*Warning: This chapter deals with some darker aspects including murder and sexual assault!*

Chapter 5

"Heart"

My days grew more worrisome as they tediously passed by. I still had no clue what this "Alpha" truly wanted from me nor did Amina. Every day I pondered, in the dim light of my room, every single thing that I could possibly offer this stranger who held me captive. Everyday I come up with nothing that would be worth potentially bringing a dying breed in the light of danger as I am still certain my family will find me. It is only a matter of time. By my count at least two more months had passed since the birth of Jacob. Though I still have not met this "Alpha", Amina says the time will be coming soon, though she nor Killian know exactly when. My body thankfully healed quickly from my birth and Jacob had been with me every single second of every day. The servants provided me with everything I needed or asked for. For myself or Jacob without question. At times I had felt almost as if they enjoyed taking orders from me. It was peculiar how obedient the servants had become since I had been given more freedom after the birth of Jacob. I was now allowed out of my room, with the company of Amina and the two armed guards that followed everywhere I went, out in the courtyard. As well as other areas of what I now know, thanks to Killian and Amina, is a secret underground Kingdom filled with at least 400 or more natural born Werewolves and currently just over 250 humans. It was nice to get out of my room during the day though the armed Werewolf guards Priah insisted accompany Amina, Jacob and myself were yet another example of an overkill in my opinion. Though I tracked every step and committed it to memory I still had no idea how to escape this place. My head was filled with images of this castle I had been living in for the last two months. Every step and turn I have memorized by heart. The Underground however is much more vast than I ever could have imagined. Four days after Jacob was born I was moved into a much nicer room, it was still quite dim but it was completely furnished with antiques and beautifully handmade blankets, drapes and decor. The room was like something out of a fairy tale and on the balcony I now had a nice view of the large town below the Castle. Though the situation was still traumatizing I knew for Jacobs sake I had to make the best of this awful situation. Each night I cried at the memories of my husband and my family, wishing so badly they were here.

Jacob, my only light in all this darkness, was unlike me. His growth was slow and identical to that of a human. However he ate and wanted to feed on my breast every couple of hours if not every hour so he was already four pounds heavier than his birth weight of 9lb exactly. I was exhausted most of the time but thankfully as my relationship with Amina had grown quite close since his birth she was always right there when I needed an extra hand. Rocking him to sleep, changing his diapers and ensuring I had everything I needed. For a human teen she was quite remarkable and I often spoke very highly of her to her father who I knew loved to hear how well his daughter was doing at her post. I had truly begun to think of her as a sister as the time passed by.

"Good morning! How are my two favorite people doing this lovely morning?" Amina said as she entered my room with a breakfast tray.

"Good morning, Amina. We're fine. I'm gonna need more than that to feed me though, this boy has been drinking me dry all night. I'm starving." I groaned as I buttoned my shirt and began to burp Jacob on my shoulder.

"Oh, I know it. Stella will be bringing you up a second in an hour." Amina replied with a laugh as she held her hands out for Jacob, "Now, give me my sweety boy and eat up."

"Is that an order?" I joked.

"A kindness." She relied as she took Jacob into her arms and sat on the rocking chair next to his bassinette.

The moment she sat down I started devouring the meal forgetting to even say thank you as my hunger took over.

"I'm so glad Stella got the position as you second. I was worried Priah would take advantage to try and pry her way into this room more often." I said as I began to eat.

"The Alpha might not see me as anywhere near an equal but he does acknowledge that I was right."

"Knock, knock." The familiar voice of Killian said behind my door.

"Father?" Amina said standing up as Jacob released a burp that made us both laugh for a moment.

"Can I come in?" Killian asked, Amina looked at me for confirmation.

I nodded in approval as I washed down the food with a large cup of fresh blood and Amina placed Jacob in his bassinet and walked to open the door.

"Hello, how are you two lovely young women doing on this fine morning?" Killian began with his usual smile as he planted a kiss on Aminas forehead.

A load of memories slipped of my own father doing the same and I nearly let a tear fall but quickly caught myself. Amina must have sensed my sadness as she immediately went straight into business mode.

"Wonderful, thank you for asking. Why are you here? We're not scheduled for a checkup today."

"Yes, um well." Killian began his voice beginning to break slightly. "The, Alpha has asked me to examine Jacob. He wished to know if the child is or isn't in fact a shape-shifter as his biological father before him was."

"Excuse me?" I asked, nearly losing my breath.

"It's a completely non-invasive test and I will only have to take him away for no more than an hour." Killian replied, not looking me in my eyes as he knew I would object.

I immediately began hyperventilating and I ran to Jacob at top speed and picked him up. Amina gasped and clung to her father but neither moved to stop me. If they had, I would have killed them both.

"No one is taking my baby away from me!" I growled as I held Jacob close.

"Renesmee…" Killian began as he slowly approached me shielding his daughter with his body. "I would never do anything to hurt Jacob and I would die before I ever let anyone hurt him in my presence. I know this is hard but it will be much harder if you resist. I completely understand that you are still very afraid and confused and I am trying my best to give you answers but until I know if Jacob is or isn't a shape-shifter I can't know what's next."

"What happens if he is or isn't? " I asked, backing away slowly.

"That is for Alpha to decide. Please, don't fight this Renesmee. Priah has been looking for a reason to kill you since you've arrived. Don't give her one, Jacob needs his mother." Killian continued, his voice a low soothing whisper.

"Jacob needs his family! Not a bunch of strangers who've kidnapped me and have kept us locked in this godforsaken dark land!" I shouted.

"Renesmee. Please, give Jacob to me. The sooner I take him the sooner I give him back." Killian continued, now in arms reach of Jacob.

"No!" I cried now backed up to the wall.

I began to kiss Jacob lightly over and over as Killian approached closer and closer. I ignored him knowing what I would have to do once he was near. Tears flowing as if a dame had burst behind my eyelids. I begged quietly as Killian gently took him from my arms and kissed Jacob as many times as I could before he left. As he walked away with Jacob in his hands I listened as two extra guards positioned themselves at the base of my stairwell. I cried at the foot of my door and laid myself there, curled into a ball, with zero intention to move until my son was returned. This was the first time anyone had taken Jacob away from me. It felt completely unnatural to have him out of my eyesight. What test could there even be for a shape-shifter? I wondered as tears continued to pour out. I closed my eyes and began replaying memories of Jacob from the moment I laid eyes on him. Amina placed a pillow under my head and began to nervously tidy up the room. She would not speak until spoken too.

"Did you know?" I asked gently, through a thick lump that had grown in my throat.

"No. I didn't. I don't like this either." Amina replied, sounding angry as she roughly fixed my bed.

It made me feel better, about her but not the situation. This is yet another nightmare within this nightmare I am living in. Amina was on top of everything but now something had changed she wasn't given a warning to give me even a moment to mentally prepare. Perhaps Killian wasn't either. We continued our wait for Jacobs return in silence as I watched memories and Amina continued to tidy the room.

"50 minutes they should be on their way back now." Amina said, breaking me away for a moment from my memories.

I hadn't realized but she was sitting on the bench near my door shaking her leg rapidly as she anxiously waited for Jacobs' return alongside me. Almost immediately as she spoke the sound of the guards allowing someone to pass by echoed up the stairwell.

"They're early!" Amina shouted as she stood up eagerly and stepped over me.

"It's Stella." I whispered.

"Fucking hell…" Amian whispered angrily as she crossed her arms while Stella approached with my second tray of food.

Stella walked up with a smile on her face which was quickly replaced with a look of confusion as she approved the door.

"One hour! I told you to come up in one hour, not 50 minutes! Have you ever heard of a little thing called punctuality!" Amina began shouting as Stella stood at the door completely frozen in confusion.

It was odd watching Amina shout at Stella. Since they were identical twins it was like watching her yell at herself, they even wore the same clothes and had matching hair styles. If I wasn't in distress I probably would have laughed. I decided to get up from the floor and dust myself off. Stella didn't deserve Amina's anger seeing as it was most definitely miss placed as she was simply upset at the current situation regarding the Alphas request to do this random testing.

"That's enough Amina. Killian will be back shortly with Jacob. I don't want him coming back into this room if it's been filled with fighting." I said as I started pacing back and forth, waiting to hear Killian's footsteps.

"What? Jacobs not here?" Stella said as he peered into my room.

"No. Now, take Renessmee's tray and leave that food on her table." Amina ordered as she took her place by the door and watched Stella who immediately obeyed without question. As she left I heard Killian baby talking to Jacob and I rushed down the stairwell pushing pas Stella to meet them. Amina called behind me but my body moved before my mind could stop my legs. The guards tensed at their post but quickly relaxed as I took Jacob from Killians arms and began to hug him tightly.

"No pokes, no pricks." Killian said as he stood back.

I turned to Amina with a smile and was confused to see her looking past me her skin pale as if she had seen a ghost but decided to ignore her as I headed for the stairs. As I took my first step I heard a familiar voice clear their throat with intention and sighed deeply. Priah, of course. I wiped my tears and took a deep breath before turning to face her. Priah was standing in front of a lean, tall man with long blond hair and green eyes that almost looked animated as he stared into my own. His scent immediately was familiar as I inhaled, he was the one who kidnapped me. The blonde werewolf who haunted my dreams and my memories. I hid behind a guard out of instinct and the guard held his post in front of me which made the green eyed man snicker to himself.

"Priah was right, they already love you." The man began.

"Alpha Dane, what a surprise, I had no idea you would be coming to meet Renesmee today." Amina said, her heart racing now as she and Stella bowed their heads to him.

"Stand up Amina." Alpha began, rolling his eyes at her, "I am only here to invite Miss Renesmee to dinner tonight and little Jacob too of course." He continued with a smile as he tried to meet my hidden gaze as I continued to hide behind the guard.

"Renesmee has been through quite the emotional toll today, perhaps we could wait till tomorrow night?" Amina spoke for me.

"Emotional toll?" Alpha questioned in a way that was almost a laugh.

"She has never been separated from Jacob before and this "test" was sprung upon us-her so suddenly. We-she just needs the night to bond with her son." Amina replied.

"Did you not notify her of this test once the child was born?" Alpha asked.

"I was never told-" Amina began.

"Priah?"

"The humans do not need to know everything. They cannot keep secrets and they have clearly gotten too close and too comfortable with the young Misses and her child." Priah stated.

"Priah." Alpha moaned as he rubbed his face. "I apologize Miss Renesmee. I did not know the situation. Seems you are not the only one Priah decides to keep in the dark Miss Cook. My apologies." Aplas said as he nodded to Amina.

"How long do I have to stay here?" I let slip out before I could catch myself.

I watched as Killians face fell and Amina froze, Stella behind her looking confused. Priah laughed and Alphas looked off for a moment before responding.

"I know you have many questions Miss Renesmee, tonight at dinner-" Alpha began.

"We'll have breakfast. I haven't eaten much. I need answers now." I replied, still too afraid to step out from behind the guards.

"Renesmee." Amina warned ataking a step closer to me, as her heartbeat quickened once more.

"You do not decide when you eat with Alpha- '' Priah began.

"Enough! We will have breakfast. The sooner we talk the better. Miss Cook please ready her and the baby and meet me in one hour on my balcony if you would."

"Of course-" Amina began.

"I'm ready now, we'll follow you." I replied as I took a step out from behind the guard who positioned himself next to me with each step I took.

"Well then. Something the matter?" Alpha said to the guard who followed close behind me.

I was confused and I looked too Killian as he now too looked at the guard as well his face filled with concern.

"No sir. I've been stationed by Renmesee's side since the first day she came to The Underground. I am only following Priah's orders, sir. Where Renesmee goes, I go."

"Right." Alpha laughed, "You strange little Cooks and your afflictions for humans. It's endearing, truly." The Alpha said as he looked around at what I now knew was the Cook family, before turning with Priah and leading the way.

Amina ran behind me and mouthed that she should be right behind me as well but Killian stopped her and Stella from following once we reached the second half of the castle, the half I had never been inside of. I was afraid to go in alone with Jacob. But thankfully, the guard who I now knew from my conversations with Amina was Greyson Cook her older brother who was the only Werewolf in their families bloodline for four generations, was still at my side. I never knew before but as I examined him I now saw the resemblance between him and Killian especially.

"How many of you are there in your family?" I whispered to him.

I was hoping for some small friendly conversation but instead he shook his head "no" and continued on, quickening his step and placing himself in front of me. I kissed Jacob as I walked behind them while Priah and Alpha clearly spoke telepathically to each other. I couldn't tell if she was flirting with him or not but it certainly seemed like it from the way she smiled at him and grabbed his arm from time to time. After almost 10 minutes of walking around in what felt like circles we finally came to a balcony, where a giant breakfast spread had been laid out. My stomach slightly growled at the sight of all of the food. I needed to eat to produce milk. My body was already creating more as it anticipated Jacobs next feed and my mind was telling me to devour everything in sight.

"Alright you two, leave us be." Alpha ordered Priah and Greyson.

"Should I not sit in and help- '' Priah began.

"No, thank you, now goodbye." Alpha continued as he essentially pushed them both out of the door.

Once we were alone I couldn't help but start eating. Alpha took a seat at his table and sat quietly while I picked at the spread carefully selecting food that would fill me the quickest. I felt like an animal but given the current company I didn't care what he thought of me. Jacob slept while I rocked him slowly. From Alphas balcony I could see much more of The Underground through the dim light of the Moon which acted as their Sun. The town was large and resembled a town straight out of the 15th century. Homes made of stone, wood and straw that had stood the test of time as they were not affected by the nature of the outside world. There were several large farms with cattle, chickens and other regular farm animals. There were no crop fields however and I added that to my list of questions.

"Would you like to sit down? I would be happy to make you a plate." Alpha asked breaking a moment of silence between us.

"No." I said as I continued to look out into the town hoping to find a way out.

"Please, sit." Alpha all but ordered now.

I reluctantly sat down but remained quiet and kept my eyes on Jacob now.

"So you have questions." Alpha said after a moment of silence as he drank a sip of his whine.

"How long do we have to stay here?"

"Forever of course." Alpha replied, his words sending a chill down my spine.

"Why? I have nothing to offer you and you do not deal in monetary values from what I'm told."

"You're wrong. You have much to offer me. Much to offer my Kingdom. Money is destructive, fleeting, and far too abundant in the homes of those who need it least. The Underground is made up of individuals who are raised against the ideas of self indulgence. We live with each other, for each other. There is no need for money in a world where everyone cares for one another." Alpha said proudly.

"What is it that you think I have to offer you?" I asked, ignoring his speech as I knew there was a large divide between humans and Werewolves among the underground from my conversations with Amina.

"Right. Straight to business then, yes?" Alpha said with a smile.

"Yes." I replied.

"I have chosen you as my new Queen. You will give me an heir and I will give you a comfortable life with your children at your side of course. I will raise Jacob as my own and together we will bring The Underground into a new age."

I froze and had to hold back a laugh as my mind refused to process what he had said. A "Queen" of what? A bunch of humans and Werewolves that hide in a dark cave underground? What the hell is the point of that?

"You can't be serious." I said finally.

"I am. I understand you were married before to the beast we killed-" Alpha began, his words making me laugh as I new in my heart Jacob was not dead, Alpha paused for a moment then continued, "I understand this experience hasn't been entirely pleasant-"

"You tacked me and my husband me, drugged me, kidnapped me, chained me up, made me give birth in a small bathtub in a room filled with strangers, then most recently took my son from me to run a bull-shit shape-shifter test! You have no idea just how UNPLEASANT this has been for me!" I shouted back.

"The test was not "bull-shit". Your son carries the extra chromosome his father before him carried. Young Jacob here is indeed a shape-shifter." Alphas insisted.

"There's no fucking way anything down here is advanced enough to test that, let alone in an hour." I replied.

"Watch your mouth you lady. I have been a very generous host and that can all change if need be." Alpha warned.

"Generous host? Do generous hosts threaten to forcibly marry and then forcibly impregnate their guest? Because that's the only scenario in which I end up-" My words stopped as I met his eyes and they glowed green, the same bright glow they had the night he took me from Isle Esme.

"We will marry and you will give me an heir, it will only be as unpleasant as you make it." Alpha continued.

"I-It took me over 20 years to have Jacob with my husband. It doesn't work like that! Please don't do this…" I begged, realizing the severity of the situation.

"Amina believed if I showed you grace I could win your favor. I see she was wrong, perhaps I should have taken you the first day you woke." Alpha said, his eyes cold and distant now.

I had never been so frozen with fear as I was while he spoke now.

"I will announce our union tonight to my court and we will be wed a week from today. That should give Amina plenty of time to prepare you for what is to become of your life."

"Why me?"

"When I heard of a child born, from a human mother and a Vampire father I knew I had to get my hands on you." Alpha said with a sleazy smile that nearly made me vomit, "How remarkable, I thought. Just as the Volturi, I too have my own spies, who have been specially trained to watch you and your family over the last 50 years tracking nearly everything you have ever done. The one obstacle however was that wolf-dog man of yours. He took forever to get you pregnant, without knowing whether or not you could produce heirs my entire plan to wed you one day had to be placed on hold. Now, here you are. Forever young and in the prime of your fertility. I can smell it all over you."

"I-I can't…"

"You can and you will. Now, I have much to attend to today. Priah will brief Amina on all that is to come this week. Amina will have your dress made and we will make the most of it all together." Alpha replied as he stood up to leave the room, "I do hope you come around to it all Renesmee, I do wish to have a civil union between us."

"I will never-" I began, before Alpha slammed the door behind him.

The sound of the door made Jacob jump and made my heart stop for a moment. I couldn't cry anymore as my body was in full shock. I couldn't believe what I had just heard, there is no way this is my life. I sat in silence by myself long enough to replay Alphas words several times. I couldn't eat or drink another bite but I did suppress my memories for a short moment to feed Jacob. My mind spun as I tried to make sense of the situation, it still made little sense to me. Why mix in a Vampires bloodline? Why risk the fall of a dying breed for an heir? Even if they are correct and Jacob is a shape-shifter or will eventually become one there is no guarantee that I'm incapable of having a human child. This nightmare is getting worse and more unbearable by the minute… Jacob… Where are you?

Amina was given a lie by Priah that I had accepted a marriage proposal from Alpha. Once I unloaded the truth a day later once some of the shock wore off, as I felt I had no way out and nothing to lose as I felt completely stuck in Alphas cruel grasp, she was furious. To my surprise Amina on the second to last day before this forced wedding was set to take place Amina came to me with something I had never thought I would see, an escape plan. It wasn't completely clear as she had never gone past certain tunnels that where rumored to lead to the surface world but it was a start, something I could potentially work with.

"This map will take you as far as the caves in the north, from what I understand The Underground resides underneath a landmass known as South America, though I do not know exactly where." Amina said as she showed me her plans while the bath water ran.

"Are you sure about this Amina? What does Killian think? Is it safe for Jacob?" I questioned.

"Renesmee it's a chance at freedom, maybe your only. My father doesn't know and neither does anyone else in my family." I detected a small lie just then but I could tell she was sad so I did not question it as she continued, "It's the only way to keep them safe." Amina whispered.

"When do I leave?"

"During the wedding I will slip you out of the main castle when I take you to change for the union ceremony right after dinner when you are introduced to the head guards and their families."

"That's cutting it awfully close Amina…"

"Trust me Renesmee. This will work. It has too. You're fed and you can run and blend into any human shelter. This is your only hope…"

"Okay. I'll do it. I trust you." I said as we hugged for the first time.

My heart raced as I was shoved into a dress I didn't want to wear and I downed as much human blood as I could get my hands on to build my strength and fill my stomach. I needed to be strong for what was to come. Meeting Alpha again at the altar was disgusting. I refused to speak and because of this Alpha held my hand and dug his nails into my skin till I bled to force the words out of my mouth. I didn't want to cry but his claws felt as if they had been super heated and burned through my skin like acid. It was awful and Killian immediately had to bandage my hand once we had said our vows to stop the bleeding. I was happy to know Werewolves did not believe in public displays of affection so I did not have to kiss him in front of his gallery who watched on as I was forced into this sick twisted marriage to this deranged man.

Amina disappeared after the vows which was a part of the plan but made me increasingly anxious. I was forced around a ballroom with multiple Werewolves, men and women who all gave me a similar message to obey Alpha. After far too many hours of being twirled around like a toy doll it was time to eat. I was so close to my window my heartbeat was hard to control. Alpha sat down next to me and had Jacob placed beside him which made me feel immediately uneasy as we all took our seats.

"Everyone! If I could have your attention, please." Alpha began with a smile. "These last two and a half months thanks to my brave, and victorious guards we have made the first step at the next evolution of our kind. Our new Queen will bring into this world a brighter future than any bloodline ever had before her. Soon we will not only be creatures of the night, nor children of the moon, we will be conquerors of the world above!" Alpha pauses as the high guards cheered at his words, "Now, in order to make this all possible my first step was in making my new bride comfortable and I would like to welcome out two of Queen Renesmee's care givers. The brilliant doctor Killian Cook and his beautiful young daughter, Stella Cook." Alpha said as he turned while the two walked out, side by side looking nervous, I was confused as I searched for Amina who had been my caregiver from the moment I entered The Underground. "Now my Queen I am sure you are confused, as I'm sure the famous Cooks are too. As to the young Amina Cook and Greyson Cook's whereabouts as they too have served you well since you've been here. Elina, would you please."

A woman who I recognized as a chef from the kitchen pushed a cart with a large covered silver platter my way. I was confused and I looked at Killian and Stella who now starred at Elina. Elina looked sad but she had always had a dreary demeanor every time I had ever seen her so it was not abnormal.

"Would you do the honors please, Elina?" Alpha asked.

"Of course." Elinas said as she placed the platter in front of me and opened it up.

To my horror beneath the silver cover were two halves of two separate prepared hearts. One human with the familiar scent of Amina's blood and one potentially Werewolf who I could only assume was Greyson's given the current situation.

"What is this?" I asked in shock though I knew the answer.

"These are the hearts of two of your most beloved servants. Amina and Greyson Cook." Alpha said with a smile as he pushed my hair behind my ears.

"NO! WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE TO MY CHILDREN!" Killian shouted as he ran towards Alpha, who let out a laugh but paid him no attention, two guards stopped him and tackled him to the ground in an instant.

"Why? Why would you do this?!" I shouted pushing my chair back away from the platter.

"This is a gift. The two halves, make a whole. One heart for you my dearest Renesmee. This also serves to remind all that I will not tolerate tyranny in any compassity. blood or not. You see Amina and Greyson plotted to remove Renesmee from The Underground, as they do not share the vision we in this room do. They are the last reminisce of a past one that after today will be left as a lesson to all. Now, eat up my Queen." Alpha ordered, looking into my eyes.

"You can't be serious… I-I can't…" I said my voice was breaking as I began to cry.

"Eat." Alpha said as he put his hand on Jacobs chest exposing his claws.

I don't quite know how to explain it but the moment I saw his claws on Jacob it was as if my soul left my body. I was no longer one with my mind as it entered survival mode. I could hear Killian and Stella shouting at me to stop and I knew I was crying but I ate the hearts in their entirety. The crowd of guards and their families cheering for me once I was done did not phase me and remained in silence the rest of the night. As Alpha and I parted ways so Priah could prepare me for my night with the Alpha I slowly slipped further and further away from this reality. To the point where I could hardly even see myself or Jacob as I fed him one last time before being forced to hand him over to Priah. I was so deeply ashamed of what I had done for the first time I didn't want to go home. How could I possibly continue on with a normal life after eating the heart of someone I care about? Priah walked holding Jacob next to me until we reached Alpha's room. I was frozen as we came to his door.

"Kiss your child, and we will leave to pray that you do not ruin his life as it now is within The Underground tonight by acting up the moment the two of you are left alone." Priah said, making me sick to my stomach. "Remember girl, do as he says and all will be well in the end."

I kissed Jacob as she had ordered and stood in front of the door and watched them walk away until my eyes only allowed me to see blackness. I floated in and out of my own consciousness as I did my best to protect myself from this situation. Alpha to my surprise explained what was going to happen as if it was strictly a business transaction. I listened to what I could but anytime I began to feel as if it might be starting my mind pulled itself away.

Once it did start I instinctively tried to fight him off to which he then turned me over and pinned me down. He then muffled something about me making it harder than it needed to be and how he was disappointed I had agreed to comply without a fight beforehand and gone back on my word. One I did not remember giving though I did not remember much of the conversation beforehand. The moment I felt him inside of me for the first time I gasped and shouted "NO" but there was nothing I could do but cry silently into the sheet until he was finished. I blacked out again for an amount of time that I am not aware of. All I know is when I woke I was covered in his scent and Stella was helping me dress her eyes swollen from how hard she had been crying. I bowed my head feeling like my skin was covered in a thick layer of dirt from head to toe. I needed a hot bath, a scalding hot bath, to get rid of my skin. My heart can't take this any longer… Mom, I need you…