ARIANA'S POV.
My feet raced through the lonely streets, past the darkened houses, and glowing street lamps.
My heart was lead, and it kept sinking, threatening to stop every limb in my body just so it could beat.
My thighs burned, pleading with me to stop, but how could I stop? I was going to run till eternity if I was permitted. I just needed to get away— run away from it all. If I didn't, I would go crazy.
My ribs hurt, and so did my lungs, as I couldn't breathe, but my heart pumped pain in its every beat, and hurt more than any other organ or body part in my body.
I dashed into the woods finally, jumping over branches, snapping twigs, and disappearing behind tall, fat trees, startling little animals chittering in the background.
His eyes— they'd changed. I couldn't help the tears running down my eyes. The moment he realized I was his mate, they'd changed.
Words echoed through my mind, and the sound of my breathing increased, as it was mixed with tears. After running for what seemed like hours, the thick trees began to disperse, turning scanty, and I increased the speed of my burning thighs, as I saw a way out.
However, immediately I stepped out, running onto a tarred road, large golden lights beamed onto my face, stinging my eyes, and the fear of being hit by a car rendered my limbs useless.
I fell crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
~
My heavy eyes fluttered open slowly, hitting a white ceiling. I closed it again, and moved my weak arms. When I opened it, my eyes caught the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, spilling wealth in its beautiful golden drops.
Where was I?
I tried to jumpstart, and rise, but my body ached. Deep throbs rose from every corner. When was the last time I'd run that way? Had I ever actually run like that?
"You're awake?" I heard a cautious voice say, and turned sharply to see a timid-looking girl seated on a chair before the bed.
Immediately, I forgot the pain, and rose to a sitting position, backing into the wall.
"Who are you? Where am I? What did you do to me? Why am I here? Why are you here?" A load of questions rushed out, and there were still more, but I noticed she was looking at me strangely. "Why do you keep staring at me like that?"
Her lips parted, and a blush rose to her cheeks.
"Master brought you home. He also gave me the good news that in a while, I'd be freed. I won't have to stay here anymore. I wondered why, but you're so beautiful."
Beautiful?
What was beautiful about a black-haired, and brown-eyed doe? What exactly was beautiful about the girl everyone rejected?
Then I remembered the flashing lights, the car, and me losing it out of shock.
"Where's your master? What pack is he from? Who is he? Does he plan to return me? Oh, please, can I see him?" I asked, tumbling out of the bed.
If anyone was looking for me, I didn't want them to find me. I'd be grateful to him forever if he could let me go on my way to find a new path.
"If you want to meet him, then you should dress up first." She said, and I looked down at the sweatshirt and pleated skirt I'd hastily changed into the day before.
"Do I need to? It's just to tell him thanks, and ask him not to tell anyone about me."
"You want to see the Lycan King dressed like this?"
"Lycan…?" My eyes widened, and I froze all over again. I'd heard the stories.
I was never interested in him much because nothing would ever make me come in contact with him, but was this lady just telling me I was in his house?
I gulped, and became a lamb.
"I was taken by the Lycan King?"
Ruthless, murderous. Even though he left his Palace, his people's fear never ceased. He was a terror, a tyrant, dressed in impeccable three-piece suits. A handsome demon sent from hell to murder whoever stepped out of line.
Did I just jump from my frying pan into the fire?
"Can I escape before he sees me?" I asked, finally understanding why it was good news to her that she wouldn't have to stay there anymore.
Wait! Did he intend to make me stay? Did he want me to serve as his maid instead? Oh my God! Oh my God!! I was freaking out. My fingers didn't even wait for me before they began to tremble.
"You can't escape, ma'am. It's all going to be on me."
"Then dress me up pretty. Don't let him murder me." I said, rushing to hold her hands. How had I gotten myself into such a mess? It would have been better if I decided to cry in my room, and stick with it. But no, I just had to run away. I just had to be a rebellious idiot!
She smiled, "My master hasn't killed anyone since I got here, but you have nothing to worry about. He only kills when you step out of line."
"Am I the new maid?" I asked, and she smiled again.
"I have no idea. There's really no use for me in this house though. He rarely eats whatever I cook, and I hardly see him, and that's fine with me. By the way, I'm Lisa."
What was she saying? I cried in my mind. Didn't she know the reputation her master had?
Lisa dressed me in a peach gown with a super high-quality fabric. Its arms were off the shoulder, and pleated waves fell over my arms, around my chest, and back.
Its waist was cinched, while little pleats fanned out down my thighs. She had my wavy black hair up in a high ponytail, and placed a bow, looking like a braid over the front of my hair, before placing pins in delicate spots.
It was perhaps the first time I was truly seeing myself, as someone beautiful. There were roses in my cheeks, and my lips had gained a natural pink color apart from the usual pale pink they were.
"You may follow me." Lisa said, and I got up from the chair, holding my hands together, as I went with her.
Maybe if I looked this beautiful, he would consider letting me go?
I went with Lisa, out onto the halls bathed in soft golden lights. The hallways smelled of cinnamon, and soft butter. This kind of smell was always the one in my dreams. Never in reality.
As we walked past hallways, corridors, down staircases, past important rooms, I couldn't help, but realize just how much money I was literally walking on, and passing through.
This man was stinking rich.
She took me out to the garden, where he probably was, and my heart leaped up, beating hard against the hollow of my chest. I held my hands even tightly as they shook.
Cold sweat broke out on my forehead, as I saw the figure seated on a bench, with crossed legs, and a newspaper in his hands.
"I'll leave you here," Lisa said, and turned away, but I caught her arm.
"Leave me here!?" I whispered fiercely, but she glanced at the figure, and wiggled out of my grasp.
By the time I turned, it was to meet the man's eyes on me.
I froze.
The man…