ALINA'S POV

I woke up the next day with a throbbing headache and a parched throat. My entire frame was sore and my body was high with a fever.

Change of environment. My fears send anxieties had caused my body to break down.

I lay in the tiny bed curled up, wondering what time it was but I could see from the window it was morning because the darkness was now shrouded with vibrant colors of the day.

I wondered if I was going to get meals on time or just one meal in a day. I wondered if my fever was going to be tended to or if I'd be left to either heal on my own or pine away with it.

Just then, the prison door went open and I sprang to my feet.

Mario sauntered in with his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his pants and his dark hair was perfectly brushed back. His jaws were sprinkled with a few stubbles making him look way more handsome than the day before. His intoxicating scent filled my nose.

Mario was one handsome man. But his dark side made him appear more fearful than playful.

I remained by the bed and waited until he crossed the small room and came standing before me, towering above me in an intimidating manner.

His dark menacing gaze settled on me and roamed my face.

I thought of the things to say to him but decided against it. I was too weak to incur another punishment.

"Come with me!" Was all he said them he turned towards the door.

I didn't know where he was taking me as I doubled up my pace behind him. A sturdy security guard zoomed behind me, noting my every move as I followed the handsome ruler through to his mansion.

I was weak when we got there, I wasn't so sure if I had the energy to carry on. My gaze blurred out and my wobbly legs threatened to give up on me.

When Mario stopped by a door he pushed it open, stepping aside he nodded and I got in. He closed the door behind him leaving the sturdy security guard out.

I stared at the exquisite interiors of the room. My eyes widened at the size of the bed and I imagined just how comfortable it would be to get under the coverings.

"You will stay here, going forward." He spoke in a voice void of any emotions.

I glanced at the room now I knew it was where I'd be staying and it wasn't that bad. Such luxury, I prayed it would be enough to comfort me.

"I need a place I can comfortably produce an heir!" He added.

All the daylight was knocked from my vision and the meaning of his word roses bile from the pit of my stomach.

"I don't want to have a baby," I whispered weakly.

If he heard me, he did not say anything. He moved from where he stood to the window and gazed out from the window drapes.

"And don't think because you have this big room you ain't going to help out with the work around here. Your duties and labor cease the minute you're confirmed pregnant. You want the strife to end?" He paused, moved from the window, and stood before me, "Give me an heir!"

"I'm not afraid of cleaning, neither am I afraid of scrubbing. I've done them all my life. But I'm never going to give birth to your heir. Children are a product of love. You won't have one because there's no love in you!"

I ventured boldly waiting and bracing myself for his fury. But w soft chuckle left his throat.

"Your wittiness is something I never saw coming." His face suddenly thinned to a scowl, "There's a lot to be done around here, don't just stand there, get changed into something."

Just then, the door went open and a lady in her mid-fifties walked in. Her hair is groomed and her manner sleek.

"Martha, I need you to take Alina to where you feel she will be most useful."

"Yes, my Alpha."

And without a second glance, Mario left the room. I was now alone with the lady he called Martha.

"Is he always like that?" I huffed.

"I believe you know your place here. You either learn to address our Alpha with the respect due or I inculcate that into you." Martha said with a tone void of the niceness from earlier.

"Could you wait outside? I need to have my bath and get ready for the day." I snapped at her.

"Five minutes tops!"

She regarded me in a disgruntled fashion before turning back out of the room.

I stripped off my clothes and headed ahead to have a shower. The shower was nice and I forgot I was given five minutes max to get ready. I played a little in the shower and felt the water soak me through.

I stepped out of the shower drying my hair with a hand dryer. I curled the tips with a curling iron, I found something to wear although the shorts were larger for me I still managed to make it fit.

I looked extremely pale and skinny. I was hungry and tired. I thought of the tasks Martha was going to dish out today and I prayed that I had to be served breakfast first before any other task accompanied.

I was famished and I was barely holding up.

I got out of the empty closet and was expecting to see Martha still waiting.

But a skinny girl was waiting in the room. I looked confusedly at her and wondered who she was and what she was doing here.

"Lady Martha asked me to get you." The skinny girl announced.

Her brown hair was swept into a nice bun and her face was clear and beautiful.

"I'm Anita!" She smiled at me.

I nodded and turned towards the door. She stared at me in a manner that made me wonder if I had forgotten my clothes.

I looked down to see myself fully dressed and I glanced over my shoulder to her.

"You haven't told me yours."

"Alina."

I replied quietly, moving out of the room to get whatever life had in store for me.