Chapter 4

Amara’s POV

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, soft and golden, and for the first time in years, I felt… warm. Safe wasn’t the word, not entirely but something about the night before, sleeping in a bed instead of the cold, hard ground, had given me the tiniest semblance of comfort. Here, there were no biting winds, no harsh commands, no chains. It was temporary, I knew that, but for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to pretend.

I ran my fingers over the soft fabric of the blanket before swinging my legs over the side of the bed. My bare feet sank into the plush rug, another luxury I hadn’t known in years. I closed my eyes, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions inside me. How long could this fragile peace last?

The kitchen was eerily quiet as I moved about, gathering ingredients to prepare breakfast. Cooking had always been my solace, the one thing that grounded me amidst chaos. The smell of sizzling eggs filled the room, a small smile tugging at my lips as I stirred. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

“Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?”

The sharp voice startled me, yanking me out of my momentary reprieve. I turned to see a woman standing in the doorway. She was beautiful in an icy, intimidating way, with long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders and a designer outfit that screamed wealth and privilege. Everything about her screamed trouble.

“I… I’m making breakfast, ma’am,” I said softly, keeping my eyes lowered. Years of servitude had taught me to tread carefully around women like her.

She stepped closer, her piercing gaze raking over me like I was something stuck to the bottom of her shoe. “Where’s Kael?”

Kael. The name sent a faint warmth through me,a reminder of the man who’d shown me kindness when I’d expected none. “I don’t know,” I replied cautiously.

Her expression twisted into a sneer. “Aren’t you a maid or something? Go find him.”

I turned back to the stove, focusing on the food to avoid the rising panic in my chest. “Ma’am, the food is still on the fire. Let me finish, and then I'll.. ”

Her hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of my hair. Pain shot through my scalp as she yanked me backward, her nails digging into my skin. “When I tell you to do something, you do it, you filthy little slave!”

“Please, stop,” I whimpered, struggling to free myself from her grasp. Tears pricked my eyes, but I bit them back, refusing to let her see me cry.

The sound of heavy footsteps filled the room, followed by a voice that froze us both in place. “Let her go. Now.”

Alpha Magnus.

His presence filled the room, his tone cold and commanding. Trina immediately released me, stepping back with a look of indignation. My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor, clutching my throbbing scalp.

Magnus’s eyes locked onto Trina, his expression unreadable. “You will never lay a hand on her again,” he said, his voice low but menacing. “This girl belongs to me. I alone decide her fate. Is that understood?”

Trina’s defiance wavered under his glare, and she muttered, “Yes, Alpha.”

He let her go, and she stumbled back, rubbing her arm where he’d gripped her. Her eyes flickered to me, filled with venom. “You should be grateful I’m in a good mood,” she spat before storming out of the room.

Kael appeared then, his face etched with concern as he hurried to my side. “Amara,” he said gently, kneeling beside me. “Are you hurt?”

The softness in his voice, the way he looked at me, it was too much. The tears I’d been holding back spilled over, and I shook my head, unable to speak.

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “She shouldn’t have… ”

“Kael,” Magnus interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. “Come with me.”

Kael hesitated, his eyes lingering on me. “Will you be okay?”

I nodded quickly, not trusting myself to say the words aloud.

As they left, Trina shot me one last hateful look before dragging Kael away. The silence that followed was deafening. My hands shook as I turned off the stove, the eggs forgotten. The reality of my situation crashed over me, and I fled to my room, locking the door behind me.

I stayed there for hours, curled up on the bed, too afraid to venture out. The memory of Trina’s rage, Magnus’s cold authority, and Kael’s fleeting kindness played on a loop in my mind. I wanted to disappear, to fade into the background where no one would notice me.

But the thirst eventually became unbearable. My throat felt like sandpaper, and I knew I couldn’t avoid the kitchen forever. Taking a deep breath, I cracked open the door and peeked out. The hallway was empty. Maybe I could get some water and return before anyone saw me.

I made it halfway down the stairs when I saw her.

“Well, well, well,” Trina drawled, a sly smile curling her lips. “If it isn’t the cheap slut who threw herself at a man old enough to be her father.”

Her words stung, but I kept my head down, gripping the hem of my shirt to keep my hands from trembling. Maybe if I stayed quiet, she’d leave me alone.

But Trina wasn’t done. She sauntered closer, her eyes raking over me with disdain. “And what is this rag you’re wearing?” she sneered, lifting the edge of my shirt with the tip of her finger like it was”I bit my lip, willing myself not to react.

She leaned in, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “Listen, you little whore. I don’t care what you do with Alpha Magnus, but the moment you so much as look at Kael, I’ll make sure you regret it. He’s mine, and I don’t share. Consider this your only warning.”

Before I could respond, she shoved me hard. My foot missed the step, and suddenly I was falling, tumbling down the stairs. Pain exploded through my body as I hit the bottom, the world spinning around me.

The last thing I saw was Kael’s face, panic etched into every line, as he ran toward me. Above him, Trina stood at the top of the stairs, a wicked smile playing on her lips. 

And then, everything went pitch black