Beneath the surface

Leah's POV 

The room fell silent for a moment before she cleared her throat, clearly eager to change the subject. “Anyway, there are five of us working in the kitchen,” she said, her tone brightening slightly. “I’m the head cook, so I oversee the others.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re in charge?”

Rosa nodded, a small hint of pride creeping into her voice. “Yes. It’s not much, but it keeps me busy. And it’s better than some of the other work the humans here are forced to do.”

There was a sharpness in her words, and I couldn’t help but wonder what she meant. Before I could reply, she continued, her voice softening.

“I don’t usually serve the meals myself,” she admitted, glancing at the tray on the table. “But when I heard we had a healer staying here—someone new—I thought…” She hesitated, wringing her hands nervously. “I thought it would be nice to chat to you. To see what you’re like.”

Her words caught me off guard, and I blinked at her in surprise. “Why?”

“Because,” she replied simply, her eyes meeting mine for the first time without wavering.“It’s not often we get someone who isn’t… like them. Someone who might understand.”

Her words hung heavily in the air, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I glanced toward the 

window, the shadows outside stretching long and foreboding under the moonlight.

“Understand what?” I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her expression darkened, and she hesitated for a long moment before speaking. “What it’s like to feel trapped,” she said finally. “To have no control over your own life. To be at their mercy.”

The weight of her words pressed down on me, and I swallowed hard, my heart raced. The memory of Alpha Keal's hands on me, his rough voice in my ear, sent a shiver down my spine.

“I know what you mean,” I said softly, my voice shaking slightly. “That’s why… I’m planning to escape from this place.”

Her eyes widened, and she leaned forward slightly, her expression a mixture of shock and concern. “Escape?” she echoed. “You mean… run away?”

I nodded, my fingers curling into fists in my lap. “I can’t stay here. Not after what happened today, being my first day.”

Rosa’s brow furrowed in confusion, and she tilted her head slightly. “What happened?”

I paused, my chest tightening as the memory surfaced again. But the look in her eyes—genuine and filled with concern—made it impossible to keep the truth from her.

“He… the Alpha,” I began, my voice breaking slightly. “He tore my clothes. Forced himself on me. It was my first day here, and he—” My throat consticted, and I shook my head, unable to finish the sentence.

Rosa’s face paled, and her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with horror. “Oh, Leah,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “I’m so sorry.”

I shook my head, blinking back the tears. “I can’t stay here, Rosa. I have to find a way out of this place. I can’t—”

“I understand,” she said quickly, cutting me off. Her voice was firm, though her hands was still shaking. “I understand better than you know.”

I frowned, studying her face. There was something in her expression—something haunted—that made my stomach twist.

“What do you mean?” I asked cautiously.

Rosa paused, her gaze dropping to her lap. Her fingers twisted together anxiously, and for a brief moment, I thought she might not respond.

“It’s not just you,” she finally replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’re not the only one he’s hurt.”

My heart sank, and I felt a chill run down my spine. “What do you mean?”

She took a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping as though the weight of her words was too much for her to bear. “It’s not just the Alpha,” she said quietly. “His brother—Liam—he… he’s just as bad.”

Her voice broke, and she closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek. “He’s turned me into his… his sex slave,” she continued, her voice shaking. “He takes advantage of me whenever he wants. If I try to resist, he punishes me. It doesn’t matter what I do. I can’t escape him.”

I stared at her, horrified, as the reality of her words sank in. “Rosa…”

“It’s not just me,” she said quickly, her voice rising slightly. “The Betas, the Deltas—they do the same to the other humans. They turn us into their playthings, their sex slaves. And if someone… if someone gets pregnant—” Her voice broke again, and she covered her mouth with her hand, as though trying to hold back a sob.

I leaned forward, placing a hand on her arm gently. “Rosa, what happens if someone gets pregnant?”

She paused, her gaze meeting mine for a brief, heart-wrenching moment before she whispered the words that would haunt me forever.

“They use the baby for a sacrifice.”

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of Rosa’s quiet sobs. My thoughts spun, my stomach twisting into knots as the weight of her words settled over me like a suffocating blanket.

This place wasn’t just dangerous—it was hell.

Rosa wiped her tears with the edge of her apron, sniffing softly before forcing a weak smile. Her hazel eyes, though red and puffy, seemed to hold a flicker of determination. She reached out, placing a hand on mine, her grip surprisingly firm.

“Don’t worry, Leah,” she said, her voice steady despite the lingering tremor. “You’re not alone in this. Everything will be fine. We’ll figure it out together.”

Her words, though simple, felt like a lifeline in the suffocating darkness. For the first time since I’d stepped into this cursed house, a glimmer of hope pierced through the overwhelming despair.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Rosa’s lips curled into a faint smile, and then, as if trying to lighten the mood, she added, “Besides, you’re already doing better than me on my first day here.”

I raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. “Oh? What happened on your first day?”

She leaned back, pretending to contemplate. “Well, let’s just say I managed to set the kitchen on fire within the first hour.”

I blinked at her, stunned. “What?”

“I was so nervous,” she continued, her tone growing more animated. “The Beta yelled at me to make tea, and I ended up knocking over a kettle full of oil instead. Next thing I knew, flames were everywhere. I was sure they’d throw me to the rogues'—literally.”

I couldn’t help it—I burst out laughing, the sound raw and unexpected. Rosa joined in, her laughter light and contagious. For a brief moment, the oppressive weight of the house seemed to lift, replaced by a shared sense of solidarity.

“You’re lucky they didn’t,” I said, still chuckling.

“Oh, trust me,” Rosa replied with a wink. “I’ve been lucky more times than I can count. You’ll see. You just have to figure out how to get arroun this place. Play smart.”

Her words carried a deeper meaning, and I filed them away, knowing they would be useful later.

Rosa stood, brushing off her apron before turning to me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Come on,” she said, holding out a hand. “Let me introduce you to the rest of the kitchen crew. They’re not as scary as they look.”

I paused, glancing toward the door. The thought of stepping out into the corridors again, of possibly running into him, sent a shiver down my spine. Rosa must have sensed my hesitation because she added quickly, “You’ll be fine with me. No one will bother you as long as you’re with the head cook.”

Her confidence was oddly reassuring, and after a moment’s of  hesitation, I took her hand. “Alright,” I said. “Lead the way.”