Marked(chapt.3)

AKIRA's POV

The moment Kaidën's voice broke to a whisper as he spoke the word 'deal', my world seemed to be crumbling under me and threatening to swallow me whole.

My heartbeat was thundering and filling my ears, making me feel that I was the sole person left in the hall.Even as Aurelia snapped her fingers to summon the maids, I hardly noticed it, being rudely yanked into stumbling forward by strong hands grabbing my arm.

"C'mon, Akira. We don't have all day," one of the older maids whispered urgently, a tinge of pity edging her voice.

The others rushed to round me up, getting me out of the dinning hall, their expressions torn between sympathy and fear. As soon as we were out of earshot, their whispers cut the air.

"Poor girl… traded like livestock," muttered one.

"As if Kaidën would treat her any better," the other shook her head. "He's merciless. Everyone knows."

I didn't have words to say. My throat was closing in and with every paced step, there felt this knot of panic tightening. I clutched my tattered apron tightly, my nails digging into my palms, but that wasn't a balm.

They dragged me into a smaller chamber meant for use to get ready when the guests of higher ranks came.

Steam billowed up into the air from the basin filling with hot water beneath, before I could do anything-I was being stripped of my clothes-jerked at my robe, peeled away the lightweight, dust-streaked fabric that marked me as nothing more than a palace maid.

"Hold still now, Akira. We need to tidy you before your departure," the older maid said kindly but hurriedly.

The water shocked my spine, as hot cloths rubbed my skin. There was speediness to their motions, but it was laced with an odd gentleness; an unspoken apology.

"Wh-why me?" I croaked, voice barely above a whisper.

The younger maid hesitated, running her fingers through my silver hair, trembling just a little in the process. "Because you're an omega... and a pretty one at that. Luna Aurelia knows... he'll want you for a breeder."

That slap of a word. Breeder.

Tears threatened to fall, but I blinked them back. In this place, at this moment; weakness would only worsen the situation.

I set my jaws tight, forcing down on the wave of rising panic as they washed away dirt, brushed my long hair until it shimmered bassically as a silver river flowed down my back, and slipped me into a pale blue gown with which I was unfamiliar.

Simple but fresh, delicate fabric felt entirely foreign against the rough uniforms to which I had grown accustomed.

"Enough!" A guard's rough voice barked from the other side, further to this.

The maids turned their looks to each other; before one reached to my arm, she said, "It's time, Akira."

The stride of my feet towards the exit room and before it strolled, everything was blurry for me-the stone floor seemed a little more hard underfoot than when a warm gust blackened my face as they led me toward the palace gates. But my heart seemed to come still, as soon as I laid eyes on Kaidën.

He was mounted upon a great black stallion, flanked by armored men on either side. Even from this distance, he was practically oozing raw power that felt almost dark and heavy. With that strong jaw of his set and blue eyes focused ahead, it appeared as if he had just been playing a game of chess with lives.

"Put her in the chariot," Kaidën said, his voice clipped.

Two guards moved in and ushered me toward a dark wooden chariot cushioned luxuriantly with emerald upholstery. It felt wrong, this luxury, while my mind was spinning in chaos. I sat rigidly, my hands resting in my lap, and my gaze averted.

As the wheels of the chariot lurched ahead, I turned for one quick look at the past.

There she stood.

Aurelia was at the palace gates, her red lips curled in a smile with satisfaction. Her green eyes sparkled in wicked glee-not because Kaidën had agreed to help Ryker but because she won. She had rid herself of me.

I could feel my chest hollow out with that sight, but I wouldn’t allow myself to cry.

No one said a thing, just the sound of hooves clattering and wheels rumbling. There I sat, rocking through every bump; every mile pulling me more from the life which I knew and put me anything between that other hell of the Emerald Pack waiting for me now.

At the end of the road, when the trees paned apart, the towering gates of the Emerald Pack were unveiled. I prepared for the worst.

No... it was nothing like I had thought.

The place wasn't the cold fortress I had pictured-it was green. Everywhere. The stone walls rather appeared to be covered in ivy, with clusters of wildflowers blooming along the pathway. Members of the pack were moving freely through the village square, smiling, laughing, and children darting in between the buildings. It was serene. It was alive.

At that point of time, I almost thought that maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be as bad as everyone said.

Then that voice of Kaidën pierced through the air.

"Bring her to my chambers."

It was like a freezing slap, sucking out any flicker of hope from me.

For a moment, my breath stopped in my throat as the guards flung open the door and motioned me to step outside. I did so, my legs shaking beneath me. My heart thumped in my ears as I followed a maid down a stone corridor, racing with my thoughts over everything that could go wrong.

We stopped in front of a massive door-the left wing of the palace.

"This will be your room," the maid murmured, her eyes brown flickering, what I could not name. Was it sympathy? Or pity? "I will be staying here, too. You're not alone."

But I felt all alone.

Time slipped through my fingers in that room. I sat on the edge of the bed, twisting the hem of my dress with my hands. With every creak of a floorboard outside, my heart flew into my throat. Maybe the Moon Goddess would have mercy.

Then the door creaked open.

The maid stood there, her expression stiff. "He’s summoned you."

My stomach dropped.

Setting on the bed was a simple but elegant soft black dress, the neckline dipping far lower than I was comfortable with.

However, I kept quiet. I wavered, trembling fingers smoothing the skirt.

My mind was a haze on the way to Kaidën's chambers. Stone walls. Flickering torches.

The maid hardly gave me some kind of shoulder squeeze before opening the massive oak door and leaving me there alone.

I raised my hand to knock but then froze.

"Come in," Kaidën's deep voice called from within.

I swallowed hard and pushed the door open.

His chambers were vast, dark wood and rich green velvet everywhere, but I barely registered any of it. Kaidën stood by the window, his broad shoulders outlined against the silver glow of the moon. The air in the room almost suffocating me under the pressure.

He did not turn around.

"Strip," his voice was low but it allowed no room for argument.