Olivia felt that the rumors were exaggerated to inflate the king's ego. She sometimes chuckled when she imagined the king as a quick finish in bed. A phrase she picked up from some of the older slaves serving under the warriors.
The maids stayed back a bit and continued to talk about other matters surrounding the pack. They recaped over Nadia, who after an incident some years ago, decided to stop paying visits to the towers. About the soon coming winter, and then about the other most talked about Lycan.
Ronan.
He was the son of the second division commander, Darius, the same one who had Kieran whipped. And the brother of Yelena, Nadia's personal handmaid.
"I can predict that he's soon going to challenge Kieran for the position of the Alpha's chosen." Merith said in all certainty.
It was said that he was the only person who could keep up with Kieran in sparring matches and the only one who had forced him into a draw.
Olivia knew to be wary of him, if he was anything like his heartless father, he was definitely trouble. Her palm rested on the cheek that Darius had slapped in the past, she tightened her jaw as though the sensation was still there.
"But to be fair, when it comes to looks, women naturally fall to sir Ronan."
Merith shook her head, "I believe Kieran is far more handsome, he just appears to be rough around the edges." She took a pause, then went on to say in a more serious tone. "If we are to be honest, Sir Ronan will definitely become the Chosen. He's of good birth, unlike Kieran who only has the commander backing him up."
Olivia curled her fingers around her spoon. She didn't want anything to happen to Kieran, especially since he was just like her, someone brought into this hell by the third division commander.
Just as both women were about to continue speaking, the doors to the mess hall were pushed wide open and in came an angry sounding Edna.
Both maids immediately bowed their heads. "Head maid," they greeted in a panic.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Edna raised her voice, alternating her gazes between both women.
"W-we were just helping to clean the mess hall—"
Before Merith could finish speaking, Edna raised her hand and landed a tight slap across her face. "Get out! Both of you!"
"Yes head maid!" They chorused then rushed out of the woman's sight, scared to provoke her.
"And the rest of you, haven't you eaten enough? Our men don't go hunting for scum like you to act spoiled. Get up and leave!" Edna ordered, cutting the slave's dinner short.
The slaves who were meant to serve Melvina, were slow on the uptake, so, Edna pulled the closest girl by the ear using too much force that blood trickled down the side of her face.
"I don't think you heard me quite right, get out of my sight, before I rip off all your ears!" She spat out, sending the women into a panicked retreat.
Olivia cursed under her breath and dropped her spoon, she took up her stick to join the others. But before she could get far, she was stopped by Edna.
"Oh my, I can't believe you're still alive, I figured you would've been sent to the well ages ago. I wonder what Melvina is even doing. I should've been the one to take command over you disgusting slaves." She spat out, literally.
Olivia was sharp and able to move her right foot before it got hit by her saliva.
Edna hissed, she had been keeping tabs on Olivia all this time and despite all the men she instigated to have their way with her, none of them for some reason were ever able to get the job finished.
But today, she had managed to convince one of the butchers to teach Olivia a lesson and just had to bring her to him.
"Come with me, I have work for you to do." Edna announced and turned to leave, expecting Olivia to follow, but the girl stood her ground.
"Perhaps you didn't hear me. I said come."
But Olivia was obstinate, she replied fiercely, "If you have work then tender it to a maid. I have to return to madam Melvina and give her my daily report."
Her arrogance just proved to irritate Edna, she was a mere werewolf, who had no right to even speak in her presence. "Damned slave, I'll teach you manners today!" She grabbed Olivia's chain and pulled her collar, nudging Olivia towards her.
Olivia struggled for a bit before giving up, due to the collar's tight structure, the more she resisted, the greater strain she placed on herself.
Hence, she quietly followed Edna out of the mess hall, until they arrived at the stables, where the sound of the horses snoring and the strong scent of blood and intestines greeted her.
"Get in…"
Olivia retorted, "The stables have already been cleaned." She had a bad feeling about the situation, especially the smell of blood.
Edna ignored her and turned to the big bellied man, standing at the end of the stable, next to a prepared stack of hay arranged to form a bedding.
"She's all yours." She announced then pushed Olivia into the stables, causing her to fall on her knees, losing her stick. Her companion, the butcher grinned devilishly and approached Olivia.
"I'll gladly do that." He told her, reaching down to grab Olivia by her chain. Olivia heard heavy footsteps approach her, and an unfamiliar scent get near. She didn't have to put two and two together to know that she had been set up.
"Stop trying to run away!" The butcher raised his voice, he reached for his pants and slipped his hand into them. "I have an itch, come take care of it." He said, then stepped hard on her chain, preventing her from escaping.
"Stop it! Let me—" Olivia's cry was cut short by the large man pushing her shoulders down. In a split second he mounted her, he used his weight to press her down.
Olivia bucked her hips and swung her head left and right, she hated his scent, and his hostile breath fanning against her skin. Her stomach churned when his large hand ventured in-between her legs.
"No, don't touch—"
"Shut up slave! You are nothing, your only purpose is to serve men with this!" He slapped hard on her thighs, making tears fall from Olivia's eyes.
"So shut up and take this!" He arrogantly announced, then began to lick the sides of Olivia's neck like an animal would.
Olivia contemplated biting her tongue and killing herself if this man really tried to take her. She would rather die than let the enemy have their way.
However, just as she tried to, the sound of the butcher's head falling off his neck and onto the ground in a silent thud.
Olivia quickly kicked his body off hers and crawled back until her back was against a wall.
She panted frantically and gasped at the pungent scent of the butcher's blood. He had died, in an instant, and she had no clue on what had happened.
"Are you alright?" A soothing voice like a flowing river called out to her, followed swiftly by a refreshing scent that calmed her nerves down.
There was another scent, and Olivia hadn't even realized it until he spoke to her. He was the one who had killed the butcher, there was no doubt in Olivia's mind.
But why had he done so?
"I am." She told him, "T-Thank you for saving me."
"Are you afraid of me? Don't worry, I won't ever harm you, Olivia." He gently declared, making Olivia conflicted over his identity.
"You know my name?" She sheepishly inquired, if he had called her by her number she'd understand, but for this man to know her name, he must've looked into her.
But why take such trouble?
"Sorry, how rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself." He crouched down on one knee in front of Olivia. She shrank back in fear, but, he gently caressed her cheek, letting her know he was not a threat.
And surprisingly enough, Olivia welcomed his touch and leaned into it, letting her instincts take over, up until he made his introduction.
"I am Ronan." He softly spoke, "But you may call me anything you'd like."
A gasp escaped Olivia's lips, "Sir Ronan?" She whispered.
He chuckled, "I see you've heard of me, or rather you've heard of my father." He said, confirming her thoughts were true.
This man before her was definitely Ronan, the ones the maids gushed over for his looks and his strength. The rival of Kieran and most importantly of all the son of the second division commander, Darius!