Found naked

The door was barged open with a violent crash, slamming against the wall. I flinched, my hands instinctively curling into fists.

But it wasn’t Asher.  

It was his Beta—the same wolf who had just tried to kill me.

He stood in the doorway, his broad frame filling the space then his dark eyes swept over me with undisguised contempt.  “Who allowed you to sleep on the bed and yet you still smell like that?”,His lip curled in disgust as he took in my appearance.

I stared at him, too drained to feel properly insulted. “How did you expect me to bathe while chained to a wall?” I answered flatly. “Or did you think I could magically summon water and soap down there?”

The Beta’s expression darkened. My reply clearly irritated him.

His eyes narrowed, a flash of irritation crossing his face. He stepped into the room, his boots thudding against the wooden floor as he approached me. The chain around my ankle clinked as I instinctively pulled back, but there was nowhere to go. The bed was at my back.  

“Just because the Alpha spared your pathetic life for now doesn’t mean I can’t make it hell for you,” he growled, taking a threatening step forward. “Watch your mouth. I’ve killed rogues for less. You’re nothing but a curse on this pack, a male whore who somehow tricked the Moon Goddess into binding you to my Alpha. Totally worthless”. He added.

I met his gaze, refusing to look away. “If I’m so worthless, why are you here? Why not just leave me to rot?”

The Beta’s smirk widened, but there was no warmth in it. “Because the Alpha wants you presentable. He wants answers, and he can’t get them if you’re too disgusting to stand in his presence without making him gag.” He reached down, his fingers closing around my ankle. I flinched, expecting pain, but instead, I heard the click of the lock releasing.

The chain fell away.  

I stared at him, stunned. “What..”

“Go,” he snapped, jerking his head toward the bathroom door. “Take a shower. Scrub every inch of that filthy skin until you look like something other than a corpse. And for the love of the Goddess, do something about that rat’s nest on your head.”

I didn’t move instantly even after hearing his instructions.

 “Did I stutter? I said go. Unless you’d rather I hose you down myself?”, His eyes flashed with impatience.

I scrambled to my feet, my legs unsteady beneath me then limped toward the bathroom, my heart pounding with a strange mixture of confusion and relief.

The bathroom was surprisingly clean, white tiles, a large mirror, and a walk-in shower with gleaming chrome fixtures. I stared at it, almost not believing it was real. The last time I had been in a shower was... years ago. Before the massacre. Before I became a rogue. Before I lost everything.

I turned on the water, and the hiss of the spray filled the small space. Steam began to rise, curling toward the ceiling. I waited, letting the water warm up, before I stepped inside.

I stripped off my torn, dirty clothes and stepped under the hot spray. The first blast of heat made me hiss,  it almost hurt after so long without. Dirt, grime, dried blood, and sweat from years of running and hiding began to wash away in dark rivulets down my body.

I grabbed the bottle of shampoo and poured a generous amount into my palm. The scent of it, clean and fresh, made my chest ache with a sudden, unexpected longing. I worked it into my matted hair, my fingers snagging on tangles that had been there for months. I winced as I tugged them apart, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I needed this. I needed to feel human again, even for just a moment.

After the hair, I scrubbed my body hard with the soap, watching layer after layer of filth disappear. My skin, which had been rough, cracked, and caked in dirt for what felt like forever, slowly revealed itself,  pale in places, scarred in others.

The water stung against my new cuts and bruises covering my body, but I welcomed it. For a few moments, I just stood there, letting the heat soothe my sore muscles.

For the first time in years, I felt… human. Almost alive.

The water ran clear at last. Steam filled the small bathroom as I stood there longer than necessary, letting the heat soak more into my sore muscles.

I don’t know how long I stood there, under the spray, my forehead pressed against the cool tile but the abrupt opening of the bathroom door pulled me back to reality. I instantly jerked in shock, spinning around.

And horror of horros, Alpha Asher stood in the doorway.

His eyes widened the moment they landed on me, fully naked, water cascading down my body. For a split second, raw shock flashed across his face. His gaze involuntarily traveled down my wet skin, lingering on my chest, my stomach, my hips, before snapping back up to my face.

I felt heat explode across my cheeks. Instinctively, I turned slightly, trying to cover myself with my hands, but it was useless. I was completely exposed. Shyness and humiliation burned through me as I stood there, dripping wet, heart pounding wildly.