“A word?”
Kai glared at Nicolas, wondering what he wanted to say that made him throw away every respect he had. “You’re seriously getting on my nerves.” Kai said and turned back to the weight he was lifting.
It was six in the morning. Kai was doing his morning workout before he got to see to the pack activities. He liked the gym being empty for his use, which was why he always woke up early to use it.
Nicolas knew that. And Nicolas was interrupting him, something Nicolas knew that Kai hated.
“Get out.” Kai said plainly.
“I’m not going anywhere.” Nicolas fired back. “This is an urgent matter.”
“Nicolas, can I just have an hour of my morning to myself without your interruptions?” Kai snapped, exasperation in his voice.
“It can’t wait.” Nicolas replied, tapping his feet on the floor. “It’s about Karen. ”
Kai dropped the weight and sat up, looking at Nicolas dead in the eye. “What about her?”
“See?!” Nicolas snapped his fingers. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Kai sighed. “Get to the damn point, you’re really getting on my nerves.”
“She’s still around. And you seem fine with that. I heard from Inez that she spent the night with you.”
“She passed out. Big deal.”
Nicolas sighed. “You’ve changed, Kai.”
Kai went back to benching. Nicolas watched him, a deadpan expression on his face.
“I can’t believe you.” He scoffed.
“Watch it. You’re talking to your alpha.”
“Oh save it ” Nicolas spat. “Playing alpha and beta is so exhausting, and you know it. I respect you, but you are also getting on my nerves.”
Kai hummed. a moment of silence passed. He dropped the weight and turned to Nicolas, his eyes shining with a mischievous light. Nicholas knew that look. It was a look Kai had from when they were kids. And that look meant nothing good was coming his way.
“No… no…” Nicolas said, taking few steps back and shaking his head wildly. “Kai you can’t be serious!”
“Oh but I am.” Nicolas said, a wicked grin on his face. “It will be perfect.”
Nicolas narrowed his eyes. “I am not touching that girl.”
“You wouldn’t have to.” Kai said with a smirk.
Nicolas sighed and held his head in his hands. “What have I done?”
***
Karen looked around her sharply, noticing the flurry of activities in the dungeon.
“What… what is going on?” She asked a random guard.
“Someone killed herself. Really nasty.” He said.
“Who was it?” Karen asked, her heart in her throat.
The guard shrugged. He looked at her closely and took a step back. “Hey, aren’t you the alpha’s slave?”
Karen sighed. “Yes, I am. Who killed herself?”
“Some chick from Winterblood pack ”
Karen’s heart dropped. “Winter…. Winterblood?”
“Yes, move it now, I don’t think you should be here.” The guard said.
Karen pushed past him and walked into the dungeons. She saw a body they were dragging out. A loud gasp left her lips as she saw who it was. A piece of glass was stuck in her chest, and Karen could smell the potent wolfsbane on her body.
Eve.
“No!” Karen whispered, covering her mouth with her hands.
Eve had killed herself. Her last lead was gone. Karen watched, unable to move, feeling rooted to the spot. The guards dragged Eve’s lifeless body out of the dungeons, the activity going with them.
Karen leaned on the nearest wall, tears going her eyes. She bit her lip hard to stop her from crying out loud. She hung her head, her mind racing. Eve was dead. Her father was dead. Everyone who knew her personally from her old pack was dead.
Karen felt her world truly crumbling down. And she had—
“What’s a cute little maid doing here?” A voice drawled.
Karen raised her head to see a warrior in front of her. She narrowed her eyes in anger, her tears drying up.
“Keep walking.” She snapped.
The man laughed. “She’s got fire ” He said to himself. “What’s your name little maid?” He made to touch her face but she knocked his hand off.
“Don’t touch me.” She hissed in anger.
Anger flashed through his face. Before she knew it, he slapped her across the face. Her head whipped to the side, her cheek erupting in pain. He grabbed her head and pulled her body closer to him. Karen was disgusted to feel his erection pressing on her thigh.
“Let go of me !” She screamed.
“I like it when my women fight.” The man groaned in her ear, grinding against her leg. “Scram some more.”
Karen felt her heart race. She squeezed her eyes shut and wished with all her mind that Kai or Nicolas would show up.
“You freak!” Karen screamed and tried to free herself.
“What are you doing?”
Karen heaved a huge sigh of relief as she heard Kai’s voice. The warrior instantly let her go. Karen coughed and wiped her body where he had touched.
“My alpha,” The warrior said and went on one knee.
“I asked a question.” Kai said, his voice hard.
“I… this maid!” He pointed at Karen. “She tried to force herself on me!”
Karen’s eyes widened. “What?!” she screamed. “You….”
“Be quiet.” Kai said to her. She pursed her lips and glared hotly at the man.
“Is that so?” Kai said to himself. “My slave tried to force herself on you?”
“Y-your slave?! I had no idea she was….”
Karen scoffed, her emotions rising inside her. Anger, pain, disgust, frustration, all rising till she could take it no more.
“Tell the truth. Don’t you dare fucking lie to your alpha.” She hissed, her voice coming out dark and heavy.
“I hit her!” The man confessed. “And I wanted her for myself!” He paused, as if realizing what he has just said. He went down on all fours, planting his face in the ground. “I’m so sorry! My alpha please forgive me! I had no idea she was your slave and–”
“Be quiet.” Kai said. And the man shut up. “For touching my slave, you will receive fifty five whips and be stripped of your position.”
Karen’s eyes widened. Such a hefty punishment just because of her?
“My alpha, please…. please…” The man pleaded.
“Come,” Kai said to Karen. “You have a lot of work to do.”
Karen bowed. “Yes, my alpha.”
He glared at her. She realized her mistake and quickly corrected herself.
“I apologize, my master.”
Kai walked out of the dungeons, Karen trailing behind him. As they walked through the halls, people stared and bowed.
Kai took Karen to his suite, the small library inside. He noticed her standing, her hands clasped in front of her and her head bowed. He heard small sniffles coming from her.
She was crying. And it did something to him that he didn’t like.
“Look at me when I’m talking to you.”
She wiped her eyes and looked at him. He saw the faintest hand print on her face that was fading. That bastard! Kai grit his teeth. He should have ordered his immediate execution.
“Do you need me to clean?” Karen asked, her voice shaky.
“No.” Kai said. He walked over to a shelf and took out a book. He tossed the book to Karen. She caught it and stared at it. “Sit there and read the book out loud.”
Confusion flitted across her face. “Oh, okay.” She said. She sat on the single sofa, curling her legs up under her. Kai watched as she gathered her hair and tied it up into a bun, her eyes out of focus in front of her.
He could feel her sadness, and it nudged him the wrong way.
She picked the book up, opened it and started to read. Her voice was calm and steady, having a calling quality that Kai hadn’t expected.
He observed the reports on his desk and started working on them. So far things were looking good, his review of the human world coming along nicely.
He glanced at Karen occasionally, noticing the tears in her eyes. Kai wanted to console her, but he had no idea what to say or do.
“Stop.” He spoke up. She instantly kept quiet and looked up at him. “Get me some snacks from the kitchen. Something sweet.”
“Yes, my alpha.” She said and got to her feet. She quickly corrected herself again. “I’m sorry, my master.”
She left the suite. Minutes later she returned with a tray of sliced cake and some sweet smelling tea. She served it to him and waited. Kai took a sip of the tea and returned it to the saucer.
“It’s too sweet.” He said.
“I’ll return it, get something else.”
“No.” He said with a wave. “You can have it.”
She didn’t reply, staring at him.
“What is it?”
“I…. I don’t like sweets.”
Kai looked at her sharply. She flinched, her eyes shutting for a while.
“I um… I have bad memories associated with sweets. I hope you don’t mind, my alp… My master.”
“Very well.” Kai snapped. He felt frustrated and annoyed that his act of goodwill was unappreciated. “Return it to the kitchens.”
Karen nodded and took the tray. She walked out and headed back to the kitchen.
“Alpha said he doesn’t want it.” Karen said to the head chef, biting back her tears. “So um… I guess you can have it.”
“That’s strange.” The chef said and took back the tray. “He likes sweets very much.”
Karen nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. You may go now.”
Karen walked back to the suite and headed to the library. Her mind felt blank, filled with thoughts of Eve’s death and how much wolfsbane she had used.
How did she get it while in the dungeon? Or… was she murdered?
“Continue reading.” Kai’s sharp voice cut her from her thoughts. He sounded irritated for some reason. But she didn’t have the time to ponder upon it.
“Yes, my master.” She said and continued reading from where she had left off.
At a point she broke down in tears, unable to be so strong anymore. Kai said nothing to her, he didn’t even glance at her.
But he didn’t send her out.