Chapter 2: The First Punishment of Possession

The pitch-black car glided through a massive wrought-iron gate that opened silently to welcome it. On either side of the drive, meticulously trimmed European-style gardens stretched out, but under the moonlight, they resembled a labyrinth with no exit.

The car came to a stop before an immense mansion. Its Gothic architecture made it look more like a fairytale demon’s castle than a human dwelling. Everything was opulent, luxurious, yet eerily silent and cold, like a deserted tomb.

Aries was the first to exit the car. She didn't wait or look back. Merin had to scramble out clumsily, her trembling body trying to find its balance as she followed the female Alpha into the mansion.

Inside, the space was so vast that the sound of their footsteps echoed. The grand hall was adorned with marble statues and expensive oil paintings, but everything was dominated by a palette of black, gray, and white, making the atmosphere even colder and more lifeless.

“Take her to the room,” Aries gave a curt order to an elderly housekeeper who was already waiting to greet them.

“Yes, my lady,” the housekeeper replied in a flat voice, bowing her head slightly before turning to Merin. “This way, please.”

Merin hesitated for a moment. She glanced back at Aries, who was nonchalantly unbuttoning her suit jacket, as if her duty for the night was over. But those empty eyes did nothing to lessen the fear in Merin’s heart.

She had no choice but to follow the housekeeper up a large spiral staircase to the second floor of the mansion. The corridor stretched out as far as the eye could see, lined with large wooden doors on both sides. The housekeeper stopped in front of one of the doors and opened it.

“This is your room, miss. Clothes and necessities are in the wardrobe. Someone will bring up dinner shortly,” the housekeeper said in a flat, emotionless tone, before turning and walking away, leaving Merin standing alone in front of her new bedroom.

Merin stepped into the room slowly. It was more luxurious than she could have ever imagined. A king-sized, four-poster bed stood majestically in the center, covered with dark gray linens. Every piece of furniture was made of gleaming, polished black wood. Tall, floor-to-ceiling glass windows revealed a view of the dark garden outside. Everything looked perfect… yet it felt like a beautifully decorated cage.

She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Its softness was a world away from the cold stone floor of the dungeon, but why did her heart feel heavier and more terrified than ever? The uncertainty of her impending fate was so suffocating she could barely breathe.

Soon, someone did bring up dinner. It was a gourmet meal, beautifully arranged, but Merin had no appetite whatsoever. She took only a few bites before leaving it to grow cold on the table.

Time passed slowly… one hour… two hours… The silence began to gnaw at her sanity. Merin got up to take a shower in the equally luxurious bathroom. She looked at her reflection in the mirror—pale skin, a thin body, and eyes filled with dread. She was no longer the same Merin.

After putting on a white silk nightgown that had been prepared for her in the closet, she returned to sit on the edge of the bed, waiting again. Waiting… without knowing what she was waiting for. But deep down, her Omega instincts were screaming a warning.

Click.

The sound of the doorknob turning made Merin jump. Her heart dropped to her stomach.

Aries… she was back.

The female Alpha, now in a black silk bathrobe, entered the room silently. Her slightly damp, silver hair fell across her face, making her look even more dangerous under the dim light of the bedroom. Her scent, which had been faint before, was now intense. It was the scent of an impending blizzard.

She said nothing, merely walking to stand before Merin. Those sharp eyes scanned Merin’s body under the thin nightgown from head to toe, assessing her.

“Take it off.”

The short, bone-chilling command made Merin freeze. She wanted to refuse, to run, but her legs felt as heavy as lead, as if nailed to the floor.

Seeing that Merin remained still, Aries raised an eyebrow slightly, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes. “I don’t like to repeat myself.”

Fear overcame all hesitation. Merin trembled, her hands weak, but she had to obey. She stood up slowly, her trembling fingers gradually untying the sash of her nightgown, revealing the smooth white skin adorned with faint bruises from a past that had not yet faded.

Aries stepped closer. Her scent overwhelmed Merin’s Omega instincts, forcing them into submission. The Alpha used one hand to grip Merin’s chin, forcing her to meet her gaze, before examining the marks on her body in detail.

“A body like this…” she began, her voice flat but laced with mockery, “…must be used to being punished.”

Without waiting for a reply, Aries shoved Merin’s fragile body onto the thick, soft bed with one hand before climbing on top, completely overpowering her with a stronger frame. The Alpha’s weight pinned Merin down, making it almost impossible for her to move.

The Alpha’s pheromones were released forcefully and deliberately. It was a threat, a declaration of territory, a reminder of who was in control here. Merin struggled with all her might, but what was an Omega’s strength against the number one Alpha?

“Don’t struggle,” Aries growled, her rough hand gripping both of Merin’s wrists and pinning them above her head with just one hand. Her other hand began to roam over her body possessively. It was not a gentle or desirable touch, but an inspection of newly purchased goods.

That night… there was no tenderness. Aries ripped Merin’s nightgown off without a care before violating her body with her Alpha nature, raw and merciless. Her shaft, too large and hard for an Omega like her to handle, sent searing pain through every fiber of her being, as if her body was about to be torn apart.

“Ah! It hurts! Please… stop…”

Merin’s desperate pleas were swallowed in her throat as her lips were crushed by a violent and selfish kiss. It wasn’t a kiss, but a punishment, a way to silence her annoying sounds.

Aries moved her body forcefully and rhythmically. Every thrust was an assertion of ownership, a brand of punishment on Merin’s body and soul. She paid no mind to the pain, no mind to the tears streaming down the cheeks of the person beneath her. The only thing she cared about was releasing all of her own needs.

Merin didn’t know how much time had passed. Her consciousness was fading. The physical pain began to numb, replaced by a feeling of emptiness and brokenness. She was like a doll that had been violated and torn to shreds, with no thoughts, no feelings left.

Finally, as Aries let out a final growl and released everything inside her, the torment ended. The female Alpha withdrew her body without a second thought. She got up from the bed, adjusted her robe, and turned to walk out of the room without saying a word. She didn't even glance back at her own handiwork, lying in a mess of fluids and tears on the wide bed.

Bang.

The door slammed shut, leaving Merin to lie still in the darkness and silence. She instinctively curled into a ball. The pain in her rear passage and throughout her body began to assault her again, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart, which was so shattered it was beyond repair.

Tear after tear streamed silently from the corners of her eyes. Not because of the physical pain anymore, but tears of despair… as she fully realized that she had escaped one hell only to find herself in a new one, a hundred times colder, crueler, and more heartless.