Twenty five

**LOVETH'S POV*

It took a week for me to adjust to the rhythm of my duties, sneaking in quick meals between chores while avoiding unnecessary attention. Pamela, ever watchful, seemed to know everything that went on in the palace, though she hadn’t confronted me directly. Maybe she didn’t care, or maybe she found amusement in my struggles. Either way, her silence felt more ominous than her words ever could.

The other maids, however, were relentless. Their bullying began subtly—a shoulder bump here, a mumbled insult there. At first, they masked their cruelty with feigned accidents or muttered apologies. But as days turned into weeks, their actions grew bolder. Shoves turned into slaps, and whispers became open mockery. They took pleasure in reminding me of my place: “Humans are at the bottom.” That mantra echoed through the halls like a sinister lullaby.

I tried to avoid them, skipping meals and working tirelessly to keep out of their way. But no matter how hard I tried, it seemed impossible to escape their torment. The wolves operated on a strict hierarchy, and as a human, I was beneath even the lowest among them. Reporting their behavior was out of the question—no one would listen, not while Sandrino reigned as Alpha. So, I endured, hoping that their interest in me would fade. But that was wishful thinking.

The bullying intensified, and I grew more isolated. My days were a blur of cleaning, dodging, and hiding. Exhaustion was my constant companion.

Today was no different. I was finishing up my chores when Pamela appeared, her smirk as sharp as a blade. I instinctively grabbed my cleaning supplies and tried to slip away, but she caught me with her wolf-speed.

"Trying to run away, Loveth?" Her voice was mockingly sweet.

"N-no. Not at all," I stammered, avoiding her piercing gaze.

"Oh, come now. You’ve been avoiding us at meals. Afraid we’ll break your fragile little body?” She laughed, her tone laced with menace. “You used to find time to eat before. What changed?”

I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. When I stayed silent, she dug her sharp nails into my shoulder, and I winced.

“The others miss you,” she cooed. Her saccharine tone belied the malice in her words. 

Wait. What was that she said again? ‘They miss me?’. I scoffed internally. What they miss was pushing me around and hitting me against the wall. They only missed their new found toy.

“You wouldn’t want to disappoint them, would you?”

“I… I—”

She yanked my hair, forcing me to look at her. “I expect an answer, human!”

“N-no, I won’t disappoint them,” I forced through gritted teeth.

“Good girl,” she said, releasing me with a smile that chilled me to the bone. “Come with me. There’s something I need you to clean.”

It was just on the tip of my tongue to tell her that I wasn't done with the current oned i wae supposed to do, but I held back and followed her obedienty without protest, clutching my supplies. She led me outside the palace—a rare occurrence since I was never allowed beyond its walls. We walked until we reached an old, decrepit well, its surroundings littered with fallen leaves. The place reeked of abandonment.

“Take a look,” Pamela ordered, nodding toward the well.

Hesitant, I peered over the edge. The well was dry, its sides covered in algae, with dried leaves scattered at the bottom.

“It hasn’t been used in years,” she mused.

Then why the fuck was she asking me to clean it?!!.

 “But I think it’s time we brought it back to life. Clean it up. Water will be pumped in two hours.” Without another word, she turned and walked away.

I stared after her, disbelief rendering me momentarily speechless. There was no ladder, no way to safely descend. How was I supposed to clean the inside?

Oh gracious, what did I do to deserve this shit? I just pray Kelilah doesn't get caught, and subjected to such a torture.

 I leaned over again, trying to devise a plan, when I felt a sudden shove. My heart leaped into my throat as I tumbled forward, the world spinning around me.

I screamed, arms flailing as I fell into the well, banging my head and legs as I failed in my attempt to grab onto something until I plummeted into the dark depths. My body hit the sides of the well, pain exploding with each impact. When I finally landed at the bottom, the air was knocked from my lungs, and darkness engulfed me.

---

After what felt like hours, I came to, the world was spinning. My head throbbed, a sharp, relentless ache radiating from a tender spot. I raised a trembling hand to the source of the pain and felt the sticky warmth of blood. The memory of the fall rushed back, and I groaned, struggling to sit up.

Someone has pushed me over. 

I was confused for a brief second as to who must have done such a thing, until I heard the sound of water rushing from somewhere around me. Water was gushing into the well, rising rapidly. Panic clawed at me as I glanced around. My leg was bent at an unnatural angle, and I couldn’t move it without searing pain. “Help me,” I called weakly, but my voice barely rose above a whisper.

Laughter echoed from above. I tilted my head back and saw faces peering down, their expressions twisted with glee.

“What were you thinking, Loveth? That it was an accident?” one of them taunted.

“Help me,” I pleaded, tears streaming down my face.

“Help yourself, human. You don’t expect us to die with you, do you?” another mocked.

The water was already at my waist, and rising fast. Desperation set in. Using the wall for support, I tried to stand, ignoring the agony in my leg. The walls were slick with algae, offering no grip.

“Please,” I cried again, my voice breaking. But I knew better. These monsters wouldn’t save me.

The water reached my chest, then my chin. My strength was fading. Blood loss and exhaustion weighed me down, dragging me closer to the inevitable. My thoughts turned to my mother and Kelilah. Would they ever know what happened to me? Would they mourn me, or would they believe I had escaped?

The water was climbing up fast and I was helpless. I cried and cried, but who was I expecting to be my savior? These monsters?. 

The sun shone brightly above the well, its light piercing the darkness. I closed my eyes, letting its warmth wash over me one last time.

And then, everything went still.

No more pain. No more suffering. Only peace.