"Where are you taking me?" I asked, keeping my voice down.
"To the Lord's Quarters," she replied, not sparing me a glance.
The Lord's Quarters. I swallowed, dread knotting in my stomach. Whoever this Lord was, I doubted I'd be welcome. I was an outsider, a stranger, and I had no idea why Gideon had chosen to take me in. I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
We turned another corner, and my eyes darted to the tapestries on the wall, anything to distract myself from the tension pooling in my chest.
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. A tall figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking our way. He was dressed in dark clothes that matched the hardened, bitter look in his eyes.
"Leave us," he ordered with a cold tone.
The lady's mouth tightened as she bowed and hurried away, leaving me alone in the narrow passage with the stranger. He took a step closer, his eyes went around me, so much disgust and irritation written all over his face.
He reached up, his fingers brushing my hair as he tucked a strand behind my ear. I flinched, too startled to pull away. His lips twisted in a cruel smile.
"I don't know who you think you are, but don't get comfortable. I'll make sure your stay here is hell."
A shiver shot down my spine. My hands clenched at my sides, but I didn't move, frozen under the weight of his gaze.
He clicked his tongue, smirked, and walked away without another word, leaving me alone in the empty corridor, trembling.
I took a shaky breath, my pulse racing as his words echoed in my mind. Hell.
That's what he intended for me. I'd thought this place might offer safety, a chance to start fresh, but it was clear he saw me as nothing more than an intruder.
The moment he disappeared, I turned and fled, my heart hammering. My skin felt tight, as if the dress itself had turned against me, binding me in discomfort and fear.
Back in the room, I pulled off the dress in a rush, tossing it aside as if shedding some kind of burden. I spotted a tattered, old garment tossed in the corner, dirty but familiar in its simplicity, and reached for it, desperate for something that didn't make me feel like a stranger. But just as I slipped it over my head, the door flew open, and I froze.
It was him, he was here again, and I'd barely managed to get the old dress on. I stumbled back, grabbing the heavy curtain and pulling it around me as a shield, but my bare feet and legs peeked out from underneath. I couldn't hide completely.
He took a step forward, his eyes glinting with that same icy disdain. But before he could say anything, a voice rang out from the hall. "Young master Theo!"
He halted, annoyance flickering over his face, before casting me one last look and turning sharply on his heel. He slipped out of the room without a word, the door shutting behind him.
I let out the breath I'd been holding, clutching the curtain tightly. My whole body was trembling, my mind racing with questions and dread. Why did he hate me? What had I done to make him so intent on making my life miserable here?
A knock at the door startled me, and the maid from earlier entered, her expression sour. She looked me up and down, her nose wrinkling. "Why are you wearing that filthy thing? Alpha Gideon expects you to look presentable."
Before she could say another word, I pushed past her and ran out of the room, my breath shallow as I darted through the winding hallways. I didn't know where I was going, I just needed to escape.
But I didn't get far. I rounded a corner and collided with something solid. Strong arms caught me, steadying me before I could stumble.
I looked up, breathless, and found myself staring into a pair of warm, steady eyes. He smiled, the kind of smile that reached his eyes and softened his entire face.
"Where are you running to, little one?" he asked, his voice teasing but gentle.
Before I could respond, another presence entered the hallway. I didn't need to look to know who it was. Theo's hand latched onto mine, his grip firm and unyielding.
"I need a moment with her," he said, his voice sharp, eyes fixed on the man who still held me.
I pulled back, my pulse quickening. "I'm not going with you."
His smile was humorless. "Oh, but you are." Without waiting for a response, he lifted me, carrying me as if I weighed nothing, ignoring my protests.
He took me to a room, his, I guessed, from the dark, heavy decor that seemed to echo his own cold demeanor. He set me down roughly, barely giving me time to catch my balance before he took a step back, his gaze darkening.
He leaned in close, breathing in my scent, his eyes narrowed. "Why… why do you smell like that?"
The question hung in the air, but he didn't wait for an answer. He stepped back abruptly, shoving me so that I fell to the floor.
Pain shot through my ankle as I landed awkwardly, and he sneered, his expression full of contempt. "Pathetic," he muttered before storming out, leaving me alone on the cold, hard floor.
Pain lanced up my leg, and I bit down on my lip, trying not to cry. I managed to crawl toward the doorway, my mind racing with thoughts of escape, but something held me back.
Gideon had offered me shelter, and it would feel like a betrayal to flee so soon. I had to find a way to endure this, to prove that I wouldn't be broken so easily.
After what felt like hours, I reached the main hallway, my ankle throbbing. Just then, Alpha Gideon appeared, his gaze falling on me with surprise. "I've been looking for you. Are you alright?"
I forced myself to stand, leaning against the wall to hide my limp. "I… I just got lost."
Gideon's eyes softened. "You should call for someone if you go walking. It's easy to lose your way here."
Before I could respond, Theo appeared again, his arms crossed, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "I'll make sure she doesn't get lost, Father."
Gideon raised an eyebrow. "You will?"
"Yes," Theo said, his gaze challenging as he looked at me. "Is that alright with you?"
I hesitated, but nodded, unable to read his expression. He flashed a quick smile before turning on his heel. "Come. We're expecting for dinner."
The table was laden with food, far more than I'd ever seen in one place. My stomach twisted with hunger, but I was too anxious to eat. My fingers tapped the silverware, trying to keep my hands steady. Theo's voice broke through my thoughts.
"Never seen a table like this?" he asked, his tone mocking.
I flushed, quickly picking up my fork, and started eating, forcing myself to ignore him. Alpha Gideon glanced at me, his voice gentle. "Slow down, child."
I set my fork down, my appetite fading as embarrassment tightened in my chest. "I think… I should get some sleep."
Gideon nodded. "Do you remember the way to your room?"
"Yes," I said quickly, standing up and making my way through the dim hallways. I took time to look for my room and reach my bed as exhaustion pulled me down.
I was drifting, the world slipping away, when I felt a weight pressing down on me. My eyes flew open, and I turned on the light, a scream tearing from my throat at the sight before me...
"Oh! Goddess?" I muttered under my breath.