Vows of Silence

5

It was warmer upstairs. Or maybe it was the lights making everything brighter. I was on the fourth floor. The Alpha floor. There was the Alpha's room, his mate's room, and the other rooms were for their children. There was a rug that stretched across the dark hardwood floor. It was red with green and gold designs. The walls were the same cream color as the rest of the house. There was nothing to set apart the Alpha's room. No marks on the wall, or sign on the door. I knew it was his room because the smell was strongest here. I breathed deep. There was something making my wolf stir. I hadn't spoken to her in months. Well, she hadn't spoken to me, I was always talking to her.

Should I knock? Was I allowed to knock? I think that counts as touching and I'm not allowed to do that. Should I announce myself? Is that stupid? What would I say? Alpha, your shirt is here. Should I hang it on the door handle and run? The lock clicked. Alpha Damian opened the door. He was to fast I didn't get to look down. His hair was dark and wet. Small drops of water dripped down onto his chest as slowly trailed down his body and disappeared into the towel wrapped around his waist.

''You can come inside.'' His voice was warm as he ran his fingers through his hair and sent the water scattering across the floor. Damn it. I looked at him. That wasn't allowed. I stepped inside just enough to turn and wait for instructions. I stole a quick glance of the room as I turned around. So this is what a bedroom looks like. The bed was massive. A huge fluffy dark gray blanket covered it. Another furry looking blanket was draped on the edge. There were four pillows! Four giant pillows! The front and back sides of the bed had these tall dark wooden poles that had different designs carved out of them. There was a desk in the corner and a sofa infront of the fireplace. Not to mention he most likely had a bathroom somewhere in here because he was clean. Rain was lightly pattering on the window creating a soft hum. It was nothing like the basement where the rain pounded and sometimes leaked inside and the warmth never seemed to stay. I looked foreward to working on cold days because at least I was warm. I turned and glanced back at Alpha Damian. His body was tense. Rigid even. His muscles flexed as he relaxed his iron grip on the door and closed it behind him.

Damn it. I think he saw me. He breathed a heavy sigh when the door shut and walked over to another door in the room. Is he going to beat me? Or whip me? The last time I got a beating, Alpha John whipped me when the other men were finished. I suppose I was lucky, that's what Alpha John always said. He would remind how grateful I should be that He didn't listen to other Alphas about their whips. They had strands of braided leather, not just one strip, and sometimes they would sew rocks or small blades called razors into them. He said they would rip into someone's flesh and cut down to the bone. I guess I was lucky that he was nice. Everyone was always telling me how lucky I was to live here.

Alpha Damian held something black in his hand. It was time. Wait! I'm still holding his shirt. It's too late to have to scrub blood out of it.

''May I put the shirt down first?'' My voice was barely a whisper.

''Umm...sure. You can leave it on the bed.'' Alpha Damian sounded unsure. It made sense that he was nervous, he's never beat me before. I laid the shirt down and smoothed out the sides to prevent any more wrinkles from forming. I turned my back to him and peeleld off my shirt. After my last beating, the other men there had torn my shirt off. I had managed to save a few pieces and attached a bunch of scrap fabric from shirts that got ripped during shifts and I managed to put my shirt back together. It was quiet. Minutes had passed.

Nothing.

I stood with my hands over my chest. I know I was shaking. I could feel it.

"What are you doing?'' What? What does he mean?

''You can put your shirt back on.'' Alpha Damian stood awkardly behind me. I took in a breath. I know my back wasn't pretty. I've never seen it but every night I felt the ridges and bumps that had been carved into my flesh over the years. The lump in my throat forced my voice to come out scratchy as I said "I don't want it to rip when you beat me.'' My teeth were chattering together. I was going to lose my balance if I didn't get hit soon. I'd fall over with no reason. It was still quiet. I almost turned around when I heard a small voice from behind me say, ''I don't want to hurt you.'' No one's ever said that before. If anything, people went out of their way to hurt me.

''I don't intend to beat you.'' Alpha Damian's voice was clearer this time. Strong. The voice of an Alpha.

''But I looked at you. I looked at your room.'' Confusion slurred my words as I spoke. This wasn't possible. It's not how things are supposed to go. I disobeyed. He beats me. It's always been this way.

''I'm not going to hit you for something stupid like that. How are else are you supposed to walk into my room of you don't see me or the room. I know my father was an @ss but I'm not.'' I slipped my shirt back on. I had disobeyed enough already.

''What do you want?'' I felt angry. It was strange, most people would be happy to not be beat. But I was mad. He thinks he can just change rules when he wants. And not tell anyone! He stepped clsoer to me and took a deep breath. The vein in his neck moved along his throat. I could the see the blue tinge of his vein under his skin. He smelled like soap. Not cleaning soap or laundry soap but actual soap. I fought to keep my head down but everytime I opened my eyes I was met with his lumpy towel. The redness in my cheeks spread down into my neck. Heat was coming off his body.

''I just want you to hang this up. I was grabbing a hanger.'' He placed the black hanger into my hand and walked away. ''I'm going to get dressed in the bathroom.'' The door shut behind him and I finally breathed. I was greedy and filled my lungs. I've never thought a person could smell this good. I carefully slipped the shirt onto the hanger and placed it on a hook on the back of a door. There was a set a pants their too. I shut the door behind me as I walked out of the room.

''What are you doing loser.'' I didn't see who it was but I found myself rolling down the stairs to the next floor before everything went black.