Where You Belong

Hezzin

After a few hours of driving, the car slowed down before it finally came to a stop.

At first, I couldn't bring myself to move. I clutched the hem of my dress, my body remained still as I hoped to delay whatever waited for me out there.

“Step out of the car,” Dante said flatly, pushing his side of the car open before stepping out.

I took a deep breath and then pushed the car door open. The moment the car’s door slammed closed behind me, the cold hit me instantly.

It wasn't the kind of cold I was used to. Back home, the air would go cold at times…but this was torture!

I could feel the cold literally biting into my skin and as my eyes roamed around the area, I finally noticed it was actually snowing.

The snow had covered most of the land, covering the roads, grounds, rooftop and even the trees were shrouded in thick layers of white. My bare feet were literally buried under the snow and I couldn't help but shiver slightly.

People moved past us, dressed in thick fur clothes and their breaths forming small clouds. None of them looked at me in the eye, but most of them gave off this vibe…that they didn't like me.

So, this was how the North looked.

I bit on my lower lip, slowly lifting my gaze and then, I saw it.

The mansion stood a few feet away from us, massive and overwhelming, the walls seemed to have been made with black bricks. The high walls surrounding the entire place were made of solid bricks, stretching so far that I had no idea where it ended. Guards could be seen standing in different corners, their faces lacking expressions but they were definitely watching.

Servants dressed in white and black uniforms moved in and out of the mansion, their steps quick and their eyes glued to the floor.

Great. Just freaking great, from the look of thing's, it seemed like there wasn't a weak point.

And without that, I couldn't escape.

My chest tightened painfully at the thought, after all that running, I just had to end up here.

“Lower your head.” Dante said from behind me, his calm voice snapping me out of my thoughts.

I lowered my head slightly, not bothering to argue. I mean, don't get me wrong…it wasn't because I was obeying him.

But because at this point, I didn't have a choice.

Dante began walking forward and I followed closely behind him, my feet becoming numb as we approached the mansion.

We were about to reach the large doors when it was swung open, as if they had been expecting us.

Warm air wrapped around me like a thick blanket the moment we stepped inside, but sadly, it didn't make me feel any better.

The place was just as overwhelming as I imagined it to be. High ceilings, polished tiles, servants moving quietly like they wanted to remain hidden.

Arrg, so suffocating.

The large doors had just closed behind us when a woman approached us.

She was older, dressed in a slight faded blue dress. She stood with her spine straight and her expression sharp.

“Sir Dante,” she greeted, bowing her head slightly.

Then her eyes shifted to me. Her eyes left my face for a moment, slowly trailing down my body.

And the look she gave me… it didn't seem like she was curious, she just looked disgusted.

Dante, however, didn't seem to care. “Mabel. Is he back yet?”

“No,” the old lady replied. “But we've been instructed to prepare the West wing. We're expecting visitors.”

Dante nodded, not caring to ask her for more detail. Then he glanced over his shoulder, staring right at me.

“She's a slave. For him.” He said simply.

Who does he think he's calling a slave?! I screamed mentally, but even though I wanted to deny it. It hurts to hear someone refer to me like that.

“I'm not a slave.” I seethed through my teeth.

Dante turned around to face me, the expression on his face turning to one of displeasure and maybe even anger.

Just that one look, had me dropping my gaze back to my feet.

What right did I even have to argue? He bought me.

They bought me.

Then Dante turned back to the woman and said, “Get her cleaned up and then, send her to my study.”

Without waiting for a response, he walked off, heading to the stairs that were located at the center of the room.

Just like that, I watched him walk up the stairs before finally disappearing.

I stood there for just a few seconds before the woman let out a small scoff.

“Follow me.” She said,

The way she said it made it clear that it wasn't a request but rather, an order.

She led me out of the mansion and the cold seeped into my skin almost immediately.

“You really have some nerve,” she muttered after a while of walking.

“Excuse me?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

She stopped walking, turning to fully face me with narrowed eyes.

“You were just brought into this place, looking like that.” She said, her gaze dropping to my torn, dirty dress. “Yet, you act like you have some special place here. Do you even know who you belong to?”

I let out a small scoff, cocking my head to the side as I responded, “What? Even if your precious Lycan King bought me, you don't get to speak to me that way.”

The moment I finished speaking, she pressed her lips into a thin line.

“With that mouth of yours. I wonder how you even managed to survive long enough to be sold.” She said,

“Maybe because this mouth of mine actually still has use.” I said, my lips stretching into a small smile. “Colton even agrees with me.”

As her expression turned dark, my smile turned into a grin.

“Shut up!” She half yelled. “You are not allowed to address the Lycan King by his name but his title.”

I shrugged, then replied, “I'll call him whatever I like. And who exactly are you to tell me otherwise?”

One minute we were speaking like normal civilized werewolves and the next, I was being slapped across the face.

I didn't even see it coming.

My head fell to the side, pain blooming across my cheek. I stumbled back slightly and before I could steady myself, my foot caught onto something…

And then, I fell!

My face slapping right into the snow covered ground. I mean, that cushioned my fall, right?

No.

My dress was coated in mud, soaking wet and now, I was shivering.

I didn't move for a second, I just laid down there…stunned.

Did she just…?

A soft, mocking laugh echoed above me.

“Now, that's better.” The old woman, Mabel said.

“If you are incapable of figuring out where you belong. I'd happily volunteer to train you myself. Clearly, those traders failed to do their jobs.”