06

SIENNA

That evening, Rhys' mansion gleamed under the morning sun, cold and grand…too perfect, too polished to feel real. I stood at the kitchen doorway, my hands still raw from scrubbing the stone floors. The scent of roasted venison drifted through the hall, making my stomach ache. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday.

“Careful with the plates, Sienna,” Elira’s voice chimed behind me, syrupy sweet. “We wouldn’t want to break the Alpha’s favorite set, would we?”

I stiffened. Her words were soft enough that anyone passing might think she was being kind. But I could hear the poison underneath.

“No, Luna,” I murmured, lowering my head.

She smiled faintly, setting her own plate on the table. “Good girl.” Then louder…loud enough for the servants near the counter to hear, she added, “I do hope you’re being treated well here. Rhys insisted we make you comfortable.”

The servants nodded nervously, pretending not to notice the untouched trays at the far end of the kitchen…the ones she’d ordered no one to serve me from.

I swallowed hard, bowing my head. “Yes, Luna. I’m comfortable.”

“Wonderful.” She reached out, brushing a lock of my hair from my cheek like she cared. “You look pale though. Perhaps you should rest. Oh, wait…” Her hand stilled. “You haven’t finished sweeping the eastern corridor, have you?”

I shook my head.

Her smile sharpened. “Then don’t rest yet.”

I nodded silently, turning away before she could see the way my throat tightened. I wasn’t here to fight. Not yet.

That night, my stomach growled so loudly it startled me awake. I lay on the thin mattress near the servants’ quarters, staring up at the dark ceiling. The pup inside me shifted faintly, a reminder of why I was still here. Why I had to endure.

Rhys had spared me, for now. A mercy no one before me had been granted. Elira knew it, and that knowledge festered in her like rot. By the third day, the game had grown crueler.

“Sienna,” she called as I passed the main hall, her voice bright and musical. “Could you fetch me some tea? Alpha and I are expecting guests.”

“Yes, Luna.”

I turned toward the kitchen, but her voice followed me. “And, Sienna?”

I paused.

“Don’t take any for yourself,” she said softly, her eyes glinting. “You’ve had enough privileges for someone who should’ve been executed.”

My chest burned, but I forced a smile. “Of course, Luna.”

She laughed lightly, as though I’d said something amusing, and turned away to greet Rhys as he entered. His tall, dark figure filled the hall, his presence commanding every inch of space.

“Rhys,” she greeted, voice dripping affection. “You’re back early.”

He nodded curtly. “The border patrols finished faster than expected. Everything is quiet.” His gaze swept the room, landing briefly on me. “Sienna.”

I bowed slightly. “Alpha.”

His eyes lingered, searching…perhaps for defiance, perhaps for gratitude. I gave him neither.

Elira slipped her arm through his. “She’s been very helpful these past days,” she said sweetly. “So obedient.”

Her nails pressed into his sleeve just slightly, and he didn’t seem to notice. But I did.

Rhys grunted in acknowledgment. “Good. Keep her busy.”

“I always do,” Elira said, smiling up at him.

When he walked off, she turned to me, her face instantly shifting; sweetness draining into cold satisfaction. “You heard him. Don’t disappoint.”

I didn’t reply.

Later that evening, as I cleaned the stairs, a hand grabbed my arm roughly. One of the younger servants…Mara whispered urgently, “She told us not to give you food again. I tried to bring some bread to your room, but she caught me.”

I blinked. “What did she do?”

Mara’s eyes darted to the door. “Told me if I ever disobey her again, she’d have me flogged.”

A mix of pity and frustration filled me. I touched her wrist gently. “Don’t risk it. I’ll manage.”

“But—”

“I’ll manage,” I repeated firmly.

She bit her lip and nodded, retreating quickly when Elira’s heels clicked down the corridor. Elira appeared moments later, holding a folded shawl over her arm, pretending not to notice the way Mara fled.

“Sienna, dear,” Elira said softly, her tone dripping with false concern. “Still awake at this hour? You do work so… diligently.”

I straightened, brushing the dust from my skirt. “The stairs weren’t finished yet, Luna.”

Her eyes flickered over the spotless marble, gleaming even under the dim torchlight. “Oh, I can see that,” she murmured, running her hand along the banister. “You do take your work seriously. It’s almost… endearing.” Then she smiled faintly. “Tell me, do you ever think about what will happen once your pup is born?”

My throat tightened. “No, Luna.”

“Hmm.” She tilted her head. “You should. Rhys doesn’t keep things he doesn’t need. You’ll serve your purpose, and then…” She shrugged gracefully. “Who knows?”

I held her gaze for a moment too long. Her smile widened at the flicker of defiance I couldn’t quite hide.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she cooed, stepping closer. “You think I enjoy this? I’m only protecting what’s mine. You… you were supposed to die, Sienna. But my mate, our Alpha saw something in you. Pity, maybe. Or amusement.” She leaned in, her breath warm against my ear.

“Don’t mistake that for mercy.”

Her perfume, lavender and frost made me dizzy. My fingers curled around the rag in my hand, knuckles whitening. Don’t speak. Don’t react. That was how I survived her. By pretending not to hear, not to feel.

But then her voice dropped lower, darker. “You really thought a few tears would make him spare you?”

That stung. I flinched before I could stop myself. I wanted to hit her badly, so badly she’ll forget how to walk but still, the thought of my pup stopped me in my tracks before I could do anything I'd live to regret.

“Whatever the Alpha decides, I'll take it for as long as my baby is alive.”

From the look on her face, I knew she wanted to say something else but stopped herself at the last minute.

“Finish up and go to sleep, you look ragged.” she laughed before finally walking away.

I stared at her retreating back, so many thoughts of death, her death filtering into my mind but one thing I knew, I'd get my revenge if not now but soon.