Chapter 8

Valencia’s POV

The blade came down toward my throat with deadly force. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the end.

CLANG!

The sound of metal striking metal rang through the room. I opened my eyes to see Alpha Logan's dagger embedded in the stone wall, having knocked Amara's weapon from her hands. The knife clattered across the floor.

Amara collapsed backward, tears streaming down her face. Blood from the cut on her eye mixed with her tears, creating red streaks down her cheek.

Alpha Logan stepped into the room, his footsteps heavy on the stone floor. He drew his sword with a soft whisper of steel and walked over to where Amara sat on the ground and placed the tip of his sword against her throat. His voice was cold.

"Tell me your last words to your parents. I will deliver them."

Amara's eyes went wide with shock. She stared up at Alpha Logan, her mouth opening and closing without sound. Slowly, she closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Alpha! Don’t!" The word burst from my lips before I could stop it. "Please don't kill her."

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. I had just given an order to an Alpha. To the most feared Alpha in the kingdom.

Beta Dorian dropped to his knees in front of Alpha Logan. "Alpha, please. Ama has served faithfully for ten years. This was a moment of madness, nothing more. I beg you to show mercy."

Alpha Logan's face remained expressionless as he looked between Dorian and me. His gray eyes were ice cold. I felt terror crawl up my spine like a living thing. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice.

"It was a misunderstanding," I said, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "Gamma Amara found me in your room, eating your food, sitting at your table. She didn't understand why you brought me here. Her anger came from loyalty, not malice."

Alpha Logan stared directly into my eyes. His gaze was so sharp. I was certain he would turn his sword on me next, that my throat would be the one bleeding. But I forced myself to hold his stare, even as sweat beaded on my forehead.

He didn't look at Amara. He kept his eyes locked on mine as he moved his sword in one swift motion.

Amara's scream shattered the silence. Her left hand fell to the floor in a spray of blood. She clutched her wrist, sobbing as blood poured between her fingers.

"Take her to the dungeons," Alpha Logan commanded Dorian without emotion. "Tend to her wounds."

"Yes, Alpha," Dorian said immediately. He picked up the severed hand and helped Amara to her feet. She was pale as death, barely conscious.

As they left the room, I let out a long breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My entire body felt drained. I slumped against the wall, sliding down until I was sitting on the cold stone floor.

Alpha Logan placed his sword on the table and rolled his shoulders.

"Prepare my bath," he said in his deep voice.

I looked up in surprise. I glanced toward the door, but there were no other servants. He was talking to me.

Years of slavery had trained me to obey immediately. I struggled to my feet and hurried toward the door.

I didn't know where the kitchens were. I ran down the hallway, my bare feet slapping against the stone. When I saw a servant carrying an empty tray, I grabbed his arm.

"Where are the kitchens?" I asked breathlessly.

He looked at me with the same disgusted expression I was used to seeing. "Why do you need to know?"

"Alpha Logan wants a bath. Now."

The servant's eyes widened with shock and confusion. His expression showed he didn't understand, but he didn't dare question further.

"Follow me," he said reluctantly.

He led me quickly through several corridors to a large kitchen. The room smelled of bread and roasted meat. Several servants were cleaning up after the evening meal.

"The Alpha needs hot water for a bath," the servant told them.

"And someone needs to clean blood from his chambers." I added.

The servants exchanged shocked glances, their faces pale with fear.

"Blood in the Alpha's chambers?" one whispered.

"Who's going to clean it?" another asked nervously.

They all looked at each other, but no one volunteered. A burly male servant pointed at the smallest female servant among them.

"You go, Maya. Take the cleaning supplies."

"Why me?" Maya protested, her voice shaking. "I don't want to see blood."

"Because I said so," the man replied firmly. "Someone has to do it."

Maya reluctantly gathered a bucket and rags, her hands trembling as she headed toward the door.

I watched Maya's frightened face and felt a pang of sympathy. I knew what it was like to be the weakest one, to be pushed around by those with more power. I had been bullied and forced to do terrible things for years. But now I was powerless to help her.

Three servants began heating water while I waited. Before leaving the kitchen, I spotted a wooden box on a shelf containing dried herbs. I grabbed a handful of willow bark and rosemary.

Ten minutes later, the four of us hurried anxiously toward Alpha Logan's room carrying buckets of steaming water. We moved so quickly that hot water splashed out of one bucket, scalding the hand of the servant carrying it. He cried out in pain, nearly dropping his bucket.

When we reached Alpha Logan's room, I saw that the blood stains had already been cleaned away. We poured the water into a large wooden tub near the fireplace. I added the willow bark and rosemary to the hot water.

The other servants bowed their heads respectfully and left. I started to follow them out.

"What is that?" Alpha Logan asked, pointing to the herbs floating in the water. He had begun removing his Doublet.

I kept my eyes lowered. "Willow bark and rosemary, Alpha. They help with muscle soreness and clear the mind."

Alpha Logan's eyebrows relaxed for just a moment before his expression returned to neutral.

He finished undressing and stepped into the tub. I heard a sound of relief escape his lips. My mind flashed back to seeing his naked body at the altar, his big cock. Heat flooded my cheeks. I kept my gaze fixed on the floor.

Chapter 9

Valencia’s POV

"Do you need anything else, Alpha?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Come here," he said simply.

I hesitated, then took a few steps closer to the tub. I tried desperately not to look at his nude body. Being faced with a man's nakedness, I had no idea what to do.

Alpha Logan's voice came again, emotionless. "Massage me."

"Alpha?" I looked up at him in surprise.

Alpha Logan turned around in the tub, resting his head against the edge and placing his hands on the rim. He didn't bother to repeat his command.

Despite my inner hesitation, my feet moved obediently to stand behind him. I began massaging his broad shoulders with trembling fingers.

I tried to focus on the task while controlling the turmoil inside me. I knew what kind of man he was. In an instant, he could decide to end my life.

As I continued the massage, I felt his muscles finally begin to relax. This gave me a small sense of satisfaction. I moved to his left arm, using my limited experience to properly work each muscle.

When I gathered courage to glance at his face, I saw his eyes were closed as if he had fallen asleep. This allowed me to breathe a little easier.

I turned to his other arm, skillfully kneading his bicep. Was the water still warm enough? I wondered, glancing down at the water's surface.

That's when I saw it.

Alpha Logan's cock was fully erect.

My hands froze on his arm. My breath caught in my throat. I quickly looked away, my face burning with embarrassment. My hands shook as I tried to continue the massage.

"Keep going," Alpha Logan's voice was rough.

I forced my hands to move again, but I could barely concentrate. The image was burned into my mind. I had never seen a man aroused before today. The size of him was intimidating and confusing.

"Lower," he commanded.

My hands stilled again. "Alpha?"

"My back. Massage my back."

Relief flooded through me. I moved my hands down to work the muscles between his shoulder blades. But I couldn't stop my eyes from drifting down to the water again.

He was still hard.

"You're trembling," Alpha Logan observed without opening his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Alpha. I'm trying my best." The silence fell over us. I thought about how just hours ago I had been tied to that stone pillar, waiting for death. He had saved me, brought me here, even called a doctor to tend to my wounds. I still couldn't understand why he had helped me.

"Why did you save me, sir?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alpha Logan's eyes opened. He turned his head to look at me over his shoulder. His gray eyes studied my face.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I quickly looked away, taking a step back. The air in the room felt thick.

"Come here," he commanded, his voice authoritative.

I had no choice but to obey. My legs felt unsteady as I approached the tub again, keeping my eyes fixed on the stone floor.

"Continue the massage," he simply pointed to his shoulders.

My face burned. I forced my trembling fingers to reach out, to press against his broad shoulders. I could feel he was still just staring at me.

Without any warning, his hand moved. It slid under my dress. I gasped, stepping back. “A...Alpha,” I said, my voice shaky. I tried to twist away, but he grabbed my wrist.

“Don’t move,” he said, his tone hard.

I froze. My breath stopped. His fingers pushed higher, touching my underwear. I wanted to scream, to run, but I couldn’t.

“Alpha, What are you doing?” I whispered, but he didn’t answer. His hand kept going, brushing against me in a way that made my skin burn. I’d never felt anything like this. No one had ever touched me there. My body started to react, and I hated it. I could feel myself getting wet, and it made me sick with embarrassment. Why was this happening? I didn’t want it, but my body didn’t care.

“A...Alpha, please,” I said, trying to protest, but my voice broke. I couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Are you a virgin?” he asked. His voice was calm, like he didn’t care.

I couldn’t look at him. My cheeks were on fire, and I knew he could tell. He didn’t need me to say it. His fingers moved deeper, past my underwear, and I grabbed the edge of the bathtub to hold myself up. My legs were shaking. I bit my lip, trying to stay quiet, but a small sound came out—a moan. I wanted to die right there.

He didn’t stop. His fingers went in and out, slow at first, then faster. I couldn’t control myself. My breathing got loud, and my hands gripped the tub harder. “Please,” I said again, but it was weak. I wanted him to stop, but the words wouldn’t come out right. Instead, my body kept responding. I felt a heat growing inside me, something strange and strong.

“You like this?” he said, his voice steady. I shook my head, but my body said something else. Wetness ran down my leg, and I couldn’t hide it. He added another finger, and I couldn’t hold back. A loud moan escaped, and I covered my mouth with my hand. It didn’t help. He kept going, his thumb pressing on a spot that made me shake even more.

I hated how he looked at me—like I was nothing, just a thing to play with. But my body wouldn’t listen to me. It trembled under his touch, and I couldn’t stop the sounds coming out. “Alpha, please,” I said, my voice breaking. Tears stung my eyes. I didn’t know if I was begging him to stop or something else. It was too much.

A knock came at the door. “Alpha?” It was Beta Dorian. Alpha Logan pulled his hand away, and I fell to my knees. My legs wouldn’t hold me anymore. I was shaking, my dress messy, my thighs wet. I pulled the fabric down, trying to cover myself, but I felt exposed anyway.

“Come in,” Alpha Logan said. I stayed on the floor, breathing hard. My head spun. What had he done to me? Why did my body feel like this? I didn’t understand it, and I was terrified of what it meant.

Beta Dorian opened the door and stepped inside. His eyes found me kneeling beside the bathtub, and I saw his eyebrows furrow. That expression hit me like a physical blow.

I wasn't a whore. I wasn't some seductress who had bewitched their Alpha. But I couldn't say that out loud. I couldn't defend myself. I just had to endure their judgment in silence.

"Alpha," Dorian said, forcing his attention back to Alpha Logan. "Gamma Xander is outside the pack house. He's demanding to speak with you about Gamma Amara."

Alpha Logan's face darkened immediately. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. I held my breath, afraid to make even the smallest sound.

"He wants an explanation for why you cut off her hand," Dorian continued carefully.

Alpha Logan's jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscles jumping beneath his skin. "Bring him in," he said through gritted teeth.

"Yes, Alpha." Dorian bowed and left the room.