THREE

Alisha

I needed to leave.

I picked myself up from the bed slowly. Luckily the sun hadn’t even come close to rising yet and the man still hadn’t been roused from sleep.

Quietly I got dressed and tiptoed to the door, my heart pounding.

I entered a large hallway that I had never seen before. It was comparable to Sebastian’s home that I gaped.

Woah.

Who was this man that could live in such a massive house? I walked towards the end of one of the hallways which seemed to stretch on forever. It was then that I heard a soft voice cal out to me.

“Why hello..? I’ve never seen you before. You’re new.”

I turned to find an elderly looking woman with silver hair dressed in gold.

Though the woman’s voice was kind, my hackles had risen. I was hoping to leave before anyone would see me and now that plan was a bust. Crap.

The woman’s eyes surveyed me.

“You’re a quiet one, aren’t you?” She noted, curiosity coloring her voice.

“I’m, um… I’m sorry.” My stammers were not the assured tone I wanted to carry, and I shrunk back when she smiled.

“Oh darling don’t worry. I must say though, I didn’t expect you to be so confused. You don’t know your way around do you? The front door is the other way, dear.”

Who was this woman? And why was she helping me this way? I gaped at her as I processed her words.

“Um… thanks…”

I had to take my chance now and leave before she asked me any question.

I turned around, walking down the hallway to the other side, and luckily I found the large doors j guessed was the front door.

This place was larger than I expected and I briefly wondered who this house belonged to before I put the thought out of my head.

The sun had just begun to rise when I left the house and I began to walk down the path, realizing that I wasn’t in my pack.

My pack didn’t have these buildings, or this intricate architecture around its compound.

But where was I?

I continued to walk, aiming for the forest, and hoping k would come across the gate of this place sometime soon.

And just as well, for it was as soon as I reached the gates that I knew where I was.

The Red Wolf Pack.

Oh no.

I ducked my head as I passed through the gates, feeling shame crawl up my chest.

I had slept with a man that wasn’t even from my pack! To make matters worse he was a member of my pack’s enemy… this was too much.

I was glad that no one stopped me on the way, and even gladder that I found myself on the familiar road to my pack. If I could just get to my room before anyone asked too many questions, then I would be happy.

Using the back roads I made my way into my pack a short while after and began my short trek to the servant’s quarters.

I crept silently inside, seeing no one when I walked up the stairs. But as I reached my door and opened it, I was greeted with the angry face of Sebastian…

My heart skipped.

What was he, the Alpha, doing here?

He never came to see me even when he wanted me in his bed.

Usually it was another maid or a guard who would bring me to him.

What was he doing here?

Before I could speak, he did.

“Where the fuck have you been, you slut?”

I stepped back.

“Sebastian…” I tried to speak.

My head reeled back, with my cheek stinging from the force of his slap.

I covered my affected cheek, tears welling up.

“Where the fuck have you been? You went out with a man last night didn’t you?” He asked me without preamble. “The other maid said she saw you with a man. You were flirting with my guests, weren’t you, you slut?!”

“But I… I…”

I couldn’t say anything in my defense.

The sound of his sardonic, mocking laughter dug me deeper into the pit of humiliation.

“So you think you can whore yourself out like a common prostitute? Do you know how that makes me look?”

All I could think about was the image of him sitting and flirting with that blonde girl in the pub. And that wasn’t the only time he had hurt me, broken my heart.

Many times he would flirt with and sleep with other girls, he never gave a thought to how I felt. But now…

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t have you executed you worthless maid,” he growled.

My heart jumped at his words.

“P-please…I can explain.” Tears streamed down my face as he glared at me. Why did it hurt so much when I was used to his taunts, his barbs at me? I continued to babble, unsure of what I could say to make him calm down. He only gazed at me with anger in his eyes.

“There’s no use explaining shit to me,” Sebastian growled. “What you’re going to do right now is to get out of my sight. And out of this pack.”

What?

My eyes widened.

Was he… banishing me? From my pack? From my home?

“Sebastian, please-“

My arm hurt as he suddenly grabbed me, pulling me out of the room. I began to plead with him to no avail, as he dragged me out of the house and towards the forest. He was muttering to himself, all curse words and growls. Each insult upon me was like salt upon my wounds.

As he dragged me, the eyes of some pack members followed us and my face burned with shame.

“Sebastian, please,” I begged him. “I’m your mate. I love you. Please have mercy,” I sobbed.

I fell at his feet as soon as Sebastian released me. Then I realised we were now in the forest, and he was standing and sneering at me. Slowly I got up, my head hurting and my body trembling.

“You have overstayed your welcome in this pack long enough “ he said, and my heart sank. He didn’t mean that, did he? “Now we will be free of you. You’re nothing but a curse to me. Love?” He laughed. “Who could ever love someone like you?”

I swallowed.

“But… but this is my home… I have no other place to go… My whole life is here…”

“You have no home here. No mate, not even a sliver of possession,” he snarled at me. “Do you think you can survive? You’re dead. You can’t even survive a day without me. And now I will show you that, your whore.”

With that, he pushed me, and I stumbled.

“Please!” I begged him, kneeling in front of him. “Please give me a chance! I can’t… I…”

“You’re nothing, Alisha. Just a maid who thinks herself a higher status,” he sneered at me, spitting at the ground next to me. “If we see you near this pack again, you will be executed, understand?”

I whimpered, watching helplessly as he walked away.

Where was I going to go?

Where could I go?

I had nothing.

…