Chapter 5

The banquet had been the worst day of my life. And the cherry on top of the cake had been Alpha Ragnar’s words, which had daggered my heart. Although he hadn’t officially rejected me, it didn’t change the fact that he didn’t want me.

Ever since then, whenever I had to clean his office or do anything involving him, he never spoke to me—he just avoided me like I was a plague.

The knocks echoed on my door, and I slowly got out of bed. I hadn’t gotten much sleep throughout the night. For some reason or another, the servants or maids who were supposed to be doing their work hadn’t been available, so I had to fill in. And in my mind, I knew the one person to blame.

I opened the door, and the bossy woman asked, “Why are you here lazing around? Don’t you know you have work to do?”

I raised my brow and answered, “I’ve already done all my chores, ma’am.”

“You must be delusional,” the woman scoffed. “Get down to the kitchen and do the chores that have been pinned to the wall.” She slammed the door in my face, and the small gust of wind pushed my hair back.

I huffed, dejected. Ever since that banquet, she had made sure to treat me worse. I guessed it was because she didn’t want to lose Blaire’s favor or something—but I didn’t care.

I got up and changed into my uniform. It had become a symbol of humiliation now because it was the only thing I could wear aside from my pajamas, and Blaire would definitely not want me doing chores in those.

When I reached the kitchen, I was quite surprised—breakfast should have been served a while ago, so workers should still have been inside, tidying up here and there. I didn’t give it much thought and began with the first task on the list.

That was when Blaire seemed to spawn from nowhere. I fidgeted, turning to see her standing behind me with her hands on her hips, a smile on her face. I wondered what had made her happy—or maybe it was the sickening thoughts swirling in her head.

“I saw you go to Alpha Ragnar’s office the other day. Why?” she questioned.

I gulped and shook my head.

“Don’t play dumb. Even though you are, answer my question,” Blaire demanded.

“I went in to clean up,” I replied, keeping my eyes on the ground.

“Oh? Then why?” she asked, confusing me.

“Why are you trying so hard for him to notice you?” Blaire pressed.

“I don’t understand,” I replied, but Blaire huffed, still keeping her smile.

“I’ve been watching you very closely, and it seems to me that you don’t know how to stick to your lane, you know?” Blaire said, but I didn’t respond.

“Like whenever you’re given a chore, for example—you always start where Alpha Ragnar is closest to. Or whenever he passes, you stare at him like he should notice you. Why would he? You’re just a speck. A plaything, remember?”

I nodded in acceptance.

“So why the hell do you keep trying to get his attention? Do you think if you try hard enough, he’s actually going to come to your rescue like he’s your prince charming?” Blaire sneered, but I still didn’t respond.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, and I shifted my gaze from the ground to see her amused expression.

“Wait a minute… Do you think he’s your mate?”

My heart skipped a beat at the question, but I didn’t answer.

“Tell me!” Blaire barked.

I stuttered, “No.”

But Blaire laughed hysterically before her expression turned serious.

“Good. Don’t even dream of it because it will never happen. You’re weak,” Blaire said, shoving me with her chest.

“Worthless.” She did it again.

“And unworthy of ever attaining such a status.” She shoved me one last time, and I almost lost my balance.

Blaire’s expression shifted to one of anger, and I knew then that I was in trouble.

“So now, I’m going to teach you how to stay put where you belong,” Blaire said, her eyes gleaming with ill intent.

Before I could speak, she slapped me, and I fell to the ground. She started kicking me from various angles, but I only shielded my face, taking the blows to my body.

After she stopped, I tried crawling away, but Blaire wasn’t satisfied. She grabbed a fork from the sink and stabbed the back of my palm. The pain was excruciating—I cried out loud, and Blaire smiled sickly.

She grabbed me by my hair, about to punch my face when she suddenly stopped. I opened my eyes to see Alpha Ragnar staring at us.

“She stepped out of line, so I was just disciplining her,” Blaire said.

Alpha Ragnar paused before responding. “Good. But the object can wait. See me in my office,” he said and walked away.

My jaw dropped.

Blaire turned to me. “You’re just lucky this time,” she sneered before leaving me on the floor in my pitiful state.

***

Later that night

I lay staring at the ceiling of my room, trying to forget what had happened earlier when I heard my door knob turning.

I had locked the door, so I got up to ask who it was, but Ragnar broke the lock and walked in casually. My heart sank.

He didn’t say anything.

“Yes, Alpha?” I asked.

“Your wound,” he said.

I showed him.

He walked up to me and grabbed my hand, inspecting it. My heart raced.

He traced the wound with his finger, and it hurt—I hissed lowly, closing my eyes. But then, I felt warmth.

I opened my eyes again and saw him licking my wound.

It didn’t feel weird. Quite the opposite.

Then he stopped, and for a few seconds, silence stretched between us as we stared at each other.

I started feeling the magnetic attraction between us, but I didn’t dare act on it.

But he did.

He smashed his lips against mine.

My eyes widened in surprise.

I barely processed what was happening before he was already on top of me, heaving after the kiss. Slowly, he started kissing my neck, moving lower, and my body heated up.

I gasped slightly as he grabbed my dress, shifting it further to reveal more of me. My breathing turned rapid, faster than a rabbit’s.

In seconds, my clothes were torn, and he moved to undo his.

“Please… stop,” I called out.

He didn’t answer.

“Please,” I cried out louder this time, but there was no difference.

Three days ago, he had clearly rejected me. When Blaire had been beating the hell out of me earlier, he had done nothing.

So why was he forcing himself on me now?

The thought made me sick.

A tear slipped from the corner of my eye.

“Stop!” I cried out again, louder than before.

And he did.

He got off me. He growled, staring at me, while I lay there, tears streaming down my face.

He didn’t say a word.

He just left.

It was painful.

I had been maltreated, molested, and now nearly raped.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

If Blaire ever found out about this, she would kill me for sure.

I stood from my bed and stared outside my window.

I knew my room was at the edge of the house.

I knew it was a long way down.

But now, more than ever, I knew what I must do to end this suffering.