CHAPTER 26.Amelia's POVThe reason why I would never escape Cassius' clutches was not because I wasn't smart. On the contrary, living with him had made me smarter than most people my age. It was because I always let my guard down at some point especially when I knew over and over again that Cassius was nothing but a monster that preyed on the fear of others. My mistake this time was sleeping with both eyes closed, just because he had ordered me to. Because I didn't realize when he returned to the room or when he tied my hands and legs to the bed, with my chest facing the bed. I didn't realize that Cassius was ready to play games with me until the first lash touched my rear and I screamed, opening my eyes in surprise as water started to trickle down my cheeks. Normally, he would delay before he lashed me again, going on to taunt me about whatever pleased him but this time, he was impatient and I interpreted that to mean that he was very upset. Whether it was because of something
CHAPTER 27.Amelia's POVHave you ever felt your heart break and mend itself almost immediately?That was what happened the minute Damien stormed out of my room, his face hard with anger, and came back in, holding a small bowl and a towel. I had thought for sure that when he had left, he was ashamed of what he saw, that he was disgusted because he knew whose room I had come from and he could smell my wounds and know that Cassius had yet again hurt me. I didn't realize that I was really hoping that he would come back until he entered the room again. And as we stared at each other from where he stood at the threshold, a part of me wanted to smile at him and tell him to come closer but another part, the more rational part knew that what I should be doing was sending him away because I knew Cassius might come here or send for me and the last thing that I wanted was for him to find out that the Alpha was in my room. As if he could see the internal battle that I was having as I lay on m
CHAPTER 28.Amelia's POVThe look in Cassius' eyes as he took me in and the entire room was pure unadulterated rage and I shook in terror, wondering if Damien's scent lingered in the room. The fact that I knew that he was going to be upset that I had left his room without permission could have never prevented me from the horror that I felt when I saw the way his eyes turned red and his fangs came out as he growled at me. He looked so mad, I wondered if he was really just angry about me leaving the room or if there was something else that made him this angered. Before I could speak, he slapped me so hard, I fell to the ground and kicked at all the scented candles that were placed by my bed."You little dirty tramp! You love all the attention you're getting, don't you? You love to see me mad, right? I'm about to show you just how mad I can be!" He roared and dragged me by the hair out of the room. I screamed and tried to get him to set me free but his grip was too strong. He pulled m
Damien's POVPowerless. I didn't know that there was ever a time I could feel powerless until I met my mate as a slave to a vampire lord. It gave me nightmares to just think about what she had gone through since she had the misfortune of falling into the hands of such a snake and it pained me that she continued to go through it. My hands had never felt so tied before in my entire life and it was a struggle to not go and remove his head from his shoulder but it was not that simple. I had just signed a peace treaty. That was why I had come here and it would be an all-out war if I didn't proceed with caution. That was the only way I tried to remain calm even though my entire body itched to get rid of Cassius every time he so much as smiled at Amelia or hurt her.I knew that I was putting her at risk every time I spoke to her or asked her to come to me but I was worried about her. I had heard her screams not long after I had left her room but by the time I rushed out, she had disappe
Amelia's POV I knew that I was having another nightmare when I opened my eyes and saw myself in the woods in the middle of the dark, wearing a white dress stained with blood. I was also aware that until my body was ready to wake up, I would be stuck here no matter what. It wouldn't matter if I screamed at the top of my lungs for help. No help was coming. Nobody was coming to save me and the earlier I accepted that, the quicker I could start running from the monster in the woods that was out to get me. Because I was trapped in my own mind and there was no way out. Swallowing hard as I looked around and couldn't even find the light of the moon, I struggled to find my way in the dark, running as fast as my legs could carry me. I heard nothing but the sound of my feet on the sand as I fled and the beating of my heart as it ran faster than normal. Even the animals that were in the forest were nonexistent. It was just me and the monster that I knew was in the woods, who I knew woul
Amelia's POVIt had been so long since I enjoyed the kind of peace of just sitting with someone and I didn't realize that tears filled my eyes at that simple gesture until she rose to her feet and turned around to look at me. I held her hand and when she smiled gently, I sniffed and feigned a smile. "Thank you for coming here tonight," I whispered because I was indeed grateful. I had wondered how I would be able to make it with my thoughts alone in this room, especially after that incident with Cassius and she had come to my rescue. She nodded and gently squeezed my hand. "How are you? How are your injuries?" She asked and before I could respond, she shook her head and headed toward my bathroom. "Let me make you a hot bath. To soothe your stiff bones." She said and entered the bathroom before I could object. I knew that Cassius would be furious if he found Elizabeth here trying to care for me and the last thing I wanted to do was put her in a precarious situation and allow her t
Chapter 32Amelia's POV"I don't know about you, but I would like to save dinner for later because there is something I want the two of you to see."I had no idea why my chest caved in when Cassius said that he wanted to show Damien and I something. Maybe it was his smirk, or the way he casually relaxed as he looked to Damien, waiting for his agreement.He didn't need to ask for mine because technically, I had no choice in the matter; but it felt like he was testing Damien to see what he was going to do.Damien's face had been pale since Cassius slapped me, and when he looked at me where I was still sitting on the ground, he finally nodded his consent at Cassius.Looking at me with glee, Cassius offered me his hand to help me up and I looked at him skeptically, waiting for the other slap to drop."Don't you want to stand up to see what I have to show you?" He whispered as he bent to gently caress my hair. I nodded quickly, even though my entire body was screaming at me to tell him no.
CHAPTER 33.Amelia's POV"Did you know that today makes it two weeks since the wolves came to stay with us?" Blair said to one of the other maids as they did the dishes and my eyes widened in surprise. I didn't realize that today made it just two weeks since that fateful day when Damien had arrived at the mansion. It felt like it was already a couple of months since he came into my life and turned it upside down. I could never forget how I had felt when I first saw him. His entire presence had been so overwhelming as his eyes scanned the crowd of people and finally landed on me. It had felt like I was under a spell as I stared right back at him, my heart pounding in my chest and my legs almost losing their strength. Back then, I could have never imagined in my entire life that I would be an Alpha's mate or that it would nearly cost me my life many times because of merely being seen with him. Acting like I was not listening to their conversation in the kitchen, I continued chopp