Seraphine’s POV

“Why are you doing this to me?” my voice low and teeth shaking from the effect of the cold water rushing down my back. I was panicking but shivered from the cold. I was scared.

I’d crept into the Alpha’s bathroom. Not exactly my finest moment, but desperate times, right? If the guy was gonna kill me because, let’s face it, that seemed pretty much inevitable then I figured I deserved a real bath before I bit the dust.

The weird thing was, the water actually felt…good. Too good. Not like home, where every shower smelled like a haunted pipe and left me shivering for hours. This? It should’ve been comforting. Rather it was making me feel more pain.

And then out of nowhere, the shower curtain got yanked aside.

I froze.

No, I mean, I literally stopped breathing.

Agora stood there, bam like some six-foot-tall nightmare. His stare cut right through me, icy and fast, before he jerked his gaze away so hard I swear I heard his neck crack.

My heart? Oh, it was throwing itself around my ribcage like it wanted out.

Why the hell would an Alpha, someone who could command me to bark like a dog, and I’d have to look away? I was a maid. An omega. The lowest of the low. Totally invisible, unless someone needed a scapegoat.

But he…he’d turned away. Which, let’s be real, made zero sense. It was like he respected my dignity and it made me confused.

And then it hit me, like a slap.

I was naked.

Naked.

In his bathroom.

Using his shower.

Like I belonged there.

What kind of idiotic move was that?

Had he just come back? Or God had he been watching the whole time?

I scrambled out, practically falling over myself to yank my scratchy uniform over wet skin. My hair stuck to my face and I felt a wave of shame wash over me.

I looked down as the shame increased.

“Alpha, I’m sorry, please, I didn’t mean to disrespect you. Please just let me go. I’ll never do it again, I swear.” My voice sounded terrible, doubt creeping from it.

He said nothing.

That silence? So much worse than if he’d screamed.

I risked a glance up, and damn. His eyes glowed red.

Before I could muster up to know what's happening, I felt my body scrunch up as the first wave of pain hit me. It was like someone pounded stuff on my body. I couldn't even hear my own thoughts over the pain that was being inflicted on me.

My body feels to the floor. I could only manage to whimper with a little strength.

Pathetic.

And he Agora. My Alpha. He’s the one doing this. Crushing me from the inside out. Guess this is how I go out, huh? Not exactly graceful.

I tried to suck in air, but all I felt was pain. I felt my eyes go blurry as the pain increased. Why was he doing this to me? Is this his way of killing me?

His voice rang out in my ear. The kind of voice that could melt ice and break iron.

“Don’t ever test me again.” Not a suggestion. A threat.

And then, the pain stopped.

It stopped.

I collapsed as my hair stuck to my hair in sweat.

I managed to lift my head.

Barely.

My eyes caught him leaving. It felt like he was angry at the world but decided to take it out on a helpless omega. He wanted to crush me.

The door slammed. Silence hit next, heavy and absolute.

And that’s when I lost it. Tears hot, messy, unstoppable. Couldn’t even catch my breath. My chest ached, skin tingling with phantom fire. It felt like my whole body was one big bruise.

I covered my face with my hands.

“I can’t do this,” I muttered, like saying it out loud would make it less true.

Of course, the universe has perfect timing. A knock, sharp and jarring. My heart nearly punched a hole through my ribs.

Didn’t even get a word out before the door creaked open. The head maid walked in, holding a tray in hand like she didn't care. As if walking into a movie set, not a crime scene. Dropped the food with a clatter, gave me this look of a half-smirk, half-sneer.

“Lucky you’re still breathing,” she said, voice flat as week-old soda. “Most who cross the Alpha don’t get up again.”

Yeah, thanks for the unpaid advice. But there was something colder in her stare, like she was thinking of the kind of burial to give me when I finally get killed.

Forced myself to sit upright, even though my arms felt like jelly. “Why am I here?” My voice sounded wrecked. “Why hasn’t he just finished me off?”

She just snorted, like it was a stupid question. “Eat. You’ll need strength. Whatever he’s got planned, you’re gonna need it.”

She started to leave, but something slipped out from her collar. A pendant, black silver, and a weird crest carved into it. My stomach dropped. I’d seen that before.

Years ago.

Dad had called it the mark of our enemy.

Alpha Kael’s pack.

And this maid she’s wearing it. Not just a jerk. Not just loyal to Agora. She’s a traitor. And she’s here, right under everyone’s nose.

Clenched my fist around the soggy hem of my dress, trying not to freak out. If I said a word, she’d kill me, easy. If I kept quiet, I’d probably die anyway.

She caught me staring at her necklace. Shoved it back under her collar, lips twitching in a smile that didn’t even try to look friendly. Her eyes, though deadly.

“Eat,” she whispered. The way she said it? Yeah, not comforting in the slightest. “You’ll need that strength… omega.”

The door shut behind her. I couldn’t breathe right. Heart hammering, hands shaking.

Agora’s rage? Terrifying. The head maid’s secret? Maybe worse.

Bottom line? Nowhere was safe. Not here, not anywhere. And I was well and truly screwed.