CHAPTER 10

>>>>>What happened? I guess I will never know!

A few minutes later, Akira made her way back to the kitchen, taking the silent hallway Tyson had brought her through. As she took slow steps, her mind was clouded with different thoughts. She couldn't quite place why Dominus had invited her yet never showed himself to her.

Something was fishy,she could feel it deep down in her gut, but she kept moving forward.

She had a lot to do today. Even if she spent the whole day in Dominus's room, Madam Estelle would still make her do all her chores at dawn before she could go to bed.

So she hastened her pace and made her way back to the kitchen.

Once she stepped inside, Beth was the first to recognize her. She flashed a small smile, urging Akira to join her with the dishes.

Akira forced a small smile as she stepped in to join Beth when Lyra noticed her.

“Stop,” she ordered sternly, dropping whatever she was doing to walk up to Akira. “What happened there? Why did Prince Dominus want to see you?”

Akira shuddered,her shoulders tensed as Lyra and Madam Estelle approached her with raised brows and stern voices. She couldn't help but wonder why they were so interested.

“Nothing,” she murmured, her heart racing in her chest as her eyes darted from Madam Estelle to Lyra. “Nothing happened, I wasn't able to see him.”

Lyra’s brows shot up instantly. “You weren’t able to see him?” she echoed, her voice thick with disbelief as she crossed her arms, flour-stained fingers curling against her sleeves. “So he summoned you and then dismissed you? Is that what you want us all to believe?”

Akira nodded slowly. “Yes, ma’am. I waited, but he didn’t show.”

Lyra scoffed. “Liar. Pathetic liar. Hell, you little sluts lie too much.”

Akira flinched at the venom in her voice. She didn't expect it to be that deep, she was telling the truth—she hadn't been able to see him.

“Don’t play dumb with us,” Lyra continued, stepping closer until she was nearly nose-to-nose with Akira. “You’re not special. You're not worth the Prince’s time, it's just a fling to pass the time, and that’s all. So stop lying and tell us if he told you to suck his balls or if he fucked you.”

Beth stiffened at the sink but kept her eyes down, lips pressed into a tight line as she scrubbed harder. She knew better than to interject when Lyra's obsession with Prince Dominus turned to jealousy and anger.

“I’m not pretending,” Akira pointed out, her voice barely a whisper. “He never showed up. I waited… that’s all. After some time of waiting, he asked me to leave.”

Madam Estelle tilted her head, eyes scanning Akira like a predator sizing up its prey. “Then why do you look like that?”

Akira blinked. “Like what? I don't look any different. I was this way when I woke up. You can ask Beth, she'd tell you I looked this way before I left the kitchen.”

With that, Beth turned quickly. “Yes!” she exclaimed from where she was supporting Akira. “She was that—”

“Shut up!” Madam Estelle cut Beth short immediately. Turning back to Akira, she snarled, “You lying slut. I am not blind, I knew exactly how you looked when you left this kitchen, so don't try to trick me.”

“Like a girl who’s been touched,” Lyra hissed. “I know she's hiding something.”

“I’m not—” Akira spat. “I swear I never met the Prince; he dismissed me because I didn’t get to see him.”

“Why would I want to lie about meeting him? You all can go ask him yourselves.” Yep, she had lost it, and her voice was rising. Surprise flickered on the faces of the other slaves, including Beth, as Akira fired back with such tone.

Of course, they knew what followed next when a slave disrespected Madam Estelle.

A loud slap echoed through the kitchen as Madam Estelle's palm struck Akira’s cheek. “The Prince won't save you inside this kitchen!”

“You might think because he fucked you, you can now talk to me however you want,” she sneered. Akira's hands remained on her face as Madam Estelle continued, “Well, news flash, little slut: I rule here. Inside these walls, I am Luna, and I hold the final say!”

“You think you're the first slave a royal pulled to bed?” Madam Estelle scoffed, walking away to resume her job.

Akira’s lips parted, stunned. She stood there watching Madam Estelle walk away, unable to wrap her mind around what had just happened. She got slapped for telling the truth?

She swallowed hard and blinked; there were no tears this time. She had used them all for Dominus during the years she stayed with him.

Her throat tightened. Her heart pounded, She felt very humiliated,but she said nothing. She didn’t have the strength to fight back. Not when she was just a slave.

“Get back to work,” Madam Estelle ordered sharply. “You think just because he called for you, you’re suddenly better than us? Get back to work, little slut!”

With that, Akira moved quietly to join Beth at the sink. Beth glanced at her from the side, eyes filled with pity. She wished she had enough power to protect Akira in the renowned northern pack.

“You can leave it; I will do it alone,” she discreetly nudged Akira. “It's fine; you can take a little break.”

“It's fine, Beth,” Akira assured her with a faint smile. Of course, this was nothing compared to what she had gone through all those years.

The next moment, Thalia walked inside, making her way to where Akira was.

She shoved a dirty pan at Akira’s chest. “Little slut,” she mocked before walking away.

Akira caught it with trembling hands, then dropped it in the sink beside Beth, who gave her a soft glance, sympathy and silence etched into her expression.

As she dipped the pan inside, her thoughts raced back to why Prince Dominus had called her. There must be a reason he did that.

Meanwhile, Prince Dominus was already seated at the table for the council meeting.

His eyes wandered around the hall, which was supposed to be filled with all the important noblemen in their packs, but it was surprisingly empty when he arrived.

The council members of the pack were supposed to be waiting for him, but none had shown up, even though he had come over thirty minutes late. His eyes scanned the whole place in case they had conducted the meeting without him.

No one holds a meeting without the Grand Alpha King.

Now that the Grand Alpha King was not available, his heir represented him.

The hall usually bustled with noblemen, knights like himself, and marquesses, but right now it was empty. He settled into the chair next to the polished table, his brows furrowed in confusion.

He shifted in his seat, a sense of unease creeping into his thoughts. ‘Where are they?’

The council members were supposed to value this meeting, yet he found himself alone, his heart racing with uncomfortable anticipation.

Just as he contemplated leaving, the heavy wooden door creaked open. A figure stepped inside, and he narrowed his gaze…….it was Brevin.

Once Dominus saw his brother, he heaved a deep sigh of relief. Brevin stood at the door with two goblets and a jug of red wine. He was over four feet tall, his broad shoulders and stocky build giving him a sturdy appearance. His face was rugged, with deep-set blue eyes. He wore a fitted leather jerkin, and once his eyes met those of Dominus, he chuckled and started to strut towards him.

“My lord,” he mimicked the lowborns, and Dominus burst out laughing.

“C'mon, don't be an asshole or some little bitch baby,” he said.

Brevin dropped the jug and goblets on the table with his brother's help, then settled into the chair.

“A bitch baby?” He shook his head vigorously. “No, I'm not that, but I can agree with being little.”

Both men laughed.

“So why is no one here? I asked for an impromptu meeting,” Dominus informed him.

Brevin poured himself a drink, ignoring Dominus. After a few moments, he dropped the goblet on the table, allowing it to make a faint sound that echoed through the hall.

“You left the pack for almost a decade, and you forgot all the cultural rites. In twenty-four hours, we will have the ‘Night of the Silent Howl.’ Everybody is preparing for it. It's sacred to have any meetings during that period. I’d think the most perfect king's heir like you would know such little things.”

Dominus let out a deep sigh. It had totally slipped his mind that the Night of the Silent Howl was approaching. He had forgotten that the Northern pack still performed such feasts. The festival was a spiritual observance dedicated to the moon goddess, seeking her protection against the curse of feral transformations. It was usually a night when wolves refrained from shifting or howling, believing that silence strengthened their control and honored ancestors who had succumbed to feral madness.

“Well, I know you don't care about all of that. You can control yourself now without going feral,” Brevin pointed out with a wide grin. “Impressive, you know—”

The two sat in silence, drinking for a few moments before Dominus's eyes narrowed to Brevin's waistband.

“Wait…” He dropped his goblet immediately. “Is that a dagger?” he asked in disbelief.

Brevin tilted his head, and once he saw what Dominus was pointing at, he let out a soft chuckle. “Yes, it is. I had to get one laced with wolfbane in case any of your sisters try to kill me in my sleep.”

Dominus rolled his eyes, giving a small scoff.

He cleared his throat, shifting his chair closer to Brevin’s. “So when do I see the Alpha King? Almost a decade away, and I come back, but everyone keeps saying I can't see him.”

Brevin's expression shifted, the playful glint in his eyes fading as he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Dominus, there’s something you need to know.”

Dominus frowned, sensing the gravity in his brother’s tone. “What is it? You’re scaring me. Just go ahead and say it, Brev.”

Taking a deep breath, Brevin's gaze drifted around the room as if searching for the right words. His eyes started to glisten with unshed tears. “He……he’s gone feral. He is now a beast.”

The words hung in the air, the atmosphere shifting to one of tension.

A knot tightened in Dominus’s stomach.

His heart shattered as he absorbed the revelation that his father, once a leader, was now a feral beast.

“It’s been five years now. He went feral five years ago and has been locked up. Only the council and close blood relatives know of this. You can't go see him; he doesn’t recognize any of his kids right now except his blood host and his brother, Beta Ragnar.”

“He is not the man you remember; he’s not even close to being that. The shaman said only his fated mate can bring him back to normal, but what are the chances of an old Northern Alpha King meeting his mate while locked up?”

Dominus sat there, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, just realizing that his father had been feral for five years while he was away and no one had told him. He swallowed hard, his mind racing with thoughts. The Northern packs were different; they barely met their fated mates, and even when they did, they didn't usually follow the moon goddess's wishes like the other three axis.

Always being the black sheep.

“He didn’t choose it,” Brevin said, his eyes also glistening with unshed tears. “The curse of feral madness... it took him. I’ve seen it, Dominus. He loses himself in those moments. It’s like watching a part of him die. He attacked all three of us; he doesn't recognize any of his children anymore.”

Dominus felt a surge of anger within him. “Why didn’t anyone tell me? I could’ve been here. I could’ve helped!”