The house was quiet.
Ella sat at the table.
"I'm going to school," Ella said.
Martha didn't look up. "Roman said no."
"Excuse me?" Ella put down her fork. "I'm not a prisoner, Martha. I have exams coming up."
"It's for your safety," Martha recited robotically. "There are rumors of rogue wolves near the border. The Enforcer doesn't want you exposed."
"I can drive myself. I'll take the armored car," Ella insisted, standing up. "Where are the keys?"
"The keys are with the head of security," Martha whispered. "Please, Madam. Don't make a scene. He will... he will hear of it."
Ella's spine went cold. "He?"
"Everything that happens in this house... he knows."
Ella stormed out of the dining room. She went to the front door. Locked. She went to the back patio doors. Locked.
She marched to the security office near the garage. Two large guards stood outside.
"Open the gate," Ella commanded, trying to channel some Luna authority.
"Sorry, Luna," one guard said.
Not looking sorry at all.
"Strict orders. No one in or out without Alpha Roman's direct approval."
"This is ridiculous!" Ella pulled out her phone. "I'm calling him."
She dialed Roman's number. It went straight to voicemail.
Frustrated, she scrolled through her contacts. *Ethan.*
She knew she shouldn't. Roman had forbidden it. But the isolation was gnawing at her. She just wanted to hear a friendly voice, someone who wasn't paid to obey.
She pressed call.
*"We're sorry. The number you have dialed is not in service."*
Ella frowned. She tried again. Same message.
She tried her friend Lisa from chem lab.*"The number you have dialed..."*
She stood in the middle of the driveway, phone in hand, the sun beating down on her, yet she felt freezing cold.
Her contacts list. It wasn't just Ethan. It was everyone. Everyone from her old life.
"Looking for someone?"
Ella spun around.
Roman's car had rolled up the driveway silently. He was leaning out the window, sunglasses shielding his eyes.
"Why can't I call?" Ella said.
Roman took the phone. He looked at it.
"I give you a house," Roman said. "I give you safety. You try to call him?"
"I'm a prisoner," Ella said.
Roman didn't answer. He dropped the phone. He stepped on it. Metal cracked.
"Only me," he said.
Ella was sick. Constant.
Aris came to the house. Ella lay on the bed.
"Heartbeat," Aris said.
"A son," Roman said.
Joy. Not for her. For the heir.
"Celebrate," Roman said. "Double the guards. No one in. No one out."
He turned to the head of security, who was waiting in the hallway.
"Double the perimeter guards," Roman ordered. "Sensors on every window. If a squirrel gets in without me knowing, I'll have your heads."
"Yes, Alpha."
"And no visitors," Roman added. "None. Not even her brother. Germs. Risks."
"Wait," Ella protested. "Leo? I can't see Leo?"
"Think of the baby," Roman said. "You can't risk it. Leo is fine. He is in school."
Ella collapsed into the pillows. Boarding school. Another decision made without her. Another tie cut.