One Ember, Two Hearts

CHAPTER #4: TO MEET A GODDESS

EMBER P.O.V.

The noise of the early morning rustled through the camp. Loud noises of barking orders of warriors training and the shuffling feet of my fellow slaves. I wake to the familiar scent of smoke mingling with damp earth. It was just another day devoted to the whims of those who believe themselves masters of our fates.

I barely opened my eyes, knowing how wretched I must look with my skin stretched thin over my bones. I’m not sure when the world turned into a canvas of shadows and bruises for me, but now it feels as if I’ve always lived in this cruel reality. What they say about my looks is true. I’m just horrifying to look at. I’m basically skin and bones.

My hair, if you can even call it that, is a knotted mess, scattered with patches of gray that make me look like a raven caught in a snow storm. I can’t remember the last time I felt beautiful or even remotely human. With every cut and bruise seared into my skin, I feel like a ghost haunting the corridors of this pack house, a mere shadow of the person I once was.

Maybe it was in the first week of my arrival, when the beatings began to blur my vision and the laughter of the pack members rang in my ears like a twisted echo. Alpha Lucian’s voice, especially, lingers like a bitter taste on my tongue.

It was a week ago when he whipped me in the front yard, a show for the pack, or perhaps an offering to their sadistic appetites. I remember the heat of the sun on my back and the icy dread pooling in my stomach as I heard the murmurs, the jeers. Each crack of the whip felt like a punch to my already absent self-esteem. Yet, despite the pain, a fire ignited within me, one that kept me focused on the day I will end it all.

There is one thing I learned real quick but failed miserably at, it is best to stay out of sight. The other slaves are thankful that I'm here. I'm the main target around here.

Since I'm accused of murdering Luna Jasmine, I'm thankful for walking away with bruises and their nasty words. I've become the scapegoat for Lucian's actions.

It was a twisted joke how I came to be here at all. Three years into my unjust sentence, I was cleaning the horse stalls when I found her. The barn door creaked open, revealing a ghastly sight that has haunts my dreams ever since. She lay there, surrounded by a pool of crimson, as though the earth itself had bled for her. I remember my screams piercing the silence, the desperation in my pleas for help that echoed through the stables.

I can still feel the weight of those handcuffs around my wrists as they arrested me, cold metal biting into my skin like daggers. And the whispered accusations that followed, a roar of ignorance binding me to a crime I didn’t commit. When they “found” the murder weapon tucked beneath my makeshift bunk, I felt the shreds of hope wither inside of me. I wouldn’t confess. Not then, not ever, no matter the torture they unleash on me in the dungeons.

Time in that darkness does strange things to a person. The nightmares etched into my memory, the strangling hold of despair. These ghosts whisper lies to me, telling me I’m as wretched as they say. Every scar on my body is a reminder of my hatred for wolves, a race that could so easily choose violence over justice. As the seconds bleed into one another in that confined space, the only truth that remains is that I am alive, and one day the truth must uncover itself.

As we walk to the manor, the gnawing fear that I might not come back unscathed. The sharp pang of hunger claws at my insides. Surviving on scraps scavenged from the kitchen is an art I have perfected, yet on days when Lucian is particularly vigilant, securing those morsels feels like a treacherous escapade.

The early morning light filters softly through the kitchen window, painting the walls in golden tones that feel almost like a promise. At four in the morning, most people should still be tucked safely in their beds, dreaming blissful dreams. I'm skinning potatoes. Thankfully though, I'm able to eat the peels.

Minutes slipped by until the clock strikes five, and my heart races with anticipation and dread. Margaret will be showing up any minute to unleash criticism and keep us working until the sun climbs high into the sky. This is our only chance to enjoy a few pieces of fruit and scraps.

The clock ticks agonizingly slow as I peer towards the door, half-expecting to see her loom in like a thundercloud. She's just a b***h and makes slave life even more difficult. The rest of the kitchen omegas come in at six and finish up the cooking for us. Then it's off to cleaning.

The pack house is a huge mansion. The first floor has the banquet hall, a ballroom, a huge gym, an indoor pool, and its own theater. The second floor is all guest bedrooms with bathrooms connected to each room. The third floor is for single pack members. Any members that have families or buy their own houses usually don't stay, but we do have to help clean those houses as well. The fourth floor is for the alpha and his family. It's mostly empty now, but on occasion the distance family members will stay here. It's basically its own giant house.

Then inbetween all this, we also tend to the garden and farm animals. The Mystic Forrest pack has such a huge population it's cheaper to do the farm life. Plus being a werewolf, their senses are way more heightened. They can taste the chemicals the animal was given. So we do everything organic.

"Ember, you are to stay here! The rest of you go to your chores!" Margaret snaps at us.

Harley gives me a concerned look as she walks slowly out of the room. Raven is almost pulling her out of the room. I try to reassure her with a smile. The worst thing that can happen is I get locked up in the dungeon. I sigh turning back to Margaret.

"Alpha Lucian wants you for the day! Bring him his breakfast!" Her words drip with hatred for me.

An omega named Samantha wheels me a cart full of everything we made. Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, freshly made mixed fruit, coffee, and orange juice. I guess it must be nice to have a wolf. Their bodies burn a lot of calories, their metabolism is like a hyper-active kid.

I go to the servers' elevator that is off from the kitchen. As I go up in it, my nerves are unsettled. Lucian considers me to be a pain in his ass because I won't say yes to him. Nothing is going to break me of this.

Being in the elevator, the smell of the delicious foods makes my stomach growl even more. My mouth is watering. I do want to eat, but what's the point?

The elevator door opens. I get out, but I didn't see Lucian anywhere. I go to his office, but he still isn't there.

"In here Ember!" He shouts from the bedroom.

My hunger goes away hearing this. I enter the bedroom, seeing him lying in his California King-sized bed. He is just in his boxers trying to pose sexy. I had to fight tooth and nail to keep what little food I had in my stomach, stay there.

I set the cart down carefully and surveyed the room. I'm just trying to look everywhere but at him. He still thinks that after the brutal slaying of my pack, my parents, and all the torture he's put me through that he can still try to woo me.

"Good morning Ember! How are you today?" I remain silent. "Ember, I want you to speak to me!"

I say nothing to him. I won't even look at him. I can hear him growl at me because I am defying him. Lucian’s brows lift, a flicker of surprise flashing in his steel-gray eyes. “You’re brave, Ember.” He pauses, waiting to see my reaction. “Or foolish. You think you’re playing a game with me?!" I can hear the rage as he stands so close to me now that I can smell his disgusting cologne. "This isn’t a game, Ember. Don’t pretend you understand what is at stake. Your safety, your position here in the Pack…” I straighten my back.

“I know my place, Alpha! You don’t need to remind me!” I snap no longer holding back my anger.

I glare into his eyes. He holds my gaze, the tension palpable, and for a heartbeat, we are locked in a silent battle of wills. He slaps me hard across the face, knocking me to the ground. Pain radiates through it as the spot burns. I can taste blood as I feel a cut from my teeth on the inside of my cheek.

"Why do you make me do this to you?!" He screams at me. I get up and finish setting the food on his table. "Why do you treat me like this?! I am good to you!"

I turn back to the cart to hear him setting the tray off to the side. He grabs me from behind and pulls me onto his lap. I try to fight him off but my energy is so low. He chuckles as he pins me to him.

"Why are you doing this to me?!" I plead with him.

"Because I want you Ember! Be my wife?" I look away from him, not saying anything to him. "What is so wrong about being married to me?" He pleads with me. "I will give you the world. You would be pampered living as a queen."

"You murdered my parents and entire pack!" I growl at him. "Let me go!" He jerks my face to his. He is looking at me with such lust in his eyes. "Two weeks my beautiful soon to be wife. I want you to help me plan our wedding. We are going to spend every waking moment together. I'm going to show you how much I want you." I glare at him.

"I would rather die than ever share a bed with you!" I growl dripping my words with such hatred towards him.

He slaps me again, even harder. My head is beginning to feel light headed now. It's a little disorientating being hit by a werewolf. They have the strength of ten men.

"What is wrong with you? Women are throwing themselves at my feet to be luna!" Tears of rage are streaming down my face.

"YOU! MURDERED! MY! FAMILY!" I stress on each word to him.

He just goes crazy on me. He hits me everywhere and anywhere he can. I black out when he punches me in my face.

I wake to see that I'm outside. I'm in the middle of the front yard in front of the pack house. I'm chained to a slab of concert.

"I've warned you about your intolerance, Ember! You will obey me or you will die!" Lucian announces to the crowd that is watching this sickening show.

He takes the bullwhip to me. I manage to curl up into a ball to protect my face. With each whip, I can feel my skin slicing open. I close my eyes waiting for his wraith to stop. I try to keep count but after the tenth strike, I lost count. I black out from the pain, a defense mechanism the brain mercifully does for a person. The only problem is the amount it takes for it to kick in is the problem, especially after years of building a high pain tolerance here.

When I open my eyes, I'm not on the pack's lands. I'm in a giant field of wildflowers. I look around seeing that I'm next to a giant waterfall.

"Hello." The voice is so chanting. I turn my head to the voice and instant shock fills every fiber in me. "It's a honor to meet you Ember."

Is this the goddess, Selene?!