Chapter 69

Claire's POV That night, Margaret appeared at my door with a suitcase of my daily necessities. Oh, how considerate of Lucius. He even sent someone to look after me so I wouldn't die of hunger. "I've made you some pasta," she said softly, setting down a tray on the nightstand. "Alpha Lucius said you need proper nutrition." I turned away from her, staring out the window at the darkening forest. My appetite had completely vanished along with my freedom. All night I tossed and turned, sleep evading me entirely as my mind raced with frightening possibilities. When dawn finally broke, I found myself standing before the massive windows on the second floor, gazing down at the sprawling courtyard below. The forest air felt much sharper than I expected. It was way colder than downtown. I wrapped my thin nightrobe closer around me, trying to stop the shivering. My skin stung from the cold, and I realized how unprepared I was for this place. The early forest mist made everything look dreamy and be