Chapter 8 It's Time

"Your Majesty, we found something." My office door opened and Lucien rushed in, tablet in hand.

"So last night..." he said, dropping the tablet in front of me.

"One of the omegas was seen wandering around the hall. She's quite smart, tried to not get her face seen but we were able to identify her." My eyes went to the screen where a girl was trying as much as she could to blend with the shadows.

I looked back at Lucien as he continued. "But the problem is, she didn't run away, because I asked for them to check on her and she's still with the others. Why would she have been out if she wasn't trying to run away?"

"Maybe she realized she wouldn't make it out and gave up." I said as I leaned back in my chair.

"Or she was distracted by something." At his words I took the tab again and looked at the woman's face trying to see if I could remember the woman from last night but I didn't. Nothing clicked.

"So you're saying she's the woman from last night?" I asked,

"She could be, but we're not certain because you told us not to put any cameras in the death zone and everyone knows that nobody is permitted to enter that hallway, so we're not sure she was the one who entered."

"I need you to be certain."

"I know, but the thing is that she was the only one found wandering around last night. Which means it could be her and also you said you know what she smells like right?" he said and I gave a simple nod.

"Great. That means you'd be able to identify her when she presents herself to you tonight."

"Anything else?" I asked and he was silent for a while.

I know that look. The one where he was fighting between saving his head and just shutting up or speaking up. I knew he was about to give a very absurd suggestion I won't like.

"I'm not interested," I said before he could even open his mouth to speak and he knew better than to argue with me.

"As you wish, Your Majesty." he said and was about to take the tablet but I stopped him.

"Leave this here."

"Is there anything else you'd like me to do for you? Should I send her to your office?" He asked and I narrowed my eyes on him.

"No, I'll see her tonight. But..."

"But what?"

"Keep a close look on her."

"Yes my king," he said and without another word he bowed his head and walked out of the room.

I slowly picked the tab and continued watching the woman on the screen.

She was mostly covered by the darkness.

I dropped the tablet, facing it down and turned back to the work in front of me.

A dead man didn't have hope.

And I am a dead man.

******

All day we've been sitting in this room listening to the mistress talk to us about what and what not to do.

'Do whatever the king tells you.'

'Don't look him in the eye.'

'Don't speak unless he tells you to.'

'Don't scream.'

'Don't fight.'

I don't know if all those warnings were supposed to prepare us or scare the shit out of us but I think it was doing the latter.

Because there was a girl at the corner who looked like she was seconds away from passing out.

I sighed as I shoved the food into my mouth. Yes, they gave us food, good food at that. Wouldn't want us dying on an empty stomach.

"How long is this going to continue?" One of the girls suddenly asked out of nowhere and everyone's attention turned to her.

"What are you talking about?" The girl in the bunker beside her asked.

"All this..." she said as she waved her hands around. "How many women are going to die in the King's bed, is nobody going to stop him?"

Someone broke into a laugh but there was nothing funny about the sound.

"Stop the king? Are you stupid? And besides, the king didn't force anyone to be here, who you should be mad at is your Alphas for giving you as sacrifices to him." a brown hair girl in the bunker opposite mine said.

"I can't believe you're defending him." The first girl said in disbelief.

"I'm not defending him, I'm just stating facts. And you won't be this mad if you turn out to be the one who cures him would you?" The brown hair girl said and the other girl kept quiet, her face turning to the wall.

The place began quiet and it seemed like everyone became lost in their own thoughts.

With each passing second it was drawing closer to the time we'd be summoned to meet the king.

I wouldn't have been here but thanks to me. I threw away that opportunity.

We heard the sound of approaching footsteps and we all immediately sat up as all eyes went to the door.

By now we were all familiar with that commanding sound of heels. It was no doubt the mistress.

My heart was pounding so loud in my chest as the footsteps got closer and then the door finally opened.

And there she was with a smile on her face like she was a bearer of good news.

"It's time, ladies."