2

Katherine's POV

After I accepted his rejection, I was thrown into a dark dungeon for many nights. I experience excruciating pain. I went through hell. It was as though my soul had been gifted to hell and all I experienced was pain and agony. 

My heart felt so constricted the first night I didn't know I could survive. As I opened my eyes the next morning, I saw a little plate of water and a piece of bread. 

I couldn't eat. I was too scared of the possibility of being poisoned than to stomach anything. The pain continued the next day, I couldn't feel my wolf, I threw up when my body couldn't hold the pain anymore and ended up passing out most times only to wake to the bright morning of another day. 

The fifth night came and I was released from the dungeon by a guard who led the way to the Alpha's quarters. I didn't quite understand what was happening. I thought he was accepting me back but when he laid me on my back, took my virginity in a brutal way and sent me out of his room, naked, I realised what had happened. 

This has been going on for five months. It's my secret even though I'm clueless if anyone else knew about it in the pack. 

By day, I work in the mines or in the kitchen and by night, the Alpha's quarters. 

Once he was done, he spat, "Get out," which I gladly did. I couldn't bear to spend one more second in his presence. His gaze annoyed me, his touch creeped me out and I'm glad he never made an attempt to place his lips on mine, that would've been the last straw to break the camel's back. I would've died and never to be resuscitated. 

I walked back to the slave's quarters alone. As I sat on my bed, wishing I could wash this filth away, my friend, Roma, sat up and stared at me. She was also a slave like me and I shared the room with her. 

"Did it happen again?" 

I nodded, tears pooling in my eyes. I've told myself I wouldn't cry anymore. Tears don't stop or control anything. 

"I'm sorry it did," 

"Don't say that," I told her. She doesn't have to apologize for his brutality or my stupidity. 

"I'm sure it would stop for the next few days," 

"Why do you say that?" I asked her. 

"The Lycan King would be around. It would be a feast and I'm sure he wouldn't have the time to call for you," 

That was good news at least. 

"You should sleep soon, we're resuming at the kitchen as early as possible tomorrow. You need all your strength to withstand the yelling," 

I shrugged. I was used to it. 

The yelling, the usual embarrassment and the frequent slaps. We were at the bottom of the survival chain, everyone had the right to treat us like shit. 

I lay on the wooden straw bed and stared at the hollow ceiling. Sleep didn't come to me. 

It never did. 

I kept on staring and counting numbers until day break. I woke Roma up. She asked if I slept well, I nodded, and lied that I did. 

The entire day was spent in the kitchen. We could barely sit for a minute or drink a cup of water. We weren't allowed to touch anything or eat anything. I was hungry, weak and sleepy. 

I and Roma were instructed to set the feast table along with some other maids. Setting the table was hard since I was shivering and dizzy but I still did it. I didn't want to be beaten or stripped naked and thrown into the dungeons again. 

"Have you ever seen the Lycan King?" Roma whispered. 

I turned to the door to see if any of the guards were coming before I whispered back to her. "No," 

Her eyes went wild. "He's gorgeous," 

I rolled my eyes. I wasn't really interested in whatever he looked like. 

Soon, the party started and we were all lined up against the wall. We couldn't breathe too loudly, laugh at any jokes or say anything. We were there and at the same time, demanded to be invisible. 

Alpha Jackson walked in and everyone stood up. For a minute, I wished he would just drop dead. His eyes met mine filled with disdain and I quickly looked away. Even though it was forbidden to look him in the eyes, I still hate it anytime he looks at me because all I can see in his eyes is hatred and anger. 

I looked down at my feet. Someone suddenly touched me by the shoulder. It was the chef. 

"Get the wine bottles from the cellar," 

I nodded. "Yes, chef," 

I walked away from the crowd after sharing a look with Roma. The wine cellar door was left open and instead of being bothered, I decided someone might have opened it earlier to get the wine out. 

The back of a person was the first thing I saw when I got in. He turned and my breath hitched. Whoever he was was breathtaking and gorgeous. His eyes were deep blue, reminding me of the skies that form before the full moon. His hair was luscious, dark brown and styled in loose waves that framed his chiselled jawline. 

He was perfection in a word. I was so tongue-tied I couldn't even make out a sentence. 

"Hel– you're not supposed to be here," I said. 

He raised an eyebrow. "Needed some privacy before the event," 

I found his statement confusing. "Alpha Jackson doesn't like people lingering around especially in his wine cellar," 

He suddenly pointed at me. "Isn't that what you're doing?" 

I pointed at myself. "Me? I'm here to get some wine for the party," 

I placed the wine bucket down on the table and picked out the first wine. 

"You're a slave," 

His words angered me. I knew I was a slave and he doesn't need to point out the obvious. 

"Yes," I answered through gritted teeth. "If I wasn't a slave, I wouldn't be wearing this tattered gown or look skinny as a twig," I unconsciously slammed a wine against the table. 

It broke. I gasped. 

He took the broken bottle out of my hand and when our fingers brushed, I could feel an electric wave rush through me. 

Something was different. Whatever it was scared me. I quickly moved away from him. His gaze held mine and sucked me into a world that I didn't know existed. I felt seen, wanted. 

"It's good to finally meet you," he whispered, his lips close to my ear.

My absent wolf suddenly reappeared, in an excruciating stance. I sucked in a deep breath. My heart began racing and I placed my hand on my chest to stop it. It wasn't possible. 

His hand reached out and before he could touch me, I took the bucket and rushed towards the door. The door flung open and right outside the door, was my nemesis. 

Alpha Jackson. 

He looked past me and I could see his jaw clenched as he took in the stranger behind me. 

"Your highness," he whispered. 

I was taken aback. His highness?. Does he mean the Lycan King?