Chapter 3 A Captive In The Mufasa Castle

• “In a few days, you will be mine. Why not give in now, and I won’t use your stubbornness against you,” Captain Mufasa whispered, his breath hot on her skin as he pressed her down.
• “I will never be yours, Captain Mufasa. Kill me now, but I will never be yours,” Alora mumbled, her voice steady even as tears ran down her face.
• Her body shook, not just from fear but from exhaustion. She had yelled till her throat was raw, but no one came. There was no one to help her, no one to hear her screams. If this was her fate, then she would die with honor, her Steele name untarnished.
• Frustrated, Mufasa’s fingers tightened around her neck. He squeezed slightly, waiting for her to struggle, to show some resistance—but she remained still, her silence enraging him further. With a growl, he released her and stood up.
• “You are as good as dead,” he hissed, rushing out of the room.
• Alora curled into herself, sobbing quietly. She hoped someone—anyone—would recognize she was in danger. She hadn’t sent word to her family since she arrived and that alone should have been a sign.
• If she ever made it out of here alive, she would make sure everyone knew the truth about Captain Mufasa. Uncle Todd felt he was an honest guy, a friend. But now, she knew better.
• She had come willingly, thinking she was going to help a sick man. The accounts claimed someone was poisoning Mufasa, plotting to take over his estate once he was gone. She had thought she could help—clean his house, provide his food, keep him safe. But it was all a lie.
• The instant she entered his house, he shut the doors.
• She was his prisoner.
• Captain Mufasa stood by the door now, watching her with hard eyes. “You’re throwing away the only chance you have to change your life,” he added, his voice strangely quiet.
• She didn’t respond as she had nothing to say to him.
• His jaw stffened. “You brought this on yourself, Alora. You’re simply too stubborn.”
• “I... I... don’t want this,” she wailed, her voice cracking. “Please, just let me go. I promise—I won’t say a word to anyone.”
• Captain Mufasa groaned, running a hand through his thick hair. He crouched beside her again, his voice low. “Marry me, and in a fortnight, you will be the lady of this castle. My children have been settled elsewhere. They are all gone and only our children will receive all I own. You will never regret it.”
• Silence filled the room. His heart pounded as he waited for her answer.
• She finally opened her eyes, staring at him with quiet defiance.
• “No!” she muttered, ready for the worst.
• The phrase killed any hope he had. He drew a deep breath, his face twisting with disappointment. With a hiss, he rose and marched to the door. Just as he approached it, he stopped for a second, and then walked out.
• Alora sat up, confused. Something was wrong.
• It’s a trap!
• Mufasa never left the door unlocked. He was obsessively cautious about her escape, always ensuring the locks were in place from outside. But now…
• Slowly, she rose to her feet and tiptoed to the door.
• Outside, two guards were close, but they didn’t appear to notice her. It was unusual—too weird. But she didn’t pause to think about it. She moved past them carefully, her heart hammering in her chest.
• She reached the staircase, her breath catching as she noticed more guards. But just like before, they didn’t react to her presence. Normally, even the smallest sound would have alerted them, but now… nothing.
• Could it be that the argument with Captain Mufasa had distracted them? Or was this something else entirely?
• She didn’t wait to find out.
• With silent steps, she made her way down, gripping the banister tightly. The closer she got to the exit, the more her pulse raced.
• Then, she spotted the gate.
• Two guards stood there, guns in hand. The gate itself was impossibly high, towering over ten feet. She couldn’t climb it, and walking through was equally impossible—it was locked, and even if she found a way to pick it, the guards would spot her.
• She was trapped.
• Panic surged in her chest. She had made it this far. She could not go back.
• Then, something happened that made her freeze.
• A guard emerged from the security room, stretching his arms like he had just woken up.
• Alora’s lip parted, a silent plea forming at the back of her throat, but no words came out. What was the point? The guards listened to one man alone, and that was Captain Mufasa.
• Her limbs ached from exhaustion, her breath uneven. The sting of failure pressed against her chest. She had tried. She had failed. And this time, the punishment would be far worse.
• She should have known better. She should have accepted that her fate was no longer her own, that Captain Mufasa held it tightly in his ruthless grip. No amount of running, no foolish voyage, no desperate wish could change that.
• Surprisingly, the guard barely spared her a glance—just a flicker of disinterest—before turning away and unlocking the gate.
• A mistake.
• Alora didn’t think.
• She ran.
• Her feet pounded against the earth as she bolted through the gate and into the cold night air. She didn’t dare look back. Every step felt like a miracle.
• The darkness wrapped around her as she ran, her lungs burning, her muscles screaming for rest. She expected to hear shouts, the heavy footsteps of guards chasing after her.
• But there was nothing.
• She was alone.
• Alora slowed, her breath ragged as realization struck her.
• Mufasa had let her go.
• He had known she would try to escape, and instead of stopping her—he had made sure she succeeded.
• She clenched her fists. This wasn’t kindness. It wasn’t mercy.
• It was a warning.
• A silent message: You are free for now, but you will always belong to me.
• This must be a trap, and if that was so, then she wasn’t safe yet, not until she reached the ranch.
• In her desperation she kept running. The ranch was still miles away, and dawn was creeping in. If she could reach home before sunrise, then perhaps she would be safe.
• Her feet moved on instinct, exhaustion threatening to pull her under. But she couldn’t stop.
• Not yet.
• She could only hope that when she got home, her family would believe her. And that Captain Mufasa wouldn’t come for her again.