The Puzzle
Freya's Pov
The room looked different from how she first saw it but it was still the same. The Alpha's chambers was still as it was but her body could sense a subtle difference. A change in aura. A shift in mood. And a surge in variegated emotions.
But she couldn't process it clearly as her hands hurt, twisted behind her in a fold under the forceful grip of the guards. Their strong fingers holding her from moving, even as she still tried to do so. The pain increasing each time her efforts did…
Yet her eyes managed to stay focused on Alpha Marcus, and they were surprised to see his cold emotionless stare had reduced? As though his expression had been put in an oven and heated slightly. Then brought out to cool again…
Freya frowned confused as the guards finally let her go and shoved her forward. Sending her to the ground falling on her knees and hands.
“It's good to see you again…” Alpha Marcus boomed suddenly. His voice now holding a less hoarse tone.
Freya slowly raised her head up and stood up to her feet, step by step. First balancing on her palm, then raising a knee and supporting with her lower body, raising herself up in an almost mechanical process. Her mind confused on why the Alpha now suddenly spoke in a less deprecating tone?
“How was your first day in your new home?” he asked, with a hand gesture. “Do tell me? Was it favourable?” he added, his head bent to one side in a subtle smile.
And Freya didn't know what to say. Her head was running around in circles on how to respond. Not even knowing the purpose of why she was asked the question?
As her heart feared this was a trap. And that the Alpha wasn't in a less horrid mood, but was only playing a role and acting a part. That he was now asking how she felt about his territory to see which answer would save her from, or take her to the grave…
“I don't know…” she answered, shaky.
“And tell me how is that possible?” he asked back immediately. “Did the guards harm you during the day? Were you not fed?” he inquired, seemingly feigning concern.
And Freya now decided the smartest thing to do was to not respond. But rather let Marcus do the talking. As she feared if she danced with the devil, she'd inevitably have a horn impaled through her skull.
And that was only the least of the horrible things that could happen to her by being here…
“I'm sorry are you now deaf?” he asked, with the weight of his voice falling over her.
But Freya held her ground. She had made her mind that she wouldn't speak. And that she wouldn't answer. She wouldn't engage in this tight-rope conversation, even if it killed her. And even if death was exactly what she wanted to avoid…
“No sire…” she answered, pert.
Not adding anything more. As an explanation could simply spell treason. And a trip to the executioners axe or a night under the stars of a guillotine's blade.
“Then why do you stand docile?...” the Alpha asked. “Like a mannequin, or a ventriloquists puppet?” he frowned, yet in a humored tackiness.
And now Freya held her head downwards, turning her face to the ground. Having the intuition to act humble. To pretend that her fear to speak was because of her fear to speak. She held her head low and her eyes lower. Afraid that her gaze might set off his anger and have the guards that dragged her in here—and for the second time today, drag her away indefinitely.
Alpha Marcus himself found it funny seeing her bow. A smile creeping into view at the edge of his lips seeing her submission. As he sighed in a tired relaxation, his body aching slightly from sitting on his throne for hours.
While Freya stood unmoving. With her head set in place to the floor like she was a statue carved in that position. Her hands folded in front of her and clasped together like someone praying for forgiveness. The slump in her shoulders going down even further, showing how much she was willing to even fall into the earth beneath her at his presence, as long as it meant she wouldn't be buried underneath it…
The Alpha on his part, had now switched from a humored smile to an analytical look on his face. His eyes now scanning over Freya with a deeper intent growing in his subconscious. He stared her over as a single thought slowly formed into a cloud of possibility in his mind. Before he then stood up suddenly with a raised hand.
That sent the guards behind Freya into motion. Grabbing her from behind and straightening her up in sudden shock. Her eyes widening in terror, wondering what she had done wrong? And what was going to happen?
The guards held her firm as she shook in a loud scream. And they gagged her as she planned to continue yelling. With Alpha Marcus now walking towards the edge of the stairs that led to his throne. His toes stopping directly at the line. And his hands behind his back in a stance that exemplified tyrannical despot.
“Take her to the harem…” his voice boomed now. As his eyes closed in a steady slant. Yet he looked more above her head than at her face as he talked.
He wasn't smiling anymore, and the last he did had long faded. As he now stood with his austere authority coming back in full force. His hands clasped behind his back too, but by choice and to add to the aura.
Freya struggled and wheezed as she pulled this way and that, trying to break free from the guards. Screaming and yelling in a muffled contralto. Her words bouncing back and forth inside her lungs.
As Alpha Marcus now turned his gaze down towards her. A slight look of pity etched on his face as he watched her fight in vain against the power of his men.
“Keep her with the others…” he added now, razor sharp and stern. With his gaze locked like a gun's barrel…
“And make sure she fits in the puzzle …”