Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon novel Chapter 276

Mike POV

Hanging from the ceiling in this forsaken chamber, time had lost all meaning. My arms screamed in agony, the chains biting into raw wrists, but the physical pain was a welcome distraction from the emptiness gnawing at my soul. The darkness was absolute, broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing through the damp stone walls.

Suddenly, a stirring within jolted me from my stupor. Flint, my wolf, awakened after months of silence. His presence was like a sharp inhale after being submerged underwater.

"Lottie," Flint whispered, his voice a blend of longing and fury. "She's here." I stiffened, scarcely daring to believe it.

"Impossible," I replied internally. "How could she be here? This must be another one of their twisted tricks."

"You fool. She's here, and it's because of you that we lost her." Flint growled a low rumble that resonated in my bones. His words cut deep. Flint had abandoned me, retreating into the recesses of my mind after the unforgivable acts I'd committed. Months without his presence had left me feeling hollow, but now his return only amplified my guilt.

"I didn't mean for things to end up like this," I muttered defensively.

"Intentions mean nothing when your actions betray your words," he snapped back. "We had everything, and you threw it away with your deceit." The sound of soft footsteps echoed faintly from the corridor. My heart lurched. Could it really be her? Was Lottie truly here? Flint's renewed energy surged, making my head throb.

"It's her. I can sense her," he insisted, his excitement palpable.

"What if it's a trick? Astaroth has toyed with my mind before." But doubt gnawed at me.

"Does it matter? This could be our chance," Flint urged. "Call out to her!" I hesitated. If I called out, she might recognize me and leave me here to rot. After everything I'd done, why would she help me? But if I stayed silent, perhaps she'd approach, maybe even free me before realising who I was.

"You're a coward," Flint growled. "Always playing games, and now you're trapped in one of your own making." The irony wasn't lost on me. I'd spent so long manipulating others, weaving lies and deceit, and now I was ensnared in a predicament where honesty might be my only salvation. Flint's disdain was a bitter pill to swallow.

"You talk about hating games, yet you revelled in them when it suited you," he continued. "Especially when it meant hurting her." Regret washed over me, a relentless tide that threatened to pull me under. Memories of Lottie's tear-streaked face, the betrayal in her eyes, haunted me. I'd sacrificed everything good in my life for power and ended up with nothing.

"I want to make it right," I whispered internally.

"Then show her the truth," Flint pressed. "Stop hiding behind lies." But fear held me captive. The months of isolation, the relentless torture—not just physical but psychological—had eroded my courage. Astaroth had ensured I couldn't divulge certain truths, the words sealing in my throat whenever I tried. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't tell my captors everything.

"I can't," I admitted. "He won't let me."

"Convenient excuse." Flint huffed in frustration. The footsteps grew nearer, accompanied by the faint scent of honey—Lottie's scent. My heart pounded, each beat echoing like a drum in the silent chamber. Deciding swiftly, I let my body go limp, feigning unconsciousness. Perhaps if she thought I was near death, compassion might override her hatred.

The door creaked open, and a sliver of light pierced the darkness. I kept my eyes closed to mere slits, watching as she cautiously entered. Her silhouette was illuminated by the dim glow, and for a moment, I was struck by her ethereal beauty.

She approached hesitantly; her footsteps light against the cold stone floor. The scent of her filled my senses, stirring emotions I'd long suppressed. As she neared, her face became clearer—the gentle curve of her jaw, the determined set of her lips, the vulnerability in her eyes.