KATIA

I winced in pain as I continued scrubbing my side of the floor I was allocated to. I wasn't used to this kind of life, but in the past few weeks I had had to endure, and keep my mouth shut. For my sake, and the safety of my people.

The other slaves watched as I struggled in pain. Some of them mocked, but most just stared at me with pity.

They want to help, but they can't. No after last time. The last person who helped me was thrown into the tombs for days as punishment.

Even if they wanted to help, I won't let them. I can't have any more blood on my hands.

During the day I keep hearing the sounds of Carl's rejection, and at night. At night I find peace with the faceless man in my dreams. If only he would show me his face.

“What are you doing?!” I heard a loud voice, and I gasped. Two feet were in front of me, and my cleaning clothes were placed on them.

“Are you blind?” The voice yelled again. I didn't need to look up to see who it was.

Iris, Carl's mistress. One of the many women he rejected me for. But she was the one in his bed on our wedding night.

I looked up, and saw the two guards behind her. She was here for her usual visit with Carl.

I almost threw up in my mouth just thinking about it. Thinking about the things she is willing to do, just to have a taste of power.

I doubt she knows what true power is.

“Where are your apologies?” She asked, dangling her jewelry in my face.

“My apologies, my lady,” I swallowed my pride. “I didn't see you there,” I said.

“Look at me,” she said with arrogance. “I said look at me,” she demanded again. I turned my face, and stared her in the face.

The slap came without warning. The force of it sent me stumbling, and I barely caught myself between walls. My cheeks burned, and the taste of blood filled my mouth.

All the slaves around watched in shock. I could see some smiling, and hailing Iris. While others looked at me with pity, because they knew I couldn't do anything about it.

“That will teach you to see, peasant slave,” Iris hissed, and walked away with her guards.

I touched my cheek, feeling it swell beneath my fingertips. My wolf snarled, hungry for retribution, but I pushed her down.

Immediately she was out of sight, the whispers and gossip increased. They didn't care that I was right in front of them. Their words came out like I didn't exist.

Even the ones showing pity for me didn't exclude themselves in the conversation.

“She could have at least said something to her. Put Iris in her place,” one of them said.

“What place is that?” Another one asked. “Right now Iris is higher ranking than her. And if she retaliates, her people will suffer for it.”

I didn't let their words bring me down. I kept my head down, and continued my work. Some of them even threw ones directly at me, but I responded with silence.

After hours of intense scrubbing, we were finally done. When we walked out of the hall it was already dark. Which for me means rest.

“Where do you think you are going?” The controller of servant activities asked me. She is called the controller because nothing ever passes her by.

“Back to my room,” I said to her, and she scoffed.

“I haven't released you yet,” she said, without looking at me. She always looks at me, and tries her best to be nice to me without anyone noticing.

But something about right now seems off. “Is there something you need help with?” I asked her, trying to ease the situation.

“You will speak when spoken to,” she barked at me. We both stayed quiet for a while, and then someone walked towards her.

“They are ready,” the person said, and walked away. I looked confused. Who is ready?

“She then turned to look at me. Finally, I smiled at her. “The Alpha has requested your presence,” she said, and my smile dropped.

“The Alpha requests your presence,” she said, and my smile dropped.

“What?” I blinked. “Why?”

She didn’t answer.

“Did I do something wrong?” I asked again, my voice small.

The controller looked away, like she wasn’t allowed to say more. “Follow them.”

Two guards were already standing by the hallway. I hesitated. My legs didn’t want to move.

“I said, go,” she repeated, her voice firm this time.

I swallowed hard and followed the guards in silence. My heart was racing. I tried to calm myself, but my thoughts were all over the place.

Why now?

Why him?

We walked through long, cold halls. Places I hadn’t seen in weeks. Not since he threw me aside like garbage.

The guards said nothing. Just walked ahead like I wasn’t even there.

When we got to the East Wing, I stopped. This was the way to the tower, which had direct visibility to the tombs.

One of the guards knocked on the huge door.

“Enter,” came the voice I hated more than anything.

The door opened, and they pushed me gently inside.

I walked through the steps with every part of my body screaming at me to run back down. But I went up instead.

He stood by the window, back facing me.

I didn’t speak.

Seconds passed.

“Come closer,” Carl said.

I stayed still.

“I said, come closer,” he repeated, voice low but dangerous.

I took small steps until I was standing a few feet behind him.

“You called for me?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the floor.

“Hmm.” He turned slowly. “Look at you. All quiet now.”

I said nothing.

“Not going to fight back?” he asked. “No smart words today? Like the ones you used on my lady,” he said, and I brought my head up. That's when I saw Iris.

Why is she still here? I thought she'd be gone by now.

More importantly, what has she said I have done?

“I didn't say anything to her, Carl,” I said to him.

“Alpha Carl!” He barked, slamming his fist into the wall. “You are a peasant slave, and you will show respect!” He yelled.

I looked him directly in the eye, trying not to show weakness. But then he laughed.

It sounded evil, and cold. “Don't worry I have a surprise for you,” he said, and his eyes drifted over to the tombs.

“I'm sure you can identify them by their screams,” he said, and I gasped.

“What did you do?” I yelled. “What have you…” before I could complete my sentence, there was a loud pop. A huge fire in one of the tombs.

“No… no… not them. Please,” My knees buckled, but I forced myself to stand. I couldn’t fall.

Tears trailed down my eyes as I heard the screams of my people, not all of them. But at least enough to scare me.