CHAPTER 4

(RHEA'S POV)

"Kai...da..." I managed to choke out, my voice barely audible amidst the suffocating grip around my throat. With panic coursing through my veins, I shifted into my wolf form, claws slashing desperately at her hand, craving freedom.

Kaida's hold felt like steel bands, mercilessly crushing my air supply. Each moment was a battle against the tightening vice, my struggles only met with relentless resistance.

I swung my fist towards Kaida's shoulder, craving even a fleeting moment of relief. But it was useless. Her grip remained unyielding. Tears mingled with the sweat on my fur, blurring my vision as I fought to escape.

My strength dwindled with every passing second, exhaustion gnawing at my bones. Limbs heavy, resistance faltering, darkness encroaching—threatening to swallow me whole.

"Atlas wouldn't appreciate having an omega's corpse lying around in the manor, you know?"

The unexpected voice pierced the tension, finally prompting Kaida to release me. I collapsed onto the unforgiving concrete and coughed violently, lungs craving precious air. The pain in my neck pulsed in time with my frantic heartbeat, while a splitting headache added to my disorientation.

As my vision slowly cleared, the voice spoke again, smooth and indifferent.

"Especially with the big banquet coming up soon and Alpha Mortis at the manor estate."

From my prone position, I watched through hazy eyes as Kaida turned to face the speaker. "Hello, Lucien," she greeted, her voice maintaining an unnerving calmness despite the chaos that had just unfolded.

The conversation between Lucien and Kaida unfolded above me while I lied there, muscles throbbing, and struggling to even lift myself up.

Lucien maintained his smile as he addressed Kaida, his tone light but tinged with an underlying sharpness. "Hello, Kaida. You do realize that taking the life of an omega without Alpha's approval can still land you in hot water, don't you? Even if you are one of Atlas' most trusted officers, like myself, that won't shield you from Nightspire rules."

Kaida waved off his concern with a dismissive gesture. "Oh, please," she retorted, striding closer to Lucien. "I was merely disciplining a maid slacking off."

"Is that so?" Lucien chuckled, sarcasm lacing his words. "Well, depending on your response... If the omega truly deserved it, I had something else in mind for punishment. What do you say?"

"Oh?" Kaida's irritation simmered just beneath the surface in the presence of the superior beta. "And what might that be?"

Lucien's smile took on a meaningful edge. "Well, I can just show you but I needed a more private setting for that. By any chance, have you stumbled upon such a room during your patrol, Kaida?"

A tense silence hung heavy in the air, the weight of their exchange pressing down on me. I coughed a few times more, attempting to steady myself as I fought to regain my strength.

Kaida clicked her tongue. "My, you're no better than I, Lucien. I'm sure, being Atlas' Beta doesn't make you immune to Nightspire rules as well, correct?"

"I'm well aware," Lucien replied coyly. "That's why I sought your cooperation. I look after you, and you look after me, that kind of thing."

Without warning, Kaida lunged forward, seizing Lucien by the collar. Growl escaped her wolfish facade.

I watched with bated breath as the scene unfolded, unsure of what would transpire next. Surprisingly, Lucien remained composed, as if he had anticipated Kaida's aggressive move.

After a tense moment, Kaida released Lucien and smoothed down his collar as her wolfish appearance receded. I listened intently as she spoke to him, her tone notably softer than before.

"Thanks for looking after me while I was on break, Beta," Kaida said, the sharp edge in her voice melting away.

With practiced ease, Kaida wielded her walkie-talkie, effortlessly persuading her team to patrol everywhere except the pool. "I've got my team patroling on other areas as you have requested, Beta," she assured him. "The pool area is all yours for the investigation, no interruptions guaranteed."

I watched as Kaida approached Lucien, murmured something to him, and then saluted respectfully before making her exit.

"Fantastic work as always, Kaida!" Lucien responded with a smile.

As Kaida disappeared from sight, Lucien's attention snapped onto me like a predator closing in on its prey. He seized my arms, yanking me towards him with an urgency.

"This is a rare moment when I'm free and Atlas is off my back," his voice dripped with satisfaction, his grip tight. "Time is of the essence, Omega, so let's make the most of it."

I struggled weakly against him, my body still reeling from Kaida's earlier onslaught, on top of Atlas' intimate entanglement with another werewolf, and my own exhaustion from lack of sleep and sustenance.

Lucien dragged me along, lifting me off the ground with ease. Before I could escape, he had kicked open a door and threw me onto a nearby sofa.

Before I could even think of escape, Lucien stripped off his shirt and unbuckled his pants, his gaze locking onto me with lustful intent. He lowered the band of his underwear, revealing his stiffened member and stroked it a few times until it was fully erect.

Terror pulsed through me, and I tried to flee, but my limbs felt like lead, my movements sluggish from fatigue.

Lucien's laughter taunted me, a cruel echo in the air. "No need to rush and leave, Rhea. I've waited years for this—" His words sliced through the tension, but before he could finish, a fierce snarl ripped through the room, freezing us both in place.

A powerful werewolf slammed into Lucien, sending him crashing against the wall. Relief flooded through me as I recognized the that red furred werewolf.

"Daisy!".

Daisy wasted no time, her actions swift and decisive. In one fluid movement, she pulled me away from the shelter of the poolside, guiding me urgently towards safety. Without a moment's hesitation, she darted back inside, sealing the door behind her, leaving me stranded but shielded from harm.

"Daisy, what are you doing?" I cried out as I pounded on the locked door.

"Get out of here!" Daisy called back. "I'm used to dealing with Lucien's abuse! Just—Ah!" A series of loud noises filled the air, starting with the shuffle of movement followed by the crash of breaking glass. Then another heavy thud shook the door. Daisy shouted again, "Leave, Rhea!"

"You ungrateful mutt!" Lucien's enraged growl echoed from inside. The door quivered under the force of his assault, but it held firm.

Afraid things would go worse, I followed my instinct. I took a few unsteady steps away from the pool house before breaking into a run, clutching my aching head and stomach. Tears streamed down my face as I fled, the sounds of torment echoing behind me—Daisy's screams, Lucien's rage.

As I dashed through the darkness, tears streaming down my face, I couldn't help but send a silent plea to the Moon Goddess, 'Why must I endure all this?' I wondered, my heart heavy with longing for justice.

In the depths of my despair, Starlight, my inner wolf, whispered to me with a weariness that mirrored my own. 'We are special, Child,' she murmured. 'We will grow stronger. But first, we must survive.'

"I know," I muttered through clenched teeth, the pain in my body gradually easing. "But where can I even run to?"

Suddenly, I recalled Lucien and Kaida's talk earlier: 'Even if you are one of Atlas' most trusted officers, like myself, that won't shield you from Nightspire rules.'

"Atlas..." I whispered his name.

I could feel Starlight's nodded in a silent agreement.

Despite the danger he posed, seeking refuge with him might be our only chance at survival. With no other options left, I made a decision. I turned my heels towards the main manor, towards Atlas, and whatever fate awaited me there.