Red And Blistered

Red And Blistered
Arthur jolted upright in bed, his eyes sharpened to gold slits and his fangs bare. His wolf was torn between a howl and a snarl, scratching beneath his vision.
Sweat clung to his chest as he breathed in short gasps of air.
'Help me' a whimper echoed faintly.
His heart twisted and tightened, like it was being crushed. A sense of dread and fear filled him, turning him alert and conscious.
There was danger.
He dragged his hand over his face. "What the hell is happening to me?"
He could no longer understand what was going on. He saw hazy visions that fuelled his desire, breathless voices were tormenting him and he couldn't even control his own body.
There was something going on. And right now, all he felt was danger. Like someone was in danger.
He got out of the bed, threw on his clothes and walked to the balcony. Lately, this was the only place where he could have a peaceful moment.
But tonight, the cool air failed to calm him. The serene view of the sky couldn't soothe his burning questions.
He gripped the railings angrily.
'Help me' a desperate voice called.
It was soft and familiar, beckoning him to do something.
"What do you want?" He asked, closing his eyes.
'Mine. Help' the wolf whispered urgently. 'Her. Help'
"I don't know her" Arthur clenched his jaw.
An ache began in his chest, sharp and painful. Then a whisper came, "Alpha"
He turned sharply, his gaze narrowed but found no one.
With a hiss, he raked aggressive hands through his hair.
"Arthur" Christine's sleepy voice came from behind him. "What's wrong?"
He swore under his breath. "Dammit"
Right. He'd forgotten he called her here. For some relief or distraction but it failed miserably.
All her saw was her—the mystery woman.
"Come back to bed" Christine murmured, hugging him from behind.
He stiffened and took a step back, turning to her. "Don't touch me"
Confusion flashed in her eyes. "Why? What's wrong?"
He clenched his fists and resisted a growl.
Christine didn't deserve his bad attitude but it was getting harder to hold back.
Even her bare body under the moonlight failed to arouse him. It wasn't her scent that called to him. It wasn't her voice that stirred his wolf.
"Just go" he said flatly, turning away.
Christine frowned and drew closer. "Stop with this attitude Arthur. Come back to bed" she whispered seductively, sliding her hand down his chest.
"I don't need you now. Go" he replied, brushing her hand away.
Her touch angered his wolf, and her voice was beginning to irritate him. He was being unnecessarily mean but he was getting past caring.
"Arthur, why are you doing this?" Her voice held hurt.
"Just leave" his voice was cold and brooked no argument.
She was wise enough not to argue. "I hope you snap out of this" she said, gathering her clothes before leaving.
He wasn't sure he would ever snap out of this—whatever this was.
Arthur stepped into the hallway and ordered a guard.
"I need a list of everyone who was present on the banquet night"
He was going to hunt her down. Enough of all this madness.

The day began on a bad note for Myra.
She was still sipping a herbal tea Claire had given her when a guard came.
"The Alpha summons you immediately. You are going to serve the royal family's breakfast now"
Her stomach twisted. "W-What?"
Claire arched an eyebrow. "But the Alpha knows she's not totally fine"
"This is an order from the Alpha" the guard repeated with a stoic expression.
Myra's fingers trembled as she placed the cup on the table. Serve breakfast? Again?
He was really pissed with her.
"She's still recovering" Claire frowned. "Go and tell him she isn't well and must take some rest"
The guard looked her over with disdain. "She is a slave"
"So?" Claire's gaze sharpened. "What is that supposed to mean?
"It means I have no choice but to obey him" Myra put in softly.
"You have a choice" Claire disagreed.
"No I don't. I have to go" Myra knew whose life was at stake here if she disobeyed—her sister's.
So she had to go even when her heart was bitter and her body ached for rest.
"Be careful" Claire's gentle words followed her as she walked out.
She clenched her fists, her jaw set in a hard line as she stepped into the dining hall.
When she entered, she was paid the usual amount of attention that dripped mockery. But the most burning gaze was Arthur's.
His eyes landed on her the moment she stepped in. Burning, assessing , piercing.
But she refused to hold his gaze. She kept her head down.
"The princess is here" Darius commented. "But she looks rather dull today"
"That's how all slaves look" Amber said, smirking.
Darius leaned back, watching her with interest. "But this one's special"
Her skin crawled at the lewd undertones but she remained silent.
"She looks arrogant even in such status" a woman huffed.
Myra hadn't seen her before.
Her brown hair was piled high on her head but her eyes reduced Myra to rock bottom.
"She isn't arrogant Helen" Rachel said.
"How do you know? Always so quick to defend the lowly" Helen replied.
Arthur was silent, observing everything but often enough, his eyes fell on Myra. He noticed how she avoided his gaze, a contrast to the fiery attitude she had yesterday.
Christine noticed his rapt attention was fixed on Myra, and her chest twisted with something ugly.
She turned to Myra and snapped, "Pour me a drink. I'm thirsty"
Myra bit the inside of her cheek, doing as she was told. When she reached out to refill his glass, her fingers accidentally brushed his.
A spark of electricity shot through them at the slight contact. That was when their eyes locked—hers, wide and unsettled. His, narrowed and searching.
Myra covered up her shock with a glare and pulled away, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. What was going on?
Arthur clenched his jaw. What just happened? And why the hell was she glaring at him?
"Princess" he said slowly, catching her attention. "I have a little surprise for you"
Myra swung her gaze back to him, suspicion evident. But she didn't say anything.
He smirked and clicked his fingers. The doors opened and two burly men dragged a young woman inside.
"Leave me!" The woman screamed, looking very frightened.
Myra's stomach lurched at the sight.
"Who's that?" Lady Helen asked with mild interest.
With his gaze fixed on Myra, he said, "That's my new maid. I handpicked her from the hundreds of slaves in the dungeons"
He watched with certain satisfaction as the colour drained from the princess's face. "She was collecting dust in the dungeons so I wanted to put her to good use."
"That's more like it" Darius agreed with a chuckle.
Myra swallowed audibly. "Leave her" she whispered.
"And who are you to make such an order?" Darius quirked an eyebrow.
"Princess please save me" the woman begged, looking to her for help.
"She's not your princess" Arthur announced bluntly.
"Leave her. She's innocent. It's me you want" Myra forced out.
"Not anymore. I'm getting bored with you"
Myra sank her nails into her palms, wishing it was his neck. "I am your slave not her"
"Is that so?" His voice dropped with sarcasm. "Slaves don't act rebellious, do they?"
"I have admitted my mistake" the words tasted like acid on her tongue.
"Which is?" Christine demanded haughtily.
"Talking rudely to the Alpha. Now let her go" Myra grated the words.
"Not so fast" Arthur's eyes narrowed. "You'll have to pay for your mistake. And this is how you'll pay for it"
"Let her go. I said I'm sorry" Myra said quickly.
Helen chuckled. "Oh dear, no one talks back to the Alpha, least of all a mere slave"
"She's innocent. She doesn't deserve this"
"That's right. You deserve it." Arthur stated flatly. "And if you dare interfere, I'll order a guard to snap your sister's head off and bring it on a plate"
"That would be fun" Amber said, laughing.
Myra hated them. All of them. They were nothing but bloodsuckers. She wanted to help but her hands were tied. She watched helplessly as the men dragged the woman away.
"Help princess. Help me!" The woman cried out. But there was nothing she could do.
"Awn. Do you want to cry?" Christine cooed sweetly.
She balled her fists. She couldn't save the woman. She couldn't save any of them. And that boiled her blood.
She looked at the Alpha and found his frosty gaze in her, twinkling with dark amusement. That told her all she needed to know.
He was a monster.
"I'm thirsty. I need some water now" Amber ordered her, an arrogant smirk curving her lips.
Myra's legs moved like stone. She hated this. She hated them. She hated herself.
But when she held the jar, her hands trembled with controlled rage and mistakenly spilled the water on her dress.
Amber's smirk dropped. "How dare you!" She shrieked and stood up abruptly. She glanced at her dress and a vein popped on her forehead. "My dress!"
Her hand moved swiftly and a slap poured on Myra's cheeks like acid.
The impact bruised her lips and the sound echoed in the hall.
"A dress that could buy your worthless life!" Amber glared at her. "Is this your petty way of rebellion?"
The sharp, metallic taste of blood filled Myra's mouth, and her cheek throbbed painfully. She blinked to get the stars out of her eyes.
"Stupid slave. She couldn't rescue herself so she resorted to spilling water. Stupid" Helen spat out.
That was the last straw. Myra couldn't take this anymore. She wasn't stupid. She wasn't weak.
The next echoing sound was a slap much hotter than the last one. But the victim wasn't Myra.
Just as Amber stumbled back and hit the table, all eyes noted the furious look in Myra's eyes.
"I've had enough of you! I've had enough of all of you!" She blurted out. "You're all just sick, bloody wolves!"
After her outburst, the whole room was cloaked in silence. Not even a pin drop.
Arthur's smirk widened. This was getting interesting. The princess wasn't really weak after all.
Then Helen's eyes hardened. "How dare you touch my daughter?"
Myra lifted her chin and met her gaze with fire. "Your daughter was stupid and spoiled."
"I'll show you stupid"
In a flash, Helen was beside her and grabbed her hand, pulling her viciously to the table.
"What are you doing? Let me go" Myra struggled but the woman's grip was vicious and strong.
"What do you want to do to her?" Christine asked.
Helen's smile was cold. "Oh you'll see"
Understanding dawned on Myra when the woman opened the simmering pot of soup. Her heart dropped.
"Let me go!"
"You can't be serious" Darius murmured.
"Oh I am. No one hurts my daughter and gets away with it"
Helen lifted the lid and a gust of steam went into the air. Flawlessly, like one who had done it countless of times, she drowned Myra's hand.
A scream tore from Myra's throat as the heat seared her skin, turning it red and blistered. Involuntarily, her body wriggled but Beth held her firmly in place.
"Stop! Stop!" She screamed but no one rushed forward to help.
Helen finally let go of her after a painful minute, and kicked her to the ground. Her flesh was red and swollen, and she bit down on her lips hard to prevent tears.
"Guards get this woman out of my sight" Helen had no remorse.
Immediately, two guards came in and flanked on either side of her. Before she was thrown out of the hall through her blurry vision, she glanced at Arthur but his eyes remained indifferent to her pain.
The guards dragged her out like a livestock and left her on the cold floors. "Stay here" one of them said.
She laid on the cold floor, writhing in pain. She blinked away tears, sinking her teeth into the softness of her lips, drawing out blood.
Her flesh was beginning to peel away but no one bothered. They had left her here to probably die from the pain.
She hoped she did.
Meanwhile....
The dining hall was still and silent. The air was heavy with unspoken tension.
Arthur who had been quietly observing the humiliating spectacle, finally rose from his seat. His movements were sharp and controlled, but the aura around him made everyone in the room stiffen.
His wolf growled within him. "Hurt" It snarled.
His eyes landed on Amber first who had on a smug smile.
"Did you find it amusing?" He questioned calmly.
Amber's smile faltered. She parted her lips but no one came.
'Hurt her' the wolf was more than mad, it was boiling but he restrained its anger. He had no reason why his wolf would be bothered with this.
"And you" he continued, his eyes shifting to Helen, who had the guts to hold his gaze without blinking. "What gave you the right to lay your hands on her?"
"She slapped a princess!" Helen's voice was unapologetic.
"So you resorted to burning her hand. Over a slap?"
"She needed to learn her place—" Arthur slammed his fist on the table, silencing her.
Everyone flinched at the sound, even the guards stationed at the doors.
"I am the Alpha of this pack" growled Arthur, his voice mixing with his wolf. "And I decide what lessons are taught and to whom. You do not raise your hand to anyone under my command without my permission. Do you understand me?"
Helen huffed. "Why are you defending her?"
His wolf wanted to tear her apart. He kept it in control, well aware that it was reacting for no good reason.
"I will not tolerate disobedience, no matter who you think you are" he declared.
The room was silent and the tension became palpable. No one dared to breathe let alone move.
Arthur straightened, his expression unreadable. "If this happens again, the consequences won't be funny"
Helen's eyes narrowed. "May I know why you're defending the princess?"
"You won't like the consequences, trust me" His eyes held a dead stare.