Night wrapped the mansion in an uneasy silence.
Alana sat in Alaska's study, knees pulled close, staring at the fireplace that refused to warm the hollow ache in her chest. Hours passed like days. She tried calling him again no answer.
Every shadow felt like a threat. Every gust of wind sounded like footsteps.
She hated this feeling…
This suffocating fear.
She stood abruptly, pacing the room.
"I can't just sit here and wait for something bad to happen."
But what could she do?
She wasn't a fighter.
She wasn't a soldier like him.
Yet she was his.
The thought sparked something inside her a flicker of courage.
She reached for the drawer Alaska always kept locked.
Using the spare key he thought she didn't know about, she opened it.
Inside lay a handgun matte black, cold and heavy.
Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.
If the world wanted to tear him away from me…
it would have to go through me first.
Downstairs, the security monitors flickered.
A guard frowned.
"Is that?"
Static crackled. Cameras began going offline one by one.
"What the hell just happened to the system?"
The guard grabbed his radio.
"Zone Four, report!"
Silence.
Then
pop.
The lights died.
Alana froze, breath held.
The guards scrambled, lowering visors and drawing weapons.
"Lock every exit! Full alert!"
A piercing alarm blared throughout the mansion.
Intruders.
Alana's heart slammed against her ribs.
He's here. Kavron.
The thought struck like ice.
She rushed out of the study but stopped when she saw a dull red laser circle sweeping along the far wall.
Sniper.
She ducked, crawling to the hallway corner, mind spinning.
She needed to get somewhere safe.
She needed to
BOOM.
The main doors exploded inward smoke flooding the entrance.
Gunfire erupted.
Guards shouted orders.
Screams followed.
Alana's vision blurred with terror.
This was real.
Death had come for her.
Her legs finally moved she bolted toward the back staircase.
But before she could reach it
A hand clamped over her mouth.
She tried to scream, twisting violently.
"Easy, Princess."
The voice froze her blood.
A tall figure leaned close, breath tainted with smoke and cruelty.
A crow tattoo curled around his forearm.
Kavron's man.
She stomped down on his foot, clawed at his hand, biting hard.
He cursed and yanked her tighter.
"Little wildcat"
She slammed her elbow into his ribs and he stumbled.
Alana sprinted, heart exploding with terror, sprinting into a dark hallway.
She had no idea where she was going.
Her only thought:
Stay alive. For Alaska.
She ducked into the armory room and locked the door behind her hands shaking uncontrollably.
Gunshots thundered outside.
Boots pounded down the halls.
She crouched behind a shelf, clutching the gun, breath sharp, chest tight.
She remembered Alaska's voice calm, commanding.
"Aim like you mean to survive." The footsteps grew closer. The doorknob rattled. A man's low voice chuckled.
"Come out, sweetheart. It'll hurt less if you don't make me drag you." Tears burned her eyes. She raised the gun with trembling hands.
The door flew open metal crashing. A tall intruder stepped in, smirking. "There you are."She pulled the trigger.
BANG.
The bullet hit him in the shoulder he staggered back with a scream.
Alana stared shocked by her own action.
The man snarled and lunged toward her.
She fired again
BANG.
BANG.
He collapsed on the floor, groaning in pain, weapon clattering from his grip.
Alana stumbled backward, choking on fear and adrenaline.
She had shot someone.
She had actually fought back.
And she was still breathing.
But victory lasted only seconds.
Another man appeared in the doorway smile slow, eyes cold.
Kavron.
"Well done," he drawled.
"I can see why Alaska treasures you."
Alana's blood iced over.
Kavron tilted his head, studying her like prey.
"You know what's funny? Alaska's biggest weakness isn't his enemies."
His smirk sharpened.
"It's who he loves."
She lifted the gun again.
Kavron sighed.
"That weapon is empty."
Her heart plummeted.
He stepped closer, voice dripping with venom.
"You were supposed to be his escape from hell."
His fingers brushed the ring Alaska had given her.
"I think it's poetic… that you'll be the reason he falls deeper into it."
Alana slapped his hand away, glaring through tears.
"He will come for me."
"Oh, I hope he does," Kavron whispered.
"So I can kill him while he watches you bleed."
As he reached for her
A voice roared behind him
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!"
Gunfire exploded.
Kavron ducked and retreated into the hall, shouting orders.
Kenan rushed in with two guards, grabbing Alana before she collapsed.
"Are you hurt?" he asked urgently.
She shook her head, breath shattering.
Kenan's expression hardened the calm mask of a killer.
"We hold until the boss returns," he said.
"No one touches you. Not while I'm still breathing."
Alana felt the weight of her fear transform into something stronger.
Not courage, but determination.
Alaska was out there fighting for her.
It was her turn to fight for him.
Alaska's promise echoed in her mind:
"I'll come back alive. Because you're waiting."
She whispered into the smoke filled air.
"Hurry home, Alaska.
I need you.
I love you."
And somewhere far away cross oceans of snow and blood a monster in love felt his heart seize. Because he knew. Alana was in danger.
And he would kill every soul on earth
to get back to her.