The Princess' Mark

CHAPTER THREE: The Enemy Within

Three days passed without me seeing either Quinn or Rome.

My fate was already sealed. I knew it was a bad idea to open up and tell complete strangers about my past.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway before my door creaked open again.

I slowly lifted my head, the chains still keeping me upright. I was tired, worn out and had lost hope of getting out at this point.

A woman entered the room, a strong aura emitting from her but not as strong as the Alpha’s.

She was beautiful—but her expression was ice-cold.

"You don’t belong here," she said coolly, stepping into the room.

I tensed, keeping my guard up. I didn’t know her or her motives.

“Death wouldn’t be such a bad thing either, just ask and you shall be given,” she added.

She looked at me like I was something to be discarded. A threat.

She wasn’t just another pack member. She was someone important.

And she hated me already. Hated me for simply being here.

"My name is Eva," she said, tilting her head, making her blond hair cover part of her face. "And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll find a way to disappear before I make you."

I slowly licked my lips, wetting them before I opened my mouth and spoke.

“If you want me gone so badly, then let me go,” I said softly.

She narrowed her eyes at me and I just stared back at her emotionally. I had nothing to lose at this point. Everything I had ever known and owned was gone.

I didn’t even think my life was worth anything either.

So what would dying do?

No one will cry for me. And I was done fighting. Fighting a losing battle was pointless. I would rather use the last bit of strength I had to say my last words.

Eva laughed, but it wasn’t a funny laugh. It was one that seemed to say more than she was letting on.

“You are really full of yourself for someone who is chained up,” she spat, a smug smile on her lips.

“Yet you came to me,” I replied coolly. “I would think I was special to have the Alpha, beta and whoever you are all visit me.”

Eva glared at me as she folded her hands over her chest, making her chest look bigger than it actually was. “Rome would never care about a stray like you,” she spat coldly. “And Quinn wouldn’t degrade himself as to be seen around a pathetic lowlife like you.”

“If you say so.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

I shrugged, but it took a lot of effort for me to make that small gesture. I felt my head spinning and life slowly waning out of me.

I was going to die without having seen the world.

Eva moved closer and grabbed my chin forcefully, making me look right in her eyes. She had the most beautifully opaque green eyes I had ever seen.

She leaned closer, “Don’t make me do something out of character for,” she said quietly. You are nothing and I don’t know why Rome didn’t have you killed immediately when he found you. It would have been music to my ears.”

Eva punched me in the gut…hard.

I whizzed as I tried to catch my breath. She was definitely strong and someone I wouldn’t ever want to get into a fight with.

“If I were, I would ask him to just end you as soon as possible,” Eva spat and punched me again, harder than the first one.

My feet buckled beneath me, but the chains helped keep me from hitting the ground with a thud.

“But then again, making you suffer does sound like a fun thing to do,” she ran a long finger down my face slowly, and it sliced my cheek.

I was sure there was blood on my face now.

I clenched my teeth and bit back the insults I had. “Leave me alone,” I said instead. “I don’t know you and I don’t want to. I just want to go home.”

I felt tears pricking my eyes and I bit my lip to stop them from flowing. I didn’t want her to see me crying. Enough people had seen me crying.

“Aw, did that hurt?” she cooed in a mocking tone.

The door opened and the aura in the room shifted.

Rome.

“What are you doing here, Eva?” Rome asked, his voice sounding clipped.

Eva dropped her face and turned around to look at Rome. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I was just checking in on the intruder,” she said in a sweet voice which almost made me throw up.

I looked at them from the corner of my eyes. Were they a thing? Was that why she came here to abuse me for nothing?

I watched as Rome pried her hands from his neck with a strong grip and held her.

“I told you to stop this crap you like doing,” Rome growled, pinning her against the wall. “I made it clear that we aren’t a thing anymore, and I don’t like you touching what is mine.”

Eva rolled her eyes but shot me a deadly look. “Oh come on Rome, you can’t say that after everything we have been through together dummy. We are meant to be together.”

“Not a f*****g chance,” Rome spat and dropped her hands. Then he turned away from her and looked at me, his face still devoid of any emotion. “Leave and don’t come back.”

“You can’t be serious right now,” Eva whined as she rubbed her wrists where Rome had grabbed her. “You don’t have to pretend in front of her.”

“I said leave Eva,” Rome said slowly. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Eva folded her hands over her chest defiantly. “I’m not going anywhere…. Rome. I want to see what you are going to do to her.”

“Eva,” Rome said, his hands clenched into fists turning white.

“Rome.”

“Leave.”

The room fell silent as I noticed something in Eva change. She went from being defiant to angry and finally to obedient.

“Yes Alpha,” she said, bowed and left the room, but not before shooting me a death glare.

What just happened? Had Rome used his power to make her obey him? I’d only heard about Alphas being able to do that but never had I ever seen it being done to someone before.

“Thanks,” I spoke, coughing as I tried to pull myself up.

A loud piercing howl sounded and Rome spun around and left without a word.