Chapter 8 Alpha Lucian
LUCIAN:
I watched how quietly she sat beside me, careful not to move unnecessarily. But whenever she wanted to straighten her gown, I always felt aware.
I was the kind that was always on alert, even if a mosquito was flying past me, I knew. You could blame it on my paranoia and trust issues which I developed while growing up. It had become a huge part of me; I had faced multiple betrayals and assassination attempts, even from family members and people I called friends. Letting my guard down meant death.
I tried engaging the little thing—as I call her because she looked so small and fragile— in a simple conversation but it didn't turn out great. I ended up getting pissed because I didn't like how low her voice was and how robotic she replied, like she had rehearsed every word. I even commanded her to look at me but she couldn't.
What kind of training was she given?
I was in the Red Moon pack because we were about to call a truce meeting after many fighting and killings—They initiated it—and I reconsidered them. I was tired of shedding useless blood anyway.
A day before the meeting, I heard someone was to be executed and I was invited to the execution venue. I thought it was a mature person who was to be executed, given the description of the incident. I didn't expect to meet a little girl being dragged in chains on the street.
I wasn't concerned, just intrigued. I was about to leave but what caught my attention was the fire that sparked in her eyes and the defiance in her voice. She was small, yet exuded so much strength and willpower. I decided to see how it would go and instead of begging for her life, she glared at Nolan like she wanted to tear him apart.
"Perfect!" That was what I said in my mind. I stopped the execution and bought her, now here we are, riding together on a cold evening along the lonely road.
I normally didn't let anyone ride with me, and definitely not a slave, but I found her
interesting. But a bit annoying.
I asked her to open her palms and when she did, I concluded. Hands like that had never held a knife or shed blood. It was too smooth like a baby's bottom.
"Can I...ask you something?" She spoke out of the blue. From the side of my eye, she was hanging onto to gown like it would save her. What was she so afraid of anyway? I hadn't even done anything. Or was that how she was brought up?
"Go ahead," This was the first time she was raising a conversation. I was eager to know what she wanted to ask. But I think I already got a clue.
"Why did you buy me?" She gulped hard and raised her head a little. I thought she was going to look at me but who was I kidding?
"For revenge." I simply replied to her. I was expecting her to throw a tantrum after hearing such a vague reply but she was calm, but a little shaken. I didn't know if she was shaking from the cold or from anxiety.
"Take up the windows. I'm cold." I said to my driver. He looked at me through the rearview mirror and I glared at him. He didn't need to make it obvious. I had never complained of a cold, so he was probably surprised.
He did as told but the little thing was still shivering like she had been bathed with extremely cold water. If I didn't do anything, she would probably die of a cold.
Omegas and cold were like one and two. They didn't have a strong defense system.
I removed my suit jacket and stretched it to her without a word. She stared long at it, conflicted if she should accept it or not.
"You don't reject anything I give to you," I warned her.
"But Alpha, it's your cloth. I cannot accept it." Her eyes didn't leave the coat though.
"Take it or I'll have him open the windows again." I threatened her. Reluctantly, she accepted it and draped it over her shoulders.
"Thank you so much, Alpha." She bowed. I wasn't interested in her display of appreciation. I was just mused by how my coat swallowed her body. My eyes fell to her wrists, they were still red and quite swollen. On her leg was a swollen ankle and multiple injuries.
I was tempted to react to it but I held myself.
'She's a slave. She's a slave, it's normal.'
But I couldn't help the feeling of anger that washed over me. I felt like ripping Nolan and the entire elders to pieces for doing this to her.
Just when I thought it was over, her stomach grumbled. She held it and bowed, "I'm so sorry. It won't happen again." Was she always bowing at everything?
"When last did you eat?" I asked, my eyes focused on my lit screen.
"I don't know." She sneezed after her words dropped. I groaned and she whimpered, pushing further away from me. "I'm sorry."
Without telling him, my driver stopped in front of a restaurant. We all stepped down from the car to have dinner but when it was time to enter inside, the little thing stopped at the door.
"Are you hungry or not?" I asked her and she nodded. But she wasn't moving from that spot. I got fed up and turned to my driver. "Get her before I lose my patience."
While I secured a table and placed the order, my driver did everything he could to convince her to come in. I wanted to go over there myself and drag her in when they walked inside, hand in hand. He gently led her to sit down and sat beside her, speaking softly to her.
"She's scared of crowded places. I think we know why." He said to me, still holding onto her. I noticed how low her head hung and she was shaken to the core.
Was she truly the same girl he thought she was?
Her mate had rejected her and allowed his lover to make a jest of her in front of the entire pack, pinned a murder on her, and hung her six times, making her relive the near-death experience. Anyone would be traumatized by that.
When the food was served, we started eating except her. She stared at the food like a hungry dog waiting to be given permission.
"Go ahead and eat." My driver told her. We glanced at me briefly before looking at the food in front of her. Hesitantly, she picked up the spoon and dripped it into the food. She took a bite, her eyes shining. She left the coat she was hanging onto and devoured the food. Unsurprisingly, she asked for seconds and finished it before my driver and me could finish our first serving.
She did say she didn't know when she last ate.
When it was time to leave, my driver paid for the food and I expected the little thing to stand up with us but she sat there, timidly bowing her head, her lips pressed together like she was biting back her words.
"What is it now?" I asked her and she flinched. Her action made me wonder if I sounded domineering.
"Can... Can I have more please?" She requested.
My driver stifled a laugh. I glared at him angrily and almost ran my fingers through my perfectly styled hair.
What had I gotten myself into?