Chapter 4

I sat on the edge of the plush bed, dressed in jeans and a simple t-shirt nervously biting my fingernails.

My gaze was fixed on the bright sun streaming through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. It felt warm, better than the cold that was biting at my heart.

A soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts, and I turned to see a different maid from the one who had attended to me yesterday.

My voice was hesitant as I asked, "Where's the other maid?"

The new maid, whose name I didn't yet know, replied, "She has kitchen duty today." Her voice was soft, her expression neutral.

"Oh, alright."

"Shall I prepare a bath for you?"

"No, it's fine," I murmured. "I've already taken care of that." Curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't help but ask, "What's your name?"

The maid hesitated for a moment before responding, "Janice."

I nodded in acknowledgment. "Oh alright. Janice, I am Selena."

The maid didn't reply, but I couldn't care less.

The urge to reach out to my father was overwhelming, and I couldn't bear the thought of being kept in the dark any longer. I needed to know why he sold me away, was his gambling habit that bad that he didn't care of me? Did he fear that I will testify against him about the death of my mother?

It's been five years and I haven't, so why sell me. I didn't testify because everyone would be against Omega's words. They would believe my father over mine. He used to be a caring father, until he started to drink, he lost his wealth and poured it on me and my mother. I remembered the night they had fought, and he pushed her, she fell down the stairs, breaking her neck.

But he had said it was a mistake. He had cried and pleaded, and I let it go like the coward I was. Until it became my turn to face his torture. People at work ignored my black eye, my scars, no one cared if I died or not. That's how crest haven was. Omegas were the expendables.

I needed to speak to him, to understand why he had allowed this to happen to me. My voice trembled as I asked, "Can I get a phone?"

Janice raised an eyebrow, her expression guarded. "Why do you need a phone, ma'am?"

I bit my lip, struggling to find the right words. "I... I need to calm my father. He must be worried sick." I lied.

But Janice's response was a firm refusal. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I can't do that."

Frustration welled up inside me, and I couldn't help but press further. "Why not? I need to speak to my father."

Janice hesitated, her gaze darting around the room as if she were considering her words carefully. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and cautious. "Selena, you don't have the right to a phone unless Alpha Adrian gives you permission."

My heart sank at her words. I had no idea how to reach Alpha Adrian, and the realization left me feeling helpless and trapped. Desperation laced my voice as I asked, "Where can I meet Alpha Adrian? I need to speak to my father."

Or maybe a coworker, somebody that would help me maintain my sanity.

Janice's silence hung heavy in the air, and I could see the conflict in her eyes.

Janice continued to hesitate, caught between her duty and my plea for help.

The air in the room felt heavy with unspoken tension, and I could sense the struggle within her. My words had been met with a stern refusal, and for a moment, I felt defeated.

With a resigned sigh, I glanced to the left and nodded. "Oh, okay," I muttered, my voice tinged with bitterness. "I guess rules are rules. It's fine."

I got up from the bed and moved over to a nearby shelf, my fingers absent-mindedly rummaging through the books and trinkets. Janice watched me, her expression still guarded, as I muttered to myself, "Anything to fill my head."

A small, sympathetic smile tugged at Janice's lips, and she finally spoke, her voice softer this time. "You can move about, miss. You can go to the garden or the library. Or anywhere, but I will accompany you."

I let out a sigh of frustration and glanced around the room, feeling the walls closing in on me. "I have all that, but not a phone."

Janice kept quiet again, and my impatience got the better of me. I rolled my eyes and said, "Fine, let's walk."

We began to move through the vast estate, Janice pointing out various places of interest within the sprawling home. She spoke with enthusiasm, trying to make the tour engaging, but I found myself growing increasingly bored.

As we walked and Janice chattered on, my eyes fell upon a room with a striking red door. It piqued my curiosity, and I couldn't resist asking Janice about it. "What's in that room?" I inquired, my tone casual.

Janice's response was swift and firm. "It's restricted, ma'am."

I raised an eyebrow, "Restricted, huh? I want to check it out."

Janice's expression darkened, and she shook her head adamantly. "You can't, ma'am. It's restricted, end of story."

I couldn't help but scoff at her refusal, and my irritation bubbled to the surface. "You know," I began, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "I preferred the other maid."

Janice's patience wore thin, and she shot back with frustration in her voice, "You are very authoritative for an omega, maybe you should try talking to the king rather than a maid like me."

Her words hung in the air, a reminder of the hierarchy and the power dynamics that governed this world. But I had no intention of backing down. I raised my chin defiantly and said, "I see. There's no need for you to escort me again. I'll head to my room by myself."

The truth stings, I could not talk to the alpha or my father like this, but to her, I could. I guess that made me a hypocrite.

Janice's eyes widened in alarm, and she quickly covered her mouth, realizing the implications of her words. She pleaded, "Please, don't tell the Alpha, please."

I glanced back at Janice, a wry smile on my lips, and replied, "I'm just an omega. I don't have that power." With those words, I turned and headed back to my room.

Curiosity burned within me, especially about the mysterious red room that had piqued my interest. Now that Janice wouldn't be following me around, I saw an opportunity to explore.

I was good at sneaking around, maybe I could find an escape, maybe that red door held my freedom or my captivity or worse death.

But my curiosity outweighed my fear as I sneaked back out of the room.

There were surprisingly few guards to deter me, and I quickly reached the enigmatic red door. Without hesitation, I turned the handle, and to my astonishment, it opened easily. Restricted but strangely free to enter.

I stepped inside and locked the door behind me, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was like nothing I had ever seen before. My eyes widened in shock as I took in the sight before me – a room filled with an array of sex toys and equipment.

My hand instinctively flew to my mouth, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment and shame. What had I stumbled upon? My heart raced, and I knew I had to leave this place immediately. It was no place for me.

Oh gosh, curiosity really killed the cat.

But as I turned to make my escape, I collided with a solid, unyielding body. My breath caught in my throat as I looked up, and my eyes met Adrian's. His presence was overwhelming, and his voice sent shivers down my spine as he spoke.

"You like what you see."

I felt a rush of panic, my mind racing for an explanation, but my voice faltered. I couldn't find the words to respond, and at that moment, I realized the depth of the danger I had unwittingly placed myself in.

Furthermore, I stammered, struggling to find my voice as I stood frozen before Adrian. His amusement was evident in the soft chuckle that escaped his lips, and he leaned closer, his warm breath washing over my face.

"You are cute, you know that?"

Confusion welled up within me. This was not the reaction I had anticipated from him, and it left me even more unsettled.

His sudden change of character left me at a loss for words, and I could only stammer in response.

Adrian chuckled again, a deep, throaty sound that sent shivers down my spine. He reached out and gently patted my head before his fingers traced the curve of my cheek.

"Last night, you were scared," he explained softly, his voice taking on a gentler tone. "I didn't want to hurt you."

I blinked in surprise, trying to process his words. It was a stark contrast to the man I had encountered before, the one who had seemed so distant and indifferent.

"I don't understand," I admitted, my voice filled with genuine confusion. "Why are you being nice to me?"

Adrian leaned closer, his lips dangerously close to my ear, his voice taking on a sensuous, intimate tone that sent a shiver down my spine. "Because," he murmured, "you are mine. And mine alone."

The possessiveness in his words sent a jolt of both fear and desire coursing through me. I couldn't deny the strange pull he had on me, even as I struggled to make sense of the enigmatic man before me.