We both froze in shock, as we were just so terrified. Hoping it won't be Alpha Roman.
Just then, the voice of another maiden spoke up, bringing a little relief.
"On the instruction of the alpha, I came to serve you dinner, ma'am." She said, and left the room immediately.
I breathed a long sigh of relief, as I was already panicking.
"That was so close." I muttered trembling.
The room fell very quiet again, as the maiden didn't say any other word to me again.
"We're forbidden from speaking up in this castle." She whispered.
I looked at her in silence, while wondering what to say to her, wondering what the hell is going on in this place.
"I thought as much. If you don't feel like saying any word to me, then you can keep calm. I totally understand." I assured her, and she smiled at her.
We just stayed silent for a long while, before she broke the silence.
"I trust you, ma'am. You know, speaking to anyone about anything can attract death, as the alpha is very hot tempered." She explained, and I didn't even doubt her at all.
With what I had seen so far, I still didn't need to doubt what the alpha was capable of doing to anyone.
"This is indeed sad. But, is he like this to all the pack members? And nobody has checked him on his lunacy?" I asked her.
" Actually, the Alpha is not that terrible once you don't break his rules. The pack community is a little far from here, so I don't really know how the Alpha treats other pack members" She explained.
Well, she was very right, but I felt like there was more to the story.
"I watched him kill a maiden today." I whispered, trembling as I remembered the gruesome scene.
"W-well, we all know not to ever disobey the Alpha, or cross our boundaries. Jenny, forgot her place, that's all I can say. Just be careful" the maiden replied
"H-have you guys never tried to leave this place?" I asked, confused.
I just couldn't think of anything else but wonder why some people would rather suffer in this hell hole and bear the Alpha's wrath, than work together and find a way to escape.
"Well, the thought has crossed our minds once or twice, but some maidens prefer to stay and win the Alpha's favour. A lot of maidens have been betrayed by others and their lives ended. Some claimed life outside the castle is worse, so they preferred to stay. Anyway, just be careful and don't trust anyone in the castle" She said, and I smiled at her.
With what she had just said to me, I knew that escaping from that castle would be a very impossible task, as there would be no one to trust.
"I'm worried about my existence. I don't know how long I will be able to hold on and continue to endure this monster." I blurted in total weakness.
'I'm just a poor young girl who wants to live a quiet life, in the arms of her loving mate. But I got the opposite, I'm tired'
"About that, you have to be very careful around the Alpha. He doesn't hesitate to end people who he sees as weak and pathetic." She admonished me.
At that moment, my mind flashed back to the incident that had happened earlier.
I could remember him talking about hating me because I was very pathetic.
Does it mean that he was going to end me?
Ohh moon goddess! Run to my rescue!
"I don't know how long I would be able to last with him, but even if it doesn't work out with him, I'd be happy that he ends me so fast. I can't keep up with living like a shadow of myself." I said, as I forced myself to hold back my tears.
This was indeed the toughest phase of my life.
"Nope! You don't have to give up so fast. If you can endure him, then you'd be able to live. Please, I'd be taking my leave now. I've spent so much time with you." She said in panic, as she walked out of the bathroom hastily.
I prayed that she'd be alright. I just didn't want to see her end up in problems.
"Please, be safe, out there." I mumbled.
It was indeed going to be a long night of thoughts for me. This was my first night in this room, and I didn't know what it would hold for me, or what it would be like.
After I was done bathing, I spent a little time in the bathtub, making sure that I enjoyed enough relaxation. I had really suffered for a long time.
For the first time in a long while, I walked out of the bathtub, and I breathed in the fresh air.
Slowly, I saw a reflection of myself in the mirror. I had changed beyond descriptions. My face that was once smooth, was now a home of scars and bruises.
"You'd come back stronger, Ember!" I said to myself, while touching my face slowly. Even my hands had injuries.
I knew that one thing was sure, this was not my end. I just prayed that it'd be able to withstand this present challenge.
It was at that moment, the room was forcefully opened, and it was Alpha Roman Moscow.
My heart started beating erratically
Here comes my nightmare! Why is he here?
For a long while, he stared at me continuously without saying anything.
"You think you can run away from me?" His cold voice laced with fury utters, and I jolted in shock.
What did I do wrong? My hands trembling, almost at the brink of tears once again.
Suddenly, he dashed towards me, grabbed my neck violently, and bit my ear like he wanted to rip it off.
"Ahhhh, s-stop pls, it hurts" I cried "Why are you doing this to me? Why are you causing me so much pain?" I cried out to him, tears streaming down my face.
He slapped me right in the face again.
"You're so pathetic, and I despise you," he said, but a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face.
For a fleeting moment, his gaze softened, as though he was questioning his own words. Then, with a sharp laugh, he pushed the hesitation aside, his cruel facade snapping back into place.
What did I even do to this monster alpha?
"I am your Luna, Alpha Roman Moscow. You need to treat me right!" I yelled at him in tears, trying to sound defiant.
Just at the moment that I mentioned his name, his eyes flickered once again, his grip on my neck loosened up a bit. But it only lasted for a moment before it tightened once again.
At that moment, he brought out a knife from his back pocket.