Astrid's POV
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I blinked twice and chuckled nervously scratching the back of my neck.
"Wh-what?".
I wanted to be sure what I heard was indeed what Marcy said.
"You didn't touch the master while he was sleeping, did you?'
I cleared my throat and laughed again shaking my head.
"No...no, I did not".
Marcy nodded and sighed. "That's a good thing then". She smiled and looked at me. "I'll be heading home now".
I nodded with a smile and she walked out of the house.
"Ahhh….". I yelled immediately she was gone. "Wh-what have I done? Marcy says do not disturb the Alpha while he's asleep then when I tried to treat his cut without having to wake him up, I'm at fault…I just…ah!..."
"Breathe in…breathe out. It's all good, just leave this…". I stepped out the door but quickly hid behind it when I saw the guard who had taken me to the isolated dungeon and also to the persecution square.
"Wh-what is Better Behave doing here? I…I haven't seen him all this time…but wait a minute, why am I even hiding?". I asked in a whisper and shook my head stepping out from behind the door.
"Marcy just went home early as per Alpha Logan's orders". I heard the guard I called 'Better Behave' say to the other guard he was with.
I immediately retracted my feet and hid behind the door again.
"I think it has to do with a vase that got broken in his room. The Alpha detests carelessness".
I quickly shot a hand over my mouth. Was the scary Alpha King going to dissolve Marcy of her work here? There was no way I was going to let that happen when it was my fault.
I quietly tiptoed back up the stairs and to the Alpha's office. I exhaled heavily.
"I…I can do this". I pressed my lips in a thin line and nodded once as I knocked on the door.
I knocked again when I got no answer and put my ear on the door.
"Hmm…He might still be in his room. Maybe I should…".
I suddenly heard the door at the far end behind me open and I immediately opened the office door and went in, carefully closing it so as not to make any sound.
I dashed further into the office and got on my knees in front of his desk. I badly had to make things right before Marcy would lose her job because of my carelessness.
I heard the door open and I shut my eyes tightly and clasped my hands together.
~Oh dear goddess assist me. Oh dear goddess, assist me.
"What are you doing here?". He asked and I opened my eyes. He was now seated in his chair and looking down at me.
"I…I deeply apologize Alpha…". I tried to make my voice sound less shaky. ~Oh dear goddess…
I was drastically sweating inside so I immediately bent low until my forehead was touching the wooden floorboard.
"What are you apologizing for?".
"For…for touching you without your permission. I…I have committed a grave atrocity, but I request pardon from the Alpha".
"Go on, what else?".
I could hear the hint of amusement in his voice. He was enjoying this and I was hating it so much!
I raised my head a little and looked at him. My heart was pounding in my chest and I never knew I'd be afraid of anyone like this, ever!. I immediately put my forehead back on the wooden floorboard.
"…I deeply apologize for breaking the Alpha's vase and keeping it from him". I knelt upright placed my hands together in front of my face and rubbed my palms together. "I…I shall accept whatever punishment the Alpha has for me"
"Whatever the Alpha has…". He repeated my words.
"I shall accept whatever". I agreed with him. It was my words against mine.
"Are you sure?"
I could see that one of his brows lifted and I badly wanted to know what he had in mind.
"Get up".
I scampered to my feet and dusted my dress, keeping my head low as a long period of silence issued between us.
I fought the urge to smile. I was pleased I had saved Marcy and her job and had also saved myself. I closed my eyes and looked up at the ceiling.
~Thank you, goddess, you did this one.
I breathed.
"What are you still waiting for?".
"H-huh?". My eyes opened and I stared at the Alpha. Had he said anything to me?
"Didn't you hear me?".
I wanted to shake my head but the settled frown on his face discouraged me so I quickly nodded.
"N-No, I did".
I immediately turned and dashed towards the door, holding onto the knob to open it.
"Where are you going to?". His voice was low and husky.
I closed my eyes and tried to suppress the urge to cry. I just really wanted to get out of here. I didn't want to be in the same space as him.
I sighed and opened my eyes turning to him with a smile.
"Y-yes, Alpha".
"Don't smile". He ordered and I immediately wiped the smile off my face. I then bit onto my bottom lip.
"Go to the shelf over there and bring me those books".
I followed the direction of his hand and where he finger was pointing at. I walked over to the shelf and it wasn't until I reached there that I realised how short I was.
"I…I can't reach there". I whispered to myself and looked over my shoulder at the Alpha. "But…but if I tiptoed…". I tiptoed and tried to reach for one of the books. "Almost there…"
I dropped to my heels and I sighed holding onto the book tightly. I tiptoed again trying to reach for the second book.
"C-can't he do…this himself or…call one of his guards?". I whispered still struggling to get the book. Soon, I dropped to my heels again and added the book to the one I was holding.
I used the back of my hand to wipe the beads of sweat that were already forming on my forehead.
"We…we go again". I breathed and reached for the last book. I suddenly wondered why the Alpha was so silent and didn't yell at me. I wanted to look over my shoulder but thought against it.
I pulled the book out of the shelf but it slipped out of my hand. I closed my eyes and bent down awaiting its clash with my head but... nothing.
I touched my head and opened one eye.
~It didn't hit my head, that's a good thing then.
I jolted up only to feel the force of the book's contact with the middle of my head.
I placed a hand over my hand and turned.
The Alpha was standing behind me, holding the book above my head.
He looked down at me with a frown.
"These aren't the books I asked you to bring".
My facial expression changed as I followed his finger to where he was pointing. It was the shelf next to the one I just removed books from.
"Put the books back and remove the others". He put the book he was holding back in its place and walked away leaving me with the two others in my hand.
I sighed and tiptoed again to place the books back.
"Arrange them properly the way you saw them". He called behind me.
I fought the urge to cry so instead, I struggled to get the books from the next shelf.
I stumbled to his desk after a long while with the books in hand.
"H-here are the books".
I placed them on his desk.
He closed the book he was going through and put it in the drawer attached to his desk. I took a peek at the book before he put it away and I saw something written in black italics on the cover.
"What are these?".
What are these? Didn't he know what these were? I rolled my eyes internally.
I suddenly wished I was this confident outwardly and not just internally.
"Th-they're the books you asked…"
"No". He cut me short. "I do not need those books anymore".
Way to go! I now realised what he was doing. He just wanted to deal with me thoroughly. I would repeat myself a thousand times because it was true, he was determined to end me.
"Put the books back on the shelf and then, you can go".
My ears perked up at those last three words, 'you can go'...I suddenly felt a surge of energy, anything that would keep me anywhere else except where the Alpha was.
I hurriedly packed the books and dashed to the shelf. I didn't mind having to tiptoe a trillion times, as long as I would be out of his sight, I was pleased.
I dashed towards the door once I was done and quickly opened the door colliding with someone.
"S-sorry". I apologized going down to pick the scrolls that had fallen down from his hands. I packed them placing them onto my lap.
"I…I am so sorry". I apologized once more and got up with the scrolls in hand. My eyes bulged at the guard.
"Better behave?". I asked in a whisper and he squinted his eyes trying to understand me.
He retrieved the scrolls from me and walked away. I also took a step to walk out of the door.
"Hey you, stop".
The Alpha's voice stopped me in my tracks and I turned slowly.
"Get me a cup of tea".
I closed the door behind me and rushed down the stairs.
"Just a cup of tea. Only a cup of tea then I can go".
I quickly made the tea and climbed up the stairs in haste but still carefully so the piping hot tea wouldn't spill on me.
I knocked at the door and walked in.
Better behave had already submitted the scrolls and gone out so I walked to the Alpha and placed the cup of tea in front of him.
He eyed me and picked it up taking it up to his lips all the while still staring at me. I looked away.
"What is this?". He dropped the cup on the desk with a clutter and pushed it away. "It's too hot".
"O-oh I'm sorry". I apologized and picked the cup up. "I'll…I'll go make another one".
I dashed out of the office again and came back soon after. I placed another cup of tea in front of him. I eagerly waited for him to taste it.
"Too cold". He stated dropping it on the desk again with a clutter. "Again".
I sighed picking the cup up and dashing out of the office again. I came back and the process repeated itself.
He would either say "It was too sweet" or "It was tasteless". I climbed up the stairs for the fifth time with yet another cup of tea.
I took my time and didn't rush anymore. I had exhausted all my energy already. I knocked and walked into the office going towards his desk where I placed the cup of tea.
I pushed it to him but he pushed it away getting up from his seat.
"I've just lost my appetite, you can take the tea away".
Tears welled up in my eyes as he stepped in front of me. Was he serious? This was way too much and I wanted to shed tears so bad.
I stepped backwards as he kept moving towards me.
"I'll…just get the cup of…"
I wanted to walk away but stopped in my tracks. Something was holding me back. It was digging deeply into the skin of my neck.
I touched my neck and stepped back standing in front of the Alpha. He had held onto the thread of my pendant which made me not move away.
"You shall accept whatever the Alpha wants to do…". He repeated my words and tightened his grip on the thread of the pendant.
The rope was hurting my neck and I used a finger to create space in between my neck and the thread.
I swallowed and looked at the smug look on his face.
I closed my eyes and felt a sharp pain then the thread was off my neck. I opened my eyes still holding onto my neck.
"N-no". I muttered low. The Alpha was holding the pendant up in front of me.
"P-please". I said as he turned and walked towards the fire stand.
I knew what he was going to do next. I just knew so I stumbled towards him as I suddenly felt dizzy.
The last thing I remember was seeing a puff of purple smoke as he tossed the pendant into the fire.