Chapter 3

Hazel's POV

I froze, standing there like my feet had been rooted to the ground. The question caught me off guard, and for a few seconds, I couldn’t even form a single word.

“You’re going to ask for gold, right?” Miss Penelope’s whisper came from behind me.

I didn’t turn. Of course she would say that. She was greedy and selfish.

My heart pounded as I stood there, thinking. Everyone’s eyes were on me, waiting, watching, judging. They were probably wondering why I hadn’t spoken yet.

“Is that a question?” a man behind the Alpha said sharply. “Speak up already. Looking at you, there are so many things you would want. So why are you keeping quiet? The Alpha is offering you something on a platter of gold. Anyone else would have answered before he even finished speaking.”

I swallowed hard. His voice was deep, loud and intimidating. I'd seen him at the shed s couple of times.

“I… I want…”

“Speak up already!” he roared.

The Alpha raised his hand slightly, silencing him.

I lifted my gaze, forcing myself to meet the Alpha’s eyes.

“I’d like to be free.” I said, my voice trembling but steady enough to carry.

“I need… the slaves in this pack to be freed,”

A frown flickered across the man’s face. “Free? Meaning you don’t want to work anymore and earn money? You just want to leave?”

I shook my head quickly. “It’s not just about labour. The slaves here… they’re tortured. Treated terribly. And lately…” My voice trailed off, but I forced the words out. “They’re being forced into sex work.”

Gasps echoed through the room.

The Alpha’s expression changed, his jaw tightening, his brows drawing together. It was clear he hadn’t known.

“So,” he said slowly, his voice colder now, “you want to be released?”

“Yes,” I answered. “But not just me. I want every slave here to be released as well.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the man behind him. His gaze darkened, something sharp flashing across his face.

The Alpha stepped closer to me. Then he nodded to one of the maids. She stepped forward, and he gently handed the now-sleeping child to her. She bowed and left quickly.

Now, he stood directly in front of me.

His eyes locked on mine intensely like he was trying to see straight into my soul.

My heart pounded, but I didn’t look away.

The Alpha’s sharp gaze stayed on me, “Granted,” he said.

For a second, I thought I had misheard him. My eyes widened. Granted?

“You are no longer a slave,” he continued. “And I command the release of the others.”

My breath hitched.

“And you—” he added, looking at a Guard. “Guards, have the others escorted out safely. Everyone else, return to your duties.”

Movement broke out immediately. Guards hurried off, servants scattered, voices murmuring as people tried to process what had just happened. I stood there, still trying to take it all in.

I was finally free.

The word echoed in my head, almost unreal.

I lowered my head quickly. “Thank you… very much,” I said, bowing.

My chest felt tight as I straightened. Without thinking, I turned, my heart racing. I could start over. I could—

“Where do you think you’re going?”

His deep voice stopped me cold.

I froze, then slowly turned back. “I… I…”

The words refused to come out.

Because the truth was I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t have anywhere to go.

The Alpha’s gaze settled on me.

“You’ll work here,” he said, his tone firm, leaving no room for argument. “And you’ll be a caregiver to Aurella.”

Just like that, it was decided.

Three hours later, a maid led me down a quiet hallway and stopped in front of a door.

“You’ll be staying here,” she said, pushing it open.

I stepped inside slowly, my eyes scanning the room. It was… nice. Too nice. Clean sheets, polished furniture, soft lighting. It didn’t look like a room meant for someone like me.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

She nodded, then stepped out, closing the door behind her.

But she didn’t go far.

Through the thin door, I heard her whisper to someone. “I wonder why the Alpha is giving an omega such favourable treatment…”

I let out a slow breath, my shoulders sinking slightly. So it had already started. Gossips.

After a while, I left the room and went to check on Aurella.

She was still asleep, lying peacefully on the bed, her breathing calm and steady. Relief filled my chest and I pulled a chair closer and sat beside her, watching her for a while.

Then the door opened quietly.

I straightened immediately as the Alpha walked in.

“Is she fine?” he asked, his voice low.

“Yes,” I replied. “She’s sleeping.”

He began walking further into the room, his steps heavy, firm and too loud.

I stood quickly. “Please… walk more slowly,” I said before I could stop myself. “You’ll wake her up. And you don’t want that.”

He froze.

Slowly, his gaze shifted to me, sharp and unreadable. One brow lifted slightly.

“You don’t seem to understand who you’re speaking to,” he said.

My heart skipped, but I didn’t back down.

“I do,” I answered, my voice quieter now but steady. “But right now… your daughter needs this.”

Silence stretched between us.

I realized too late what I had just done. I had spoken to the Alpha like that. My stomach tightened. I should have been more careful. He had every right to punish me.

He stared at me for a long moment, his gaze darkening, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

Then, without a word, he walked past me and sat on the couch opposite, his eyes still on me. Watching.

It made my skin prickle.

“I’m sorry to ask,” I started carefully, “but… where is her mother?”

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I shouldn’t have asked.

His gaze darkened instantly.

I stood quickly and bowed. “I’m sorry, Alpha. I shouldn’t have—”

He raised his hand, stopping me.

“Her mother was my younger sister,” he said flatly. “She’s dead.”

My brows pulled together slightly.

“Her father abandoned her,” he continued, his voice colder now. “My sister died a few months after giving birth due to depression.”

He paused briefly.

“I took the child in. She’s mine now.”

“Oh…” My eyes widened slightly. I had assumed he was her father.

“She’s… very lucky,” I said softly. “Not everyone would do that.”

He let out a quiet scoff, standing up. A faint smirk touched his lips.

“Are you trying to make me feel good?” he asked.

I blinked, caught off guard by the question.

Before I could fully respond, his hand lifted slowly, and moved to my hair. My breath hitched as his fingers slid through it, from the top down to the ends, like he was testing its texture.

“You have such long hair,” he said, his voice lower now, almost thoughtful.

I swallowed, trying to steady myself. “My… my mother taught me how to take care of it,” I said.

“Hmm.”

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he held the tips of my hair between his fingers, his gaze fixed on me as he stepped closer.

“I like it,” he said.