Alora.
I couldn't sleep the rest of the night and Ares hadn't woken up either, the sun blared through the dark curtains and I was almost tempted to roll under the bed because I knew Seth and Victor would be coming in very soon to meet Ares.
I turned to Ares who still slept tiredly on the bed, my mind drifted to what had happened last night and I drew my legs closer to my body as the door slammed open.
Seth walked in angrily, arguing with Victor who stood behind him quietly. I grew scared as Seth tore me an angry gaze before his eyes widened in shock at Ares still on the bed.
"Fuck! He needs to stop sleeping in on days we have important meetings. The elders will be arriving next week and things need to be in order before then." Seth was saying as he walked towards the bed to shake Ares who groaned loudly and turned slightly.
Victor took a silent stance at the door, resting his back against it and folding his arms as he watched Seth.
For a second, I thought Ares would wake up with bloody eyes all fierce and angry but instead a whine escaped his lips as he lay on his back. His eyes still closed.
"Alpha?" Seth spoke, his eyes filled with worry as he raised a palm to Ares' forehead.
Ares groaned again, his eyes clenching as if in pain as he held onto the bed sheets tighter.
"Ares?" Seth asked again, this time his voice laced with fear and nervousness as he wiped off the sweat on Ares' head, looking down at him in worry.
"It's started." Victor said, pulling away from the wall as he walked towards Ares.
"Fetch for Isabel and take her out of here." Victor said, Seth stepped back and for the first time, I saw true fear in those eyes of his.
"Ok. Do you think he would be better? It seems this time is worse. I think it gets worse every year." Seth said worriedly as Victor nodded, pulling the curtain close.
"Yes. And he'll survive as usual. Don't worry, Isabel knows how to reduce the pain." Victor said calmly and if he was worried, he didn't show it.
I glanced at Ares who looked in pain as he clenched the bedsheets tighter, a painful groan escaping his lips.
"Seth, go!" Victor yelled as Seth looked away in fear and sprinted off the room, I heard his hurried steps go downstairs, yelling for Isabel.
I turned my gaze to Victor who was watching me silently and I snapped my eyes to the floor. I didn't know what was happening. Was it because of last night when Ares' eyes had turned red and there was a red glow at his back?
What could I mean?
Was it making him sick?
And Seth had said it happened to him every year and it grows worse, what could possibly be it?
I looked down at my wrist to see the bruise from where Ares had grabbed me, it was black now with blood stains from his claws digging into my flesh.
"Did he hurt you?" Victor suddenly spoke, his voice cold and void of any emotions. His eyes locked on mine, glacing briefly at my wrist.
I looked up at him, unsure of what to say as I thought of not answering him at all. Then I remembered Seth hated it when I did that. I was too tired and weak to go through any punishment for breaking the rules so I nodded once.
Victor said nothing as he looked at Ares once more. I saw something similar to worry flash in his eyes but it was only for a second before he turned back to me.
"He didn't mean to." Victor said under his breath so quietly that I wondered if I had heard him correctly.
I found it hard to believe that Ares didn't want to hurt me. He had made it clear since the first day that I had gotten here that he hated me and he was going to kill me if I so much as breathed in the wrong place.
I didn't believe Victor so I said nothing to it, looking underneath the bed as my stomach growled in hunger. I pinched a part of the bread, sneakingly put it between my lips as the door opened to reveal Seth and Isabel hot on his heels.
Victor stood up from the chair he had placed in front of Ares, stepping back as Isabel walked into the room.
A part of me felt happy at the sight of her, her long blonde hair had been pulled into a ponytail and she wore a dark shirt with drawings and a short skirt. There was a huge coat tied around her waist.
Her boots hit the floor as she hurried towards Ares, throwing open her box with a red cross sign on it.
"How long has he been like this?" Isabel asked, turning to Seth. She still hadn't noticed my presence and I didn't blame her.
Nobody did.
I was almost as insignificant as the furniture in the room.
Well, at least they used them.
And they use you too.
My eyes fell at the voice in my head and tears burned at the back of my eyes. But I didn't let them fall as Seth spoke.
"I don't know. The only person who's been with him since last night is her!" Seth said a little too loudly, his fingers pointing at me as all eyes followed.
I gasped at the attention, pressing my back against the wall as if to enter it and hide from their accusing gaze.
"Alora." Isabel whispered,
Her grey eyes behind the big round glasses widened as they saw me and she dropped her box and headed to me. Relief filled her eyes as they watered.
Seth grabbed unto her, pushing her back to the chair roughly.
"Do you want to prioritize your Alpha because of a slave. Attend to him before I kill you for treason." Seth growled angrily, clenching his fist as he glared at Isabel and then to me.
Victor said nothing as Isabel took out some instruments I didn't recognize and started working on Ares.
"It seems that the cu-"
"Wait. She needs to leave." Victor interrupted, turning to Seth who nodded as he stormed towards me.
"Wait, please. She's naked. Give her the dignity of covering herself up. Even the Beta can spare her that." Isabel pleaded, turning to Seth with teary eyes.
Seth watched her silently for a second before huffing and stepping backwards. Isabel muttered a thank you as she walked towards me, crouching low as I pushed the bread further under the bed just in case she found it and decided to snitch on me to Seth or Victor.
"How are you?" Isabel whispered softly and I said nothing, staring at her in silence.
How are you?
That was a question I didn't have a response to. No one had ever even asked me that before. My parents were too busy ignoring or banging my head on the wall to ask.
Jax was cruel enough and Ares wasn't better off.
"Here." Isabel said, as she tried as much as possible not to stare at my scars that ran down my arm. She blinked rapidly, a drop of her tear touching my knees as she started untying her coat with shaky hands from her waist as she put them around me and started to button it.
"You can go meet Lana and the girls downstairs. As soon as I'm finished, I'll attend to all your injuries. Ok?" Isabel said, offering me a small smile.
I nodded once, thankful to finally have a piece of clothing around my body shielding my naked flesh from everyone. And the brand too. My legs were already numb from pulling them close to my chest for hours.
Isabel threw her hands around my shoulders and I jolted from her touch. Isabel sniffed as she stared at me in confusion before she touched the coat instead and forced me up my feet.
My feet wobbled as I started to stand, almost falling face first to the floor when Isabel wrapped her hand around me, pulling me closer to her.
I felt irritated under my skin, but I knew I had no choice but to let her. Step by step my legs felt heavy but I was grateful to finally be leaving Ares' room.
I heard Seth and Victor in hushed voices behind me but I couldn't make out what they were saying.
"Just tell Lana to give you some food. She's been busy so she can't come up herself." Isabel said softly, opening the door with her other hand she started to let go of me.
I quickly held onto the wall as she smiled up at me sadly, waving. "I'll be back soon. Meet the girls downstairs." She said before closing the door in front of her.
I started after the door, a sigh of relief escaping my lips as I rested my back on the wall. Finally, I was going to meet the girls again.
A part of me was happy that I was going to be seeing them again and I was out of the room after being locked up for two days. While it was nothing compared to the five years I had spent in Jax's room.
Still, here I already knew what it felt like to meet other people. With a smile on my face, I bottomed the rest of the coat that had fallen to my knees as I made my way down the hallway.
Asi walked carefully and slowly, I heard a loud scream as I recognized it as Ares' voice. It sounded strained and painful.
I felt a tingle of hurt within me and I shook my head. He deserved whatever was happening to him and I hated that I felt a bit sorry for him after what he had put me through.
I turned away, and managed to get off the stairs as I made my way to the kitchen silently, a tiny smile broke out of my face when I heard Lana's voice but I couldn't make out what she was saying.
They must have missed me, and Isabel had cried at my presence, so they might have all been worried about me. A part of me was happy that someone else could think of me, while the other part was scared and nervous about meeting the girls again.
I sighed deeply, my stomach growling as I managed to push the door open and peeked into the room.
Camilla and Carmen were looking at something on their phones. Both of them were wearing matching outfits of a black jeans and orange crop tops.
Camila had curled her dyed blonde hair, as they fell in waves down her shoulders while Carmen's brown hair was done on two plaits.
I noticed Raya washing the dishes and arranging the plates. She wore a loose fitted gown and there was something above her head as she danced swiftly.
Lana stood at the far end of the kitchen, taking out some pots from the cupboard as she grumbled under her breath.
I sighed, pushing the door further before I walked in.
Just as I did, Camilla and Carmen turned towards me. The smile vanished from Camilla's face as she dropped her phone on the counter and turned towards me.
There was an angry look on her face as she started her way towards me, Raya had taken off whatever she had covering her ears and Lana dropped the pot as she stared at us in confusion.
I saw Lana's eyes widened and Carmen heading towards me as if to stop Camilla.
I almost wanted to smile, preparing myself for Camilla rushing to hug me just like Isabell had done. And I knew even if I felt irritated by her touch, it would still feel nice to know that I had been missed by the girls.
"Stop Camilla!" Carmen shouted from behind her sister.
And instead of the bone crashing irritating hug I expected next, Camilla raised her hand and smacked me against my cheeks.
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