I stay with Alpha Ethan but can feel Alpha Draven’s eyes on me the entire time. I also notice Beta Luca watching me closely. They are expecting me to refuse, to fight. I can’t; it’s not like I have a wolf or power to escape them. It’s also not like I have a wolf to protect me and help me battle the weather if I am forced to kneel outside naked again.
“For you.” I watch Alpha Ethan hold out a glass.
“Thank you, Sir. However, I am not allowed to drink without Alpha Draven’s approval first.”
He smiles, seemingly pleased by my words. I watch as he looks at Alpha Draven, raising the glass and pointing towards me. Alpha Draven gives an approving nod.
“Now you can.” He holds out the glass, waiting for me to take it. I never drink. I would rather not drink. Refusing it, however, is defying the order that Alpha Draven gave me. So my hand wraps around the glass, lifting it. I take a sip. Coughing as it burns the back of my throat.
“How old are you, Elara?” He walks forward, and I follow next to him.
“Nineteen, Sir.” Twenty tomorrow, not that I can say that out loud.
“Still young then.” His smile widens. “I’m on the edge with this deal. I want to agree but also disagree. What do you think is the best choice?” He looks at me, waiting.
“I can not say, Sir, it isn’t my place. However, Alpha Draven is an honest and trustworthy Alpha.” He’s not, but I know that is what Alpha Draven would like me to say.
“Hmmm.” He turns and continues to walk, and I follow; he leaves the room and sits in a quieter one. I stay a short distance away from him and kneel, my head lowering. It’s the standard protocol that Alpha Draven expects when any Alpha, Beta or similar is in the room until I am told to do otherwise.
“You don’t need to do that, Elara.” I raise my head at his words. “Please, come sit and get comfy.” He pats the sofa next to him.
“I apologise, Alpha Ethan; I am forbidden from sitting on that sofa. It isn’t for me.” Most of the furniture isn’t for me. Even if he insists I sit on it, I can’t. Alpha Draven would punish me for not getting his permission first.
“Where can you sit?” I point at the wooden chair. “That won’t do. At all.” I watch him stand. “Stay there.” I nod and don’t move as I hear him leaving. After about five minutes, I begin to wonder if he is even returning. I can’t just go and find him. Sure, Alpha Draven insisted I spend all my time with him. Still, if I moved, I would defy Alpha Ethan’s order, and well, I’m sure Alpha Draven would have a reaction to finding out that I did that.
“Come.” I stand hearing his order. Turning, I see Beta Luca standing beside him. I step towards them and watch as they turn and walk out. I fall into step behind them, keeping my head down as I follow them through the house. We stop at a guest room, and Alpha Ethan opens the door. He holds it for me and gestures that I enter. Stepping forward, I go through the door. “Remove your clothes.” I watch as he stands before me and loosens his tie before removing it entirely.
Taking a deep breath, I lift the dress from my body and place it on the side. Alpha Ethan stands with his eyes on me. I watch as he slowly walks around me, circling me until I feel like prey under his movements. He pauses behind me, and my body shakes. I hate not being able to see what they are doing and thinking.
“I have some orders that I am hoping you will follow without hesitation.”
“Of course, Sir.” I feel sick. I hear him moving and watch as he walks past me to a suitcase. He flips it open, and I panic when I hear metal. I watch him take out the long chain with cuffs attached.
“You see, even if you planned to refuse, you won’t get a chance to.” I watch as he hooks the chain into the ceiling, my body getting pushed to him. I stumble, and his hand reaches out. Grabbing my wrist, the cuff locks around them. I scream as the spikes dig into my skin. He ignores my reaction, grabbing my other wrist and snapping the restraint around it. My teeth bite against my lip to stop the scream that builds.
“Now you have no choice but to follow orders. You refuse...” I scream as he pulls the chain, and the spikes dig deeper into my wrists. “I ensure you listen.”
His calm and friendly attitude from before has gone, replaced with pure darkness and evil. I should have known all Alpha’s were the same. None I have met yet care, and why would they? I’m nothing.
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
When I am placed back in my cell, I crawl to the small bathroom I have. My body hurts so much it feels like it’s on fire. Nowhere is pain-free; I ran out of tears hours ago, and guttural cries escape my throat as I struggle to make it into the tiny shower. Hitting the button, I collapse under the spray of the water. My eyes finally look down at my body, the angry brown marks showing; each new bruise I see seems more prominent than the last one. The large bite marks across my body are bleeding so badly that I know for sure they will scar without the use of magic.
I watch the water rush around me, the blood from their marks mixing within it and turning the water pink as it runs down the drain. Cries continue to erupt from within me as I struggle to find any position that eases the pain.
“Mutt.” I go to move, hearing him, but my body is too tired and hurt to obey. I simply fall back down again. “I will get someone to fix the worst bites and cuts.” I hear him leave and breathe a sigh of relief; I was sure he would request that I join him in bed. I don’t think I could agree or even refuse. My body right now can’t do anything. It’s useless without my wolf to help me heal.
I hear movement and watch Alex walk in. His eyes widen when he sees me; he glances towards the door quickly, then back to me. “Are you okay?” He turns off the water, lifts me from the shower, and carries me through, placing me on the mat; he wraps my sheet around my body. I watch him kneel before me, unscrewing the lid. His fingers run through the ointment, and he rubs it across the bites and cuts. It helps. The burning sensation stops.
“I’m sorry I can not do more, Elara; I’m very sorry.” He looks at me as he continues to cover the bites.
“It’s fine, thank you, Alex.” He nods and smiles, and I watch it begin to work. The bite marks slowly start to close up and heal.
“Alpha Draven must have realised your wounds were serious to request we use magic to heal them. Good night, Elara.” He stands and leaves. Lying down, I realise this has to be the worst beginning of my birthday ever. My eyes flutter close, and I fall asleep, unable to stay awake any longer.
I've cleaned multiple times again today. Alpha Draven has been watching me unusually closely, and I feel like something is coming. I don't know what, but something.He never usually pays this much attention to me outside of the bedroom. So why now?I followed their orders last night despite the immense pain I was in. I didn't refuse or say no. So I know I have not done something wrong with them, or at least I hope not."Mutt." I move and kneel at his feet. "I am busy; ensure the guest room is cleaned and ready for guests who may be staying tonight.""Yes, Master." He stands and walks out. I walk through to the bedroom and fight back the vomit. The memories of last night are more potent in this room.The blood is still on the floor and the bedsheets. Along with actual vomit because Alpha Ethan seems to have a fetish for gagging women to the point they are physically sick.I began to clean the room, removing every trace of evidence of what had happened to me in this room last night. It
It's been three days since I completed that application. My mind considers it as I wipe the table, ensuring everything is clean. Alpha Draven has been visiting Alpha Ethan and his pack.Apparently, the deal they are making is going well. Well enough for Alpha Draven to leave his own pack and travelIt's good, though; it means I haven't been touched for three days. I have barely had to kneel as Beta Luca and the others are busy doing Alpha Draven's work.Hell, I have even managed to get out of the constant cleaning and finally had time to consider the implications of that application. I'm sure Alpha Prime Darius will punish me for lying about it. I could be killed; I lied to the king essentially.It was an order to answer honestly, and I didn't. So will Alpha Draven have fun telling them I lied if he ever finds out the truth? Finishing cleaning, I sit on my mat, my eyes close, and I try to relax; I was told he is returning today. So I've made sure I cleaned at the hours I was required
"Why me?" I look at the guards as Beta Luca pulls me to my feet."You're to join the other candidates at the Luna Battle. Alpha Prime Darius has requested that you attend after your submission made the finals."My body stills as I’m shocked by their words. I never expected to be chosen. I feel Alpha Draven's eyes on me, and I know his anger is rising because of this. He can't refuse, he can't go against Alpha Prime Darius's orders, but he has the power to announce that I am already bitten and claimed by him.Standing, I wait for his words, and I wait for his refusal or acceptance. Surely he will speak soon?"Mutt, I suggest you pack your bag." I move quickly through the house and to my cell, packing the few items I have. Pulling off the top I am wearing, I winch and hold in the screams.Someone steps into my cell as I begin to pull on my top."He sent me to cover your lacerations." Alex smiles, and I turn. "At least you are free." His words are whispered as I bite my lip to stop the s
We stand quietly and wait. The camera pans across the women as we stand waiting for the king. I notice the camera lingers on the other contestants for a longer time than they do me.The producer smirks at me; I don't need time on screen; it isn't down to the public who is Luna. So, him purposely cutting my time down is fine with me.I watch the door open, and the king walks in with Alpha Kellan. His eyes scan the contestants as he makes his way to the stage. He barely settles on any of them for longer than a few seconds. Then he reaches me and stares; I shift uncomfortably; no doubt this is him noticing I have no wolf.He steps onto the stage and keeps his eyes on me the entire time. I try to be confident and look back. Yet, it cracks, and I fail. My eyes drop quickly. I'm so used to having to kneel to Alphas and Betas. I don't even feel like I should look at him without permission."Ladies," William calls our attention back to him. "After the rules are explained, you will face your f
I sit with the camera in my face; it's far closer than it had been for any of the other candidates, and I feel like it's a way to try and make me nervous. It's working."Elara, we don't have a last name. Why is that?" He smirks at me. I knew it."I do not have one. I was an orphan."He glances at his papers. "An orphan? It says here you were sold?"Shit. How much does he know?"I was, yes, but I was first an orphan.""Hmm." He looks at me. "Elara, is it true that you were a servant and prostitute for your past Alpha?"I freeze, and I watch his smile widen. Opening my mouth, I close it again."End it here." I watch him turn the camera off. "You're done.""Wait." He can’t cut it off already."Sorry, but you couldn't answer a simple question. Not only that, but you sound bored and highly unworthy of watching. You’re finished, I think you beat the candidates. One minute, well done." He laughs."Ahm." He raises his head, and I watch the roll of his throat as he swallows. "Delete it. All th
When I wake, I get myself ready. May had brought me some clothes this morning. All the contestants were given general clothing as they were only allowed to bring one small bag each.Breakfast was awkward. Some of the women were looking at me like I didn't belong here. I heard the whispers and complaints because Alpha Kellan had sat with me during my interview.That alone has already started to make the women complain and pinpoint me as a troublemaker. Yet, I've noticed they are more brutal to the other ladies.It appears they think I'm not a threat. Which is likely correct. They don't think I can possibly get through and become Luna, so while they are all taking bites out of each other and trying to make each other feel like crap.I'm here untouched. Sure, I get called mutt and Tramp, but it's far less than they are throwing at each other.~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~I'm sitting in the garden with Sage. It's still snowing. Something tells me this isn't going to stop any time soon. Yet the palace
After our casual chats, we all went back to our rooms to get ready for tonight's dinner. I haven't seen the producer since, but the cameras still stayed.They didn't get close enough to hear personal conversations. Still, they most certainly aimed to capture everyone's responses to what was happening in the room.I hadn't noticed that they were filming, so no doubt the footage of me and Lyra will get some views. From what I heard, the cameras picked up on our confrontation and were close enough to hear as they weren't warned to stay back at that point."Your dress for tonight." May holds it up. It's ocean blue with a sweetheart neckline. It's the most beautiful thing I own. It's simple, which is what was required for tonight's meal.Once I'm ready, I walk out, Sage meets me, and we walk down together. We walk in and see Darius and Kellan at opposite sides of the table."Okay, ladies. I will read out the name of those whom Alpha Prime Darius wishes to sit with him." William opens the p
I spent hours talking about dresses, looking at materials and colours. May has begun to work on it. I watch her from across the room. While I slept, she did some work on the dress, then got some sleep but returned to it this morning."What do you think?" She turns to me. Walking over, I pick up the fabric; it's beautiful. It's a gold fabric with black sheer fabric over the top. The two colours mix perfectly."It looks amazing, so do it." I smile and sit with her, talking about random things. She turns and smiles at me."You know, they weren't lying. Your video got the most views, comments and everything. Barely anyone mentioned Prince Kellan, just you."I highly doubt it makes a difference."I won't be winning this May. Even I know the public will change their view when it gets close to picking the final winner." I'm in no way a Luna."Oh, I don't know. People saw the showdown between you and Lyra. It made people question things. The way you spoke." She nudges me.Even so, I am far fr