Chapter 4 THE WOLF'S CAGE 

DESDEMONA

A slave? warm his bed? Is that what I will be, this place is no better than the village. It is far worse than the village.

Alpha Alaric shifted his gaze away from me, as he put on his garment. “Don't leave this room.” He said before walking away, his steps disappeared quickly and soon I was left alone in the room again.

My eyes scanned through the empty room, I am the only one left alone in the room, yet I stayed in the same position. My knee aches from the previous fall, and my body has experienced a lot of pain in two days. My body aches trembling in fear.

I don't want to be a slave, I want to be free, I want to belong somewhere, I don't care where it might be, but I want to feel like I belong.

My eyes slowly lost their color, and I fell asleep.

******

Soft footsteps, stirring in the silence.

“For how long are you planning to sleep?” A cold, sharp female voice slid into the room.

Before I could stand up I was already pulled by the hair, she dragged through the corridor.

“Who are you? What are you doing?” I screamed and tried to fight back, but her fist was hard, and it seemed like she wanted to pull off my hair.

She tossed me onto the floor. I crawled on the floor as the two slaves held me down on my knees. “Why are you doing this?” I yelled, as I struggled free.

Before I could say another word, the lady palm landed across my face, blood spat out, and her hand left a mark on my face. My face turned in horror, and my face burned in pain.

She sneered, her grip still tight on my hair. “I am the head servant Laura, you should be working, not sleeping like a corpse!” Her voice was sharp, laced with hatred.

Now I knew who she was. She wasn’t just anyone—she was higher rank than me. My stomach twisted with the bitter realization of what my life here would be. I would face the same humiliation, over and over again.

“What’s going on here?” Before she could strike me again, a voice cut through the corridor.

Beta Theodore’s presence silenced the room instantly. His tone wasn’t raised, but it carried enough weight to make the two slaves release me.

All of us quickly lowered our eyes, no one daring to meet his gaze.

“Now, what are you doing there?” he demanded, his eyes landing on me. “Alpha Alaric needs you in the dining hall.”

I followed him immediately to the dining hall. Beta Theodore is my saviour. I was saved by him yet again.

The dining hall was filled with silence when I entered. Every servant stood by the wall, heads bowed. The Alpha sat at the long table, a glass untouched before him. Beta Theodore stood nearby, his face unreadable.

“Come closer,” Alpha Alaric ordered, his voice deep, curling through the room like smoke.

I stepped forward, my head lowered.

“Knee down now! And pour me a drink.” he commanded, his voice not different from the same tone used.

My face turned pale, but I still followed his instructions, without complaining, my eyes were focused on the floor, I don't dare to look him in the eyes

My hand trembled as I lifted the bottle of wine, I could feel everyone's gaze burning on my skin, as if waiting for me to make a mistake. I carefully filled the glass up, praying not to spill a drop.

Alpha Alaric smirked softly, his gaze fully rested on me observing, he shifted his glass slightly at the last minute, making the wine spill across my chest. The liquid poured on my dress soaking the thin fabric until it clung to my skin.

The other servant looked away uncomfortably, but no one dared to say a word in my defense. Not even Beta Theodore. They all just watched, which made my face turn pale.

“Clumsy,” Alaric drawled, his eyes sharp, amused. “Look at you… dripping.” 

My cheek burned in humiliation, and l clenched my jaw trying to hold back the tears from falling 

A soft laughter ripped through the room from some of the higher servants. 

“Clean this mess. And remember your place here, you are just a slave and you should learn to do your work properly,” he said coldly, leaning back in his chair. 

I stood up slowly, my head still lowered in humiliation, I dragged my leg back to the slave court.

I can still feel the werewolf gaze burning on me with resentment. I wondered what I did to them, to make them hate me so much. As far as I could remember, I didn't do anything to make them hate me.

I changed into a newly freshed cloth. And walking down the corridor, I try not to look too much, and keep my head lower.

I avoid everyone's gaze, and stay away from them. I spot Celeste cleaning near the Alpha Alaric room.

I ran to her, pulling her to the side. “You should run away tomorrow when you get a chance.” Celeste is not used to this type of life and I don't want to bring my misfortune upon her, she is an innocent cute girl, though she worked as a servant at my house—this place is different, it is full of wolves that want to devour us.

I can see the stare, the hatred glance.

Celeste embraced me, I could feel the warm heat coming from her body, it sent a comfort to my body, and for a brief seconds I felt at ease, before she broke the hugs.

“I have been looking for you. We need to escape together. I can't let you stay here alone, the people here are not human,” she whispered, her voice was low and her eyes already wet with tears, scared, fear looked as if searching for something. I can feel that something has happened.

I hold her shoulder. “No, I can't leave. Do you think that the villagers are going to accept me? No, they will send me back,” I hold her hands together. “But you can.”

“Desdemona!” Laura yelled as she walked towards us, she pulled me by the shoulder. “What are you doing here, when Alpha Alaric was looking for you.”

Looking for me? I wondered if he wants to see me again, I can’t bear to face anymore humiliation. Not today, I am too tired for that.

“Follow me now,” she ordered, giving no chance to escape.

Why can't I just vanish, why did I have to endure everytime.

My grips tighten, my heart pacing restlessly, I don't know what's going to happen this time.

Laura stopped at the door of the bath room.

“You can go in, Alpha Alaric is waiting for you.”

I clenched the door handle, I hesitated for a while before pushing the door open slowly, and every eye turned to me. They are all naked. And Alpha Alaric was sitting in the hot bathtub while the other servant surrounded him. Beta Theodore was also somewhere around the room watching.

I wanted to turn away and leave, but I froze on the spot.

“Undress,” Alpha Alaric growled, his voice deeper. “Now all of you can leave, she will help me bathe,” he glanced as a smirk escaped his lip.

Beta Theodore was about to walk out as well, when he spoke again, “You should stay here.”

My world crumbled before me, my chest tightened, as I reached out for the aim of my dress.