CHAPTER 5

VELDANA’S POV

“Let her drink it, Fred. Does she deserve to be pitied by the Alpha?” A man, whose luscious eyes convinced Maurice, leaned closer before smirking.

His smirk– it was like a warning sign, a signal that trouble was brewing. 

“You're the ill luck who dragged our Alpha into three years of chains and torment. You deserve nothing good from him.” He said, his voice dripping with spite and malice. 

“ Taking a drink from the wine is regarded as a favor from Alpha Maurice, right?” His callousness overshadowed his words as he walked slowly around me, his gaze of disgust lashed onto my skin, and my fist tightened around the bottle.

But what bothered me the most was Maurice, whose gaze pierced through me like sharp claws. 

I deserved everything. I betrayed him, betrayed our bond, his trust and of course Leila but he didn’t need to know that.

“Gary…” Fred cautioned the spiteful man, and the latter shrugged nonchalantly. 

“I didn't give the command, Fred. The Alpha did. She has to drink it.” Gary muttered wryly before taking his seat. 

Fred stood still, his arms crossed together on his chest as he stared at Maurice.” Are you really going to let this happen?” 

His voice felt like defiance to Maurice's ears as his stern face hardened, his eyes unreadable. Slowly crossing his legs, he leaned back on his chair and checked his wrist.

“I have no memory of what you speak of,” It felt like his cold voice split my heart in half. 

Maurice bore nothing but hate and disgust for me. Even after being reminded by my allergies, he still urged me to drink it feigning ignorance. 

Years ago he had stayed up all night to nurse me when I had accidentally taken a sip, he had sworn to never let me taste it again but there he sat, defiant like he was unaware. 

Goosebumps crowded my skin before the liquid burned my throat. I didn't deserve his forgiveness after all. If this was my punishment, I was willing to serve it.

I could feel every ogling eye on me.

The scene that occurred earlier with that child's mother played in my memory. I couldn't let Leila suffer because of my “ill-luck."

What cruel fate I had. 

Cold sweats of nervousness trickled down my forehead as I lifted the goblet to my lips in fidgeting hands. The liquor’s pungent smell caused a stir in my stomach. I knew better than to refuse, so opening my mouth wide enough for easy passage, I quickly gulped the liquor.

The liquor scorched down my throat like fire as I drank as fast as I could. 

“No, vel!” Dana whimpered in protest, but it was too late. 

I began feeling the hotness of the liquor burn around my body.

And boom! 

My skin broke out in those painful bumps I had always feared. 

Rashes decorated every bare part of my skin on display. 

My skin vibrated as each rash bloomed red; my neck, my arms, and my back became itchy.

My breath became irregular and ragged, yet I forced a wry smile on my lips as I stared at Maurice. My lips spaced apart as I quavered to whisper the words I had rehearsed in my head.

“Happy birthday, Maurice.” at least I got the chance to wish him a happy day.

The moment the words left my lips, the hotness continued burning me up; it felt like a furnace had been lighted within me as the rashes grew more, swelling in size, and turning red. 

Fred's eyes met mine, filled with a mixture of pity and concern. But I had the urge to completely drain the liquor from the goblet. 

Bringing it back to my lips, his voice, laced in panic, broke out as he rushed towards me. 

“Stop this madness!” Fred flinched as he snatched the bottle from my hand. 

“If you keep on drinking this, you will collapse.” He warned, his voice cold yet soft. 

Murmurs broke out again, and I could hear their words of despair and some of pity. 

“Why would she go ahead and drink it when she has an allergy?”

“Don't you know she's poor, feeding from hand to mouth.” 

“I bet she did it for the money, such a money grubber.” 

Maurice didn't react to any of the murmurs or Fred's warning, but his silence was heavier than any demand. I knew better than to test him. 

It was best if I drank the liquor completely and got my money. I had risked too far to let this opportunity slide. I had incurred this much embarrassment to make my daughter happy and comfortable. 

'Do not drink it again, please, vel.' Dana croaked in pain as she begged me not to continue. But I feigned ignorance and shut her back in my head. 

Whimpering softly, I reached out to grab the goblet from Fred. "I'll drink it for her if she must finish the bottle."

Fred didn't challenge Maurice but his words made him look away and snap his finger at Gary.

“Oh well, she drank half of what was expected,” Gary said before tossing the bundle of notes onto the floor, the money scattering like scraps thrown to a beggar.  

Bending low, I picked them up one by one, my pride shredded like paper turned to tatters by the whims of Maurice's authority. I needed the money so bad, and I was ready to endure any humiliation thrown at me. 

Most of which I brought upon myself by choosing fear over our sacred bond of loyalty.

I twitched at intervals as the pains spread throughout my body. Dana was not helping matters. I could feel her claws raking through me, frantically searching for an escape from my body. 

My eyes drifted to the last note a few feet away from Maurice's leg. Gulping nothing down my throat, I moved towards it. 

“Just a bit closer,” I whispered in my head. Just as I was about to reach for it, Maurice's boot crushed it into the floorboards, pinning the note beneath his heels, and I whimpered in sadness.

“Three years.” He began, he said in a low voice cutting through me like claws, sharp and unforgiving, each word, a fresh wound that seemed to never heal.

“One thousand ninety-five days, and every single night of filth and blood felt just like what you are now, crawling through, tonight is only your first payment!” 

I felt the weight of his words like a physical blow. I knew I'd never be free from this guilt, not as long as Maurice held the reins.