Kalina
I struggled against Nicholas, my nails clawing at his wrist as he tried to take off my collar. My breath came in rapid gasps, my body shaking as memories of the first time I had seen people wearing collars and chains surged forward.
They were refugees from destroyed packs, captured rogues, and rebels who dared to challenge my father's authority—they were marks of subjugation.
Yet, here I was, wearing one myself. I was none of those things. And yet, this collar clung to me like a brand of shame.
But mine was different. It had no lock. No keyhole. It was something a witch had made during the Blue Moon. It wasn't something I could remove, no matter how desperately I tried. However, it wasn't also something that could never be opened. Only people who are of the opposite gender and an Alpha could unfasten it.
"Stop resisting already, Kalina," Nicholas growled, his patience running out. His fingers grazed the edge of the collar, and panic seized me.
"Don't!" I screamed, twisting away from him. "Don't do this, please. I'm begging you!"
Of course, he didn't listen. None of them did.
If the collar came off, something far worse could happen. I'd seen what had happened after it was taken from me. It seared in my mind like a hot iron, bearing a traumatic scar in my memories. I don't want a repeat of what happened.
Nicholas should have known better. He had heard of the rumors surrounding me.
My struggles grew frantic as I felt the looming danger about to bite me. But just as his hand touched the skin underneath the collar, the door burst open.
My father stood in the doorway with two other people. A man and a woman.
The room fell into silence as my father's gaze darted across the room, narrowing as realization hit him. His initial shock gave way to fury. But he had been an Alpha for decades. This much didn't make him explode in anger. Still, it should have taken a lot of effort to rein in his wrath.
"Robert," my father said, his voice cold. "Take your friends and leave. Now."
Robert opened his mouth to explain, but one sharp glance from our father silenced him. He lowered his head, and he walked out, his friends trailing behind him like they were his tail. My father's anger, however, hadn't dissipated. It merely shifted focus—to me.
I curled against the wall, trying to make myself as small as possible. It didn't matter. His eyes found me. It wasn't the gaze a father would look at his daughter. No, it was the kind of look you'd give to a murderer who massacred your entire family.
"Worthless, runt," he murmured, his voice low enough. But I could still hear it. "I must have been out of my mind when I let you live."
I bit my lip, tears pricking my eyes. "Robert took me here. I couldn't—"
Before I could finish explaining, my father sent me a scathing look that had me swallowing the rest of the words.
Thomas, my father's beta and second-in-command, appeared at the door. His face crumpled into a disapproving look, but he completely ignored her.
"The Golden Legion's Legastus is on his way here."
Once he spoke those words, the two guests, my father included, froze. The expression on their faces looked like they swallowed flies and couldn't cough it out. Nevertheless, they quickly straightened their expressions.
My father also wasted no time.
"Take her back."
Thomas nodded. He didn't wait for me to stand on my own, though. His hand closed around my arm, pulling me to my feet with a force that made me wince. I stumbled after him as he dragged me toward the door. Then he ordered two maids to escort me.
I swallowed hard, my heart sinking as we walked through the corridor. This time, I knew what was coming to me. The moment I returned to my quarters, my father would then decide on what to do with me. Just thinking of the punishment I might receive brought out my hatred toward Robert.
If he hadn't taken me out because of his silly bets, I wouldn't be in this situation. No. If only I wasn't born…
I shook the depressing thought away. However, it didn't stop the tears pooling in my eyes, blurring my vision.
I wiped them away quickly as we started to walk. Crying wouldn't help. It wouldn't get me out of my predicament, nor would it move my father. No one here would offer me comfort or sympathy.
I tried to focus on walking, willing myself to stay upright. My body ached, not just from Nicholas's earlier manhandling but from the weight of everything. The fear. The shame. The knowledge of whatever awaited me in my room once my father found a time to spare for me would be worse than this.
I was so absorbed in my misery that I didn't notice the figure approaching from the other end of the corridor.
It wasn't until Thomas paused and spoke that I realized we weren't alone.
"I didn't expect you to be here so soon," Thomas said, his tone respectful but edged with a guarded tension.
I wanted to look at who this person was, but the maids escorting me blocked my line of sight with a scowl. They were urging me to leave.
Although I was curious who could make Thomas, my father's second-in-command, speak so respectfully, I knew my place. Staying there longer would only make things worse for me. Better not attract any more trouble.
As we passed, the air seemed to shift. It was subtle, but I felt it. Like a faint current of electricity brushing against my skin. My heart pounded against my chest, though I couldn't explain why.
A cold shiver ran down my spine, and for the first time, I felt small. Power radiated off of him, so overwhelming it almost felt suffocating. I felt the same way when my father stood in front of me. But it was also different. My instinct screamed at me to run.
I wanted to look back, but Thomas and the mysterious person had already left.