CHAPTER 8

Lydia! Lydia!! I heard a faint voice calling out my name, and my eyes opened at the sound of my name being called. Through blurred vision, I stared up, wondering who it was. I blinked away my shaky vision, and after a few seconds, Isaac, my coach, and Boyde's faces came into view. 

They were holding the door of the cage that kept them captive, staring at me with curious eyes. At least this time they weren’t looking at me like I was a monster who caused all this. I wonder what they wanted to say to me. Are they going to bully me this time around with their words? since they couldn’t do it physically since they were being held captive too. 

"Lydia!" Isaac called out again, shaking me out of my thoughts. 

"I am here," I whispered softly. 

"Good. "I hope you are not hurt?" I blinked in disbelief. Did he just ask me if I was hurt? Memories of how he treated me badly flood back. My father made him my coach so he could train me on how to fight after I was bullied so badly. He made the little time he had to teach me hell for me, hitting me hard all in the name of teaching me. I still have a scar on the left side of my ribs where he ripped my flesh once. 

"No, I am okay." I managed to fight back tears. 

"That’s good to know. "We heard the guards discussing you going to work as a slave; you know your responsibilities, right?" 

Wha…t? 

"Once you get out of here, the first thing you need to do is look for a way to get all of us out of here!" "Is that not your responsibility as Alpha Midnight's daughter?!" Boyde's voice echoed through the dungeon. I rolled my eyes, and as I forced myself into a seated position, I could feel their eyes preying on me, waiting for my reply. I placed my hands on my pounding head; how was I going to get them out of here? We can’t escape without a plan. Blackwolf packs are very strong, and we are outnumbered, plus poorly fed and dehydrated. And they have Derek. My throat went dry. His name alone leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The previous night’s event flashed through my mind. 

I could not believe he left like that, and he hasn’t returned as usual to abuse me and my father and say all manner of spiteful things to me. Was he avoiding me? What was his plan for me tomorrow? Is he going to punish me for asking him that question? A million questions were going through my head, and a part of me wished he had come today, even if it was to verbally abuse me. 

"We need a plan first!" I finally let them out; they hurried back in surprise that I finally said something to them; maybe they were feeling guilty and thought I wouldn’t help them escape. I am going to help them out, but we will go our separate ways after we escape from here. 

"We are listening, what’s the doavial plan you have?" Isaac mocked. 

"I don’t know yet!"

"Of course, what were we expecting?" Their tone mocked me; irritation and displeasure washed through me, which prevented me from replying. However, it was true: I don’t have any plans, I can’t think of any, and the only thoughts going through my head are about Derek. Maybe everyone was right about me; I was the next-in-line to my father now, and thanks to Derek, I didn’t get to be given out to Peter, and now what my father dreaded the most happened: I was the female next in line to him. And I can’t even rescue my people out of here. 

The door to the dungeon creaked open; the guards were coming in, maybe to take me away from here. I turned my head to the small window; the sun was hidden somewhere behind the clouds, but it seemed far too early for them to come fetch me. I held my breath. I was going to be a slave now. I am so prepared, as long as I am able to leave this dark, cold dungeon. 

A sign of relief escaped through me upon seeing them open the cage and walk in, but it was short-lived once I remembered I only had moments left before I said goodbye. I glanced around the dungeon; different members of my pack were staring at me, their heads protruding out from the cage that held them captive. Their faces were so pale, and their eyes were worn out with large eye bags. They looked hopeless, and even though they had all bullied me at one point, it felt sad leaving them here. Scott and Boyde stood facing me; they were the only ones who didn’t look sad instead envy was written over it, like I was enjoying the privilege of becoming a slave instead of being locked up in here with them. 

Through heavy breathing, I smiled at them, hoping it would ease the tension, but my smile faltered quickly when they made no attempt to return it. 

The guards walked forward slowly and raised their palms toward me. When he got halfway, he lowered his hands, debating with himself. His face became guarded when he looked at me, but it softened, and he then hurried the rest of the way. He undid the bindings holding my legs and hands together and then rocked back on his heels. I rubbed at my wrists; the rope had cleanched into my skin, causing my skin to cut open. I cleaned the blood off of my clothes and held my arms to my chest. I fought the nausea that gripped my stomach; seeing blood was not a sight I was keen on. I was dragged out of the dungeon, but instead of the usual aggressive way the guard pulled me along the last time, he was gentle this time. 

We approached two people; as I got closer, I recognized Derek’s sister, and a man stood close to her; he had dark brown hair that was tousled slightly, as if he had been running, and green eyes that were precise and clear. I wonder who he is; he seemed to be someone important as the guard greeted him like they always do to Derek. 

Derek’s sister stared at me, her eyes fixed on me, piercing into mine. It made me uncomfortable; the hairs on my skin rose up. Her fists were locked; was she going to punch me? The man held her hands gently; he then looked up and smiled softly at me. Why does everyone around here not get that I am not my father? I haven’t killed anyone or even slightly injured someone since I was born. I wouldn’t even hurt a fly. 

"You can leave," he told the guard. The guard took one last look at me, like I would run off if he wasn’t around, and then stormed off. 

Laura will take you to the maids' quarter, where you will stay now, and she will also explain what your work around here entails. I stared at him, studying him—he is so handsome, and he seemed to be the only nice one around here. 

"Laura! "see you around. I need to catch up with Derek. "I haven’t seen him and his fiancée since morning. He slapped her shoulders softly before walking off.

My heart pinched at me. Derek has a fiancée? Was it the girl who killed Mel? That monster!! My wolf growled inside my head, taking a fighting stance. This was something that rarely happened. 

Derek’s sister turned and started walking off, "Why are you still standing there?" She barked. I hurriedly followed behind her. Her long black hair danced around with the wind; it looks just like silk. I haven’t washed my hair in weeks. It was so tangled and rough, I got jealous. 

We finally got to a large hallway; she opened the door and walked in; I followed suit. In front of me were small beds scattered around the floor; the only bed with a small bed frame had clothes on it and worn-out pillows and blankets; it was already occupied. 

My eyes glanced around the room; there was little to no furniture around, just a big mirror and a large wardrobe. They looked so worn out, with beds scattered on the floor. In my pack, the maids weren’t treated so poorly; I had fallen asleep once in Mel’s bed when she was helping me massage my body after my father lashed me. But here, one couldn’t even sleep without having nightmares. I remembered my extra-large bed with lots of pillows around it.

"Princess!! Are you going to keep looking around? This is your new reality now: you are a slave to the Blackwolf pack, the one your father ruined. She mocked and chuckled. Once you are done accepting reality, take a shower; you smell like shit right now. Change into the maid outfit, then go and meet the other maids. Your job is to clean the floor and make sure it sparkles. She turned and left, leaving the door wide open. 

I glanced around once more, thinking, "Well, it’s better than the cold, hard dungeon floor; at least now I have a bed to lay down on with a blanket." I shut the door.