3

ELENA

"Emmet ...." Immediately I spoke, he zoomed in and before I could calculate how fast he was, he was already in front of me, his grip on the back of my head and I feel a sting on my neck as he grips my hair and pulls causing me to look up into his burning eyes.

"Have you forgotten so soon how you should be addressing me?" He grunted and I gulped hard.

"S ... Sire." I gulped even harder, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes. He had told me for years not to call his name. I never had any reason to call him by his name since we never talked much but when it was necessary I called him what he ordered me to. "Sire."

"So just because we're now mates. ...you think that you can start doing whatever you want, huh?" I didn't dare to move as his hot breath mixed with mine. He lets go and steps back. "Just a minute of letting you out of my sight and you go out to meet some asshole? Who's he, your lover?" He ended with a teasing note.

"No! That's not what happened." I pull away slightly and he doesn't stop me. I saw this as an opportunity to speak and explain myself. "He just came out of nowhere and started kissing me."

"Liar!"

"You have to believe me. I didn't ..."

"Just shut up!!" He commanded. "You just proved to me what cheap slot you are. You are a cheap liar and I could never believe anything that came out of that filthy mouth of yours, anyway." He sniffled and took a step back and turned around as if to leave.

"You can tell me the truth now. Confess to me who that person really is and where I can find him and I'll pardon you."

"I'm telling you the truth, I don't know!"

"I'm gonna ask one last time and you had better told me the truth or remain here..."

"I don't know him... Believe me."

When he turns to face me again, his eyes were as red as ember and his voice suddenly calmer. "Well then, the choice was yours."

"Please!" I fell on my knees as soon as he started talking.

"You're going to stay here and serve the punishment you deserve with no food or water and after three days, maybe then I'll decide what to do with you!"

"Please ... I'm not even guilty." I crawled to his feet and gripped his ankle tight. "Don't do this to me." I soaked his feet with my tears but he only kicked me off and I listened to his feet trampling until he left me alone in the dirt and what I hear next is the smashing closed of the gate.

I returned to the darkness with my tears making the dirt more moist and making me even dirtier.

I was hoping that at least when he walked in here, he would give me an ear and allow me to explain but he didn't even want to.

What even broke my heart more was the fact that he thought I was a liar and he wouldn't believe me even if he allowed me to explain.

Only if his father was aware that I was here, perhaps he would do something and get me out immediately but at the same time, it wasn't he I needed. I needed my mate himself to understand me and believe me then let me out himself.

I could not tell the time cause it was constantly dark in here so I just spent hours leaning on the gate till I dozed off.

He had said that I would spend three days in here but I had barely been down here for a day when I heard the locks clanking and I leaned away at once to see the guard opening the cell while the other held the torch for him.

Had Otto ordered my release? Cause I knew Emmet would not just change his mind like this.

"What has happened?" I asked quietly as the guards held the gate open for me to get out.

"Sire wants you out."

"Emmet?" I had to ask in disbelief. Somehow I was expecting a NO but he nodded in affirmative.

Why? Why would he suddenly let me out? The moment I stepped out, I was facing my maid Gotha who held me by the arm despite my stinking dirty dress and led me to my room.

I first of all rushed to drink the water offered to me before I could ask her. "Why has he let me out? You should know."

"I do not know why, mistress. He said we should prepare to bring you to his chambers, that's all." She said innocently and I gulped. Perhaps I was only yet to serve the rest of my punishment once I faced him.

After having my bath and dressing up, I was led to and left in Emmet's empty room just like the last time and my heart jumped into my mouth the moment I heard his voice as he emerged from the darkness. "Little shrimp now a cheating shrimp..." He teased and I watch his figure emerge wrapped in a bathrobe.

"Why did you ask me to be released?" I asked, my voice devoid of softness in attempt to show a little bit of courage.

He just sat there in the dark, his gaze so tangibel that I could feel it on my skin. That's how I knew he was there.

"Honestly.... I don't know." He whispered in a relaxed tone. "I said you were going to starve until ..." He emerges from the shadows and I find him before me. "you could not see the light even if it came before you." He sits on the sofa in front of me. "Perhaps I want to give you a chance to redeem yourself and earn my forgiveness."

I gulped hard. "What do you need me to do ..." I gulped as he walked back towards me. "... sire?"

As I asked, I noticed the sharp smirk that drew on his lips. I could tell he liked how submissive and helpless I sounded. He rises up and my heart begins to beat faster and my skin shudders as his hand draws near my stomach and he grabs the string of cloth that held my garment together loosely over my breasts.

After pulling it, I have to use my hand to hold my dress to my body.

Seeing the fear and humiliation in my eyes, he laughed out wickedly and drew back from me.

"You're gonna get on your knees before me." He said and I clutched my dress tighter but his eyes grew grave as he settles into the sofa again facing me. "I am not gonna repeat myself, Elena."

For calling my name like that, I knew he was damn serious.

Slowly, I brushed my hair back and began to lower myself towards the floor.

"Take your dress off!" He commanded and I shivered at the stiffness of his voice. Obediently, I let the dress fall loose off my body and he relaxed on his seat, satisfied with my nakedness. "Now get on all fours for me, Elena and howl." He arose and I buried my eyes on the floor. I couldn't tell whether he needed me to howl literally. "Howl like a little weak wolf that you are." He is now standing in front of me. "Howl, little shrimp!" His voice is getting harder.

I wanted to but when I opened my mouth nothing came out but a low throaty cry.

Hearing me sobbing, he lets out a satisfied chuckle and my tears drop on my fingers on the floor. He bends down and his fingers found my chin. With a tight grip, he raises my face and brushes my hair off my as if so that he could see my sadness and shame clearer.

I am still on all fours as I listen to his footsteps. He stops behind me and I hear his robe dropping to the floor. I don't dare to look back or get up. I feel his hand on my shoulder and I shiver under his touch. I didn't dare to move when I felt his skin on mine and he places his lips to my ear. "I guess I'll help you howl then. And I won't get off you till you do. How's that, little shrimp?" I nod quickly and he chuckles. "Let's see if you wanna go back to your dungeon or if you can truly earn my forgiveness ...."