Chapter 274: Episode 274.

The snow kept falling.

Adele had stopped trying to break the cage. Her arms no longer worked properly. She sat with her back against the sticks, and her knees were pulled toward her chest.

The chains connected her wrists and ankles.

Every movement made them scrape against the ground.

She looked down at her hands. They were trembling. She couldn’t feel some of her fingers.

She rubbed them together.

"Tabitha..." She whispered the name.

She wondered where she was, and whether she was safe. She wondered whether her father had hurt her.

Adele swallowed.

She hoped not.

Tabitha had done nothing wrong. None of this was her fault.

Adele looked toward the snow.

Maybe someone would come. Maybe her father would.

Her chest tightened at the thought.

Torak.

She pressed her lips together.

She couldn’t allow herself to think about him. If she did, she would remember the sounds. She would remember his face.

She would remember the way he had looked at her when Blackfen struck her.

Adele shut her eyes.

She had been foolish. Foolish enough to out the life of everyone at risk. Torak had always been the person she searched for in every room. Even when she knew her father was watching.

Adele opened her eyes. "I love you, I’m sorry."

The words disappeared into the snow. No one heard them.

She looked down. Her voice shook. "I was selfish to let this happen."

She didn’t know why she was saying it. Maybe because she was afraid she would never get the chance again.

Adele pulled against the chains.

She rested her head against the sticks.

"Help." She closed her eyes. "Somebody, help!!!"

.......

Blackfen Estate

Torak woke to the smell of water. He opened his eyes slowly. He was lying on a narrow bed.

Someone had changed his clothes. His hair was wet, and his skin had been cleaned. The worst of the blood was gone.

However, his body still hurt.

He tried to move, and pain shot through his ribs.

He stopped.

A bowl of food sat on the table beside him.

Torak stared at it. He hadn’t eaten in weeks now. His stomach twisted, but he doesn’t care.

A man stood near the door, and another stood beside the bed.

Torak looked around. "Where is she?"

The man didn’t answer.

Torak tried to sit up. His body refused. "Where is Adele?"

The door opened.

Blackfen entered.

Torak’s expression hardened.

Blackfen walked toward the bed. "You should eat."

Torak ignored him. "Where is she?"

Blackfen pulled a chair closer. He sat. "You’re very concerned about her."

Torak stared at him. "Where is she?"

Blackfen folded his hands. "Somewhere safe."

"Safe?"

"Yes. Away from making mistakes with your kind ever again."

A deep growl vibrated in Torak’s chest. "You hurt her over a harmless mistake."

"I disciplined her." Alpha Blackfen eyes hardened. "She was a step awah from dragging my name through the mud."

Torak’s eyes hardened. "She’s your daughter."

Blackfen looked at him. "I know."

"Then why?"

Blackfen was quiet for a moment. "Because she refuses to understand her position."

Torak’s jaw tightened. "Her position?"

"She’s my daughter."

"And?"

"And that means I decide what happens to her."

Torak stared at him.

Blackfen raised a brow.

Torak swallowed. "She decides."

Blackfen leaned back. "You still don’t understand."

"I understand perfectly."

Blackfen’s voice remained calm. "You understand Adele as the woman you love." He paused. "I understand her as my daughter."

Torak looked away.

Blackfen watched him. "You think love gives you a claim over her."

"It gives me nothing." Torak looked back at him. "But it gives her a choice."

"I’ll rather kill her than have her sin against the moon goddess, and produce a cursed child in my bkoodline." Blackfen’s eyes hardened. "Eat."

Torak’s hands clenched into a tight fist. He hated himself for not being able to use his body.

Blackfen looked toward the bowl. "You need strength. For what’s coming next."

Torak stared at him. "Where is Adele?"

Blackfen stood.

"I’ll keep asking." Torak warned him. "Make sure you kill me. If you let me live, I’ll make sure you beg for hell long before I let you see it."

"I know." Blackfen shrugged, and walked toward the door.

Torak’s voice stopped him. "Blackfen..."

Blackfen looked back.

Torak couldn’t finish the sentence. His body had betrayed him again. His eyes closed briefly.

When he opened them, Blackfen was still watching.

"You’re barely alive," Blackfen said quietly.

Torak breathed heavily.

"And you’re still threatening me." He paused briefly. "Interesting."

Blackfen left.

The door closed.

Torak stared at it, then he looked at the bowl. His hand slowly moved toward it. He stopped halfway.

His fingers shook, and he clenched them.

Adele.

He had to stay alive. Not for himself, but for her. Torak reached again. This time, he managed to touch the bowl.

........

Night came quickly where Adele was trapped.

The snow did not stop.

Adele couldn’t tell how many hours had passed. The sky had become dark, and the cold was worse.

She was shivering now.

Her teeth clicked together.nShe tried to shift closer to the side of the cage where the sticks blocked some of the wind.

It didn’t help much.

She looked outside. She couldn’t see the road. She couldn’t see anyone.

Adele pulled her knees closer. Her chains rattled. She hated that sound. She had heard it too many times.

.....

At Blackfen Estate, Torak finally managed to eat. He took only a few bites. His hands shook so badly that the spoon nearly fell.

One of the men took it from him.

Torak immediately glared at him. "I can do it."

The man stepped back.

Torak picked up the spoon again. He took one bite, and then another. His body wanted help, but his pride didn’t.

He hated needing them. He hated that Blackfen had been right. He needed strength.

If he wanted to see Adele again, he needed to stay alive. After several minutes, the bowl was half empty.

Torak put the spoon down.

He leaned back. His breathing was heavy.

The door opened again.

Blackfen stood there. He looked at the bowl. "Good."

Torak glared at him.

Blackfen ignored the ill look. "Give him more water."

A man approached.

Torak accepted the cup this time. He drank slowly.

Blackfen watched. Then he turned toward the door. "Rest."

Torak stared at him. "Why?"

Blackfen stopped. "Because tomorrow, we’ll talk."

Torak’s stomach tightened. "About what?"

Blackfen looked over his shoulder. "Your future."

Then he left.

Torak stared after him. His fingers tightened around the blanket.

His future? He didn’t care about his future. He cared about Adele. And somewhere beyond those walls, she was still chained.

Torak closed his eyes. He pictured her face.

He remembered the way she had looked at him before they separated.

He whispered her name. "Adele."