Unclaimed Luna’s Desire
Chapter 35 A Day Waiting for Paul

Ellie's POV:

When I came to, I was on a soft bed. Well, more like tied up and dumped on it.

My arms and legs were numb from being bound for so long, and it was seriously uncomfortable.

Looking around at all the fancy furniture, I couldn't help but think, 'Wow, this stuff must've cost a fortune!'

Even the bedpost was decked out with red gems and agate.

I didn't dare move too much, worried I'd mess up the silk sheets and blankets.

This had to be the secret room Daniel mentioned about Paul.

Being in this totally unfamiliar place, the fear of the unknown had me shaking. But still, a tiny bit of hope lingered in my heart.

I foolishly thought, 'Sure, there are rumors about Paul being into torturing people, especially those without a wolf and human anomalies, but he's friends with Aelros. We've met before and even had a friendly chat. Maybe, just maybe, Paul will let me go because I'm Aelros' friend? I could ask him to let me replace Aelros.'

Paul seemed like a rational guy, and from our interactions, he came off as gentle and witty.

I believed that if I explained to him that I was brought here against my will, he'd let me go.

But I waited and waited, and Paul never showed up. The room was empty except for me.

After struggling with Daniel and David for so long, I was exhausted.

The quiet room let my tense emotions relax, and finally, hunger kicked in.

When Susan was cleaning me up, she didn't give me any food or water. Now my stomach was growling like crazy.

I felt like my senses were getting dull.

I decided to try and replace something to eat.

When Susan took me to the car, she trimmed my nails to stop me from escaping. So, breaking the rope with my nails was out.

But hey, the bedside table was made of gold, and it was hard enough to wear down the rope.

Luckily, I managed to break free without hurting my hands.

The floor was covered with thick, soft carpets, and stepping on them felt weirdly nice.

I ran to the door, but the doorknob wouldn't budge. It was locked from the outside.

With my current strength, there was no way I could break through that thick wooden door.

"Is anyone there? Can you hear me?" I banged on the door, hoping someone outside would notice.

I didn't know if anyone was out there, but I prayed someone kind would hear me. It was my only shot at getting out.

"Please, can someone help me open the door? I'm trapped! Help me!"

Even after my palms turned red and swollen from banging, no one answered.

When I finally quieted down, I could hear Daniel and David talking outside the door.

They were right outside, but they totally ignored me, letting me shout and scream my lungs out.

Even though my throat felt like it was tearing apart from all the yelling, Daniel and David didn't give a damn.

I can't even describe how it felt. My own family not caring whether I lived or died left me completely crushed.

"Dad, are you sure your friend really talked to Paul?" Daniel asked David, sounding all worried. "We handed Ellie over to him. What if Paul doesn't like this gift?"

"No way," David laughed, sounding super confident. "My friend gave him the envelope, and Paul didn't refuse. So, he must be into it."

I could hear their conversation clearly, and it made me freak out.

I had no idea what Paul's reaction meant.

I thought, 'Is it smart to wait for Paul and try to talk to him? From what Daniel and David are saying, it sounds like Paul might actually like this 'gift.' At least he didn't turn it down. What does Paul really want?' "Dad, maybe Paul doesn't like this gift!" I banged on the door and yelled at David, "Take me back home."

"Shut up!" This time David heard me and kicked the door hard. "Bitch! Just stay in the room. You ain't going anywhere!"

The door vibrated from David's kick, and the pain in my eardrums was instant and sharp. I thought they might've burst.

"If you don't serve Paul well today, I'll kill you," David's threatening voice came through the door.

"But, Dad..."

Before I could finish, David kicked the door again, warning me, "Keep acting up, and I'll drag you out and beat you. Seems like you still haven't learned your lesson."

I knew David was serious. Over the years, I'd seen firsthand that he didn't care if I lived or died.

Scared, I swallowed hard and backed away from the door, looking for another way out.

But they had thought of everything. Even the windows were barred with iron, and the whole room was locked down tight.

When I touched the wall, a strong electric shock made my whole body tingle.

I was really trapped in this place with no way out.

I huddled by the bed, wrapping myself tightly in the blanket, keeping a close eye on the door. All I could do was wait for Paul to come back and explain everything, hoping he'd let me go. It was my only option.

I believed Paul would let me go. He seemed like a decent guy, at least to me. As Aelros' friend, I hoped Paul wouldn't make things hard for me and that I'd finally escape my foster family's grip and get back to Aelros' home.

I waited for what felt like forever. Just as I was about to drift off, the bedroom door slowly opened, and a tall figure walked in.

As I watched the shadow move closer, I instinctively held my breath.

My mind was on high alert, as I stared at the figure by the window, afraid to miss any of his movements.

"Paul?" I called out tentatively.