Chapter 5 Warning
Zoe's POV
I was hanging laundry when I felt eyes on me.
I looked up and saw a beautiful woman stood at the end of the hall. She wore an expensive red dress. But her eyes were so cold.
She walked toward me with this mean look that immediately got me scared.
I kept my head down.
"Look at me when I approach you, slave."
I lifted my head.
She smiled. But not a kind smile.
"I'm Mia....Alpha Jeremy's fiancee... His future Luna. The woman he's marrying in two months." She said immediately she got to me.
"Yes, my lady."
"Good. You know who I am....Now let me tell you who you are."
I stayed quiet with my head bent.
"You're nothing," she continued, sounding more harsh with every word.
"...you're a murderer. A slave. A warm body he uses at night to fix his little problem...But don't think that makes you special."
She leaned closer. "...Jeremy is mine. This pack is mine. And you? You're just a temporary tool. And tools get thrown away when they're no longer useful."
"Yes, my lady."
"I'm glad we understand each other." She lifted my chin. "Oh, and one more thing..."
Her hand shot out. Grabbed my hair and pulled it back hard.
I gasped in pain.
"If you ever think you mean something to him," she hissed in my face, "remember this moment. Remember that I can destroy you with a single word. Remember your place, slave."
She shoved my head forward. I fell to the floor.
"Kneel down and put your two hands on the floor." She commanded"
I quickly obeyed.
She moved closer and stood on my right hand with her heel.
I screamed from the pain.
My other hand started shaking as she lifted her second leg.
"Mia!" A familiar voice yelled from behind.
I couldn't look up but I felt relieved. I stared at my right hand. It was bleeding.
"My love!" She quickly left me and rushed to Alpha Jeremy. She hugged him tight.
"I've missed you, my love. Do you miss me?"
I didn't care about their talk anymore. I could only think about how long I could survive this.
I watched them leave together. Talking like nothing happened.
That night, i started feeling feverish.
Worse than any fever I'd ever had.
I was in my cell shaking, sweating, burning when the guard came.
"Alpha wants you now."
"I can't... I'm sick..."
"Nobody cares. Move."
He dragged me through the halls. My legs barely worked. Everything was spinning.
We got to Jeremy's room.
"Leave us," Jeremy said without looking up.
The guard left.
My body shook at the doorway. I tried to stand firm.
"Come here."
I took one step. Everything in the room started turning in my eyes.
Another step.
Everything went black.
That's all I know until some voices pulled me back.
"Her fever is dangerously high, Alpha."
"Then fix it."
"I'm trying, Alpha, but she needs more than one night of rest. Her body is shutting down..."
"Fine. She stays here until she recovers."
"Alpha, perhaps you should ease her workload..."
"I said fine, doctor. Now do your job and fix her."
"Yes, Alpha."
I forced my eyes open.
The doctor was beside the bed with medicine. Jeremy stood by the window. His back to me.
"You're awake," the doctor said gently. "How do you feel?"
"Like I'm dying."
"You nearly did. Your body was in shock."
"I wish it finished the job."
"Don't say that." The doctor gave me water and medicine. "You need to rest. Build your strength."
"I need to go."
"No." Jeremy turned from the window. "You stay in bed. Doctor's orders."
"But..."
"Do you want to die..... assassin?"
I met his eyes. "Yes. Every single day."
Something moved across his face. Too fast to see.
"Too bad. You don't get to chose.
The doctor gave me more medicine. "I'll check on you in a few hours. Try to sleep."
She left.
Just me and Jeremy now.
He pulled the chair beside the bed. Sat down. Stared at the window.
We didn't speak for a long time.
"Can I ask you a question, assassin?"
I didn't say anything. Just looked at him. But he continued anyway.
"Why did you come to my pack? Why did you try to kill me?"
That was his question. The question I vowed never to answer. The answer I promised to bury with me.
"I don't think you should bother yourself with this question, Mr. Alpha. You already know I came to kill you. And I sent myself."
"Why?" He asked with more force but still soft voice.
"First, I already knew I'd die. And I don't want you to know your sin because I don't want you to ask for forgiveness. Even a chance to beg is too merciful for people like you and your pack."
I said it and looked away. Tears rolled down my cheeks like a broken tap.
He didn't ask more questions. I saw him stand through the side of my eyes.
I sighed when I heard the door shut.
I woke to sunlight the next day.
Jeremy was gone. The room was empty.
I felt stronger. Still weak, but better.
I needed to get out. Clear my head. Breathe free air.
I slid out of bed. Put on the rob and opened the door carefully.
Empty hallway.
I started running.
Down the hall. Toward freedom... even for just a moment.
"STOP!"
His voice came from behind.
I ran faster.
"I SAID STOP!"
The Alpha command hit me like a wall.
My legs froze.
Jeremy caught up. Grabbed my arm and turned me around.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I needed air..."
"You needed to run."
"No! I just..."
"Don't lie to me!" He shook me. "You were running away!"
"I can't breathe in there! I can't think! I needed five minutes... just five minutes... away from you!"
His grip got softer.
"Please," I whispered. "I can't do this anymore. I can't be your prisoner, your cure, I can't..."
"Get back to my room."
I didn't say anything. Just glared at him.
"Now."
I walked back as he followed close behind.
Back in his room, he pointed to the bed.
"Sit."
I obeyed without a word.
He walked back and forth in front of me. Running his hands through his hair.
"You can't just leave. Not without my permission."
"I'm a prisoner. I get that, Alpha."
"You're..." He stopped like he was looking for the right words. "You're sick. You need rest."
"I need freedom."
"You lost your freedom when you tried to kill me."
"You need to stop pretending you're keeping me alive for the curse! Admit you can't kill your mate!"
"I can kill you!" He moved closer. "I will kill you the second I find another solution!"
"Then find one! Find another woman! Free us both from this nightmare!"
"You think I haven't tried?" He grabbed my shoulders. "You think I want to need you?"
We were so close now. Breathing hard. The mate bond screaming between us.
"I hate you," I whispered.
"I hate you too."
His eyes dropped to my lips.