Chapter 2. The Wrath and the Punishment

Lillian’s POV

“Where are you coming from?” Alpha Jenkins asked as he stopped walking. I folded my hands in front of me and tilted my head downward.

The sound of his footsteps frightened me when he took two steps forward. His dark hair looked shorter; he must’ve gone for a haircut. His blue eyes dilated mysteriously. He was in a tailored suit, slight of build, and probably in his late forties.

“T-the kitchen,” I sputtered. I couldn’t make a coherent statement when he was close to me. My body reacted on its own, shivering in fear of what he might do to me.

I could feel his eyes roaming around my body. “And you have not been meeting with the guards? Nobody has touched you, have they?”

I lifted my gaze slowly. What does he mean by that? He stretched out his hand to touch me, and I stepped back. That seemed to infuriate him.

“Come closer, bitch!” he ordered.

“Alpha,” I mumbled and dragged my feet closer to him.

“Closer, you fool!” he drawled.

I stood before him, and he pulled me closer with his hand on the back of my head. “You’re just a toy, my favorite plaything.” His eyes fell on my breasts. I clenched my fist on my dress and kept my gaze down.

“You’re a slave—know that. You’re not important, and a slave belongs to their master, just like you belong to me.” His hand left my head. I held my breath as he touched me.

“You’re an omega and my servant, remember that. And when you turn eighteen, you will become my mistress, and that might elevate your status from being a slave in the pack to mistress.” His hand moved down to my breasts, and he licked his lips.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

I was disgusted and terrified, but there was nothing I could do. I was just a powerless servant and could be subjected to anything.

His eyes darkened with lust, and it made me realize that he might eventually take away my virginity once I turned eighteen. I couldn’t let him do that or take my virginity, which I had kept for my mate.

I have to escape the Nightstalkers Pack soon, before my birthday. That might be the only way I would be saved.

“What about Luna, Alpha?” I questioned timidly.

I endured his touches until I heard the sound of heels clicking on the stairs and chattering, and then it stopped.

I remembered that I had overheard Sarah talking to her friends on the phone and inviting them to a tea party at the mansion.

Alpha Jenkins didn’t take his hand off my body, and I didn’t dare to look at Luna—not when she was behind me with her friends.

He wasn’t aware that she was behind us yet.

“Why should you care about that old woman with no appeal?”

My mouth opened and closed promptly.

“Once you become my mistress, I won’t care about her.”

Luna Sarah cleared her throat. “Alpha, you’re home.”

Alpha Jenkins turned, taking his hand away. He hummed, made no attempt to justify what had happened, and left for his bedroom.

She was infuriated by his attitude but chose not to show it.

I remained standing, too scared to face Luna or what she might do to me. Her friends must’ve witnessed Alpha Jenkins’ actions toward me and heard everything he said about his wife.

“…how about we have the tea party some other time? There’s something I need to take care of. I will walk you back to the door.” She chuckled awkwardly and sent them away.

I decided to run to my room before she came, but her voice stopped me.

“Lillian!”

“Come back here this instant!” she thundered furiously. I rubbed my sweaty hands together and came downstairs, where she was pacing in the living room while biting her nails.

“Come here, you witch!” She shouted and grabbed me by the hair. “This is your plan, isn’t it? To take my place as Luna?” She lashed at me and started to hit me with everything she came across.

She picked up a vase and hurled it at my body.

“Matthew!” she yelled.

Matthew was one of the trusted Zeta guards in the mansion and Luna Sarah’s aide.

“You’ve refused to say what you’ve done.”

“I haven’t done anything, Luna,” I whimpered.

She grabbed a fistful of my hair and slapped me across the face. “This is all your fault!”

“Luna, you called me.” Matthew bowed when he came in. “Bring the poison.”

“P-poison?” I stuttered and held onto her feet. She kicked my stomach several times. “Get away from me!”

“It’s just a portion that you need to drink.” She eyed me suspiciously, and when Matthew brought it, she ordered him to hold me down while she forced it down my throat.

“It’s going to mask your scent, and you won’t be able to attract my husband anymore!” She pressed the sides of my cheeks with her fingers, and my mouth opened, and she poured it into my mouth.

She made sure I swallowed it before she let go of my cheeks.

“The next time I see you close to the Alpha, I will make sure I kill you and leave no traces!” she snarled and took the stairs. Matthew let go of my arms, shook his head at me, and walked out.

I wiped the side of my mouth and staggered to my feet, making my way to my room.

I sat down on the ground with my legs drawn up to my chest and my hands around them. I stared at the window as the tears rolled down my cheeks.

I felt pain all over my body. I thought I could bear it, but not anymore.

I lowered my head, and a necklace slid out of my shirt and lay between my breasts.

I caressed it with my finger, and it brought some sort of comfort to me. I had it since I was seven, but didn’t know where I got it from.

“Happy birthday, Lillian, though it’s just a few hours away,” I whispered, with my fingers still on the necklace. I clutched it to my chest and broke down again.

I didn’t know when I fell asleep on the ground. The creaking sound of the door startled me, and I squinted my eyes to see the door opening and someone coming into the room.