Amelia's POVI walked very slowly down the hallway, my back aching and my hand itching to touch my throat to be sure that I was still alive. That I was no longer in that bathroom, drowning over and over again. My lips quivered and I winced from my aching back where Cassius had flogged me with his belt. I took a right turn and saw Elizabeth waiting for me, her eyes wide as she took in my damp hair and shaky gait and when I tried to smile, to reassure her that I was okay, it was tears that trickled down my face. She rushed towards me and held my hand, her eyes brimming with tears. "Oh, sweet girl, Elena told me that you had gone to see the Master and I wondered what would happen this time, I'm so sorry, sweetie. Come, I've prepared a very warm bath for you."I nodded, my eyes shining with gratitude and she led me gently toward her room where she had drawn a bath. Every time I entered her room, I was reminded that Cassius had given me a tiny room on purpose in this mansion. I guess I

Amelia's POV"Huh?" I stared blankly at Elizabeth. "I didn't hear that correctly, right?" I asked in shock, turning around from where she had been rubbing the balm on my bruised back where Cassius had beaten me mercilessly for sleeping off in the Alpha's room and coming back smelling like him. It felt like I had misheard her because it could not be possible. Okay, maybe it was because he had rubbed balm on my face and neck too when I had been in his room and I had slept afterward but this, giving Elizabeth balm specifically to treat my wounds sounded very suspicious and unbelievable. Because why would he? He was supposed to punish me for spilling wine on him and yet, here he was, sending me an ointment for injuries that he was not even responsible for. It took me back to the first time Cassius had flogged me. It had been over the temperature of his blood drink. Apparently, when he had said he wanted it cool, he did not mean cold. I had taken the cold glass of blood to his office a

Damien's POV Mate. That was the first time I had actually said that word out loud. It was still almost inconceivable to imagine that of all places, I had found my mate in the house of a Vampire. As a slave. I remembered vividly the first time I had seen her. It had been her scent that had called to me like a siren. I had just gotten out of the car and was hit with a scent so delicious, it was intoxicating. I had blinked back hard as I searched the crowd of people gathered outside waiting for us and settled on her and I had frozen. Completely oblivious of what she was to me, of the effect and pull she had on me, she had stared back, the mating bond perhaps making her stare for me for much longer than she had wanted to as she blinked gently, her large emerald green eyes wide with curiosity as she studied me and it had taken everything in me to ignore her. I wanted to claim her right there and then. I had wanted to make her mine at that very moment. And then I had found out

Amelia's POV When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling. The fan rotated in a clockwise motion and I tried to focus but it was really hard to keep my eyes open. Where was I? Had I died? Was this heaven? What had happened to me? I heard some voices murmuring but they sounded so far away and as I tried to move, the sting of pain on my neck and entire body, especially on my back made me freeze and all of the memories came rushing back to me. I had been in Damien's room and he had called me his mate. I had heard the maids whispering about it being something like a wife but I was still uncertain of what it truly meant. And then I had escaped his hold and rushed back to my room to find Cassius... I winced in pain as all of the terrible memories came back to me. Of how he had given me yet another scar that I would probably have to carry for the rest of my life. Of how he had ridiculed and made fun of me like he always did. Of how he had bitten into my neck

Amelia's POV"We have no time to waste, though I must tell you that you look sexier with your clothes off," Cassius said with a smirk that made my stomach turn but for the wrong reasons. I saw Damien stiffen, his hands fisting by his side as Cassius pulled me to his side. He kissed my forehead like we were a newly wedded happy couple. I fought the bile that rose in my throat at the subtle disgust on Damien's face. His eyes moved to where Cassius's hand was wrapped around my waist tightly and I fought the urge to wince as he unknowingly pressed on the wounds on my lower back with his arm. Or maybe he did know.The other wolf that had come with Damien entered the room and the tension reduced considerably as the attention of the men shifted from me to him. "I'm ready, Alpha." He said to Damien with his head inclined and I saw the way Cassius bristled when the wolf didn't incline his head when he looked at him. Damien nodded and clasped a hand on the wolf's shoulder. He turned to look