EmilyThe servant quarters were a dungeon dressed in a different name.The room I was assigned was situated deep in the cold, damp underbelly of the castle, miles away from the polished stone, roaring hearths, and velvet drapes of the upper levels.There were no grand windows here—only a narrow, horizontal slit near the ceiling that let in the freezing mountain wind and a pathetic, mocking sliver of winter moonlight.The bed was nothing more than a rotting wooden frame topped with a thin, scratchy burlap sack stuffed with uneven, mildewed straw.I sat on the edge of the miserable mattress, my knees pulled tightly against my chest as my entire body shook with an intense, unceasing tremor. The chill of the stone floor seemed to seep directly into my bones.I had ruined everything.My trembling hand flew to my neck, my fingertips gently tracing the raw, swollen punctures where Kael’s massive fangs had ruthlessly ripped into my flesh hours before.The broken skin was stiff, caked with dri

EmilySeeing her like this, I quickly pulled her into a tight, fierce hug. I knew exactly what was about to happen to her mind.She had suffered unspeakable trauma from those monsters back home, and the fact that she was trying to tell me meant she was actively revisiting the darkest memories of her life.“It’s alright, Lumi.” I patted her back gently, letting her rest her weight against me. “You will be fine. We will be fine.”I could feel the hot, silent rush of her tears soaking through the fabric of my dress against my back. We stayed locked in that embrace for a long time. Finally, she pulled back, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her uniform.“I’m fine, Emily,” Lumi said, trying to offer me a brave face. “And I am so sorry for making you see that. I shouldn’t have broken down.”“It’s fine,” I replied with a soft, reassuring smile.Part of me felt a deep urge to lay bare the horrific details of my own past—to tell her about the scars beneath my clothes and the execution of my o

EmilyI didn’t wake up on my own.The cold hit me first—a full bucket of ice water thrown directly onto my face, soaking through my thin dress and into the straw beneath me before I even understood what was happening.I scrambled off the wooden bed, gasping, my whole body shaking.“What—”“Still sleeping, lazy one,” the voice shouted at me.I wiped the water from my eyes and tried to see her face, but the room was too dark. All I could make out was a large silhouette blocking the doorway and the particular quality of her hatred.“Who are you?!”“Someone you’ll learn to fear,” she said. “Now get your worthless self to the kitchen before I drag you there.”I opened my mouth to respond. She grabbed my wrist before I could, her grip tight enough to hurt, and shoved me into the hallway.“It’s not even bright yet,” I said, stumbling forward.“I know.” She pushed me again. “Walk.”“I don’t understand what I did to—”“You exist,” she muttered. “That’s enough. I still don’t know why the King d

Emily“Mary, get back to your station,” the head maid snapped at the round-faced girl.Mary shot me a quick, apologetic look before scurrying toward the large prep tables at the back.“As for you,” the head maid turned her sinister gaze back to me, a cruel smile spreading across her face. “Since you like working so early, you can handle the most important task of the morning. The King’s breakfast tray needs to be taken up to his private chambers. Now.”My stomach dropped. A cold sweat broke out across the back of my neck. His private chambers? After last night, after what I witnessed, the last thing I wanted was to be trapped alone in a room with that monster.“What’s the matter?” She mocked, shoving a heavy silver tray into my hands. The silver clattered loudly as my arms trembled under the sudden weight. “Afraid of your King? Move it, servant. And if a single drop of that tea is spilled, I’ll make sure Alex takes care of you myself.”I clamped my jaw shut, refusing to give her the s

Emily“You smell like freezing water,” he murmured. His voice was dangerously low, sending a shiver straight down my spine. “And fear. Why is my personal blood bag dressed like a kitchen rat?”My breath caught in my throat. I chose my words with absolute care, knowing that one wrong word could cost me my life. I couldn’t afford to anger this monster. “What do you mean?” I whispered. “My king.”He leaned in very close, his ice-cold breath brushing against my ear. “You’re my personal blood bag.”“I’m not,” I forced the words out, my hands trembling against my cloth. “I told you I don’t want to be your blood bag. That is why I chose to become a slave instead.”“A slave.” He let out a dark, mocking chuckle that echoed through the gloomy room. “I don’t remember you becoming my slave.”“Your majesty,” I pleaded, my heart hammering against my ribs. Was he playing dumb? I thought frantically. How dare he do this to me? I had been entirely clear—I would rather live a hard life as a slave than

Emily“We’re here, Emily,” Mary said, her footsteps coming to a sudden halt. She let out a heavy, ragged sigh before pushing the heavy wooden doors open.I stepped in behind her, and my heart instantly dropped into my stomach. The air inside was thick and suffocating, reeking of stale sweat, sour alcohol, and the sharp, intimidating scent of alpha wolves.The moment the doors creaked, the loud chatter died down. Hundreds of predatory eyes turned toward us, locking onto me like hunters spotting fresh prey.“Where is this place?” I whispered, my voice trembling violently as I took in the terrifying crowd.“This isn’t just a wine store,” Mary replied softly, keeping her eyes glued to the sticky floor as she pulled me deeper into the dimly lit tavern. “This is where the wine master keeps his business.”I hurried after her, my legs feeling like lead.“Mr. Red!” Mary called out, stopping near a dark corner of the room.An older, scarred man turned around. But before he could speak, a younge

All Chapters of Bloodline Betrayal: The Beta and I: Chapter 21 - Chapter 26

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