Chapter 5 005

Did I once say this place might be better?

No.

Not with the look in his eyes. The hate. They still linger like a volcano ready to erupt any moment and burn me to ashes.

He had said: Don't look at him. Don't speak unless given the permission. Don't defy. Don't ask. Yet here I am, breaking the very first rule at the very first night here, and I still can't stop myself.

Not my fault his gaze traps me like every damn time, leaving my limbs shaking like a kitten under a cold, stormy, frigid night.

He yanks me close, his thick fingers seizing my hair in a tight grip. I yelp as pain spreads through my scalp.

“The temerity you have there, Red.” He growls, his breath catches mine as he leans his face closer. “Let’s make this clear. Each time you disobey or delay fulfilling my request. There will be punishment.”

“I'm sorry,” I quickly say as he releases me.

Shutting my eyelid, I rustle with the borrowed nightgown, my fingers trembling as I unbutton it. He stares, and the more he does, the more I suppress the urge to run.

But that’s what I've been doing my whole life.

Running.

Yet they never get me anywhere. Not an inch close to freedom.

Instead they bring me closer to bigger doom. Closer to death.

In the next minute I'm n@ked before him, fingers locked tight as I wait for his next command.

I've only been b@re before a man once; that was Nathan. He had stumbled into my room drunk that night, breaking his resolution of wanting s3x after getting married.

He thrûst once. Twice. Thrice and stopped, fainting drunkenly in my arms. It was painful, as I wasn't ready. I didn't bl3ed as I ought to, but Nathan thought I did, and then suddenly the news of how we sl3pt together spread in the pack. I got pûnished and labeled as a whôre who can't satisfy a male.

Judging from his betrayal. What if Nathan had been the one who had spread the news alongside Beth?

I snap back to reality when Drogo brushes the strands of my hair behind. I shiver as his finger trails over my skin, leaving a trail of heat, as if studying every scar that grazes my skin.

Dear Moon goddess, if there's any sympathy left in you. Don't let this man 3nd me tonight.

“What happened to your wolf?” He asks; his voice isn't gentle, but it isn't cruel either.

I respond quickly, voice small. “It was sealed when I was sick. Dark magic”

My breath seizes as his fingers circle my left breast “Why?”

I swallow the lump gathered in my throat. “They said I'll cause destruction, and it's best I remain weak.”

His hum sounds like an approval. Like I deserve never to know how transformation feels under the full moon and to sprint through the woods like a normal wolf. Like I never deserve to have an inner voice that soothes me in the time of darkness or know what a mate bond feels like.

I won't be surprised if he thinks I'm a curse too. Everyone does.

He walks in circles, his eyes still grazing my skin like a hot pipe.

“Do you… hate me?” I ask, shocked by my own boldness.

The silence that follows is thick.

I can swear I heard him exhale sharply, like my question had hit something it shouldn't. I recall the way he acted the night we first crossed. His words as he stared at me dead in the eyes. My appearance must have caused it.

“Why did you say so?” His words sound like he is testing me.

“I do know every reason why people hate me. My father and the pack, for example… despised me for being born as a cursed. Even my mother maybe… even though she never showed it, but deep down she might be regretting never getting the chance to have lived as a true Luna…”

“I never asked for your life story, Isolde,” he cuts in sharply.

I bite my lower lip at his words. “I... I am sorry, Alpha... I'm just curious to know yours. Why agree to marry me if you… hate me?”

I should stop talking so he'll go easy with the marriage cônsummation. I shouldn't upset him, or I'll end up sleeping in a c3ll tonight, get whipped, or probably do something far worse for refusing to not keep my mouth shut.

I'm not sure if I can take it. The wound from last night still stings. Untreated.

"Go back to bed," he says, already striding away when I look up. He didn't glance back, shutting the door behind him.

I'm once again stuck in the four walls of silence, saved by my racing heart filled with questions.

Did he just leave without touching me?

Did I upset him?

Oh no. This is bad. I shouldn't have said anything.

Why don't you keep your mouth shut, Isolde? This is the reason why you get scolded almost every day.

I didn't leave my spot even though he'd ordered me to go to bed. I can't.

Each second ticks by, heavy. I'm sitting at the side of the bed, hands clutched to my thighs, practicing how I'm going to apologize to him once he gets back.

I jump as the door creaks open.

I look up, ready to blurt out, but the words stay stuck in my throat at the sight of a young woman stepping in.

She paused, clearly not expecting to see me naked.

Instinctively, I cover myself with the sheet.

"Sorry, I should have knocked, but the Alpha's instructions were to come here as soon as possible. I thought it was an emergency," she finishes with a soft laugh.

I don't speak. I don't what to say.

"I'm Doctor Riana. You can call me Ria." She steps in further, placing a first aid box on the nearby table. She pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose and looks at me.

She has a bright aura. I've never seen anyone this all smiley.

"May I see your wounds?" She asks.

She is here for me? Oh.

I let go of the sheet then hear her mutter something under her breath as she approaches.

"Turn around."

I do, turning my back to her.

She gasps like she just witnessed a murder.

"By the stars," she mutters. "Who is the motherf**king goat-a$s-licking, half-wit hurt you like this?"