Chapter 4: Locked

CHAPTER FOUR- LOCKED

GABRIELLA

After serving Alpha Waylen his food, I went to my room in the servants’ quarters to rest. I had poured my heart out into whipping up his soup but I was surprised to see the man I was in bed with. I had always focused on cooking my whole life and serving my madam.

I never had time for crushes or love. I was a firm believer in fated mates, and I believed my virginity should only be given to my mate. After a careless night of passion, I lost my virginity to a stranger who happened to be Alpha Waylen, and now I’m in his mansion as a chef.

I didn’t like where things were going. Never would I have thought things would spiral out of control this way.

He didn’t acknowledge me when his eyes met mine. Could it be that he had forgotten about the one-night stand or he didn’t remember me? Why did he suddenly order me out of his room?”

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration as different questions filled my head but I had no answers to them.

“What made him suddenly act this way?” I muttered to myself.

“Keep quiet! I’m trying to relax here,” one of the chefs barked at me. It was the same girl who moved away from me when I came to stand beside her, the first day I came late.

For some unknown reason, she didn’t seem to like me and I don’t know why.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened, and some guards marched into my room, fully armed to the teeth.

Before I could process what was going on, two of them came to roughly grab me by each arm.

“What is going on here?” My eyes darted around the guards in confusion and fear, beads of sweat dripping down my forehead.

“You are under arrest for the murder of Alpha Waylen Bolton, and you are to be sentenced to death by beheading. Guards! Take her away!” The chief bodyguard barked out orders, his face creasing in a frown.

“What?” I muttered in disbelief as I looked at the group of men. I could feel my soul leave my body as I heard that statement.

I murdered the Alpha? How? But I just saw him not long ago.

“Please I beg you—“my pleas were cut short as the men grabbed me and dragged me out of the servant quarters. All the other servants had either come out to see the commotion that was happening or were watching from their windows and mummering.

“I’m innocent. Please I didn’t kill the Alpha,” I yelled in frustration as tears began to pour out of my eyes. What the hell is going on here!”

“Shut up! You murder!” The chief officer spat as he led the way to wherever they were taking me. “Blindfold her and tie her mouth shut!”

I was manhandled and my eyes were saddled with a blindfold; my mouth sealed with a dirty cloth before finally being dragged away.

As I plunged into the world of darkness, I felt fear consume me in ways I didn’t know were possible. My whole body was shaking, yet my weak legs were forced to move to where I was taken. I felt a push on my back and I fell and landed on the hard concrete floors.

I didn’t know where I was or what was going to happen next, and the fear of the unknown terrified me. I sat on the cold floor, my legs wrapped pitifully around me as I thought of my life. So after slaving away in my madam’s kitchen for years without rest; I run to a new Pack and it’s going to end just like that?

Tears gathered under my eyes, but they couldn’t flow down freely because of the tightness of the cloth wrapped around my eyes. Time passed; I wasn’t sure how long but it felt like it was hours. Perhaps, it is because I was lost in the emptiness of my thoughts.

I could suddenly hear the cackle of a noisy metal and I sat up, straining my ears since that was my only source of direction right now.

I heard footsteps and the next thing I felt was hands behind my head. At first, I was startled but I felt relieved when I discovered my blindfold was being untied.

I squinted my eyes as it came in contact with the light till I was finally able to open up properly. Standing in front of me was Chef Stella, crossing her arms and looking at me with disgust. There were two older men beside her and a bunch of guards behind them. My eyes swiftly darted around and I could see I was in a dungeon. The guard that had opened the door and removed my blind fold took a step back.

“So this is the small rat that decided to murder our Alpha,” one of the elders growled, looking at me from head to toe in disbelief.

“I heard she’s an omega from another pack. Perhaps, she was sent here with an agenda,” the other elder turned to Chef Stella. “It is your job to screen the chefs coming in here. You share in the blame and you will be punished,”

“Please elder,” she fell on the floor, begging for mercy as her face widened in horror. “The pack isn't against employing labourers from other packs so I didn’t think much of it,”

“See me after this, Chef Stella. And guards, lock her up! She’ll be beheaded tonight!”

“What! Please I didn’t do anything. I swear to you that I’m innocent,” I pleaded as another round of tears poured out of my eyes. My body was weak from helplessness and begging was all I could do.

“Shut your mouth!” The first elder commanded me. “We saw the cameras! You served Alpha Waylen your soup and he never came out of that room because he passed away,”

“B-But I…”

“Guards, are you deaf? Lock the traitor up!”

The guards scrambled around me while I pleaded helplessly, crying and trying to convince them but all of my pleas fell on deaf ears. I was blindfolded and kicked in the stomach as I tried to struggle and I felt a tight knot in my belly.

I could hear the cold metal door close and the sound of footsteps, growing fainter as the seconds passed. Then there was silence! I held my stomach, grinding my teeth in agony as pain radiated through my stomach. I let out a cough and I could feel thick liquid trickle down my mouth.

My fingers scooped some of it and I brought it close to my nose to sniff; just as I guessed, it was blood.

I lay on the cold hard floor, surrendering in defeat. There is no way I’d escape this. Somehow, Alpha Waylen has passed and since it happened shortly after I served him; it isn’t surprising that they thought I poisoned him.

Perhaps, this is how I was destined to die. I couldn’t fight it; I didn’t have the strength or power to. I could only hope it wouldn't be too painful.

Time passed, and my body became even weaker. Being in the darkness for long made me feel like I was floating on a strange planet with only me in it. I could feel my life slowly slipping away.

I heard the cackling of keys, and I knew my hour had come. I heard the rusty metal doors open, and I felt heavy hands on me. I was too weak to fight, and even if I wasn’t, I was no match for the strong hands whose grip tightened around me, their nails digging into my flesh. My eyes were still blind folded, so I couldn't see anything.

I ignored the pain I was feeling as they roughly handled me and bundled me into something I guess was a vehicle: it was confirmed as soon as I heard the engine start. I sat still, dreading the moment ahead.

Soon, the vehicle came to a stop and I was helped out. I heard the chants of people, and my guess is that I’m on an execution ground. I bowed my head in humiliation as I was dragged forward and made to lie on a hard surface.

I didn’t bother to fight; there was no use of it.

“Kill her!” I heard the angry voices of people, chanting around me.

“Please moon goddess, accept my soul,” I muttered quickly and took in a deep breath, anticipating the moment where I’d leave this world. I surrendered myself, holding my breath and anticipating agonizing pain over my neck.

“Let her go this instant!” I heard a loud voice echo into the crowd.