Chapter 2 Prince of Terror

Aria POV

The silence was shattered by the screams of my fellow slave. I turned to see the palace gates, but no one emerged. The screams grew louder, and I realized they were coming from inside the palace.

Lily's eyes met mine, filled with fear and dread. We knew what was happening. Romain's wolf had been unleashed, and the palace was trembling with its fury.

"Please, don't let it be another slave," Lilly whispered, her voice trembling.

“I knew what she meant. When Romain's wolf was unleashed, it was a sign of his anger and frustration. And to calm it down, disobedient slaves were sent to the wolf to mate with and are consumed, a gruesome appeasement to satiate the beast's fury."

The screams grew louder, more desperate. I could tell whoever was inside Romain's lair was fighting for their life.

"It's going to be another slave," I whispered, my heart heavy with dread. "Someone who proved to be stubborn."

Lilly nodded, her eyes filled with tears. We knew the rules, knew the consequences of disobedience. And we knew that once Romain's wolf had claimed its victim, there was no escape.

The screams finally stopped, and the palace was silent once more. But we knew the terror was far from over. The wolf's savage growls could come again at any moment, and next time, it could be one of us.

Even the palace guards, tasked with supervising us, couldn't hide their terror. 'Get back to work!' one of them barked, his voice cracking with fear, as he struggled to maintain a semblance of authority amidst the palpable dread that gripped us all.

******

I trudged along with the others, my heart still racing from the terror we'd just witnessed. We entered the grand dining hall, the line for food snaking around the room.

I joined the queue, my stomach growling with hunger, but my appetite vanished as I gazed at the bland, unappetizing porridge being ladled out. The same porridge we'd had for breakfast, and would likely have for dinner too.

As I waited, my mind wandered back to my past life, before I was taken from my home and brought to this place. I remembered the lavish feasts my family would host, the tables groaning under the weight of delicacies and sweet treats.

I recalled the taste of fresh bread, warm from the oven, and the sound of laughter and music filling the air.

The contrast between then and now was stark. Here, we were lucky to get a scrap of stale bread and a bowl of thin porridge, day in and day out. I felt a pang of sadness and longing as I remembered the life I once knew.

Finally, I reached the front of the line and received my meager ration. I took a seat on the floor, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of Romain in his wolf form. The other slaves followed suit, settling onto the floor with a murmur of dread.

Even the palace guards seemed on edge, their eyes darting towards the doors as if expecting the wolf to burst in at any moment.

As Lilly and I sat there, a male slave, Marcus, approached us, his eyes wide with fear. He sank beside Lilly and I, his hand shaking visibly as he tried to steady himself.

"Marcus, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He glanced around nervously before leaning in close. "I saw something," he whispered.

Lilly’s eyes widened in horror. "What do you mean?" she whispered.

Marcus's voice trembled as he recounted the terrifying scene he had secretly witnessed. "I was hiding in the shadows, my heart racing, as the guards dragged a screaming slave into Romain's lair.

Romain was in his wolf form, bound in chains, but his eyes blazed with a fierce intensity. As they entered, he unleashed a blood-curdling howl, the sound sending chills down my spine.

The guards locked the door behind them, trapping the slave inside with the snarling beast. I held my breath, frozen in fear, as Romain's chains began to rattle and clank.

He was breaking free! I knew I had to escape, but my legs felt like lead. I forced myself to move, my eyes fixed on the door as I crept backward, desperate to avoid detection.

Just as I reached the threshold, Romain's chains snapped, and he lunged at the slave with a vicious snarl. I didn't dare look back, sprinting down the corridor as fast as I could, the sounds of terror and chaos echoing behind me."

Lilly and I exchanged a terrified glance, our eyes wide with fear. We knew what Marcus was implying - that Romain had claimed another victim, and we were all in grave danger.

I forced down a few bites of food, my stomach churning with anxiety, my hands shaking as I held my spoon.

After breakfast, we dispersed to our respective duties, our movements stiff and robotic, our footsteps echoing through the halls like death marches.

I made my way to the Crown Prince's room, my mind racing with thoughts of what he had in store for me. My back still throbbed in pain from Sophia's brutal punishment, a constant reminder to keep my distance away from him.

I quickened my pace, hoping to finish my tasks before he returned from his brief absence. I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had been building up inside me, wondering when Henry’s harassment would finally cease.

Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief because I was almost done, the door swung open and Henry strode in, his eyes locking onto mine with an unnerving intensity.

His smile was charming, but I knew better - it was a mask that hid his true intentions. "Aria, my dear," he said, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down my spine.

"I see you're still as lovely as ever. And still as stubborn, I presume?" He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine, and I could feel my heart racing in my chest. I knew I had to be careful.

"I don't know how you're able to resist me," Henry said, his voice dripping with arrogance as he grasped my chin, his fingers digging into my skin. "I'm handsome, charming and powerful - you should be submissive when I touch you."

I jerked my chin out of his grasp, my heart racing with defiance. "You may be handsome and charming, Henry, but you're also betrothed to Sophia," I spat, my voice firm and unyielding. "You'll be marrying your mate in the next full moon, so kindly behave."

Henry's eyes narrowed, his face twisting in anger. "You dare to remind me of my obligations?" he growled, his voice low and menacing. "You're just a servant, Aria - Don't forget your place."

I stood my ground, my eyes locked on his, refusing to back down. "I may be a servant, Henry, but I won't be bullied or coerced into submission. And I certainly won't be swayed by your empty flattery and false charm."

The air was electric with tension as we faced off, our words hanging in the air like a challenge. I knew I had to be careful - Henry's anger was a dangerous thing, a tempest waiting to unleash its fury - but I refused to back down.

I turned to leave, my heart pounding in my chest, but Henry's voice stopped me in my tracks.

"I command you to stay," he growled, his voice low and menacing, like a predator stalking its prey.

I bit my lip, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth, and spun back around to face him.

"Why are you harassing me like this, Henry?" I demanded, my voice shaking with rage and fear. "What do you want from me?"

Henry's eyes narrowed, his face twisted in a snarl. "You know exactly what I want, Aria," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "And I'll stop at nothing to get it."

I took a step back, my eyes fixed on him, my heart racing with terror. Henry's anger was a palpable force, a storm cloud gathering on the horizon, ready to unleash its fury upon me. I knew I had to get out of there, fast, before it was too late.

But Henry was too quick. He grabbed my arm, his grip like a vice, and yanked me back into the room. I struggled and kicked, but he was too strong. He slammed the door shut behind me, and I was trapped.

"No, Henry, please!" I begged, my voice hoarse with fear, my words tumbling out in a desperate plea.

"Don't do this!"

But Henry just laughed, his eyes glinting with triumph, his voice dripping with malice, thick and venomous.

"You know I want to possess you, body and soul," he sneered, his words crawling under my skin like a dark, sinister shadow.

"And now, you're going to be mine. Completely. Utterly. Irrevocably."

His eyes burned with an unholy desire, his gaze devouring me like a ravenous beast. I felt like a trapped animal, cornered and helpless when he closed in on me with an unnerving slowness.

As he pushed me onto the bed, my bruised back screamed in protest, the tender skin throbbing with a fresh wave of pain as it made contact with the unforgiving surface.

His hands grasped my wrists like shackles, holding me captive. I tried to struggle, but his grip was unyielding, his strength overpowering. I was at his mercy, and I knew I was in grave danger.

He buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply.

"You smell heaven Aria," he whispered."

his nostrils flaring like a predator savoring its prey.

I shuddered at the intimate gesture, my skin crawling with revulsion.

His lips brushed against my ear, sending shivers down my spine, and I felt his warm breath dancing across my skin.

He started moving lower to my neck, his mouth tracing a trail of fire down to my b***st, and I knew I was going to lose my purity.

Just as his lips were about to claim mine, the door banged open, and a voice boomed through the room,

" What in the devil's name is happening here?!"

My heart leaped with hope, thinking rescue had finally arrived, but as I turned to face the newcomer, my joy was short-lived.

A chill ran down my spine as I met the gaze of the person standing in the doorway, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that made my blood run cold.

The air seemed to vibrate with tension as she took in the scene before her.