Why did she always feel this strong pull whenever he was close? She felt him stop at the edge of her bed. Now being this close, her body surprisingly ached to jump off the bed and cling to him.

What nonsense?

He was crouching low, she could smell his breathtaking scent deeply now. Something growled inside her at the same time Alpha Torin touched her hair. It took every ounce of self-control not to lean to the evil Alpha’s touch.

She continued to pretend she was asleep.

Pulling away from her hair, his hand found hers, rough fingers peeling her palm open. His thumb dragged across her skin as if he was inspecting. He muttered something under his breath, almost too low for her to catch.

His hand lingered on her palm then he used his second hand to peel open her second palm too, a deep low growl emanated from his throat.

Then it immediately clicked to Freya. He was surprised that her shredded palms were now healed. Good. Even though her own healing was mystery to her, she was glad she was giving him one hell of an unexpected show.

She heard how he breathed in and all, she felt it, but still didn’t flinch. What would he do now? Make her clean the floor with wolfsbane water again?

She was surprised when his hands left hers, then one moved to graze her face. Did he just massage her face? Her wolf snarled inside her and the Alpha growled, yet, she didn’t open her eyes.

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, slow enough to make the air thrum around them.

Another low growl rumbled from deep in his chest that spreaded a cold and electric kind of feeling through Freya, leading to intense want. The sudden pool of wetness she was feeling under her was all she needed to confirm tha she wanted to be intimate with the Vicious Alpha. It scared her. Was he using magic? If so, why on her? She was fucked.

She suddenly missed it as his hand pulled away from her face, boots scraping faintly as he backed toward the door.

The door clicked shut behind him, cutting off the pull of him like a blade slicing through rope.

Freya’s eyes snapped open just then. She sucked in a ragged breath, her chest heaving. Her wolf thrashed inside her, claws raking at her insides, aching for what had just slipped away.

She sat up urgently, heart beating fast than ever before, the room spinning around her like she had just experienced a tough war inside of her. Her palms still tingled where he had touched her, her body tuned too sensitively to every small noise she could hear.

She pressed her hands to her face, trying, and failing to steady herself.

Alpha Torin had come into her room like she belonged to him.

And gods help her, a part of her had wanted it.

*

Freya woke up with a start the next morning as she got yanked out of bed by sharp painted nails. She was jolted aback to see a heavily made up Luna Athena, dressed in a shimmering blue exaggerated flare gown that had embroideries framing the butterfly-shaped sides.

“Luna Athena,” The one who had killed her. It never left Freya’s mind for once. She hated the Luna with everything in her.

“Will you pretend that you don’t know you have works to do for me today?” She spoke angrily, getting Freya confused.

“Work?” Freya asked, looking lost. The only work tasks she was meant to do was for the Alpha.

Luna Athena snorted. “You don’t know today is my birthday? You should be with the omegas and the common human slaves downstairs, working to make my celebration a perfect one, but here you are, still sleeping like a useless fool!” She growled as she picked up a cup from the floor beside Freya’s bed and splash the half water in it on her face.

Freya shuddered with a jolt, her mouth hanging open, eyes closed, as she the water dripped down her body, to her bed. She looked up at the Luna, not bothering to hide the anger on her face.

Not minding that she would notice her clenched fists, because right now, all she wanted to do was pounce on her and throw fists at her heavily made up face till it bleeds all over.

“Now, get your butt downstairs, I would need your hand. Don’t keep the Alpha’s favorite waiting.” She then turned around, held he gown up and walked out majestically, leaving her door opened.

The Alpha’s favorite? Freya almost scoffed at that as she watched her retreat. She had never spotted her and the Alpha in a position that reflected her as his favorite. If anything, he had only treated her like an adopted sister.

Freya wished she could say that out but that would mean—Trouble.

Tuning better to her environment now that she’s gone, Freya could hear the sound of deep instrumentals sounding in the building.

She was really throwing a party.

After Freya got dressed and refreshed, she headed down the hall.

The moment she descended the stairs that led to the grand hall, she almost faltered.

There were lots of colorful people reeking of different luxurious scents that she could smell from where she was standing. Series of careless laughters mixed with on-going music. Women were draped in the finest of dresses, clasped in flashy and luxurious looking jewelries.

The scent of roasted meats and honeyed fruits made her stomach churn with hunger. The last time she had something to eat was the previous day afternoon. She barely eat here. Sometimes, she feared that she could be poisoned.

Freya swallowed hard, fingers brushing against the short, humiliating hem of her slave uniform. The fear of being humiliated made her shift back a bit. Luna Athena didn’t order her to come for nothing.

As if the universe was yielding to her thoughts, head began to turn towards her, noticing her arrival. And that was when Freya noticed Amelia working with the Omegas and human slaves to keep things in place, and get the fools ready. Amelia caught her gaze and smirked at her. Freya looked away.

"Ah, there she is!" Luna Athena’s voice cut through the music, a theatrical lilt to it, pulling every eye toward Freya.

"The infamous little slave who woke up from the dead. You people must have heard." Her tone dripped of spite and heavy hate.

Laughter bursted out from the guests. Freya wished the ground could swallow her. There was no way on damn earth she could stand this.

“So she was the one who spent days in the dungeon without food and water? Quite a reputation I must say.” Another guest, draped in a deep maroon tight dress that pushed her bursts up, her make up sharp as daggers sneered openly.

"And still refused to die like the pitiful creature she is?"

Murmurs of mockery went on then another raised a goblet just when Freya was fuming, thinking she couldn’t take more.

The young woman in a gray dress let the goblet slip from her fingers then let out a dramatic gasp as the glass shattered on the floor along with the alcoholic wine inside.

The silver-haired woman blinked, her expression folding into an exaggerated pout. "Oh, dear," she said, voice sugary with mock innocence. "Won't you come help me clean up, slave?"

They were all laughing again now and the Luna looked so amused. Even Amelia looked like she was having the best fun of her life.

Freya froze. The surrealness of it all was starting to amaze her. She was a hunter, a brave one at that, not a damning puppet these losers hiding in luxurious disguise could use to make themselves feel better.

Freya stood still and said nothing.

That seemed to surprise Luna Athena. She stood from the couch, placed her black cat on the floor and stalked towards Freya with eyes that stared daggers into Freya’s unflinching ones.

"Didn't you hear my guest?" Athena said, her voice low and dangerously sweet. "Be a good little thing and obey.”

Freya slowly lifted her chin, and their eyes locked.

And then, with a steady and clear tone, her voice cut through the glittering cruelty around them,

"I only work for the Alpha," she said. "Not for you. And definitely not for your friends."

The hall seemed to freeze at her unexpected audacity. A collective, stunned gasp rippled through the crowd and yet, Freya didn’t flinch.