CHAPTER FÔÜR

𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐘✽

My eyes fluttered open, darkness was all I saw. I blinked a few times trying to adjust my vision to my surroundings.

Flashbacks of those mesmerizing pairs of onyx eyes filled my mind, the scene of so much blood pooling onto the floors from Alpha Nicholas's neck. The king, everyone bowing. Was it all a dream? Was I back in my room?

I didn't feel tired after working at the ball for so long, I felt well rested and... comfortable? I ran my hands along where I lay and no doubt it was a bed. I lay under smooth velvet soft covers, the material felt devilishly good against my skin. The softness of the bed was luring me back to my slumber but I knew better. Looking around once again the room was still pitch black. My heart started racing as fear creeped into my spine. What if it was some sick joke? What if I was back in the cellar?

All of a sudden everywhere became bright, light from all areas slipped through the room. Burning from the beaming lights I blinked repeatedly before my eyes adjusted to it's surroundings

"She's awake, tell his highness" I heard a voice command from a few inches away from me. Directing my gaze to the direction of the voice. He had his back to me but from here I could make out his attire. He had on a red shirt and dark jeans. He turned to me and my eyes met with a pair of peculiar violet orbs. He approached me slowly, his eyes filled with excitement.

I back away, shuffling towards the other end of the large bed. I stared at him wide eyed as he stopped moving, raising his hands in surrender, "Woah, woah there princess. I'm not going to hurt you" he said, backing away, his facial features softening as he took in my startled form.

I stopped moving but my gaze remained on him. Did he kidnap me? Was I being held hostage? If I was then I was most certain no one would come look for me, I was worthless after all. I let my eyes travel around the room I was in and sugars, it looked fit for a princess. The walls were entailed with gorgeous calligraphy. The roof high chandelier, the tall windows draped with heavy velvet curtains that had rays of sunlight beaming brightly through them, their intention for the day clear. The large bed with sinfully soft velvet sheets that lured me into their oblivious comfort. The head board, sorry headpiece was intricately carved with fine wood and the pillows, gosh the pillows were so soft it was like they were made out of clouds. The chairs that were displaced around were gorgeous. The floor was covered with fury light beige wall-to-wall carpets. To my right were two roof tall double wood doors and to my left stood the same pair of doors but wider. Sugars, were they torture chambers or something? They had intricate vein like designs engraved in their depths.

"Ryker be careful she may still be a little woozy" a deep voice spoke from the entrance. Both I and the man in front of me snapped our heads to the entrance to see a huge tall figure walk into the room and immediately go silent when his eyes landed on me.

My dark gaze melted into a pair of onyx eyes, it was like the air in my windpipe had gotten stuck and I couldn't breathe. I was lost in his dark stormy eyes, like a brewing storm waiting to wreak havoc and destroy anything in its path yet I couldn't help but be mesmerized and enthralled by it. The more I stared hopelessly into his eyes the more I drowned in their dark ethereal abyss.

"She's a little jumpy your Highness, please be cautious" the man whispered to the large mythical being that stood well over six feet tall, taking up half of the room. He failed in his attempt to whisper as he gave me one last glance before sauntering out of the room.

I gulped down hard, averting my gaze from his tempting eyes. I let my eyes travel down the King's form and my throat went dry. He wore a simple dress shirt and pants, his long, thick tendrils of light brown curls were pulled up into a slick ponytail, a better job than I could ever do with my hair. Even though he didn't have his official attire on he still had this sophisticated aura surrounding him that made him look out of this world with his stubble and sun kissed ivory gold skin.

Everything came tumbling down and memories of last night and seeing him came flashing into my mind.

It wasn't a dream, I had spilled drinks all over him and he was here to punish me for it. Immediately I started trembling, my hands shaking as I gripped onto the sheets to at least have something to protect myself. Stupid I know but I was panicking.

I could feel the power and dominance radiating off him in waves and it had me shaking the more. My dark eyes widened as he began walking closer to me, with each step he took my body jerked and I flinched back. He stopped in his tracks, his hard, terrifying features actually softened once they landed on my rattled form.

"𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐞'' his deep, dulcet voice spoke so fluently, the foreign words sliding off his tongue sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

(Calm down, my love)

Sugars. His features were rough and dangerous, they had an almost primal look to it. His stubble only made him look even more physically powerful than his huge frame already did. He effortlessly towered over me and everything else in the room. His hands were so big and powerful they looked like they could break the whole fabric of our world. The Beast in a mantle.

The soft look in his eyes had me so transfixed I hadn't noticed he had closed the distance between us and was now sitting on the bed beside me, his weight making the space dip. "How are you feeling love?" He asked, actual concern laced his features. I blinked a few times, uncertain if I had heard right. Was he talking to me? Di-did he just call me love?

He's trying to be nice, sugars. "I-I'm fine y-your highness" I answered softly, adjusting a few inches away from him. His perfect brows furrowed as he frowned deeply, making my heart race. Did I do something wrong?

Fiddlesticks! "I-I'm sorry if if I offended you your Highness and I'm sorry I spilled drinks on you at the party it was not my intention I swear and I didn't see where I was going I mean there was no way I didn't see you, you are very hard to miss but I was feeling dizzy and I wasn't looking. I promise, I would never intentionally ruin your clothes and humiliate you in front of everyone. I'm sorry I should have been looking and sugars" I kept rambling and he just watched me with a foreign far away look in his eyes. I shut myself up, my heart was racing and my palms were clammy. Nervously I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, fiddling carelessly with my fingers.

Was he going to have me whipped? "Stop that" he commanded in an authoritative voice and almost immediately it sent my heart into a frenzy. I halted whatever movement I had been doing.

"I'm sorry" I apologised meekly, knowing very well apologising would ease his anger before he would lash out, that meant less strokes for me, well at least I hoped.Gosh

"No" he declined, slightly shaking his head at me. "Stop apologizing and don't call me your Highness, please" he requested. I just gaped at him

Okay maybe he preferred your majesty?

"Audrey my name is Darius, call me Darius" he commanded in a serious tone as if reading my thoughts and I couldn't help but nod. I didn't want to anger him further than I had already done. Shucks, it was so hard for me to control my rambling whenever I felt anxious.

"B-but you're the King an-and everyone should accord you yo-your respect" I stuttered, my heart beat quickening. I still could not register whose presence I was in at the moment. He didn't respond, only hummed lowly to my words and I took it as a sign to stop talking. I decided to ask the question that had been tugging at my mind, "W-where am I king?" I asked, my eyes wandering around the room in a daze.

"My quarters, you are in my palace" he answered and I felt all the air get caught in my throat. H-his palace? The Royal Palace!?

"Did I do something to warrant my being here king? I-i know I made a mistake and I spilled my drink on you so please for-forgive me, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to and I will face any punishment you give me because-" tingles shot up my hand, cutting me off. He held my little hand in his calloused one and I couldn't help but let out a shaky breath at his actions. I flinched away from him, his grip on my hand tightening enough to keep it within his hold.

Looking at our hands they were so unlike each other's; his hand was huge, rough and covered in dark markings, while mine was little, soft and clear. He stared intently at our joint hands, "Why would you think I would punish you Audrey?" He questioned, his soft gaze not leaving our hands. Something about the way he called my name made me shiver, a burning feeling resonating in the pit of my stomach making my insides flutter.

I couldn't concentrate with the tingles that kept dancing along my hand "Be-because whenever I make a mistake I'm always punished for it. That's how it's supposed to be" I answered quietly, my eyes meeting his hardened gaze. "And I made a mistake so you should punish me for it-"

"Never" his voice sharply interrupted me, the dangerous look in his eyes causing his gaze to tighten, warning me never to say such ever again. He inhaled a sharp breath, closing his eyes and only opening them after a few seconds. "Freshen up and come join me for dinner. I know you have a lot of questions" he said, his hand coming to cup my cheek and almost instantly tingles shot through my face making it colour a bright tinge. "Come and I will explain everything. Please trust me amica mae, you are safe here. No one is going to hurt you" he spoke tenderly, his eyes warm trying their best to comfort me. I wanted to believe him, I did but I was still scared out of my mind. Who wouldn't be?

He looked me over one more time, a deep longing clear in his dark eyes before he got up to his full length and strolled out of the room. I finally caught the breath I didn't even know I had lost. I shut my eyes tight, trying my best to reign back my impending headache. My head hurt, I was so confused. Why was I here? With the king, he was talking to me? Maybe he didn't know I was an omega. And how did I get here, last I remember I was at the ball when he grabbed the Alpha by his neck.. Di-did he kill the Alpha? What if he did?That meant Hunter would automatically be the new Alpha of the Silver Moon pack I thought

I was brought out of my reverie when the door was pushed open and in came two women, both dressed in matching uniforms.

One of them had these gorgeous blue eyes... eyes just like Hunter's , while the other had big amber eyes that held a child like innocence and curiosity in their depths. They both looked like middle aged women.

"Good day your majesty" they both greeted, bowing. I looked around and there was no one else apart from us. There was no way they were talking to me.

"Not your majesty, p-please my name is Audrey" I corrected and they both stared at each other in shock, their eyes widening. sugars "Did I say something wrong?" I asked them both and they shook their heads at me.

"No your majesty" the woman with blue eyes answered "We are just used to addressing royalty like the king and queen as such" she explained but I got even more confused. I wasn't the king and I definitely wasn't the queen, maybe they were confused.

"His highness assigned us as your personal maids" she informed me. She hesitated, "Audrey" she forced out. I smiled encouraging her to go on. "We will be responsible for getting you ready to have dinner with his majesty"

I tried to understand as much as I could but I still could not wrap my finger around why this was all happening. Maybe I could ask them. "May we get your bath ready you- Madame Audrey?"

I nodded, still a bit overwhelmed, "what are your names?" I asked, making them halt in their movements to stare surprised at me.

"I'm Fayette but you can call me Faye if you want my lady" the woman with blue eyes answered.

"Faye" I repeated, trying my best to memorise it.

"I'm Ruby, " the woman with pale skin and amber eyes answered, pushing her black hair away from her face. She was really pretty even at her age. I smiled at her, also repeating her name. "May we go now madame?" She asked, their eyes coming up to mine.

I nodded and they dispersed, Faye went into one of the double doors i had spotted at my far right while Ruby went into an opposite door. Running my hand through my hair I sighed, feeling both shock and an overwhelming feeling that twisted at my insides. I didn't like this foreign feeling and everything, it was all too much. I needed answers.

I shuffled to the end of the bed, pushing myself to my feet. I immediately regretted my actions when everywhere started spinning and my knees buckled underneath me. I felt a pair of hands wrapping around my arms, steadying me. I looked to see Faye holding onto me, worry laced her features. "Please take it easy your majesty" she requested, leading me across the room to the door she just came out from. "You haven't used your legs in a long time so they are bound to be a little numb" she informed, steadily walking with me. If I couldn't even walk properly that meant running away would be futile. I wouldn't get far, I couldn't even take a step without faltering. If I did end up escaping I had nowhere to go yet. Leaving in this state won't help matters either

"What happened to me Faye?" I asked, staring expectedly at her. She looked at me with calculative eyes and I could tell she wasn't really here with me, she looked like her attention and mind was somewhere else. After a few moments of no response we reached the doors. She pushed it open and I was shocked to see it was a bathroom, a very large one at that. The size of my room. She walked us inside and helped me sit at the edge of the tub. I let my eyes wander around, taking in every inch of the place. It had been so long since I had seen a bathroom, I was always used to bathing at the stream that I forgot what a bathroom looked like. The bathtub was engraved into a large piece of marble that sat in the middle of the bathroom, taking up half of the space. There were cabinets at each corner and about hundreds of little bottles positioned at the edge of the other side. The sink resided below a large framed mirror that took up that portion of the wall. The walls were each gorgeous beige and pink marble.

"His highness brought you here unconscious madam" she finally spoke, avoiding my eyes as she pulled out white towels from the cabinet beside us. She stood, walking over to the little bottles. She looked at each one carefully and finally decided on four different bottles. She carried them over to where I sat and carefully folded the towels, dropping the bottles on it.

"Unconscious?" I asked, staring at her form as she went to the door and shut it. She walked back to me with a sympathetic look on her face.

"I'm sorry madam but I am in no position to tell you anything more. His highness will explain it all to you in time" she assured me. "Please get into the bath my lady"

She gestured to the tub that I only now registered was filled to its peak with water. I looked back at her confused. Did she expect me to do that while she was here? She was a woman after all so it shouldn't be an issue. I reluctantly slipped out of the dress I had on, only now did I realise I was no longer in my uniform. I stopped, holding the dress in my hands.

"It was Ruby madam don't worry" she assured, smiling sweetly at me. I didn't even have to ask her anything. "His highness made sure no one else laid a finger on you" she informed.

But why was that?

I stripped, handing her the dress. She stared at me for a while, her face contorting into a weary frown. "I'm so sorry my lady" she apologised, her eyes full of sadness as she registered my scars.

I gave her a lump sided smile to comfort her, "It's okay Faye '' I assured her, slipping into the bathtub.