The morning began with shouting and slamming doors. Breakfast had been brought in and set up without waking us, but Dmitri made sure we got up when he came in. Without giving us time to wipe the sleep from our eyes, the fight between the two siblings began. He was furious that we weren’t up already, but that was nothing compared to his rage about Sophie taking me to raid their mother’s closet. “It’s not like anyone was using them or coming to claim them! Maybe you should have let the poor girl pack a bag before dragging her back here like a fucking caveman!” “You crossed the wrong line this time Sophia!” he roared, “I think I’ve lost my appetite this morning!” Grabbing my wrist, he stormed out of her rooms, dragging me behind him, and ignoring her protests. He released his grip on me when we made it to his bedroom; all the doors between us and Sophia had been slammed shut. I stood there like a child ready to be scolded while he paced a

I was awakened by a light tapping on the bedroom door. Stretching out, I was surprisingly disappointed when I found I was alone in the bed. The tapping came again a little louder, “Uh… Miss, um… Alexandria…” Blake’s voice stammered on the other side of the door. “I’m supposed to make sure you make it across the hall.” Panic hit as I bolted upright, clutching the blankets around me. “Uh, just a minute,” I answered, not wanting to have to walk across the hall naked. To my surprise, the pajama set he’d ordered me to strip off was on the pillow in his place. Smiling to myself, certain now that I’d done something right last night; I pulled the clothes on and made my way over to the door, twisting my hair up in a bun. “Good morning Blake,” I greeted him with a beaming smile. He looked surprised as he took in my smile. “Ummm, morning,” he responded, “Miss…” “My parents called me Alex,” he looked unsure, “but my friends called me Lexi.”

Breakfast went by in a blur. We were curled up on the couch, still in our pajamas with our mugs of coffee, when Dmitri joined us. Giving Dmitri a quick kiss, instead of sitting as a decoration today, I sat in the chair beside him. It was mostly a repeat of lunch from the day before. The twins held a conversation about contracts with vendors, while I tried to ignore the hand caressing my thigh so I could navigate food into my mouth. Afterwards Sophie bounced off to get dressed for her busy day and I was guided by a hand on the small of my back across the hall to his suite. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this anxious. My heart was racing so fast, I thought that it would pound its way out through my chest. I had no clue where the day would lead after the last day I’d spent with him. He did seem to be in an exceptionally good mood today. He was humming as he closed the doors of his suite behind us. Even his smile seemed brighter than usual, happy instead of smug.

If they had some kind of torture room, I’m sure that Sophie would have warned me about it, at least I hope that she would have. Unsure of what he had in mind I moved a little timidly to follow him. He held the door open and offered his arm, just like he’d done to me and Sophie the day before. I hesitated a moment before threading my arm around his. Arm in arm, he led me down the hall. Just like the day before, it didn’t take long for me to get lost in the twist and turns of the different hall ways and rooms with multiple doors. He was just as sure as she had been about what direction to head in. I didn’t know where we were headed, but we were passing through rooms I didn’t recognize, until we walked into his main office. This was the room where I’d been presented and inspected my first night here, trussed up and practically naked. My feet stopped moving, jerking him to a halt just inside the doorway. Dropping my arm he moved across the room to a shelf

A strange woman was shining a bright light into my eyes, “I think she is coming too.” I tried to sit up but she pressed gently on my shoulder to stop me, “Give yourself a moment, dear,” her voice was calm and soothing, “we don’t know why you fainted yet.” She turned to look at someone behind her, “She still looks awfully pale to me, are you certain she’s eating regularly and staying hydrated?” “I’m not with her every second of everyday, but she eats at the meals I’ve been present for,” there was a weird tone in his voice, as he paced back and forth. “Of course Alpha,” she turned back to me and smiled warmly. “I’d suggest sending down for something just the same, and get some more fluids into her. It could have been as simple as low blood sugar, an electrolyte imbalance or just dehydration.” She was packing things into a small medical bag, “we’ll know more as soon as the tests come back, and I’ll make sure that they are in your hands as soon as I get th