, and for a moment, I wondered if I was hallucinating.

“Who are you?” My voice was barely a whisper, weak and broken.

“Don’t be afraid, my queen,” he said softly while taking a step toward me. “I’m here to help you.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding. Queen? Was this some kind of cruel joke? I tried to move away from him, crawling backward across the cold stone floor, but my body was too weak to get far. My limbs trembled with the effort.

“I’m not your queen,” I said. “You’re mistaken. Please, just leave me alone.”

He knelt down beside me, his movements slow and gentle, as if he didn’t want to startle me. “Leah, I know what they have done to you, but I swear, I am here to take you away from this place.”

I shook my head. This had to be some kind of trick. “Why should I trust you? You’re probably just another one of them.”

His gaze softened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw something I hadn’t seen in so long. Compassion. “I’m not like them, Leah. My name is Tariq, and I have been watching, waiting for the right time to save you. But we need to go. Now.”

“Tariq?” The name sounded familiar, like a whisper I had heard in a dream. But it didn’t make sense. Nothing made sense anymore.

I tried to push myself up, to stand, but my legs gave out beneath me. Before I hit the ground, Tariq’s strong arms wrapped around me, catching me just in time. His touch was gentle, careful not to press on my wounds, and for a moment, I felt a strange warmth radiating from him. It was a feeling I hadn’t experienced in so long; comfort and safety.

“Why… why are you helping me?” I asked, my voice shaking. “I don’t even know you.”

“There’s no time to explain everything right now,” he said, his eyes darting toward the door. “The guards will notice I’m gone soon, and they’ll come looking. We need to get out of here before that happens.”

I nodded, even though my mind was still spinning with confusion. I didn’t have the strength to argue. I didn’t have the strength for anything anymore. All I wanted was to get away from this place, to escape the nightmare that had become my life.

Tariq shifted me in his arms, carrying me effortlessly as if I weighed nothing. He moved quickly but quietly, making sure to avoid the patrols as we slipped out of the cellar. I rested my head against his chest.

The cold night air hit me like a shock as we stepped out into the open. The scent of the forest surrounded us, fresh and alive, so different from the damp, suffocating air of the cellar. I took a deep breath, my chest aching, but the crisp air was a relief.

“We’re almost there,” Tariq whispered as he carried me into the cover of the trees. His movements were swift and careful, his eyes constantly scanning the area around us. He was focused and determined.

Once we were deep enough into the woods, Tariq gently lowered me to the ground, making sure I was resting against a soft patch of grass. I winced as my wounds protested the movement, but I didn’t cry out. The pain was a part of me now, as familiar as breathing.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice filled with concern as he knelt beside me.

I nodded weakly, though I wasn’t alright. My entire body felt like it was on fire, and the fever had taken hold of me again, making everything blur at the edges. “I… I don’t understand,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why are you doing this? Why are you calling me queen?”

Tariq’s blue eyes met mine. “Because you are a queen, Leah. You don’t remember yet, but you’re meant for something greater than this. Kayden and Selena, they have tried to break you, but you’re stronger than they know.”

I stared at him, confusion swirling in my mind. “I’m no queen,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’m just… I’m just an omega.”

Tariq shook his head. “You’re so much more than that. And I promise, I’ll help you remember who you truly are. But for now, we need to get you to safety.”

I didn’t know if I could believe him. Everything in my life had been shattered, and now this stranger was telling me I was something I couldn’t even fathom.

“I don’t understand,” I whispered, my throat tight. “I’ve lost everything. How can I be anything more?”

Tariq reached out, his hand hovering just above mine as if he was afraid to touch me. “I know it feels like that now,” he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. “But you haven’t lost everything, Leah. You still have a future. You still have a destiny. And I’ll help you find it.”

His words were like a lifeline, something to hold onto in the storm of my mind. For so long, I had believed I was nothing. That I was destined to live in the shadows, to be weak and forgotten. But now, for the first time, someone was telling me otherwise.

“Why… why me?” I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty.

Tariq’s gaze softened as he looked at me. “Because you’re special, Leah. You’ve always been special. And I’m going to prove that to you.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on me. Could it be true? Could I really be something more than the broken girl Kayden had left behind?

Before I could say anything else, a distant howl echoed through the trees. Tariq’s expression tensed, and he stood up quickly, scanning the area around us. “We need to move,” he said, his voice low. “They’re coming. Can you walk?”

I tried to stand, but my legs wobbled beneath me, too weak from the fever and the pain. Tariq caught me before I fell.

“I’ve got you,” he said softly, lifting me into his arms again. “I won’t let them take you back.”

As he carried me deeper into the forest, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time. There was a glimmer of hope.

_Leah's POV_

Tariq carried me through the thick woods for what felt like hours. My body was limp in his arms, every muscle too weak to respond. The cold night air bit at my skin, but somehow, his warmth shielded me from the worst of it. I didn’t understand how he could be so gentle after all the cruelty I had known. Every time he looked at me, his gaze was filled with kindness.

Eventually, we reached a small cottage nestled between the trees. It was old but sturdy, with smoke rising from a chimney. Tariq stopped and whistled three times. His breath was visible in the cool air. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing an older woman with silver hair tied back in a loose bun. Her eyes were sharp but filled with warmth.

“Tariq,” she said softly. “Is this her?”

He nodded and gently carried me inside. “She needs help, Mother. Quickly.”

The inside of the cottage was small but cozy. The air was filled with the scent of herbs and burning wood. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. My body, still racked with fever chills, immediately relaxed at the sight of the fire. Tariq laid me down on a soft couch near the chimney. The warmth seeped into my bones, and for the first time in days, I felt a bit of comfort.

I glanced up at Tariq as he knelt beside me. He gave me a reassuring smile. “You’re safe now, Leah. But I need to take a look at your wounds. Turn around for me, alright?”

I hesitated but his kindness made me trust him. Slowly, I turned onto my side, wincing as the movement pulled at the torn skin on my back. Tariq’s eyes darkened with concern when he saw the extent of the damage.

“Susan, bring me the ointment and the medical kit,” he called to the woman, who was already bustling around the room.

The woman, his mother, hurried back with a small box and a jar filled with a thick and green paste. She handed them to Tariq without a word. Her eyes were soft as she looked at me. “Don’t worry, dear. You’re in good hands now,” she said, her voice full of reassurance.

Tariq opened the medical kit and pulled out some cotton. I tensed, knowing that cleaning the wounds would hurt, but he was so gentle with me. As he carefully wiped the blood and dirt from my back, I couldn’t help but flinch.

“I know it hurts,” he said softly. “But this will help you heal.”

I nodded and bit my lip to keep from crying out. His touch was careful but the pain was still sharp. After he cleaned the wounds, he applied the ointment, which felt cool against my burning skin. I exhaled a shaky breath. I was grateful for the relief it brought.

Tariq wrapped the bandages around me. His hands were working with precision and care. I couldn’t help but think about how different he was from Kayden. Where Kayden had caused me nothing but pain, Tariq was bringing me comfort and healing. I found myself wishing that the Moon Goddess had mated me to someone like him instead of Kayden. Maybe things would have been different.

Once he was done, Tariq sat back on his heels and met my eyes. “It’ll hurt for a while, but you’ll heal faster now,” he said.

“Thank you,” I whispered. My voice was still weak but I meant it with all my heart.

Tariq’s mother, Susan, gave him a proud smile before turning to me. “Come with me, dear,” she said gently. “Let’s find you some clean clothes. You can’t stay in those rags.”

I hesitated, feeling too weak to even move, but I nodded. Susan helped me stand, and I leaned on her as we walked toward a small set of stairs. “Yes, madam,” I said softly.

She chuckled. “Call me Susan, child. None of that ‘madam’ nonsense.”

Upstairs, she led me into a small and simple room. There was a large wardrobe against the wall, and she rummaged through it, finally pulling out an oversized dress. “This should do for now,” she said, holding it out to me.

The dress was far too big for me, but I accepted it gratefully. “It’s perfect,” I told her, even though it hung loose on my frame. I didn’t care. Anything was better than the torn and bloodied clothes I had been wearing.

“I’m sorry it’s so big,” Susan said with an apologetic smile. “I’m not exactly your size, as you can see.” She laughed softly while patting her round belly.

I shook my head quickly. “No, it’s fine. I’m just grateful for anything. I’m the one disrupting your lives.”

“Nonsense,” she replied. “You are no burden, Leah. You need help and we’re here to give it.”

Her words touched me and I nodded. I was too tired to argue. I slipped into the dress, the soft fabric soothing against my aching skin.

“You must be exhausted,” Susan said and guided me toward a small bed in the adjacent room. “Get some rest. You have been through more than anyone should.”

I wanted to rest, but there were so many questions swirling in my mind. “I need to talk to Tariq. There’s so much I don’t understand.”

Susan gave me a sympathetic look. “I know, dear. But he’ll answer all your questions tomorrow. For now, you need to sleep. Rest is the most important thing.”

I opened my mouth to protest but quickly realized that she was right. My body was too weak, too tired to do anything but lie down. I nodded and let her lead me to the small bed. It was simple but comfortable, and as soon as I lay down, I felt the weight of exhaustion pulling at me.

“Goodnight, Leah,” Susan said softly, her hand brushing over my forehead in a motherly gesture before she quietly left the room.

I stared up at the ceiling, my thoughts racing despite my fatigue. Tariq had saved me, but how had he known about me? How long had he been watching me? He said I was meant for something more, but what could that possibly be? I had spent so long feeling like I was nothing, like I didn’t matter. Could he really believe otherwise?

As I lay there, the warmth of the bed and the soft crackling of the fire downstairs slowly lulled me into a sense of peace. Tariq had risked his life to save me. I had to trust him. He had been so gentle and so kind.

But who was he really? And why did he seem to care so much about me?

I closed my eyes. I was too tired to think anymore. My body ached, but for the first time in days, I felt safe. I would have to wait until tomorrow for answers, but for now, sleep was all I needed.

As the darkness took hold, I whispered a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess, thanking her for sending me Tariq. He was an angel.