3 - Sweet Dreams

GREY’S POV

My eyes flicker open to a medieval black ceiling. With furrowed brows and pursed lips, I sit up and look around. My eyes widen as I take in the view. I’ve never seen something so beautiful, so tender, so antique.

The dark aesthetic streams from the duvet, soft as silk against my touch, to the king sized bed, then to the walls, furniture, and portraits. And the room is so huge.

It feels so surreal that I walk the ground with care. My eyes wander as I head toward the window, and sliding the sill to the left, I see the vast land ahead where birds flutter past. It's a forestry worth exploring, but a shuffle behind me makes me turn around.

Alpha Marcellan Hale.

I gasp and hit my back against the wall.

“I doubt this will be any comfort to you, but I should let you know my brother has never had a Bleeder before. You are his first,” he says and walks to the armchair to take a seat.

Again, he's in matching brown well-tailored shirt and chinos pants with a leather watch. I don’t know what to do or how to react. I’ve heard stories about Alpha Hale. Behind all this facade, he’s just as barbaric as the mad Prime Alpha king, if not even worse.

“Earlier, you were so talkative. Why bore me now?”

He’s an ungodly beauty. His bronze hair is neatly brushed, complementing and brightening his strange amber eyes. Almost like if I stare too much, they would burn me. But it wouldn’t hurt. His moisturized skin, thick and porcelain, glows from the sun rays entering the room.

I quickly avert my eyes when he looks up. “You’re not the Prime Alpha’s brother. You’re lying.” That comes out before I can stop myself.

I shut my lips immediately, eyes wide open. I could almost swear he would kill me right here, except he laughs and stands up.

“Surely, I haven’t seen an Omega have such strong will ever since the war. I find you interesting and will indulge you in a conversation when I come back. Until then, my Bleeder will show you what to do.” He looks like he is about to leave.

“I’m not anyone’s property. I want to leave,” I yell and follow him, but he is just too fast. He is already at the threshold, holding the door frame firmly.

“To where, fierce one?” His lips tug into a devious smile. “You will remain in my brother’s room and behave. I can only hope you retain your head before my arrival.”

“No, you will not lock me!” My stomach churns at my new reality as he shuts the door behind him. I run to it, banging with weak hands, and slide down the wooden frame when it doesn’t even budge.

No, this can’t be my reality! Tears brim in my eyes, imagining what the future holds for me. I look around again. This is really a nightmare feigned as a beautiful, fantastical dream.

~*~

Apparently, the door makes no sound when someone enters.

“Hello,” a subtle feminine voice approaches me. I frown at first but soon soften, realizing she is an Omega.

For the past two hours, I’ve searched the entire room for an escape, but it’s just too huge. Every door is locked except the closet and bathroom. Oh, they are just as aesthetically pleasing. Honestly, I expected I would stay in some rotten cage when the Prime Alpha chose me. Still, I don’t trust that any of this will last.

“You’re… you’re like me.” I grab her hands and she looks shocked. “You can get me out of here. Please get me out of here.”

Her green eyes brighten as a smile curls on her lips. “You really are new here, as Alpha Marcellan had mentioned.”

Quickly, I step away from her. Something about her tone sounds like she respects him. These Alphas are our oppressors and we are supposed to hate them, but she doesn’t sound disgusted mentioning his name. They won't hesitate to kill us. We have to return the same gesture.

“Come with me.” She beckons, but when I don’t budge, she adds, “There are guards outside who will force you, but I think you would like to do things willingly.”

Is this aged Omega threatening me?

She goes to the door and opens it with a nod for me to come out of the room. I need an escape, and my options are limited if I remain here. Best I go out after all.

As I pass by her, she mutters next to me, “Stubborn to the point you wouldn’t use the shower?” I frown. Is she calling me out for stinking when I'm given no clothes, or that I don't even know how to use those luxurious showers?

“Hey, you’re getting on my nerves!” I spit, and she laughs.

“I’m Minerva,” she tells me before she picks up her pace, and something tells me she already knows who I am.

~*~

Minerva is Alpha Marcellan’s first Bleeder, his oldest Omega property, and the head of maids in his castle. Exactly. I can’t believe it!

I’m in a castle. No wonder I see fancy portraits, archaic architecture, and everything smells like flowers. The air here is so blissful I can barely smell the pheromones of my superiors, unlike back at the academy. Best part, this means I'm still in North America even though I don't know the exact country.

Minerva brings me to the royal kitchen. I’ve never tasted as much food or drink as I did today. We cooked, laughed, and spoke about our lives. And the best part, everyone in the kitchen is Omega. I don’t see any Delta or Beta lurking around to command us.

Only today, we’ve made lots of dishes, and I learned through them that I almost forgot my life is still in shackles. When I told Minerva whose Omega I am, she didn’t even fret. I can’t say if she has been brainwashed, but she really believes being under Alpha Marcellan or the Prime Alpha is better than being under the other Alpha Kings. And she believes Alpha Marcellan has his eyes on me, as though that is supposed to protect me.

“So, is there an occasion or are we eating all of this?” I ask with raised brows.

Minerva finishes adding her last touches to the pastries and my mouth waters. I must say she is a great chef. “Right. You will be carrying this food tray to Prime Alpha Nikolai.”

A bomb drops in my head.

“What?” I blink. “No, no, what?”

“You’re his Bleeder and this is your first duty. Come now, he is not known for his patience.”

“Well, he can go fvck himself for all…” She gasps and shuts my lips as she looks over my shoulder.

I see fear in her eyes and everyone else’s before I turn around and see Prime Alpha Nikolai’s commander. The man who punched me into unconsciousness. Trevor, I remember.

“The Prime Alpha awaits his dinner with his Bleeder.” That is all he says, and Minerva pushes the food tray to me. My heart leaps in my chest.

This is really happening. I’m really a Bleeder.