Mag-log inDominic:The hall was bright with morning light, but the scene inside left a bitter taste in my mouth.Katherine stood before the line of slaves, poised and elegant, her robe a spill of crimson silk against the pale marble floor. One by one, the girls stepped forward under her inspection, heads down, hands folded neatly in front of them.“No,” she said, looking at one of them. “Though you will be useful in my quarters. I want her to be prepared for that. I have been seeing her working around, she seems efficient enough. You will be one of mine.“Thank you, Luna.” The girl said, looking down at her feet with a smile. Katherine did not respond, she simply walked away from her.Katherine was clearly enjoying this.Every tilt of her chin, every faint hum of consideration was deliberate. A show of control. A show of what she was capable of doing.From the shadow of the balcony above, I watched. It wasn’t meant to be a public selection; it was meant to be hers, a quiet power play behind clo
Aria:The hallways hummed with whispers that morning.Soft, cruel little things that crawled under my skin while I scrubbed the marble floors.“Did you hear?” one of the girls whispered near the basin. “The Luna’s calling the line again. She hasn’t done that in a while, you know, her calling for us herself.”“For chores?” another asked. “She normally never cares unless the Alpha demands.”“No,” came the hushed reply. “For the Alpha’s bed.”The words hit harder than they should have. I froze mid-scrub, water dripping from the rag in my hand. I looked down at the puddle in front of me, my heart racing against my chest despite the straight face that I tried to keep.“She’s choosing one of us?”“Brenna said every girl must present herself at the main hall before noon,” the first answered. “They say the Alpha hasn’t… touched anyone in days. Some even say that he hasn’t been touching her.”Laughter followed. Nervous, sharp.My stomach twisted. And as much as I hated to admit it, it hurt mor
Katherine:The corridors were already alive with morning noise when I swept through them, shoes striking marble, servants bowing low, no one daring to meet my eyes. They knew when I was in a mood.And this morning, I was.Dominic hadn’t so much as looked at me when he left.No kiss. No touch. Not even the smallest sign that I still mattered. He didn’t even turn to face me. Hell, he left me standing there, naked for him, ready for him, but nothing seemed to stir him.I found Brenna outside the kitchens, overseeing the servants’ line. She turned at my approach, instantly bowing.“Luna.” She said softly. “How may I help you?”“Where is she?” I asked. “Where that bitch of a slave?”Brenna didn’t pretend not to understand. “The new one? In the slave wing. She started her chores early. She is almost done with most of them. She went to take a break like the others.”“Good. Keep her there.” I said coldly. “And before morning tomorrow, I want you to get rid of her.”Brenna blinked, then straig
Dominic:Morning came gray and heavy, a thin mist crawling over the courtyard outside my window. It was getting to winter, and I knew that it was only a matter of time before it started snowing again.I’d barely stepped into the shower when I heard the door open.“Dominic?”Katherine’s voice, smooth, composed, almost gentle.I let the water run hotter, hoping she’d take the hint. She didn’t. Her heels clicked across the tile until her reflection shimmered faintly in the glass.“I came to apologize,” she said. “For last night. I know that I shouldn’t have reacted the way that I did. And I know that I’ve angered you. I don’t like it when you are angry with me. I am sorry.”I didn’t turn around. “There is no need for you to apologize.”“You stopped me in front of servants,” she continued, undeterred. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper, but you made me look like a fool. As your Luna, you could have at least allowed me the moment before you spoke to me in private.”“You should not have raise
Aria:Brenna dragged me through the corridor in silence.The light from the chandeliers thinned until only torches burned, each one hissing in its bracket like it wanted to keep its distance.I expected shouting, maybe a blow.Instead, Brenna stopped in front of the laundry room door, turned, and looked at me for a long time.“Do you have any idea what that stunt cost you?” she asked finally. Her voice wasn’t loud, just cold enough to raise gooseflesh. “What would have happened if she had laid a hand on you?”I lifted my chin. “You mean speaking when the Luna decided to humiliate me? I am not going to sit back and simply watch as she keeps throwing harsh words at me simply because she thinks she is Luna.”Her hand shot out so fast I thought she’d strike me. It stopped a breath from my face.Her eyes narrowed. “This is not going to get me anywhere with you. If anything, it is only going to make you grow more stubborn.”She took a step back, pinching the bridge of her nose as she did.“
Dominic:Dinner was quiet. It almost always was when the two of us were having it together.Just me and Katherine, sitting at opposite ends of a long table meant for twenty. Silver plates gleamed beneath the candlelight, the steady flicker painting shadows across her perfect, polished smile.The servants moved like ghosts around us, trained to silence. Except one.Aria.She followed Brenna in, carrying a bottle of wine and a tray of plates. Her wrists were cuffed. Her neck was bare. Her chin was high. And I could tell that she was fighting back mocking everyone in the room.Katherine’s eyes tracked her immediately. “Ah,” she said softly. “You’ve put her to work. I was starting to think that she was going to be of no use. But I must admit, Brenna, you have done your job well with her.”“Discipline suits her, Luna. And every slave is capable of being disciplined, one way or the other.”I didn’t answer. I was too busy watching the girl who refused to bow, knowing well that she had a lot







