CHAPTER 16: YOU WANT TO PLAY GAMES, VENUS?VENUS: I had anticipated that Gavin might tell his boss about the drugs I bought so I hid the contraceptive pills in my bra.He probably used the mind link he told me about to communicate with him.Sigh.Maxine's voice cracked like a whip in the hallway. "Let me see what you bought,” he repeated urgently.I swallowed hard, forcing a calm expression on my face even as my insides twisted like tangled wires. With careful hands, I pulled the paper bag open and handed him the box of painkillers. “Just this,” I said, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.His eyes scanned the label, and his brow furrowed slightly. “Painkillers?”“For my headache,” I replied smoothly, praying he wouldn’t hear the rapid drum of my heartbeat.He stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing the truth in my voice. “So why didn't you tell me you had a headache?” “You were busy, Alpha and I didn't want to disturb you.”Maxine locked eyes with me for a moment.Then,
CHAPTER 17: OLIVIA’S INSULTS VENUS:I ignored Olivia as she glared at me. She was the least of my problems. But at least her appearance has just saved my life.As soon as I was able to catch my breath, I headed up the stairs to my room.Olivia.She's the new girl that Maxine is flaunting around.Her blonde hair was immaculately brushed, cascading down her shoulders like she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine. She wore a red dress that hugged her body in a way that screamed confidence and manipulation."I heard you questioning someone in anger" she said smoothly, stepping closer to Maxine. "So I decided to come down and check."She reached for Maxine like she owned him. “Is something wrong, Alpha?”Her arms went around his neck but before she could lock them in place, he pushed her away. She stumbled a bit and her eyes widened in embarrassment.I squeezed my forehead in confusion. Did he push her because I was there? Or because he was still angry?It didn’t even matter, Venus.
CHAPTER 18: TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES VENUS :I cried myself to sleep that night and didn’t leave my room for two whole days.Not because I couldn’t. But because I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to see anyone.I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror. Each time I tried, I saw a scared little girl pretending to be strong.I cried. A lot. Not because I saw Maxine with Olivia or even because of Maxine’s cruel words. But because I let myself believe for one stupid second that maybe he cared. Who would blame me? He touched me in ways that made me feel special. Mira still brought me food. Fancy things. Healthy things. Fruits I didn’t even know existed and soups that tasted like they came from a royal kitchen.Mira always stayed to make sure I finished the food. That was the Alpha's order, she always said and he is never to be disobeyed. I had to eat. It was Maxine’s order. He wanted me to be strong. Not for love but for breeding.It has been two days and I was beginning to feel like a pr
CHAPTER 19: DON'T KEEP ME WAITING VENUS:His voice was low, deep, and commanding.“Take off your clothes.”I froze.I hadn’t expected him to say it so bluntly. And the look on his face terrified me. My hands trembled slightly, but I didn’t move. Not yet.He tilted his head, watching me with narrowed eyes. The smirk on his lips was gone and he looked like a predator about to tear into his prey. “All I need from you is obedience and you can't give it?”I swallowed hard and rose to my feet. “I’m sorry, Alpha.”He stared at me, taking in every inch of my body through the transparent lace that barely covered me. So this was the purpose of wearing this excuse of a dress? Just so the Alpha could stare through it and gaze at my body? He seemed to notice how my thighs quivered and the subtle shift in my breathing.“Then go on,” he said. “Don’t keep me waiting.”My fingers reached for the strap of the sheer lace dress Clara had forced me into. It barely covered anything, really—just a cruel
CHAPTER 1: PUTTING ME IN MY PLACE VENUS:“Venus! Venus! Where’s that little piece of trash?”I heard Cynthia yelling my name upstairs and my heart skipped multiple beats. Whenever she calls me in that manner, there's trouble for me.“I'm here,” I answered weakly, scrubbing harder on the marble floor.My knees hurt from kneeling all day and my stomach wouldn't stop growling. This has been my life since I was ten years old.Cynthia matched furiously down the stairs with a couple of her friends. I tightened my grip on the brush, knowing what they're capable of.“Why haven't you cleaned my room yet?” She glared at me furiously and I kept my gaze down. I didn't want to offend her in any way because doing that would earn me several strokes of cane from my uncle."You lazy rat, how long does it take to mop the floors of this mansion? You're worthless and I'm tired of seeing your ugly face," Cynthia was my uncle's daughter and she liked to call herself the princess of the family who would
CHAPTER 2: EATING FROM THE TRASH BIN VENUS:It has been days since I had my last meal..It was probably gastric irritation but I threw up a yellow-green bile before I could stop myself. Thank goodness Cynthia already left, otherwise, they would've made me lick it up.I quickly cleaned my mouth with the back of my trembling hands.My stomach twisted at the thought of what would have happened if Cynthia was still here. So I quickly began to clean up the mess. I still had a lot to do but the hunger remained a constant ache in my stomach, making it hard for me to work faster.Not working fast enough means receiving more whips from my uncle.I shuddered at the thought of that and hurried off to the kitchen after I was done with Cynthia’s room.I gasped at the sight before me. Someone had spilled some greasy substance on the floor and smeared the entire kitchen floor with it. This was going to take me hours to clean up. But I went to work immediately, anyway.The kitchen smelled heavenly
CHAPTER 3: WHO DID THIS TO YOU?MAXINE:I was in my office trying to sign a few documents. The air was thick and that didn't help my mood. I paced behind my desk, feeling restless for no reason.My Beta stood in one corner of the room waiting for instructions."Beta Conrad," I growled, my voice impatient, "when will she be here?" He is my second-in-command, and whenever my piercing golden eyes locked onto his, he knew something was troubling my mind..Conrad was always composed and he's the only person who can stand up to me. He had his hands clasped behind his back. "Alpha Maxine, we received word that the transaction has been finalized. The humans have been paid handsomely, but the girl hasn’t arrived yet."I wasn't happy about that report. "Damn it, Conrad. I don’t have all day. I want her here before nightfall. I won’t waste another second on this."Conrad hesitated. "There have been... complications."I narrowed my eyes. "Complications?""The girl’s physical condition..." He cl
CHAPTER 4: YOU'RE SAFE NOW VENUS; “Where am I?” I whispered as I opened my eyes and saw myself in a strange room. I gasped and tried to sit up straight. But I was very weak and felt pain in all parts of my body.I looked around the room, trying to make sense of this place. “Easy, dear,” a gentle voice soothed. “You’re safe now.”Safe? That word had no meaning to me. Since I was ten, my life has been nothing but suffering and torture and my desire to escape from it.I tried to sit up again but my wrists trembled under my own weight.“Where am I?” I asked with a trembling voice. My throat.seemed to be raw from dehydration as I struggled to swallow.“You’re in the clinic, sweetheart,” the woman said again, her voice calm and reassuring. “We’re taking care of you.”I turned my head toward the voice, but I couldn't see clearly. But I knew she was a woman dressed in a white coat. She was probably a doctor. She stood beside me, and looked at me with kindness. Two nurses were behind her,
CHAPTER 19: DON'T KEEP ME WAITING VENUS:His voice was low, deep, and commanding.“Take off your clothes.”I froze.I hadn’t expected him to say it so bluntly. And the look on his face terrified me. My hands trembled slightly, but I didn’t move. Not yet.He tilted his head, watching me with narrowed eyes. The smirk on his lips was gone and he looked like a predator about to tear into his prey. “All I need from you is obedience and you can't give it?”I swallowed hard and rose to my feet. “I’m sorry, Alpha.”He stared at me, taking in every inch of my body through the transparent lace that barely covered me. So this was the purpose of wearing this excuse of a dress? Just so the Alpha could stare through it and gaze at my body? He seemed to notice how my thighs quivered and the subtle shift in my breathing.“Then go on,” he said. “Don’t keep me waiting.”My fingers reached for the strap of the sheer lace dress Clara had forced me into. It barely covered anything, really—just a cruel
CHAPTER 18: TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES VENUS :I cried myself to sleep that night and didn’t leave my room for two whole days.Not because I couldn’t. But because I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to see anyone.I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror. Each time I tried, I saw a scared little girl pretending to be strong.I cried. A lot. Not because I saw Maxine with Olivia or even because of Maxine’s cruel words. But because I let myself believe for one stupid second that maybe he cared. Who would blame me? He touched me in ways that made me feel special. Mira still brought me food. Fancy things. Healthy things. Fruits I didn’t even know existed and soups that tasted like they came from a royal kitchen.Mira always stayed to make sure I finished the food. That was the Alpha's order, she always said and he is never to be disobeyed. I had to eat. It was Maxine’s order. He wanted me to be strong. Not for love but for breeding.It has been two days and I was beginning to feel like a pr
CHAPTER 17: OLIVIA’S INSULTS VENUS:I ignored Olivia as she glared at me. She was the least of my problems. But at least her appearance has just saved my life.As soon as I was able to catch my breath, I headed up the stairs to my room.Olivia.She's the new girl that Maxine is flaunting around.Her blonde hair was immaculately brushed, cascading down her shoulders like she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine. She wore a red dress that hugged her body in a way that screamed confidence and manipulation."I heard you questioning someone in anger" she said smoothly, stepping closer to Maxine. "So I decided to come down and check."She reached for Maxine like she owned him. “Is something wrong, Alpha?”Her arms went around his neck but before she could lock them in place, he pushed her away. She stumbled a bit and her eyes widened in embarrassment.I squeezed my forehead in confusion. Did he push her because I was there? Or because he was still angry?It didn’t even matter, Venus.
CHAPTER 16: YOU WANT TO PLAY GAMES, VENUS?VENUS: I had anticipated that Gavin might tell his boss about the drugs I bought so I hid the contraceptive pills in my bra.He probably used the mind link he told me about to communicate with him.Sigh.Maxine's voice cracked like a whip in the hallway. "Let me see what you bought,” he repeated urgently.I swallowed hard, forcing a calm expression on my face even as my insides twisted like tangled wires. With careful hands, I pulled the paper bag open and handed him the box of painkillers. “Just this,” I said, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.His eyes scanned the label, and his brow furrowed slightly. “Painkillers?”“For my headache,” I replied smoothly, praying he wouldn’t hear the rapid drum of my heartbeat.He stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing the truth in my voice. “So why didn't you tell me you had a headache?” “You were busy, Alpha and I didn't want to disturb you.”Maxine locked eyes with me for a moment.Then,
CHAPTER 15: LET ME SEE WHAT YOU BOUGHT VENUS :How can I watch a movie when I don't even know how to operate the television? Watching a movie was one luxury I wasn't allowed to have in my uncle's place.I sighed and tried again. “Beta Conrad, please just for a few minutes? I won’t go far.”“You’ll be accompanied,” he said, signaling to a young male guard standing a few feet away. “Gavin will go with you.”Gavin was tall and stone-faced, but at least he didn’t look like the type who talked much. I could work with that.“Fine,” I muttered, forcing a smile.As we stepped out into the sunlight, I breathed in the fresh air, letting the breeze caress my skin. It was rare I had moments like this.“So… how long have you worked for the Alpha?” I asked Gavin, hoping to make conversation.He didn’t answer at first. Just kept walking like I hadn’t said anything. When I thought he’d ignore me completely, he muttered, “Since I turned eighteen.”I tilted my head. “And you like it?”“He gave me a p
CHAPTER 14: SHE MEANS NOTHING TO MEVENUS:I watched Maxine leave the library, with long strides. The feeling of his lips on mine still burned on my lips, but the cold reality of who I was quickly doused any foolish warmth that tried to flicker in my chest.I wrapped my arms around myself and headed toward my room. The halls were quiet, only my gentle steps made a muffled sound.As I reached the staircase, I heard a soft sound that made me pause. It seemed to be footsteps, climbing up the stairs.I leaned over the railing and my heart slammed against my ribs.It was Maxine.And he wasn’t alone.Beside him was a beautiful woman. She was tall, elegant, with a cascade of perfect blonde curls falling down her back. She laughed at something he said, and her voice sounded so seductive.They were holding hands and looked perfect together.Something ugly twisted inside me.It must be jealousy.I gritted my teeth and yanked my gaze away. No, I reminded myself fiercely that I was nothing but a
CHAPTER 13: I BELONG TO YOU, ALPHA Maxine:I walked into the library only to see a sight that made my chest twitch in anger. My eyes narrowed at the sight of Raymond yanking Venus toward the door. I felt instantly defiled.A bloody human dared invade my home? “What the hell are you doing here?” I growled, my voice thunderous. “Let her go.”Raymond turned, his hand still gripping Venus’s wrist, but before he could mutter a single word, I punched his jaw with rage. There was a sickening crack as he collapsed to the floor like a rag doll.Venus gasped and stumbled back, covering her mouth with her hands in shock. I didn’t bother to check if he was dead or alive as I grabbed him by the collar of his filthy jacket, his head lolling uselessly, and dragged him out of the library like the piece of garbage he was. As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I barked out, “Conrad!”My Beta appeared within seconds, and looked stunned when he saw Raymond lying on the floor motionless.“How did he
CHAPTER 12: I WANT YOU BACK VENUS: I was curled into the corner of the Alpha's vast library, flipping through the pages of a book about werewolves. I wanted to locate a part that has something about the thunder and it's effect on werewolves. But I haven't come across anything like that. I was beginning to feel a bit of frustration when a deep throaty cough that didn't belong interrupted me. I turned around and gasped in shock."Uncle Raymond?" I gasped. “What are you doing here?”He smiled a crooked smile. That same evil smile that once made me wish I was never born."Venus," he said, taking a cautious step toward me, his voice low and strangely soft. "I came to take you back. I need you back." I stood up, my fists clenched at my sides. "You need me back? Why? You can't find someone else to vent your frustrations on?" His smile faltered. “That's not why I want you back.”"Then why do you want me back, uncle Raymond. You sold me like cattle, I'm now a slave to a monster. Do you e
CHAPTER 11: THE BEAST REVEALVENUS:I watched the Alpha and wondered what was making him tremble. Was it possible that someone as ruthless as Alpha Maxine was afraid of the storm?The lightning flashed viciously in the sky again.Maxine paused at the door, hand on the knob. His shoulders stiffened and he was literally shaking."That storm," I whispered, more to myself than anyone. "It came out of nowhere."He didn’t reply. Rather, he staggered back like the lightning had pierced straight through him."Alpha?" I rose to my feet slowly. "Are you okay?”His hands trembled at his sides. He turned halfway toward me, but I barely recognized his face. His eyes—those sharp, calculating eyes—rolled upward until only the whites showed.Every hair on my body stood on end."Oh my God," I gasped. "What's happening to you?”. But instead of a response, I heard a deep, guttural growl that rumbled from his chest like a drum in the pit of hell. His body convulsed. I stumbled backward, crashing into th