Chapter 4

In the middle of the night, the grunting of a lycan made the walls reverberate. Odessa, who had hurled herself together, found it difficult to sleep due to the sound, but seeing as the others were sleeping soundly made her wonder if she was the only one hearing the grunt. At times, she felt the Lycan was closer or maybe before her, causing her to shut her eyes tight. The cell was so chilly that she was scared to lean on the wall to avoid catching a cold. It was scary, but she managed to put herself together, praying inwardly for daylight. Someone passed with a lampstand, bringing a few seconds of light into the cell, and she was able to see the way the other females scattered on the floor, deep asleep. “I wish I could. This lycan might devour me if I do. Why am I listening to it alone?” Then, the growl came again. She covered her ears. Her eyes shut. “Please! I didn't kill my parents,” she mumbled, her head bent low. “I don't know how they got poisoned. I only served them tea.” “What's she saying?” A masculine husky voice made her raise her head instantly only to see two huge dark men with their hairs almost covering their faces, standing with a lampstand before her. “Take her out!” Her eyes grew wide. “Out? To where? It's dark everywhere, and you are supposed to be asleep too.” she lamented as they pushed her out of the cell. “Stop it, please! I can't see well in the dark.” “Isn't she a werewolf?” one of them asked. She glanced at them, finding it difficult and shameful to tell them that she was wolfless. They might end up beheading her, claiming that she was of no use to them since she had no wolf ability. “She is! She is the Alpha Princess of the Moon Scarlet Pack. I wonder why they offered her to the King.” the other guard elaborated. “Between, slaves don't have time to sleep. If you have the chance to do so in the daytime, don't hesitate to….because you might play your role at night.” “Now get going…” The other with the lampstand pushed her forward, and she walked in their middle. She glanced back several times to meet the gaze of the guard behind her, her heart dropping into her belly. “Where are they taking me to at this time of the night? Don't they rest, at least?” It was a long journey until they passed the Blackstone gate. They led her through another gate that was carved with gold throughout. She couldn't get to look at it as it glittered, shining directly into her eyes. “What a waste of money!” she thought and pouted her lips. “Instead of using the money to take care of their slaves.” she halted, followed by a heavy hit on the chest of her back. “Keep going!” the guard yelled to her. She took a hard gulp, furrowing her brows. “Slaves are not taken care of. I wonder what I was even thinking.” she kept contemplating, not until she hit her foot on the pavement and let out a soft groan. “Ouch! It's dark.” her face contorted as she climbed the pavement. As she walked past a huge door still carved with gold, and it shut behind her. She froze at that spot, gaze affixed on a spot. “Why did they leave? Who should I meet here?” she rolled her eyes to the side, catching a glimpse of the guards standing at the side. The sudden sound of footsteps made her shudder. It was serene and steady until a lady dressed like a warrior stood before her. She knitted her brows. The lady was dressed like Ronan, who had been guiding her in the daytime. Were they siblings? She shook her head. They didn't have the same looks; just the dressing. “I am the King's right-hand woman—” the lady began, tilting her head to the side while taking a closer look at Odessa, “....while Ronan is the King's right-hand man. My name is Lyra.” Odessa rubbed her nose. Of what use was their name to her? Were they going to save her ass from dying? “Tonight, you will serve the King,” Lyra added and turned her back to Odessa. Her eyes bulged. She didn't know what exactly to ask about since she had a lot on her mind. While Lyra walked, she trailed behind, palms clutched against each other. They reached a certain room, and Odessa was taken in by the maids standing at the corridor. She looked at Lyra. The fact that she had a lot in her mind was vivid on her face, but she couldn't gather herself to speak until Lyra vanished from her sight. “Bow to Mistress Pandra!” one of the female servants said to her. She glanced at them and lowered her head. “Greetings, Mistress Pandra!” her voice was audible enough but with anger filled in it. It's not even a day since she came into their clan, and she had met several faces already. Now, she's wondering how many faces she would meet and bow to the next day. “How can a wolfless thing serve the King?” Mistress Pandra voiced out, strolling around Odessa. “She might end up dying in there just after her blood is sucked.” Blood? What business does a Lycan King have to do with her blood? Odessa forced herself to turn to the mistress, “What do you mean? How will he suck my blood when he isn't a vampire?” “You will learn tonight that not only vampires feed on blood. You should just pray that the moon goddess keeps you alive after he feeds on your blood.” Mistress Pandra turned to the door, shoving her hair to the back. “Lyra, do you think she will sate the King since she's wolfless?” There was silence for some time until Lyra responded. “I can't respond to that. Wolfless or not, she's still a werewolf, so the King will make his choice.” Odessa frowned. Were they not supposed to be doing all kinds of manual hectic jobs as slaves? When did slaves end up becoming a meal to a Lycan? “If you end up being of no use to the King,” Mistress Pandra rested her left palm on her shoulder, sniffling just behind Odessa. “....then you will end up executed tomorrow morning unless your pack offers another female slave.” Her stomach rumbled, followed by an excruciating pain that struck her lower abdomen. This was more cruel than she thought. Now, she can tell why she was hearing the Lycans grunt….it's all because she was the next person to sate his taste for blood.