Chapter FIVE

EMMELINE POV

I slowly opened my eyes, wincing in pain as the world around me came into focus. I was lying on the forest floor, my body throbbing with agony.

Memories of how I got there were hazy and unclear. The black wolf, Lord Cedric, stood before me, his intense stare piercing. His scent revealed he was my mate. Fearful of exacerbating my injuries, I remained still.

After several minutes of staring, Lord Cedric let out a warning growl. He huffed and turned to leave. I attempted to call him back, but my voice came out scratchy and coarse.

"Help...help me..." I growled, pain searing through my body.

The wolf paused, turning to glare at me. Something about his bloodshot eyes sent shivers down my spine. As I lay there, struggling to form coherent words, my energy waned.

Pain intensified, and my vision blurred. I tried to focus on Cedric, but his image distorted and faded. A creeping numbness spread through my body, and I felt myself being pulled down into darkness. My eyelids grew heavy, and I couldn't keep them open.

I heard Cedric's low, rumbling voice, distant but gentle. "Rest well, mate." The words carried me away on a tide of unconsciousness. Everything went black.

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The dim light of the infirmary slowly came into focus as I opened my eyes. The pungent scent of herbs and broths filled my nostrils, and I knew I was in a place of healing. The sun's rays peeked through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room, signaling the start of a new day.

I attempted to sit up, but my body refused to cooperate. Shivers ran down my spine as fear took hold. A voice cut through my struggles, "Seems like you're already awake." I turned my head to face the speaker, wincing in pain.

A middle-aged woman with a stern expression glared at me from beside my bed. Her robes marked her as the physician.

"What...what happened?" I growled, my voice laced with pain. My memories were hazy, and my head throbbed with a dull ache.

The physician rolled her eyes, her expression unyielding. She didn't bother responding to my question, instead focusing on her work. Her hands moved to my legs, and I felt a surge of exhilarating pain. "Ahhhhh!" I cried out, my body tensing.

The physician removed the acupuncture needles from my neck, which I hadn't noticed were there. The acupuncture seemed to be the reason I couldn't move, and its removal brought both relief and pain.

As the physician removed the last of the needles, her touch was surprisingly gentle. I felt a surge of relief as blood began circulating through my legs once more.

"You were badly injured," she said, her voice firm but with a hint of compassion. "If Lord Cedric hadn't brought you back quickly, you would have died."

I tilted my head back, trying to process this new information. "Lord Cedric brought me back?" I repeated, my voice laced with surprise.

The physician's expression turned icy. "What did I just say now!" she hissed, annoyance etched on her face. I lowered my head, feeling a flush of embarrassment.

"Thank you for helping me," I said, with genuine gratitude in my voice. Now that I could move my legs freely, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

The physician's expression turned glacial. "The person you should be thanking is Lord Cedric," she spat. "Because if it were up to me, I would personally rip your heart out for all the pain your family caused this pack." Her words cut deep, and I flinched at the hostility.

"I...I am sorry," I stammered, feeling a wave of shame wash over me. "I am so sorry..." Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I bit them back, knowing I didn't deserve to cry.

The physician's glare intensified. "Don't bother apologizing. It won't bring back all the people who were murdered. Now leave, before I lose my temper and do something contrary to my duties as a physician." Her warning was laced with venom, and I knew I had to leave.

I stood up gently, still feeling the effects of my ordeal. My head spun, and my body was covered in bruises. I took a deep breath, trying to process the physician's words. I knew I had to face the consequences of my family's actions, and I steeled myself for what was to come.

Walking to the slave quarters was far more taxing than I anticipated, especially given my battered state. Every step felt like a chore, and the weight of the other slaves' angry glares bore down on me.

I couldn't blame them; I wasn’t supposed to be alive. The memories of the previous day's events were still hazy, but the pain and fear lingered, etched into my mind like scars.

I stumbled into the room, relieved to find it empty. I collapsed onto my bed, curling into a fetal position as the events of the previous day came flooding back.

The comfort of being alone finally allowed me to release the emotions I'd been holding back. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I struggled to process the trauma I'd endured.

It was all so vivid now. I remembered Elara's urgent warning to hide during the funeral, and how I'd cowered in the room, too afraid to emerge. But it was my own roommates, fueled by hatred, who had snuck in with a gang of girls under the cover of night.

The memories of their brutal beating still lingered, the pain and fear etched into my mind like scars. I recalled pleading for mercy, but they'd shown none, leaving me for dead in the woods.

I remembered the feeling of desperation, of knowing I was going to die. The woods had seemed so dark and foreboding, the trees looming over me like specters. I'd thought it was the end, that I'd never see the light of day again.

And yet, I'd been saved. Lord Cedric's face flashed in my mind, his piercing eyes and strong jawline etched in my memory.

I could almost hear his low, rumbling voice whispering, "Rest well, mate." But had I really heard those words, or was it just a desperate product of my imagination? I couldn't shake the feeling that he'd been there, that he'd saved me from the brink of death.

Elara's voice cut through my thoughts, and I turned to face her. "Oh, my goodness, thank the goddess you're okay," she exclaimed, rushing to my side. Her concern was a balm to my battered soul, and I felt a surge of gratitude toward her.

I quickly wiped away my tears and sat up, trying to compose myself. "Hi Elara," I said, attempting a weak smile.

Elara sat down beside me, her expression etched with concern. "I was so scared when I came back and didn't see you," she said, her voice trembling. "Bethany and Beretta told me you left the room. Why would you take such a risk?"

I frowned deeply, suspicion creeping into my mind. The names Elara mentioned were our other roommates, and I knew they had been involved in the brutal attack.

"They're lying," I said, my voice firm. "The girls mugged me." Elara's expression turned sympathetic, but she remained silent. I knew she couldn't stop everyone from hating me, no matter how hard she tried.

We sat in silence for a moment, staring outside at the servants going about their work. I watched as people left the manor grounds, feeling a pang of sadness wash over me. Would I ever be free to leave this place?

Before I could dwell on the thought, our room erupted into chaos. A maid rushed in, her face pale with fear. "Bethany and Beretta are going to be beheaded!" she shrieked. Elara and I stared at each other in confusion, our minds racing with questions.

"How?" I asked, but the maid didn't hesitate.

"We have no time, let's go now!" she screamed before rushing out of the room, leaving us stunned and bewildered.

Elara and I exchanged a nervous glance before following the maid down the stairs. The air grew colder and damper with each step, and I could hear the sound of dripping water echoing off the walls.

As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw that we were in a small, dimly lit chamber. The walls were made of cold, grey stone, and the air was thick with the scent of mold and decay.

The maid pushed open another door, revealing a crowded courtyard. I saw Bethany and Beretta standing on a raised platform, their hands bound behind their backs. A hooded executioner stood beside them, a massive axe slung over his shoulder.

The crowd was silent, watching the scene with a mixture of horror and fascination. I felt a cold dread creeping up my spine as I realized that we were too late.

The executioner's axe hung in the air, its blade glinting in the sunlight. Elara's hand clenched around mine as the crowd held its breath. I closed my eyes, unable to watch. The sound of the blade falling was like thunder, shaking the manor. The shrieks that followed were deafening.

I opened my eyes to a gruesome sight. The platform was awash with blood, Bethany and Beretta's lifeless bodies lying in a pool of crimson. The crowd's murmurs died down, replaced by an unsettling silence.

Lord Cedric emerged from the shadows, his imposing figure commanding attention. His robes swept the floor, the sound echoing through the silence. His eyes locked onto mine, their piercing gaze sending shivers down my spine.

"This is a lesson to all of you," he growled, his voice echoing off the manor walls. "I am your King, and my decision is final. The Gray's spawn will remain unharmed and will serve in this Manor till her final breath. If any of you think you have the right to try and go contrary to my command, I won't hesitate to ruin you!"

The crowd trembled in fear, their eyes darting nervously towards me. I felt a cold dread creeping up my spine. Why would Lord Cedric go to such extremes to protect me? The crowd's glares seemed to bore into my skin, and I knew I'd become a target.

I knew I had to be careful. One misstep could prove fatal. But as I looked into Lord Cedric's eyes, I saw something that made my heart skip a beat. Something that made me wonder if I was just a pawn in a larger game.