ELAINE'S POV.As I walk towards Nyx’s room, I can’t help but worry about her. She hasn’t been herself lately and it’s been tough covering for her during chores. The Winter Solstice feast is almost over and we need all hands on deck. I knock on her door softly and let myself in when I hear her muffled voice.I find Nyx lying in her bed, covered in sweat and shivering. Her eyes are closed but she opens them slowly as I approach her. I place my hand on her forehead and it’s burning with fever. “Oh no, Nyx. You’re burning up. How long have you been like this?” I ask her in concern.Nyx opens her mouth to speak but her voice is barely above a whisper. “I started feeling sick this afternoon, Elaine. I thought it was just exhaustion from the chores but I guess it's worse than that.”I pull the covers up to her chin and sit on the edge of her bed. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you. I’ll go and fetch some cold water and a cloth for your forehead. You just rest.” Nyx nods weakly and closes he
NYX'S POV.As I lay on the ground, crying and screaming for mercy, the guards continued to drag me towards the alpha's room. I could hear the sound of their footsteps pounding on the hard ground, and the jingling of their weapons as they moved. I begged and pleaded with them to let me go, but they paid no attention to my cries.Just as we reached the door to Atlas's room, it swung open, and he stormed out with fury in his eyes. "What in the name of the moon goddess is going on here?!" he roared, his voice echoing through the hallway.The guards scurried away like frightened mice, leaving me lying on the ground, gasping for breath. I looked up at Atlas, and my heart began to race. He was towering over me, his broad shoulders tense with anger, his eyes blazing with fury.He turned to me, and I could feel the heat of his anger radiating off of him. He grabbed my hands roughly and dragged me to my feet, his grip so tight that it hurt. "You," he hissed, his breath hot on my face. "You have
Elaine's PovI sank slowly onto the ground, wrapping my arms around my legs and holding on tight. The tears began to well up in my eyes. Nyx could be hurt. She could be dead somewhere right now. And I couldn't do anything about it. I sat in the darkness, feeling cold and alone. The only company I had were the rats that skittered across the floor. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since the last time Nyx had snuck me some food.My mind wandered, and I thought about my life before being taken by Atlas. I had been happy, surrounded by friends and family. I had dreams of traveling and seeing the world. Now, I was trapped in this cell, with no hope of escape.I tried to keep myself occupied by singing, but my voice echoed back at me, making me feel even more alone. I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to ward off the chill that seemed to seep into my bones.Fear started to gnaw at me, and I wondered what Atlas had planned for me. Was he going to sell me? Torture me? Ki
SAVIO'S POVI stood in front of the cell where Elaine was being held, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew I was treading on thin ice with Alpha Atlas, but I couldn't stand by and watch as he punished an innocent human girl.As the alpha approached with his men, I straightened my back and tried to keep my expression neutral. "Alpha Atlas," I greeted him with a nod."Savio," he acknowledged me with a curt nod. "What brings you here?""I was just checking on Elaine," I said, gesturing to the cell. "I wanted to make sure she was okay."Atlas raised an eyebrow at me, his expression skeptical. "You seem awfully concerned for someone who is just a human."I shrugged. "She's still a living being, and I don't like to see anyone suffer."The alpha snorted. "Well, she brought this upon herself. Trying to escape like that was a foolish move.""I don't think she meant any harm," I said, my voice steady. "She's just scared and confused."Atlas regarded me for a moment before turning to one of his
SAVIO'S POV."It's okay, don't fret. You're here with me and nobody is going to hurt you." I whispered into Elaine's ears, the metallic smell of blood wafting into my nose at instances.As I led Elaine back to her room, she was a weeping mess. Her body trembled with every step, and I could feel her pain as if it was my own. I wanted to take away all of her pain, but I knew I couldn't. I could only be there for her and try to ease her suffering as much as possible.She was quiet for a brief moment when I picked her up, careful to not touch any of her welts, and carried her back to my room. I could feel her body relax in my arms, and I hoped that she felt safe with me.When we reached my room, I gently laid her down on the bed. She curled up into a ball, clutching at the sheets as tears continued to stream down her face. I couldn't bear to see her like this, and I knew that I had to do something to help her."Elaine, can I help you?" I asked softly, kneeling down beside her. She nodded
ELAINE'S POV.My back is still burning from the whips, but with Savio's massage, I am getting better. The tension in my muscles is easing, and the pain is slowly dissipating. I close my eyes and let out a deep sigh, enjoying the feel of his strong hands on my skin. He's so gentle with me, and I can feel the love and affection pouring out of him.I'm confused, though. All my life, since I showed up at the alpha's home, I have always been terrified, yet drawn to Savio. Being in his room, with his hands on me, is a little shocking to me, and I'm struggling to make sense of what has happened in the last 48 hours. Still, I can't deny that I feel totally at peace in his presence.When he apologizes to me for not believing me, I'm taken aback. "I'm sorry, Elaine. I should have believed you from the start," Savio says, his voice soft and contrite.I don't know what to say. His words are so unexpected, and I am still in a state of shock from everything that has happened. I had never expected
ELAINE'S POV.As I slowly opened my eyes, I was hit with a sharp pain in my back. I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake myself up fully. For a moment, I felt disoriented, and I couldn't remember where I was. As I looked around the room, everything seemed unfamiliar, and I couldn't recognize any of the details around me. The room was unfamiliar, and I was lying in a bed that wasn't mine.The pain in my back quieted down almost immediately, and I tried to sit up, but I was suddenly hit with another wave of dizziness. I took a few deep breaths to steady myself before trying again. As I sat up, I noticed that I was wearing a man's t-shirt. It was soft and comfortable, and it smelled like him.That smell... I narrowed my eyes, everything starting to come back to me in blurry bits and pieces. The room had a different smell and feel to it than my own, and I couldn't recall how I ended up in this foreign place. The walls were painted a neutral color, and there was very little decoration, save for
ELAINE'S POV."What's wrong?" He asked tentatively. "Is there something else you need?" he asked."No, no, it wasn't that. I just thought I should go back to my room and rest a bit more," I said, trying to sound convincing.But before I could get up from the bed, I winced in pain at the bruises on my back. Savio's eyes widened with concern as he had held my wrist, stopping me from moving."Elaine, are you okay?" he asked, worry etched on his face."I'm fine," I lied, trying to pull my hand away."No, you're not," he insisted, his voice firm as he pulled me closer to him.I couldn't help but notice the way his eyes seemed to search mine, as if he was trying to find an answer to some unspoken question. His furrowed brow and the creases on his forehead seemed to deepen, making his handsome face look older than it should.His concern was palpable, almost like a tangible force that enveloped me. It was as if he was radiating heat, and I could feel it seeping into my bones. I tried to prote