Ares.
I unlocked the door, taking out the key from the keyhole as I pushed the door opened. It was evening so the setting sun casted bright orange rays of light into the room, making it almost magical as my room was mostly dark and uninviting.
I scented Alora immediately and I turned my gaze to where she was shackled to my bed. Her violet eyes were fixed on me, fear filled them and I suddenly grew tired of the scared aura that radiated off her.
Her legs were pulled to her chest shielding some part of her body from me, I ran my eyes down the scars on her hands as they were lifted above her head chained to my bed in a discomforting way.
Her black hair looks greasy and I suddenly felt the urge to see them glow once more when she washed them. There were eye bags underneath her violet eyes, leaving dark circles around them.
She said nothing as I walked into the room, closing the door behind me and taking a step towards her. Her fear intensified, almost choking me and I saw how embarrassed she was, glacing briefly at her torn clothes around her I growled.
I threw my gun away from my back pocket on the table making her jerk at the loud noise.
"Please, Alpha. She's a damaged girl. She flinches as the tiniest noise.."
I remembered Lana's words and felt a spark of anger run through me. Taking off my tie and throwing it on the bed, I made my way back to Alora who had pulled her knees closer to her chest.
I say just beside her, giving a little space between us as I fixed my gaze on hers.
"What happened last night?" I asked, feeling a headache brew in my head and I instantly graved tea.
Alora didn't answer as I noticed the curiosity in her eyes, tearing them away from me as she looked to the floor.
I felt angry. I hated when I spoke to her and she didn't respond.
"...and she rarely speaks." Lana's voice sounded in my head making me growl under my breath.
Alora took that as a cue to speak, her eyes widening as she curled her toes as if trying to move away from me as possible.
"You came back drunk, and...uh..uhm you started saying I was infiltrating your mind, making you abstain from other women. You then said the only way you could stop thinking about me was if you saw my body. So you tore away my clothes, and collapsed against me." She explained and I frowned at her words.
I had said that? I don't even remember thinking of her to the extent I couldn't be with someone else. Irritation shot through me as I ran my hands through my hair, taking out a cigarette from my pocket and putting it between my lips unlit.
"And?" I asked, knowing she was missing the most important part of the information, I noticed the tiny stain in her cheeks.
She adjusted, wincing at the pain from her wrist and shoulders before goosebumps filled her skin from the cold AC on her naked body.
My heart prickled with guilt as I glanced at my duvet, reaching to pick it up and throw it over her body when she spoke.
"You kissed me." She announced and I froze. I knew I had done that, but I just wanted some sort of denial and she had only confirmed what I was scared of.
"It meant nothing. I was drunk. You're a slave, wolfless, broken and not even worth a penny. I'll never kiss anyone like you in my right state of mind. Don't think this would grant you any special treatment." I said, letting go of the blanket and rising to my feet, heading to the bathroom leaving Alora shivering from the cold.
I bathed hurriedly, wearing a loose shirt and black pants before making my way to the dinning table downstairs. Lana had set my food on the table and I sat down to eat when she walked in.
"Is she ok?" She asked, glancing at the staircase as if expecting Alora to walk downstairs.
I didn't respond as I picked a slice of the food, throwing it into my mouth and savoring the taste. This was another reason I had left Lana as my worker. Having worked for my family for years, as soon as my parents had died, I had fired everyone in the estate leaving only her and her children.
Soon she requested for help and I had hired Raya and Isabel, they were handpicked by me and Seth as we didn't trust anyone easily, especially someone who would be so close to me.
I've had only one betrayal to know that no one was to be trusted, not even myself.
"Ares.." Lana sounded, making me stop my fork carelessly on the table as I frowned, turning to her at the mention of my name without the Alpha title.
"Don't ever call me that. You might have worked with my family for years but that doesn't make you immune to my anger or punishment." I warned and Lana nodded, I could smell the submission that wafted off her.
The old bastard could be anything but scared of my presence. Mostly because she had watched me grow.
She was amongst the circle of people who knew me as a child. That circle consists of only her and Seth. Seth and I had practically grown up together. That was why I trusted him with my life.
"How much further do you think you'll keep her locked up there? She must be tired and hungry. Are you planning on having her starve to death?" Lana asked worriedly and I turned away from her.
"Yes."
"Why? What had she done to deserve such treatment?"
"She played the piano." I announced, making Lana gasp as she took a step backwards, raising her hand to get lips in shock.
"I got back home last night to see her in the west wing, playing the piano. I thought you would have been smart enough to tell her no one is allowed there!" I yelled, my anger boiling against my veins each passing second.
"I'm sorry. I must have forgotten, Alpha." Lana said quickly as I sighed, closing my eyes as blonde hair flashed across my mind. Blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
I shivered at the memory, almost forgetting what it was like to have them back after light night.
"Please Alpha, don't punish her for what isn't her fault. Punish me instead for not telling her. She's new and doesn't know the rules yet." Lana pleaded.
"She shouldn't touch what doesn't belong to her, that's one of the rules as a slave." I said, remembering some of the teaching of ruling a pack and mastering a slave.
Lana said nothing and I continued. "Have Camille and Camilla not attend school for a week. They are to work in the house with you."
"But they are to resume school next week. Camilla is excited about senior year." Lana exclaimed, her eyes filled with pain at the punishment her daughter would face for her mistake.
"That's my punishment, I don't think there's anything I could do to you." I finished, making Lana bow at me as she started to walk away.
I picked a glass of wine, bringing it to my lips. "How did she do yesterday in the kitchen with you?" I suddenly asked, my curiosity getting the best of me as Lana stopped in her tracks.
"She barely speaks even if Camilla is being rude. She is ashamed of her scars, so I had to get one of Camilla's jackets for her to cover up her arms. She flinches at the smallest noises and doesn't let anyone touch her." Lana said and I dropped the cup.
"Did she work?" I asked and Lana shook her head.
"She has a lot to learn. She can't cook, nor sweep or even do the dishes. And Alpha.." I could hear the pain in Lana's voice and I frowned.
"..I don't think she can read either." She concluded before bowing and leaving me in the dining room.
I felt my food sink to the bottom of my feet as she shock came to me. I hadn't expected her to be illiterate or had her master prevented her from going to school.
That was cruel and I didn't even think I could do that.
I finished eating in silence, as I heard the kitchen door close shut and then the back door. Lana and the girls had probably left the house, leaving me once more in the big lonely estate.
At least this time I had a little company.
When I was done, I made my way back to the room, pausing briefly at the hallway and glancing at the west wing.
It had been so long since I had heard the melody of the piano and hearing it for the first time in years sent unpleasant memories to my mind.
I missed the piano. And I hated myself for it.
Walking past the hallway to my room, I slammed the door open and Alora was still awake, watching me intently as I went to my table to take out one of the reports I had from the office.
I noticed her curious stare as I reached her and she backed away a bit nervously. Throwing the paper at the floor just beside her feet, I pointed at it.
"Read it." Alora's eyes widened in shock as she stared from me to the paper on the floor.
**Hey everyone, thank you so much for reading. So note that this is the end of the update week. From Monday next week, we go back to our usual update schedule Monday, Wednesday and Friday as usual at the same time so don't expect an update everyday anymore 😔
Secondly for the announcement, I'll be releasing exclusive and free chapters on my "buy me a coffee." So if you need extra chapters on some scenes that aren't essentially a part of the story you can find it on my "buy me a coffee" at "buymeacoffee(dot)com/janesamuel" It's free to read but you can also show some support my buying me a coffee too😉
Updates there would be irregular, you can read the post I've made there to know more about it. Follow me on instagram @chimdi_jane_samuel
~Jane♥️