You owe him, slave

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in the same bed, but this time it was filled with bright morning light instead of darkness. Panic shot through me, and I jumped up. I had no idea when I fell asleep or when he left. The memory of last night made my blood boil, but I felt powerless. His gaze was intense; he could control anyone with just one look. I glanced around, desperate to find him. Why was I still here?

He wasn’t around. As I stood, I noticed I was wearing a navy blue sweater and a shirt. Something felt off, so I pulled off the blanket and saw I was in gray sweatpants. They were a little loose, but at least my legs were covered. Then the realization hit me.

Had he dressed me? A chill ran down my spine. Just then, the door swung open, making me jump. A girl wheeled in a food trolley, and I was left speechless.

“Did he really do this?” I thought. No way.

“Good afternoon!” she chirped, and I snapped my head up. She wore a white shirt and black jeans, with fair skin and blonde hair. I glanced at the clock—two o’clock. I had slept for so long. For the first time in days, a sense of calm washed over me.

“Ahh, Elena,” I sighed, trying to catch my breath.

“Are you awake, ma’am?” she asked, her tone overly polite. What was going on? Why was she treating me with such respect?

“Did you sleep well?” she continued. I stayed quiet, still trying to figure things out. She set a tray down in front of me, the smell of food wafting up.

“Are you okay? Do you anything?” she asked, sounding a bit robotic.

“The Alpha went to a meeting. He told me to give you food when you woke up, but since you didn’t, he said to wake you by two o'clock. And here you are,” she explained. Respectful and helpful? Why was she treating an omega this way?

“You know who I am?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Yes, you’re the Alpha’s new slave, Ella,” she said, dropping that bomb on me.

“What… what about the girl at the wolf council?” I asked, fear creeping in. She didn’t know me but she must know about that girl.

“Oh, poor girl; she was killed brutally,” she said, her tone almost casual.

“What?” I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me.

“The Alpha King wanted her to be burned by Alpha Logan’s inferno power. That’s his favorite punishment. But Alpha Logan insisted she must be killed on the night of the full moon, so she was killed last night. She was burned with the Alpha’s power.” Her words sent chills down my spine. My face went white. What was going on? Was I in some twisted game?

“Go freshen up. The beautician and hair stylist will be here soon,” she said. I stared at her, utterly confused. Noticing my bafflement, she smirked.

“Come on, wake up! The Alpha will be back in two hours, and he wants you looking flawless.” She grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the washroom.

“Why am I here, and what does he want from me?” I blurted, unable to hold back anymore. I yanked my arm away. She looked taken aback.

“We don’t know. We just follow the Alpha’s orders,” she replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice. Great. Just great. I bit my lip, feeling hopeless and trapped.

“Please, just go. If you don’t freshen up, we’ll all be in trouble when the Alpha returns,” she urged, giving me a gentle shove toward the washroom.

“Can’t I leave? Please help me get out,” I begged, desperation creeping into my voice.

“No, but you shouldn’t have made him angry. Now you owe him,” she said, and my eyes filled with tears. I realized I had no one to help me.

“Whose clothes are these, and who changed me?” I already feared the answer, but I needed to know.

“The clothes are the Alpha’s, and Monica changed you. She helped you wash your hair that night,” she said, and for a moment, I felt a bit better. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath as I stepped into the washroom.

My life was a complete mystery now. Why did he save me? Why did he change my name? What did he want from me?