FAZER LOGINMy heart beats faster as my eyes remain fixed on the doors.My mate.Heâs in there. If they open the doors, will he see me? Will the bond be overwhelming his senses like it's doing to me?My clasped hands tighten as I try to steady my breathing and my heartbeat pounding in my ears.âStay here,â Lady Victoria orders, glancing back at me with a sharp, warning look.I nod and take a few steps back, coming to stand beside one of the guards, my eyes never leaving the door.The guards open the doors, and Alpha Kieran's scent spills into the hallway, making my knees buckle.Rain. Leather. Raw, ancient power.The bond tightens in my chest, a chain pulling me toward the door with a force so strong it makes me lightheaded.Lady Victoria steps into the study, and the heavy doors groan shut.I turn away, pressing my face against the cold stone wall, my fingers digging into the heavy fabric of a tapestry to keep me grounded so I won't run inside.For a moment, the world is silent.Then, I hear his
Calm.Calm down, Morgana.I force my breathing to steady, my fists curling against the cold floor.âForgive me, my lady. I spoke out of turn. I deserve to be punished,â I plead, bowing my head low.âYes, you do. But that can wait. Listen carefully.â Her eyes burn into mine, cold and unyielding. âStay away from that omega you were just with. Am I clear?âLeslie.She wants me to stay away from the only person in this wretched place who treats me like a living, breathing creature.No way.I nod slowly.âAs you wish, my lady,â I say.She studies me with a deep, suspicious frown before turning on her heel and walking away.~~~I don't bathe.I was so exhausted that the moment I finished the plate of cold stew Leslie had smuggled into my room, I fell into a deep sleep on my cot.âMorganaâŠâI jolt upright at the sound of my name, tumbling out of bed and falling to my knees in panic.âNo! I didn't mean to fall asleep. Please,â I beg, my entire body trembling from the sudden wake-up.âOh, calm
I push myself up slowly, my limbs trembling. The moment I step into the maidâs quarters, laughter dies instantly, and every pair of eyes turns to me. âOh, Morgana.â Leslieâs worried voice reaches me. I turn, my body still thrumming, and see her rushing to my side. âYou look⊠terrible,â she says softly, pulling me into a hug. I need that. The comfort. Leslie is my only friend here, a maid who works in the kitchen. Sheâs in charge of the dishes, and she often saves leftovers, hiding them under my bed so I donât starve. Trouble always seems to find me, and as punishment, Iâm often denied food. I don't know what I'll do without her. However, I can't help but want to push her away. Her skin against mine at the moment feels uncomfortable, but I force myself to hug her back, desperate for something to hold onto. My anchor. âI'm sorry you have to endure this again,â she murmurs. âI'm fine,â I say, pulling out of her embrace; our contact is too uncomfortable to resist any longer. âSill
At this moment, I believe Lady Victoria is going to finish what the whip couldn't accomplish.My lungs burn, desperate for the air she is stealing, and my vision begins to fray at the edges.âM-my⊠lady. I did notâŠâ I choke as tears sting my eyes. I guess there's some water left in me.âAnswer me!â she shrieks, her voice echoing in the quiet dungeon. I wish I could see her face. But sadly I can't see in the dark. âIt has been three days, Raccoon. Three days since you stood in that garden and played the lady. My father has heard nothing from the King. No talk of the marriage contract. No mention of the alliance. Nothing but a silence that is killing us!âHer fingers around my throat tighten, completely cutting off what little air I desperately need.âI⊠IâŠâThe pressure builds; I can feel it behind my eyes as painful tears fall, my nerves tightening, my head swelling as if it might burst.My nails dig desperately into her hand, but she doesn't flinch. She's far too consumed by her rage
âYou're just a lowly servant!â Lady Victoria screams. âHow dare you touch my Alpha? How dare you kiss him with your filthy mouth?!â The world spins as my heart stops. I'm doomed. She knows. Of course she knows. There are always eyes. Always ears. Always someone watching. I was a fool to think for even a second that I could have a moment of privacy with the King. They saw the kiss. They saw a scavenger touching what Lady Victoria believes is her birthright. I drop to my knees, my pulse pounding in my chest as the shadows crawl in⊠Ready to swallow me whole. To erase me completely. And this time⊠I know I will not survive it. âIâm sorry, my lady,â I plead, my voice shaking. âI⊠I did not intendâŠâ âYou lying, filthy thing! Whip!â she shouts, and a servant rushes forward, passing her the heavy leather whip. âI told you to stand in my place,â she continues. âNot to touch what belongs to me.â The first strike comes down across my shoulders, the leather biting deep int
~~âą~âĄ~âą~~ âNo! AlphaâŠâ I say softly, forcing a smile I donât feel, trying to remain calm. âPlease. Allow me this small mystery for tonight. I promise our next encounter will be different.â He studies me for a long moment, his gaze heavy with suspicion. I can feel the decision forming behind his eyes. Then, slowly⊠he lets go. I let out a discreet sigh of relief when he releases me. I take a few steady steps back and sink into a deep curtsy. âGreetings, my Alpha,â I whisper. âRise,â he says. I stand and meet his eyes. My lips curl faintly. Maybe heâs not what I expected. âWalk with me,â he says. âOf course, my Alpha,â I reply, slipping my hand into the curve of his arm. We walk deeper into the garden, moving toward a secluded grove where the lamps don't reach. My grip on his arm tightens. I have always been afraid of the dark. It is where the worst things happen in the Beta's house. âScared when you are right next to me?â I look up at him and think. Thatâs right







