Scent of the Alpha

Chapter 3: Paintings from the Past

I woke up with a sharp, throbbing pain in the back of my head. My breath was shallow and heavy, as if I had just run for my life. I reached back to touch my head and winced. There was a small lump there—a bruise that felt painfully real.

"Damn it, it wasn't a dream," I whispered to the high ceiling.

I tried to squeeze my brain for answers, remembering what happened last night. Those golden eyes, the massive dark shadow, and that growl that made my soul shrink. But no matter how hard I tried to pull at those memories, everything felt blurry, like a broken videotape. I remembered Silas looking terrified, and then everything suddenly went pitch black.

Did I faint from fear, or did something hit me on purpose?

That question spun in my head until my stomach growled loudly. Suddenly, I caught a very tempting aroma coming from the table in the corner. I turned and saw a silver tray waiting there. There was a thick, steaming soup, warm wheat bread, and a glass of fresh juice. It looked as if the meal had been placed there only minutes ago.

I got out of bed and approached the food with mixed feelings. Why was I being served in my room like this? Usually, guests are hosted at a dining table with the master of the house. It felt less like I was a guest and more like a prisoner being kept in isolation.

I briefly regretted coming to this strange place. But the moment a spoonful of soup touched my tongue, my annoyance vanished.

"Wow, this is incredibly delicious," I muttered. The flavor was rich, the spices were perfect, and the warmth seemed to soothe the pain in my head. Royal food was definitely on a different level.

After finishing everything, I decided to clean myself up. I needed the freshness of water to clear my messy thoughts. Once I had changed, my curiosity won over my fear. I opened the door slowly, making sure neither Silas nor that "golden-eyed figure" was out there.

The castle corridors were freezing, even though the morning sun should have been up by now. I walked down the long hallway lined with ancient decorations. My footsteps echoed softly on the stone floor. Suddenly, I stopped right in front of a large painting in an old gold frame.

My eyes widened as I stared at the figure on the canvas. The man in the painting wore a grand black robe with intricate silver embroidery. His face, his jawline, even his sharp gaze...

"Eros?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

The resemblance was so uncanny that I had to rub my eyes. He looked exactly like Eros, but with a much darker and more powerful aura. It was as if the Eros I knew was just a modern version of this ancient ruler.

"Enjoying the view, Miss Aira?"

I jumped in shock at the flat voice that suddenly appeared behind me. Silas was standing there, his hands neatly folded as always.

"Good grief, Mr. Silas! Don't just appear like that, you almost gave me a heart attack!" I complained, clutching my chest.

Silas didn't apologize. He just stared at me with his expressionless face. "Do you need someone to show you around so you don't get lost again?" he asked.

I nodded quickly. It was better to go with him than to wander around alone. "Mr. Silas, who is the man in this painting?" I asked, pointing at the canvas.

Silas glanced at the painting for a moment, then looked back at me with an unreadable expression. "He is the master of this house, the sole owner of Obsidian Castle," Silas answered shortly.

"But he... he looks exactly like someone I knew back at college," I said honestly.

Silas gave a very faint, thin smile, as if he knew something I didn't. That smile made me uncomfortable, like there was a huge secret behind that face.

"The world is much smaller than you imagine, Miss," Silas said mysteriously. He didn't wait for my response and walked past me, deeper into the hallway. "Follow me, Miss Aira. There is much more you must see before sunset."

Silas walked very fast for a man his age. I had to half-run to keep up with him, passing rows of tightly closed wooden doors. We eventually reached a grand hall with a beautiful stained-glass ceiling. However, my attention was drawn to a large door wrapped in heavy chains and a massive padlock.

"What's behind that door, Silas?" I asked.

Silas stopped in his tracks. He turned toward the door, his face suddenly turning very tense. "That area is forbidden for everyone, including you, Miss Aira," his voice was cold.

"Even if I'm a guest?" I tried to press him.

Silas turned fully toward me, his gaze almost threatening. "Especially for you, Miss. Never try to approach that door if you still want to see tomorrow."

Just as Silas said that, a loud *bang* came from behind the chained door. The ground beneath my feet shook, and the growl I heard last night returned. It was much louder, as if something was trying to smash its way out.

I stepped back in fear, but Silas actually knelt toward the door.

"He's awake..." Silas whispered in a low voice, filled with terror.

The chained door rattled violently, and I saw one of the chain links begin to crack and snap.

"Silas! What's in there?" I shouted in a panic, but Silas didn't answer.

Thin black smoke began to crawl out from the gaps in the door, and the metallic smell of blood suddenly filled the air around me.