WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?

CHAPTER 8: WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?

VENUS:

The door opened suddenly and when Beta Conrad walked into my room, I took one look at him and knew we were in trouble.

The way he slammed the door against the wall confirmed my fear. He must have been there for a while, eavesdropping. But why would he do that?

I took a quick glance at him and turned my gaze away. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with steely eyes. And the way those eyes glared from Mira to me made me shudder.

My heart dropped.

Was every man in this pack ruthless?

“Good day, Beta Conrad,” I greeted him politely. He nodded stiffly but didn't speak to me.

He crossed his arms as he stood there, and gazed from Mira to me fiercely. “Mira.”

Mira froze beside me, and then began to tremble. It's a terrible thing to be a slave.

Conrad looked between the two of us. “Venus, you’re to report to the clinic for a checkup.”

I opened my mouth to ask why, but he cut in.

“Mira, come with me.”

Mira stood on her feet instantly. “Beta Conrad, please—whatever you think you heard—”

“I didn’t ask for excuses,” he snapped, his voice like frost.

She dropped to her knees. “Please don’t punish me. I swear I didn’t say anything bad about the Alpha.”

I sat frozen, and regretted that I couldn't do anything to help her. I was a slave just like her.

Beta Conrad stared down at her coldly. It was as if Mira was nothing but a piece of trash. “That’s for the Alpha to decide.”

Then he turned and strode out of the room.

Mira looked at me, her eyes wide and panicked. “Venus… don’t say anything. Please.” she whispered.

I nodded, my heart pounding so loud it hurt. “I won't utter a word to anyone,” I whispered back. “I will never betray you.”

She got up shakily and followed him. I could see how she placed her hands on her head as if her life was about to come to an end. I paced the room after they left and didn't know what else to do.

The food was left uncovered but I didn't care. I couldn't bring myself to swallow another bite, knowing that Mira was in trouble.

She is the only one who has shown me genuine kindness.

Moments later, I heard Mira’s voice pleading for mercy. I glanced through the window and shuddered.

She was dragged to the middle of the pack’s courtyard, and tied to a wooden post. My heart dropped into my stomach.

“Oh my goodness…” I whispered.

A guard stood behind her, holding a long black whip. I checked to see if the Alpha was there but he wasn't in sight. Only the Beta stood as a supervisor.

The sound of the whip slicing through the air and cracking against her back made me flinch. Mira screamed in agony.

I turned away, my hand clamped over my mouth as tears slid down my face. I counted the lashes and they were twenty four.

All because she had a little chat with me?

They untied her from the wooden post and she dropped to the ground panting.

Then I remembered that I had to visit the clinic for some check up. I made my way to the clinic like I’d been instructed. I didn't want to disobey the ruthless Alpha.

My knees felt like jelly, and my insides coiled tight with dread. I tried to push the image of Mira from my mind, but her screams kept ringing in my ears.

There's cruelty in the world for those who had no one to defend them.

The doctor was seated, going through some files. She was Doctor Diane, the same doctor who had treated my wound when I first arrived.

She didn't acknowledge my greetings. She simply motioned to a cot.

“Lie down.” she instructed without sparing me a glance.

I hesitated for a moment. “What kind of checkup is this? I mean what I'm I being checked for?”

She pulled on gloves and reached for a folder. “We’re checking your reproductive health. We need to know when you’ll be ovulating.”

My heart stopped. “Ovulating?” I haven't heard that word before.

She looked up. “Yes. When your body releases an egg. We need to track your cycle.”

I stared at her, numb. “But… I..I don’t understand any of this.”

“You don’t need to understand. You just need to cooperate.”

I lay still on the cot ready to cooperate. I didn't want what happened to Mira just now to happen to me. I know I have gone through worse treatment from my uncle but I didn't want it here. I want to stay out of trouble.

She used the ultrasound scan to monitor something in my body. It took just a while and when she was done, she motioned for me to sit up.

“Can I come down now?”

She nodded and continued working on her laptop.

“I need to use the toilet,” I said suddenly.

She sighed and looked up. “It’s through that door. Be quick.”

I stepped from the room and searched for the bathroom. It wasn't difficult to locate so I stepped into the bathroom and looked around.

My chest rose and fell with panic.

I knew what I wanted to do was stupid but I was going to do it anyway. I scanned the walls, until I found the tiny window high up, barely cracked open.

Could I fit? Will I be able to escape through the window?

I climbed onto the edge of the toilet seat, and grabbed the narrow window frame and yanked it open wider. My heart thundered in my ears.

Just one foot through and I heard a voice that sounded like a thunderstorm.

“What do you think you’re doing?”