Chapter 19 Deal
“She is the only human the Alpha has kept alive. Can you imagine?”
As soon as the werewolf lieutenant left, one of the guards started, his voice curling with mockery. The others laughed, their cold, mirthless laughter echoing through the stone halls like the chorus of the damned.
Their fangs glinted in the dim light, crimson-tinged eyes glowing faintly like embers beneath ash. The scent of blood clung to them like perfume — coppery, sweet, and suffocating. Their pale, deathless skin never flushed, never warmed, never pulsed. Unlike me — warm, breakable, human — they were creatures carved from shadow and cold, built for cruelty and perfected for war.
Their nails were blackened with dried blood, curling slightly like claws. Some had faint blue veins that pulsed beneath translucent skin, glowing dimly when they were hungry. One of them blinked slowly, and I caught the gleam of vertical slits in his pupils — a werewolf trait, too predatory to feel anything human. Their movements were fluid and eerily silent, like silk gliding over glass.
“I heard she’s his mate,” one muttered, grinning wickedly, his voice layered with an unnatural echo — a sound that seemed to reverberate off the stone itself. “But I bet he just keeps her around for fun.”
“He even made her a slave. Some mate, huh?”
“Can you keep quiet? I want to do my work in peace,” I said calmly, though I was trembling inside. They always heard it — the pulse, the fear, the heartbeat of prey. To them, I was a living drumbeat of weakness.
One of them laughed like it was the best joke he’d heard all night. “Look at you — still got that backbone even after being rejected by your own bonded,” he growled, slamming his hand against the stone wall above me. The impact cracked the stone slightly, sending tiny flakes of dust and grit falling onto my shoulders.
His voice deepened unnaturally mid-sentence — a werewolf trait I’d come to dread. Their voices shifted when angered, like a second creature inside them peeking through the seams of flesh.
“Riddle me this, human — why are you still alive?” he sneered, leaning close enough that I could feel the icy breath he didn’t need to take. His elongated canines peeked from beneath his lips, tips glistening with dried crimson.
“How are you pulling his strings? We don’t want some untethered mortal playing human.”
I didn’t answer. His nostrils flared, and his pupils constricted. Anger rippled off him like smoke, black and choking. In a flash, his hand gripped my chin, his touch like a vice. His nails bit into my cheeks, cold as steel.
I didn’t flinch.
“Why is Alpha Jaden so easy on you?” he demanded.
Easy on me? What did that even mean? Was this their idea of leniency?
“We’re going, Herbert. Are you coming, or would you rather keep antagonizing the palace’s pet?” one of them growled from down the corridor, his voice sharp and guttural, like tearing silk from bone.
With a last snarl and a sweeping glare, Herbert turned on his heel and vanished into the shadows, his footsteps unnaturally silent despite the weight of his boots on stone.
As soon as they were gone, the trembling I’d been holding back surged up like a wave. I felt the heat of humiliation flush my cheeks, the only warmth in this cold tomb of a castle. I let them talk down to me today — but next time, I wouldn’t stay silent.
My limbs ached from the tension, every muscle coiled too tightly. I made my way, wobbling slightly, to the small chamber I shared with Jane. She wasn’t there. I collapsed onto the straw mattress, curling up against the frigid draft that snuck in through the stones. Probably in the kitchens — I was banned from going there after last week’s… mistake.
A knock. Sharp. Not requesting entry — demanding mine.
I opened the door to find a girl in a plain slave uniform. Her skin was almost gray with fatigue, her eyes dull from submission. She didn’t meet my gaze when she spoke.
“You’re needed in the bathing hall.”
“Where is—?” I started, but she cut me off with a silent, irritated glance, then turned abruptly. I followed her through the endless, echoing corridors. When we reached the door, she simply pointed and walked away without another word.
The bathing hall was lavish — white marble floors veined with silver, polished obsidian fixtures, walls hung with velvet. The kind of cold, haunting elegance meant for royalty — or monsters who liked to pretend they were gods. My footsteps echoed like trespass.
Behind one flame-glass door stood two women. I recognized the redhead instantly. Fury simmered in my chest. I didn’t know her personally — lowborns like me never got close — but I knew her reputation.
One of the Alpha’s favorite blood-dolls.
“There you are…” she said with a sly, mocking smile. Her voice dripped with amusement, but her eyes were cold and cruel. She was provoking me — and enjoying it.
“The drains are clogged. Work your magic, slave,” she sneered, gesturing with a lazy flick of her wrist. Her blonde companion snickered behind her, fangs stained crimson from a recent feeding.
I bit my tongue and walked toward the tub, determined not to engage. My fingers were already sore, raw from previous “assignments.” The thought of plunging them into hair and scum made my stomach turn.
“Are you waiting for a formal invitation?” the blonde hissed, her voice sharp enough to flay skin.
“Dig in,” Harriet snapped.
I slowly turned to face them. My voice was calm, but laced with quiet steel. “I’m playing it cool because you two fully-grown women could use common sense and call a professional plumber.”
The slap came before I could react. Harriet’s palm cracked across my cheek, the sting exploding in a hot bloom. I froze, reeling from the contact. Her nails had grazed my skin, and I could already feel a welt rising.
She had started it.
I had never been in a real fight before. But I had nothing left to lose. Rage swallowed the fear like a flame eating paper. I surged forward, going straight for her throat.
“Be careful, bitch,” I snarled, voice hoarse. “I’ll make you drink that tub water.”
She tried to grab my hair, but I twisted, forcing her toward the tub. Her polished heels slipped on the wet marble as I shoved. I didn’t care. I was tired — tired of being humiliated, of being their toy, their pet, their entertainment.
She fought back and slammed me to the ground, but I clawed my way back on top of her. She scratched — I caught her hand and snapped one of her fake nails off like a brittle twig.
“I’m gonna help you, sweetie,” her blonde friend hissed, grabbing me from behind in a vicious grip. Her claws dug into my arms, slicing through my thin blouse, and I winced as blood welled beneath her nails, hot and real — so painfully human.
Harriet slapped me again. “I’ll end you…”
“Who are you going to end, you whore?” I growled, headbutting her with all the force I could summon. The crack of impact echoed in my skull. I ripped my arms free and shoved her friend backward. Then I slapped Harriet with all the fury I had inside.
“Don’t ever humiliate—”
The door burst open.
“Lord, what is going on here?”
Miss Daniella stormed into the room, her voice sharp as a lash, followed by a plumber and another slave girl in tow.
“Did you try to unclog the drain?” the plumber asked, raising a brow as he watched me step away from Harriet, whose hair was wild and cheeks were bleeding.
“Yes, she tried,” Harriet snapped instantly, voice trembling with performative outrage.
I glared at her. Liar. Viper.
“What is it now, Harriet?” Miss Daniella sighed like this was just another minor inconvenience in her night.
“This untethered slave bitch is insane!” Harriet shrieked, holding her face. “She attacked me!”
The slave girl giggled, poorly hiding her amusement behind her hand.
“Call the guards,” Miss Daniella growled. Her eyes landed on me, flat and cold. “Take her to Alpha Jaden. He’ll deal with her.”