Chapter 4

Sinclaire's Point of View

"Retreat," the man holding me exclaimed, loud enough for all the assailants to stop in their tracks and leave without further questions.

The relief on Alpha Dior's face was palpable, and despite the ache in my heart, I still felt relieved as well. As much as I didn't like the people in my pack, they did not deserve to just die like this. So many people have died already, and there are also those who are injured or on the brink of death. I don't want more deaths anymore.

When I felt a tug on my arms, I lifted my head and met the man's dark eyes. I immediately averted my gaze, looking down on his chest instead.

"Come on," he whispered and started pulling me away. I didn't respond; I just looked back at where Alpha Dior was still standing, watching us leave with inscrutable eyes. I swallowed heavily, unsure of what I was currently feeling, as the man led me towards another car.

He beckoned me to enter, which I immediately obliged. Alpha Dior gave me to him, which just means I am under this man now. I need to obey all his orders from now on.

So I climbed inside the car. I stiffened when he followed, though he maintained the space between us that I intentionally put.

It was a long ride— the longest ride I've ever had. I didn't close my eyes even once during those hours, afraid of what I would see if I opened it again. Neither of us talked throughout the ride, which was fine by me, but it also gave me a lot of anxiety.

From the corner of my eyes, I would occasionally see him glancing my way. I remained looking straight ahead, not slouching back on the seat. I was vigilant the whole time.

I may have accepted my new fate, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't do anything to at least keep myself safe from any pain.

It was nearly sunset when we entered a humongous gate that said 'Hollowmere Town'. I frowned at the name. It sounds oddly familiar.

It was a subdivision. A high-security subdivision. All the houses we passed with screams of wealth, unlike our pack which was divided according to status.

We stopped in front of the largest house I've ever seen. Larger than Alpha Dior's mansion, and larger than the ones I briefly saw on television.

"Come on," the man spoke for the first time since we left Burnridge Town. He climbed out of the car, so I hurriedly followed. I stumbled out, thankfully caught by the man's sturdy arms.

"Here," he muttered, then he steered me towards the mansion, his large and rough hands still holding my arms.

It felt like I entered a palace in one of the fairy tales I read when I was a kid. There were no better words to describe the place than to call it majestic. It's magnificent, in a way I can't fully describe.

"Good evening, Alpha Yashiel."

I was pulled out of my thoughts by the voices I heard. I took a step back when I saw several men and women bowing down in our direction. They wore a rather fancy maid outfit, so different from the ones in my pack— previous pack. They all seemed well cared for here.

"Althea. Call the other Council members to the meeting room in an hour. Tell them I have returned with my intended."

All of them had lifted their heads to look at me. I fought back the urge to squirm under their scrutiny. What did I do now? I didn't even move an inch, and I didn't utter anything. Why are they all looking at me like that?

"Now, Althea. I'll just settle her in her room," the man— Alpha Yashiel— said in a cold and firm voice, which made the maid named Althea scramble to do his order.

The others dispersed at once, and Alpha Yashiel steered me towards a lift— they even had a lift!

We stopped at the fourth floor, where he finally removed his hands from my arms. He walked ahead without saying anything, so I hurriedly trailed behind him.

“This—” he started speaking, stopping in front of the door at the farthest corner of the hallway. “— will be your room.” He added on. He opened the door and entered the room. I slowly followed, fully expecting a dusty, old room filled with broken and unused items and furniture, where I would be the one to clean it up so it could be a suitable space for me to room in.

And all my expectations fell at what welcomed me.

The room is styled in classic elegance with soft purple hues, like most of the ones I read in fairy tales. It's like a princess' room- full of expensive furniture and materials. The walls, so high and wide, were painted a muted lavender. A soft purple, vintage-style bed sits against one wall, draped with white bedding. There's a reading nook by the window, looking so comfortable and warm. On each wall were bookshelves where there were several books neatly piled together in their colors. A large wardrobe stands in the corner. Beside it were a large mirror and a vase with beautiful purple flowers. On the other side of the wardrobe was a vanity where different skin products were neatly arranged. There was also a space near the reading nook where a mahogany table was situated, as well as a revolving chair in lavender color. On top of the table was a computer set, stacked notebooks, and various kinds of pens.

It was all I could ever wish for in a room.

“This is... mine?” I asked in a small, trembling voice.

Alpha Yashiel hummed in affirmation. “Everything you will see here is yours.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean ‘why’?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. I immediately looked away, afraid of the consequences if I looked at his eyes.

I swallowed heavily. “Why... why are you giving me such expensive things and a beautiful room? The dungeon would be enough for me...”

“The dungeon?”

I flinched back violently at the harshness of his voice.

“I-I didn’t mean to offend you, Alpha. I know you’re m-more than capable of giving me a decent room, and that you’re a hospitable host, but someone like m-me doesn’t deserve the lavishness and kind of hospitality you’re providing for me,” I hastily replied to alleviate his anger which was so palpable. My heart was racing violently against my chest, afraid of what he might do to me.

I am no stranger to violence and pain, as well as mocking and insults, but there’s other form of punishment someone with such high status and power as him can do to me. That’s what I’m afraid of.

I waited for a few seconds for what he might do, but when he did nothing, I slowly lifted my head to take a peek. Surprisingly though, his frown slowly dissipated, his dark eyes that were full of anger had softened a bit.

“I am not mad at you,” he softly said, as softly as he could with his deep voice and the natural coldness in it.

I just nodded, deciding to remain silent so I wouldn’t blurt out anything stupid that might put me in a situation I wouldn’t want myself in.

“Sit down here, Sinclaire,” he ordered.

I followed silently. I sat at the end of the bed, facing him. To my utter bewilderment, he knelt down in front of me.

“A-alpha—”

All words died down when he reached out towards my feet, and then he slowly took off the heels. He gave my reddening feet a massage, which almost made me sigh in relief, because even though it wasn’t as high as the usual heels the girls in our village wore, it was still a heel. I’m not used to wearing it, so it hurts my feet.

Thankfully, I restrained myself from doing so. He may be my new Alpha, and he may have given me my dream room, but I shouldn’t let my guard down around him. I will follow his orders, answer his questions, and not stop him if he wants to do something to me, but I can’t show him I’m comfortable here lest he suddenly gets a funny idea.

“You can take a bath. I’ll prepare your clothes for you,” the Alpha said. “Feel free to choose which product you want. You have a variety of options inside. All of it is yours to use.”

He stood up and went towards my wardrobe, so I stood up as well and went towards the direction of the bathroom he pointed to.

Just like my bedroom, the bathroom is just as fancy and elegant. I didn’t know what to do in the large bathtub, so I decided to just shower instead. I saw a body scrub, as well as an expensive soap and shampoo that I could only wish to use before. Since my Alpha ordered me to freely use whatever I want, I followed that.

I enjoyed taking a shower because the water wasn’t as cold as the one I always used way back in the dungeon. This one is warm. And the body scrub made me feel like I had removed all the grime and dirt I accumulated over the years of hunting in the forest. I don’t know if it was just my imagination, but it feels like my hair became twice as soft and smooth with the new products I used on it.

When I went towards the sink to brush my teeth, there were several skin products as well. I didn’t know how to use that, so I ignored it for now. I took one of the expensive brushes and toothpaste, my hands shaking as I brushed my teeth. It took me almost ten minutes because I quite liked the taste of it. My mouth never felt this fresh.

Once I was done, I used the bathrobe hanging on the hook near the bathtub. Then I used the towel piled on the corner to dry my hair.

A knock on the door made me jump.

“Are you done? Your clothes are on your bed,” The Alpha said.

I quickly folded the towel, then I left the bathroom. The Alpha was sitting in the reading nook, watching my every move. I went straight towards the bed. Without hesitation, I removed the bathrobe, letting it fall on the floor as I picked up the underwear.

Alpha Yashiel swore. When I glanced at him, he was staring at my body. I tried not to let it bother me, because it would not be the first time a guy would see me naked.

Once I was done wearing the clothes he prepared for me, which are comfortable pyjamas in soft purple, I turned to face him, waiting for what he would say next.

“I’ll go and meet the other Council members. You are free to do whatever you want here, but don’t leave the house. I will have one of the maids bring a meal for you. If you have some request, just tell them,” Alpha Yashiel said.

“I... I can go get it by myself, Alpha Yashiel,” I mumbled.

“If that’s what you want. There would be a lot of people around the place; will you be fine?”

I nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”

Alpha Yashiel stared at me for a few seconds, then he sighed.

“Alright then. The kitchen is on the first floor. Use the lift, not the stairs. Fetch yourself a meal once you’re hungry. I’ll go ahead.”

“Thank you, Alpha Yashiel.”

He gave me one last, long, hard look before he left the room.

Only when I was alone did I crumble to the floor, hugging my knees and crying myself into oblivion.