Chapter 4 A friend

"Please, Alpha."

"Don't do this, please!"

"Please!"

I felt someone grab my arm and I gasped, turning around in shock. Myra gave me a confused look, her dark brows furrowing together.

"Are you okay? I've been yelling your name for a while now."

I forced a tight smile and nodded, "Yes. I'm fine."

"Come on," she nudged me gently.

We fell into step as we walked through the outside corridor. The morning air was colder than usual, indicating that the winter season was near.

Normally, I would be elated at the possibility of a snowfall but now, I feared the ability to feel joy had been crushed away.

I was starting to stare mindlessly, allowing my thoughts to take charge and Myra was getting bothered.

Myra was the only person in this bloody place that was like family to me. After losing my family to the great war, and being brought as a slave to the Kane household, I thought I would be subject to a cold and lonely life.

Then I bumped into Myra and she brought sunshine into my life. I didn't think anyone could be as optimistic as she was, but Myra changed the narrative.

I couldn't tell her the nightmare that had happened to me. It would completely shatter her.

It was already a month since my life changed for the worse and ever since then, I've been poked and prodded by the Luna.

She made me drink disgusting tonics and let the physicians perform different tests on me. It was worse than a nightmare.

No one was to know what happened. It was my secret to keep. The head maid had made it more than clear before releasing me from my prison last month.

I didn't ask her the consequences for doing otherwise, it was more than obvious.

"Good morning, Rhoda," Myra waved and the redhead skipped towards us, coming to walk beside Myra.

The three of us soon fell into rapid steps, clutching our baskets tightly.

The silence between us stretched a bit before I cleared my throat. "Hey...um, have you guys noticed anything strange lately?"

Myra tilted her head. "Strange how? You mean besides the Alpha nearly tearing into one of the guards yesterday?"

She and Rhoda shared a giggle but I didn't join in their amusement. I had to know if anyone had sensed what the Luna and Alpha were doing.

"No, I mean...things stranger than that."

Rhoda cocked her head to the side. "Like?"

I opened my mouth to talk, but closed it back. I couldn't tell them what happened.

That would be foolish.

I sighed, turning to face them, "Clara, Fiona, Jesse. I haven't been seeing any of them during the roll calls. What happened to them."

Rhod shrugged. "I haven't seen them in days either. I thought they were reassigned with you to the east wing early last month."

My stomach tightened into a knot, something wasn't right. And I feared my suspicions were correct.

"Reassigned? I asked, slowly.

"I don't think so," Myra responded, tapping the bottom of her chin. "The Luna released them. She made the announcement last week but I think you were at the east wing. They're free now."

I blinked. "Free?"

Not only had the Luna lied that I was being reassigned to the east wing, when in reality I was in hell, she must've silenced the girls involved as well.

Why was she going through such lengths to keep this a secret?

"Oh, you're right! I remember now," Rhoda bobbed her head, a smile crawling on her face. "They left last night. I heard from the guards that Luna Vera gave them travel passes and a lot of coins. Gold coins."

Myra sighed wistfully beside her. "I wish that would happen to me. Imagine being free-"

"I clenched my fists at my side. "It's not better," I muttered.

Myra turned to me. "What?"

Rhoda glanced at me too, frowning. My breath caught in my throat and I bit my bottom lip hard. I didn't think anyone would hear me.

I tried to recover, my head scrambling for something to say.

"I-I just meant...maybe freedom's not as easy as it sounds. Out there, with no rogues, and no pack..."

"Oh, shit! It's the Alpha!" Rhoda gasped, her usually fiery eyes widening with fear.

I didn't know why it happened but all the bones in my body suddenly froze at the mention of the Alpha.

Everyone began falling into deep bows with hushed reverence.

But I still couldn't move. The only thoughts that were flashing through my mind was the weight of that night.

My screams and pleas. His growls and brute force. And the pain...it was terrible.

I clutched the basket tighter in my arms, begging my knees not to buckle as the sound of heavy boots pounded closer.

I felt him before I saw him. He stopped right in front of me, his frame was towering and his blue eyes were cold.

Myra and Rhoda beside me dipped into graceful bows. "Alpha," they said in unison, their heads lowering.

But Raylor didn't acknowledge them. His eyes were still fixed on me.

My grip slipped. The basket tumbled from my arms, the apples rolling across the ground in all directions.

I gasped and dropped to my knees, scrambling to pick them up. "Forgive me," I whispered, my voice shaking.

Myra and Rhoda rushed to help, both of them apologizing in panicked tones.

Still,the Alpha said nothing.

He just watched me, and for a brief moment, I caught something flicker in his eyes.

Just like that.

My hands were still. I sat frozen, my knees on the ground as I stared after him, my heart pounding in my ears.

"Are you crazy?" Rhoda hissed, grabbing my arm. "You're lucky. He has snapped a man's neck for less."

Lucky?

I didn't feel lucky. I felt seen and not in the way I wanted.

Because the Alpha had looked at me like a man remembering something he owned.

The nausea hit me suddenly, and I jumped to my feet. I pushed past Myra and Rhoda, their voices called after me as I bolted down the hallway.

I barely made it outside before I emptied my stomach into a nearby flowerbed.

My breathing came in shallow, panicked gasps and I blinked.

I could almost hear the Luna's cold voice.

"Get pregnant or die."

My heart slammed against my ribs. My arms wrapping around my stomach in disbelief.

"No," I whispered. "It can't be."

Footsteps rushed towards me.

"Sara!" Myra called but I didn't move. She rushed towards me, crashing beside the flower bed. "What's wrong with you?"

I turned my head, the blood already long drained from my face.

"Sara," she grabbed my face in her hands, squeezing. "Talk to me. What's wrong?"

My lips trembled. "I'm going to die." I choked out, a sob tearing from my throat. "My life is ruined."'

I collapsed into Myra's arms, shaking and terrified for my future.