Merciful

Nora

For days I hardly slept at night, I couldn’t stop glancing at my window, my heart pounding heavily because I knew a pair of dark eyes watched me, I didn’t dare go close but I knew he was there, I could feel his gaze and presence.

Every day while working, I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder, shuddering at the thought of the beta coming to drag me away.

I was nervous and not running into the Alpha made my fears increase. The alpha had been so occupied this week that he left the house very early and returned late at night but I was restless, his presence brought nothing but fear and agony but his absence brought restlessness and anxiety.

“The Alpha is around…” I heard a maid whisper as I arranged the washed dishes. We were in the kitchen.

“Why? Are the rumors true? Is he really getting married?” Another retorted and I felt my body go stiff.

Marriage? What were they talking about?

“I heard his fiancée is coming over today. She’s from the Crescent Moon pack and goddess knows you don’t want to see her. She’s nothing but pure evil, she treats maids like animals.” A maid whispered and I felt a chill glide down my spine.

There was only one person who had that kind of reputation in the Crescent Moon pack, it was Sophia. I shivered slightly, the mention of her name bringing chills because she was the devil’s incarnate.

Unfortunately I had once appeared before her and I got a huge slap for not bowing properly to greet her. Every maid avoided her more than a plague and the thought of her getting married to the Alpha made my heart race with fear.

If this place was fire, her presence just made it hell. “She arrived today, I pray I don’t get to serve her…”

“Nora…” I was still listening to the maids when Mistress Ella called my name. I left the dishes immediately, walking over to get side.

There was a tray before her and in it were varieties of food, my heart began racing heavily at the thought of going to serve Sophia, I broke into sweat.

“Take this to the last room on the east wing, we have a guest, be very careful.” She warned and I nodded immediately, my weak knees bucked against each other but kept my body from collapsing.

I was sweating profusely as I carried the tray, my hand gripping the edge tightly as I forced my legs to move. Each step was horror.

I couldn’t stop picturing Sophia in my head. She was extremely beautiful on the outside but more vile on the inside.

She was the queen of bitterness with an imaginary crown made of pride and her neck decked with cruelty.

I braced myself for the worst and began walking out of the kitchen. My hands trembled but I held on tightly, willing myself to walk faster because I knew it wouldn’t sit well for me to delay by even a second.

I got to the passage and exhaled deeply, the Alpha’s room was the first on the right and I couldn’t but frown slightly when I saw it open.

I wondered if he was inside. “Just keep walking, don’t stop Nora… Please don’t look.” A voice whispered in my head and I knew it wasn’t my wolf.

I tried walking away but for some strange reason, I was tempted to look. I exhaled deeply, assuring myself that I was only going to peep for just a few seconds and walk away.

I walked slowly, my head turned while my eyes tried to peer into the dark room. Just as I was about to turn my head and continue my journey, I held a violent tug on the tray which made me spill its content.

“Argh!” I gasped in shock as I lifted my head up and immediately I saw Sophia. In her arms was her brown cat, it was difficult to tell who was more vile between the two and my head began to pound heavily.

The food was on the ground, I could see a small stain on her shoe and she had an evil smirk on her face.

I held the tray tightly with one hand and without a word, I fell on my knees.

“Forgive me… I… I’m so sorry.” I pleaded, hoping to get a very light punishment. She walked around me twice, her eyes filled with disgust.

“Are you insane? Weren’t you trained to watch where you’re heading? Tell me, what were you looking for in my husband’s room?” She asked and my heart raced heavily as fear sizzled down my body.

“N… No… Nothing…” I whispered.

“Please forgive me… Please… I’ll do anything…” I pleaded and she smiled.

“Of course you will, animals like you will do anything.” She replied and I nodded, tears welled up in my eyes.

“…” I whimpered speechlessly while shaking on the floor.

“I’ll forgive you on the condition that you use your tongue to wipe the little stain on my shoe, you use your mouth to pick up everything on the ground and when you’re done, you apologize to my sweet baby for frightening him.” She replied with a huge smile, her eyes filled with cruelty.

Her cat screeched at me, obviously displeased and I had a look of disbelief on my face. She wanted me to apologize to an animal.

Wasn’t this her being intentionally cruel? How does she expect me to use my mouth to clean up the mess? Wouldn’t I get injured if I use my hand to pick up the broken dishes? But rather than my hand, she wanted me to use my mouth.

“Miss… I… I’m going to get injured if I use my body to touch the broken dishes…” I pleaded, close to tears as I tried to touch her legs but I knew that would only make her more infuriated.

“Is there anything else I can do, please?” I demanded and she scoffed.

“No, it’s either you do that or I’ll have the guards come force you into doing it, this would teach you to watch your way next time.” She replied, her eyes gleaming with excitement and a tear rolled down my cheek.

“Please… I promise never to commit such a mistake, can you please forgive me, this once… I’d do any other punishment.” I pleaded and she stared at me for a long time, shaking her head slowly like she was considering the idea.

“Fine, I’ll be very merciful since it’s your first offense. You’ll go on your knees and apologize to my baby and after that, you serve him till I leave but before that, wipe the stain off my shoe with your tongue.” She ordered with a grim smile as she stretched her leg before me, waiting eagerly for me.

“Miss…” I was trembling now as I stared at her and she frowned.

“Not a single word from you. You either do it or I get the guards to force you. Don’t test my patience.” She warned and I nodded, swallowing the huge lump in my throat as I began to lower myself.

My face was a few inches away from her shoes and I shut my eyes tightly. “What is going on here?” I heard the Alpha’s gruff voice and my eyes burst open.