Chapter 5

Serena:

The doors to the Alpha’s chambers closed behind me with a heavy thud, and for a long moment I simply stood there, breathing in the cold air of the corridor.

Alive… I was still alive. Fucking hell, why was I still alive?

The two guards standing outside looked at one another in open confusion before one of them finally cleared his throat. “You may return with Lady Helena.”

I blinked. “That’s it? I can just leave?”

Neither guard answered, and their silence made it clear they were just as puzzled as I was. And though they might have not truly understood my own confusion, or they did… neither one of them commented.

A few moments later, Lady Helena appeared from farther down the corridor. The composed expression she always wore slipped ever so slightly when she saw me standing there untouched. Her eyes swept over me from head to toe, searching for bruises, blood, shackles… anything. To her, and my, surprise, there was nothing… I walked out just as I had walked in.

“Come,” she said quietly. “Let’s get you back to the harem quarter.”

I followed her without a word. The walk through the Alpha’s wing felt strangely silent. Usually Helena filled every journey with instructions or corrections, but this time she said nothing. Only the soft echo of our footsteps followed us through the polished marble halls.

It wasn’t until we reached the quieter servants’ corridors that she finally spoke. “What happened?”

I kept my eyes ahead. “Nothing happened.”

She glanced sideways at me. “I expected to be summoned. I expected the Alpha to be crossed with you, but it seems to me that you haven’t done such a bad job?”

I didn’t respond… if only she knew… she might end up going to the Alpha herself.

“The guards heard the Alpha laugh.” That caught my attention, and I side glanced her before looking ahead of me. “I’ve worked in this manor for twenty‑seven years,” Helena continued. “I have heard him raise his voice. I have heard him issue death sentences. I have even heard him sing once as a child.” She paused. “But laugh?” She shook her head slowly. “Never… particularly not with a slave.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to be quiet. “So, did you say something amusing that had him laughing? Did he?” I refused to answer and Helena sighed. “You are making this difficult.”

“I didn’t ask you to question me.” I said, and she rolled her eyes.

“No,” she agreed. “You chose to make it difficult.”

“I attempted to slap him.” I said, making her eyes widen. For a moment, she froze, then as if choosing not to believe me, she shook her head and simply sighed.

“Let’s get you back to the harem,” she simply said, leaving me alone with the number of thoughts that were playing in my mind.

Alexander Petrova had laughed…  he should have punished me for talking back at him. Instead, he had looked amused, as though my anger entertained him, and that thought only made me angrier.

We descended another flight of stairs before Helena spoke again. “Did he touch you? I need to know because if he did, we are going to be changing your room.”

“No,” I said, looking ahead of me.

“So he said nothing?” She asked, raising an eyebrow. “He just called you there then asked you to leave?”

“He asked questions.” I said, crossing my arms over my chest, “and I answered them.”

We reached the doors leading toward the women’s quarters and the guards opened them immediately.

Every conversation inside stopped the moment I entered. Dozens of women turned to stare. Some sat on their beds. Others had been sewing and a few stood near the fireplace. Every single pair of eyes landed on me, and every single expression carried the same question.

How had I survived?

One woman slowly stood. “What… happened? She came back so early… was she…? Did she displease the Alpha?”

I walked straight past her, knowing the kind of questions that would be playing in their minds. And right now, I had no mind to answer any of them.

The room remained silent as I crossed to my bed. Only after I sat down did the whispers begin.

“She came back…”

“She’s unharmed…”

“Not even a scratch...”

“I don’t understand…” one said, looking at her friend. “It is her first day and she was called, and she came back unharmed? How…?”

Helena remained near the doorway, watching the women for a few moments before speaking. “Enough! It is past your sleeping time, and if I am allowing you to stay awake, it does not mean that you can get too excited.”

The whispers stopped instantly.

She looked directly at me. “Serena.” I lifted my head. “You will report to the east training hall tomorrow morning.”

I frowned. “The what?”

“The east training hall.” She said, not allowing me to ask more questions in front of the others. “You will begin your training.”

The words caught me completely off guard. “My… training?”

She walked farther into the room until she stood directly in front of me. “The Alpha noticed you.” Helena looked at the other women before returning her attention to me. “There are many women in these quarters. But today, for the first time in a long while…” Helena continued, “the Alpha requested only one.”

“But I never asked for his attention.” Frustration bubbled inside me. “So why train me?”

Helena’s expression softened ever so slightly. “Because whether you wanted his attention is no longer relevant.” She held my gaze. “You caught the Alpha’s eye on the very day you arrived.” Every woman was listening now. “That has never happened before,” Helena said. “You are going to learn how this manor functions,” she continued. “You will learn our customs, our rules, and what is expected of you.”

I slowly rose to my feet. “And if I refuse?”

Helena met my stare without flinching. “I don’t think you will.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because you are intelligent enough to recognize that knowledge is not surrender.”

I frowned. “You believe training will make me obedient.”

“No,” she said immediately. “I believe training may keep you alive… I’ll come and get you in the morning…”