Chapter 3
1214 Words
Alora
My first few days here have been hell.
I underestimated what exactly it was Kylen would have wanted from me. Torture was at the crux of my mind. But if I’m being honest, my line of work here isn’t far from that.
He wanted me to be alive.
To work day in and day out until I could repay every last penny my father owed him. I haven’t even made the tiniest dent in his debt.
The first night here was absolute hell. Completely isolated, with darkness and cold air being my only companions. I froze on the concrete floor, unable to tell the difference between night and day.
There were no windows.
But now I’ve been given my responsibilities. Cleaning up the cells, bussing tables, attending to every need and whim of the members of Kylen’s pack.
I had just finished my first task of the day. The cells were as neat as I could get them, going on my hands and knees with a brush and a bucket of water. They were old and danky, putrid smells leaking through each of the cubicles. I was passing by one of the guards, dirty bucket of water in hand, when he bumped into me.
I lost my footing for a moment, before righting myself. Luckily, none of the water spilled on me. I sighed.
“What was that?” The man pivoted, turning back to meet my eyes, “You got something to say?”
“No,” My voice came out meek and shallow. I kept my head down, and tried my best to avoid trouble.
He asked, staring at me for a long moment before he said, “That looks heavy, let me help you with it.”
I barely had time to react, his large hands ripped the bucket from my grasp, cupping the bottom and toppling it over me. The dark brown water soaked my hair, through the threadbare clothing I was given on my second day here, into my pores and all over the hallway floor.
He tossed the empty bucket at my feet, “There. Much lighter.”
He walked away without another glance. I fought back a gag, choking on the horrible smell.
“You better clean that up!” He tossed over his shoulder.
Bending down, I picked up the bucket from the floor, wringing out the rag in my hand. I couldn't go and clean myself up, because anyone could walk through these halls, Kylen especially. And the last thing I needed was to face his wrath.
I mopped up the dirty water on my hands and knees. A frown pulls down the corner of my mouth.
I didn’t expect to hear from Dad after I’d been taken, but a part of me worried so much about him. Kylen had left him in the middle of nowhere, bloody and unable to stand on his own two feet.
It scared me to think we might have just left him to die. And there was no way for me to confirm his well-being. Yet, even through all the turmoil raging inside me, I couldn’t help but feel resentful towards him.
His lifestyle not only ruined his life, but now, it’s ruining mine more than I’d ever thought I’d let it.
I’m a slave. For the most ruthless wolf to ever exist because of him.
Once I was done, I headed back to the slave quarters and freshened up. I was barely out of the area when I spotted Aiden, the Head Guard. He looked up and I ducked away as fast as I could, darting behind a wall and pressing myself against it.
Hoping, praying that he won’t see me.
Heavy footsteps thud down the staircase. “Oh, come on, Wells. Are you hiding from me?”
My shoulders sagged, and I let out a long sigh, stepping away from my hiding place.
His head was c****d to the side, hands in his pockets as his eyes trailed down my body. I wanted to shiver in disgust.
If there’s anyone I’ve come to hate in my short stay here, it has to be him. He reminds me of a dirty dog, and I happen to be his favorite one to play with.
He leaned an arm on the wall above my head when he reached me. “You know, men like me? We actually love the chase.”
I swallowed, jerking my head away from his hot breath. He leaned into my personal space, his long nose trailing up my neck.
“Mhhmm,” he sighed, “You smell edible.”
I rolled away from the wall, but he reached out and grabbed my hand.
“You can stop playing hard to get, Wells.” His eyes grew hard, “You know very well I have the power to make your stay here the time of your life.” He jerked my body against his, voice dropping an octave, “Or your worst nightmare.”
His hand moved down my back, dipping into the curve of my waist. I pushed away from him with all the strength I could muster.
“Thanks,” I said, “But I’ll pass.”
His stare grew angry, “Have it your way then.”
I walked away from him, climbing the staircase and entering the gathering hall to get to work.
I was famished by the time dinner rolled around. I sat on the threadbare bed, counting the cracks on the dirty concrete wall of the tiny room allocated to me. It was barely big enough to serve as a closet, let alone a room for a person.
The gate creaked open, loud footsteps walked in my direction. I bit back a groan of frustration when Aiden appeared in front of me.
Empty handed.
“Where’s tonight’s dinner?” I asked.
He stared at me in mock surprise, “I thought you said you didn’t want any.”
I gritted my teeth, “I never said that.”
He barked out a laugh, pressing a hand to his chest, “Yes, sorry. I believe your words were ‘thanks, but I’ll pass’.”
I wanted to wipe the gloating smirk right off his face.
“You can’t possibly be serious.”
He turned on his heel, “I believe we’ll try again tomorrow.”
What the actual hell?
He walked away.
I hugged my knees up to my chest. I hate him. I hate this place. I hate Kylen. I ground my molars against each other.
I will not cry.
I refuse to cry.
The next day, it’s the same thing.
He made advances towards me and I turned him down. It was the same the day after that, and the day after that.
I wrapped a thin sheet around myself on the fourth night, trying to ward off the bitter cold. The gate creeped open, the sound I'd grown accustomed to chilling my bones.
This time, Aiden appeared with a plate full of food.
He set it on the ground, out of reach of me. Steam rose from the plate, and my mouth watered.
He stood with his legs spread, undoing the buckle of his belt. My eyes met his.
“So what’s it gonna be, Wells?”
- Writer
