Chapter six

Serafine's POV 

Heads turned. Eyes focused on me like I was an uninvited guest.

“Don’t try to wander,” Vander warned. 

The SUV stopped in front of a large stone mansion. The people glaring at me came closer, gathering in front of the SUV. Their murmurs slashed through the air.

“Is that… a human?”

“He brought her here?”

“Why would Alpha Bran of all people bring a human to our home?”

“What’s she supposed to be? A pet?”

My heart thundered. What do they mean? What are they saying? Are they not humans? They looked human. The males were extraordinarily handsome with perfect masculine bodies. The females were prettier, taller than I've ever seen.

I shrunk into the shadows of the SUV door until Gamma Bane jerked me out.

“Move,” he ordered.

My legs barely hold as I step out. I’m starving. Exhausted. Freezing. To top it all, the daggering look of the people was directed at me. I hugged myself for warmth…and protection.

The rear door of the SUV opened. I look to see him stepping out with the blonde in his arm. The people bow their heads.

He looked at me. Our eyes locked. I'm trapped in a daze. Wanting to be the one in his arms. Strange.

He broke the connection, turning away and walking into the building like I am of no importance. My heart twisted painfully.

The crowd watched him go. Then they turned to me. Their disgust settled like frost. A few snickered. 

One scoffed, “The Alpha brought home trash.”

“Enough,” Aric snapped. They all went silent.

“Come with me.” He said to me,

I followed him. He led me through the back entrance of the mansion. A door swings open, revealing a kitchen wide enough to contain two families of four as their homes. The scent of herbs and spices hit my nostrils. My stomach growled loudly, needing food. Aric looked back at me for a second and looked forward. He must have heard my stomach grumble. He didn't care.

As soon as we walked into the kitchen, all activity stopped. All eyes turned on us. Staring daggers at me.

“This is the kitchen,” Aric said. “You work here now.”

My lips parted. “I—I just got here. I haven’t slept or eaten—”

“Not my problem.” He crossed his arms. “You tried to run from the Alpha. This is the consequence of your action.” 

“Wait. He's punishing me?”

“What do you think?”

“But—”

“No buts.” His voice sharpened. “The Alpha hates laziness. And excuses.”

A tall woman with the body of an athlete strolled towards us. Her red hair was packed in a bun. A long deep gash scarred her left face.

“What's going on Beta?” she asked, “Is she the human I hear Alpha Bran brought back?”

“He bought her. She'll be working here onwards.”

Aric turned to me. “She is Ember. The chief head cook. She runs everything in the kitchen. You're under her now.”

“Hey, little human. What's your name?” she asked.

“Serafine,” I answered nervously.

“Good. Serafine. You start with the dishes.” She pointed at the mountain of pots stacked by the sink. “Don't speak unless spoken to. And if you break anything, you'll pay for it. Now get to work quickly.”

Are they for real? Working in this state I am? I didn't have a choice.

I tried to stand upright, but black dots danced in my vision. “Can I… have water? Please?”

The people watching laughed.

“She won't be able to work. She's too weak,” one said.

Aric sighed. “Fine.” He grabbed a cup, filled it, and gave it to me. 

I gulped in the refreshing liquid. It tasted like life itself. My throat was relieved. 

“Now,” he continued, “get to work.”

My hands shook as I stepped toward the pile of large pots.

One of the onlookers, a woman, blocked my path. 

“You don’t belong here, human,” she said coldly. “Our Alpha hates your kind. If you think being bought means you’re special, you’re delusional.”

“I don’t think I’m special,” I murmured. 

She stepped closer. “Good. Because you’re nothing.”

“Enough, Mara.” Aric growled. “Let her work.”

She rolled her eyes and stepped aside. 

I reached for the first pot. My fingers slip. The pot crashed back into the pile, clanging loudly.

“Careful!” Ember snapped. “What are you trying to do, break everything?”

“I—I didn’t—”

Aric’s voice cuts through. “Cut her some slack, Ember.” He turned to me and sighed, “You brought this upon yourself, human.”

How did I bring this upon myself? I only wanted freedom. I never wanted to be captured. Never wanted to be sold. I only wanted a life. A good one.

Aric left me with the glaring people. Whispers floated through the air.

“Why would the Alpha bring her here?”

“He hates humans.”

“Saskia must be furious.”

I lowered my head and scrubbed the pot harder, blinking back tears.

My wrists hurt. My vision blurred. My body ached, needing rest. 

It took me seven hours to wash the pots. They were large and heavy. And Ember kept adding more as she cooked endlessly. 

I still haven't eaten. The others and even Ember have had breakfast and lunch already. Ember refused to serve my food. She claimed I wasn't done working.

She made me do more work. Cutting a lot of vegetables, cleaning the kitchen floor, washing more pots. By the time I finished, it was already dark.

And I was terribly weak and exhausted. My bones and muscles ached badly. I sat down on the kitchen floor. Dreading my life. 

Ember appeared in front of me with a bowl in her hand. I took it, only to find it was uncooked beef.

She raised an eyebrow at me. “That's what we all ate for dinner.” She turned away and left.

I looked closely at the bowl in my hand. There was still blood in the beef.

I looked up in frustration. Tears formed in my eyes and I just let them roll down my chin. Will my life continue to be like this?