The Monsters’ Bedroom

I was woken by the sound of a woman laughing.

High-pitched. Grating. It scraped against my skull.

My eyes slowly opened, burning from the entire night I had spent crying, screaming, begging to be let out. Just like those days… when Dad used to throw me into this very cell and forget about me for days—no food, no water… nothing.

As my vision cleared, a woman dressed in black came into view. She stood just outside the cell, two others flanking her like shadows.

They were laughing.

At me.

“Look at this pathetic little shit,” the woman in the middle sneered, her lips curling in disgust. “My Alphas did the right thing putting her in the dungeon. Look at her—such an ugly bitch.”

I slowly pushed myself up, my body aching, forcing myself into a sitting position.

“You’re right,” one of the others chimed in eagerly. “She is no match for you.”

“Yes, Evelyn,” the one in purple added with a smile, “there’s no one in this pack who can match you.”

Something flickered in Evelyn’s eyes.

Pride.

“That’s why the Alphas have chosen me,” she said, a victorious smile spreading across her face. “There’s no competition.”

She crossed her arms, standing taller—blonde hair catching the dim light, baby-blue eyes sharp, skin glowing with the kind of care I had never known.

She was… valued.

And the twins—

They must have favored her.

“What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice hoarse as I slowly stood. The cut on my forehead throbbed, and the one on my neck burned with every breath.

“Oh, there’s a lot I want from you, new slave,” Evelyn said, her smile turning cruel.

She extended her hand lazily toward the guard, who immediately placed the keys into her palm.

She stepped forward and unlocked the cell.

The metal creaked open.

“Get out, bitch,” she barked. “Time to put those hands to work.”

I didn’t argue.

I was used to this.

Used to being nothing.

So I stepped out.

She glanced at her friends and laughed before turning back to me, patting my cheek lightly—like I was a stray animal.

“I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy this one,” she chuckled.

She clapped once.

A maid rushed in, carrying a bucket and mop.

“Hand that to her,” Evelyn ordered without even looking.

I recognized the girl.

They hadn’t killed the servants.

Not yet.

The maid quickly passed the bucket and mop to me, her hands trembling slightly, before lowering her head.

“You can leave now,” Evelyn dismissed.

The girl hurried out.

“Get started,” Evelyn said, her tone turning cold. “Wipe the entire pack house so clean I can see my reflection on the floor, dear Anna.”

She smiled.

And it wasn’t kind.

“And if you fail…” her voice dropped, quieter—more dangerous, “I’ll cut off your hands and hang you naked in front of the entire pack—so they can laugh at your body that’s even uglier than your face.”

She spat near my feet.

Then turned and walked away, her followers trailing behind.

I stood there, staring at the mop and bucket in my hands.

A tear slipped down my cheek.

Different tormentors…

Same fate.

If anything—

It was worse.

Because when Lorenzo and Alexander had promised to show me the worst—

The look in their eyes hadn’t been a lie.

***

My hands burned from scrubbing the floors.

Red. Raw. Blisters forming—some already torn open.

It was nearly night, and I hadn’t had a single moment of rest. No food. No water. Nothing.

Black spots flickered in my vision. I had to fight just to stay upright.

Only the second floor was left.

And I had avoided it.

Because I had heard their voices.

The twins.

I didn’t want to face them.

So now, under the cover of night, I had come up—hoping to finish quickly.

But then—

The soft ding of the lift echoed through the silence.

Followed by the doors sliding open.

My eyes shut.

Please… not them…

Let it not be—

Heavy footsteps approached.

And then the scent.

I didn’t need to turn.

He stopped right behind me.

Lorenzo.

I saw his reflection in the polished floor.

Dark hair slightly disheveled, shirt partly unbuttoned, revealing the hard lines of his chest—ink curling beneath.

“Oh…” His voice, laced with amusement, reached me. “What do we have here?”

His hand lifted.

Fingers brushing through my hair.

Slow.

Almost gentle.

I swallowed, throat dry, still not daring to turn.

Then—

The door beside me opened.

Alexander.

My eyes lifted.

He was shirtless, trousers hanging low on his hips. His jaw sharp—sharper under the dim lighting.

Both of them looked…

Ethereal.

Too perfect.

It made it harder to accept there was no mercy in them.

“Why is she out of the dungeon?” Alexander asked, his voice cold.

“I have the same question,” Lorenzo murmured.

He leaned in, taking a strand of my hair between his fingers and lifting it to his nose.

He inhaled.

A low growl rumbled in his chest.

“What are you doing here?” Alexander asked again.

I opened my mouth—

“Get up.”

Lorenzo’s voice cut through.

Not a suggestion.

A command.

“W-what?”

“I said get up.”

Harsher.

I didn’t risk disobeying.

I stood immediately, still not looking at him.

His arm slid around my waist.

And before I could react—

He yanked me back.

My back slammed against his chest.

Every hard line of him pressed into me.

I held my breath.

I didn’t know why.

“Now that she’s here, brother…” he murmured, pushing my hair aside, exposing my neck.

Then he lowered his face—

Right where he had cut me.

And inhaled.

“Why don’t we put her to better use?”

My stomach dropped.

My eyes widened.

I looked at Alexander.

Please don’t agree…

“That isn’t such a bad idea,” Alexander smirked, stepping closer.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Trapped.

His hand settled on my hip.

He leaned in, lowering his face to the other side of my neck.

His breath brushed my skin.

“She smells good,” he murmured. “Surprisingly not of cleaning supplies.”

“I know…” Lorenzo’s voice came low against me. “I wonder why.”

Dread crawled beneath my skin.

What were they going to do?

“Please…” I whispered. “Let me go.”

“Oh, we don’t plan on letting you go so soon,” Lorenzo chuckled darkly. “You’re wasting your breath.”

“Lorenzo… please—”

“She talks too much,” Alexander muttered.

And then—

He shoved me.

Hard.

I stumbled into the room, nearly falling.

But they followed.

The door shut behind them.

The sound echoed.

Lorenzo started toward me.

I stepped back.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

Alexander stayed near the door, watching.

The back of my legs hit the bed.

And I fell.

Before I could move—

Lorenzo was already there.

Climbing onto the bed.

Knees bracketing me in.

“Who’s going to save you now, Princess?” he murmured.

I opened my mouth—

To beg.

But he grabbed my jaw.

Hard.

And then—

He slammed his lips onto mine.