The Alpha’s Slave

Chapter 13

BRIANNA’S POV

I thought Sebastian forgot about me. I thought he abandoned me. Thought he left me to relive my dark past in the hands of the cold-blooded brute kneeling behind me. But to my surprise, he came to my rescue.

His eyes popped out in shock on seeing what his fellow Alpha ruler was about to do to me. His nostrils flared and his hands clenched in rage.

“Come on, Sebastian,” the brute withdrew from me and stood up to face him. “Don’t be so greedy. If you want, we could share her tonight,” his lips curled up to his ears in a sinful smirk.

Without thinking twice, Sebastian rushed at him and thudded his smirking face with a heavy blow that sent him colliding into a full-length mirror by the side of the room and sprawling on the floor.

I lay frozen on the bed, tears blurring my vision and my body trembling in shock and fear when Sebastian suddenly scooped me into his arms and carried me out of the room.

The usual me would have declined but I was so broken I saw myself snaking my hands around his neck to hold on tight. No one had stood up for me as he did. Not even Hermes. He would have joined that brute to defile me the more if it were him.

“Don’t worry,” he kept uttering as carried me past the party hall. “You’re okay. Nothing happened. I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”

The only response that escaped my lips was the sound of my whimpers and muffled sobs. I dug my face into his chest, seeking comfort within its depths as his sweet strong Alpha scent filled my senses. I buried all my being in his, trying to hide myself from the crowd that betrayed me. All I needed at that moment was a fortress. A pillar to hold onto and fortunately, he was there, holding me securely in the strength of his arms.

When I was sure we were almost at the exit, I raised my head slightly. Peering through the side of his arm, my whimpers and sobs stuck in my throat as I saw someone that looked like Hermes smirking at me. Could that really be him? This was a royals party, there was every possibility that was him. Fear tightened its grip on me. Did he come to kidnap me back to his hellhole?

That question fogged my mind, I didn’t realize we had approached Sebastian’s SUV. The groan of the car door as one of his guards opened it drifted me back to reality and he cradled me inside.

As we embarked on our way back to his castle, a thick veil of silence settled between us. I couldn’t look him in the eye even if I wanted to. I couldn’t see his face but I could feel the anger and regret that radiated from him.

A part of me wanted to blame him for what happened because he insisted on bringing me to the party. But a bigger part of me was grateful he defended me as no one had.

Looking out the window, I occupied my mind with watching the structures of the bright-lit road fade away as the SUV sped. I tried not to replay the horrific experience and the image of Hermes in my head but they kept conjuring up effortlessly.

I was so lost in thoughts again that I didn’t know when we arrived at the castle. Before I could gather myself up and open the door, he had already hurried out and opened it for me. He attempted to carry me again but I declined. I could do fine on my own now.

“Thank you,” I tried not to look him in the eyes. “But I could walk on my own now.”

As we entered the castle, I tried to quicken my steps to go wash and bury myself on my bed when he suddenly pulled my hand and drew me to himself. My muscles were tense under such proximity and my heart was fluttering.

I couldn’t deal with all this. Not after everything that happened. I summoned the courage to pull away but he pinned me gently on the spot.

My face was down but he pinched my chin to raise it and his brown eyes deepened into mine. They were full of life, pain and unquenchable warmth. Even though I found it hard to admit, they were…comforting.

“Brianna,” his warm breath caressed my face. “I’m sorry. I never meant for any of that to happen-” his words paused in his mouth and his fingers grazed the side of my lips. “You’re hurt. Did he do this to you?”

That question threatened to trigger another round of tears but I pressed my lips together to suppress it, nodding to his question.

I saw the comforting look in his eyes quickly replace with a furious one and that was when I saw Catherine’s graceful figure gently descending the stairs behind him.

My blood ran cold on seeing her and I wished Sebastian will let me go. It was just a bruise. Something I was used to. It’ll heal in a couple of days. It was nothing to worry about.

“That bastard must pay for this,” he leaned close. So close, our faces almost touched as he assessed it more to examine the level of its severity. “I’ll send a maid over to your chamber to treat it.”

Catherine now settled three steps above the last one, her hands crossed against her chest as her eyes bored through me.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Seeing how awkward I was glancing over at him and nervously trying to break away from his proximity, he released my face and I inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. Turning, he only sighed on seeing his wife standing, glaring at us. I had expected him to dismiss me immediately and go to her but he turned back to me and leaned forward again.

“Meet me first thing tomorrow morning in the back garden,” he whispered to me. “I want to show you something.”

I nodded quickly and quickened out of sight to my chamber. I pushed the door close and rested on it, my heart beating unsteadily. I wondered what Catherine saw. What she thought. Sebastian was so close to me and was touching my lips. Perhaps, she might have thought he was about to kiss me or must have kissed me already.

Walking to the centre of the room, my fingers grazed my already messed up hair to a bigger mess. I couldn’t think clearly. Everything Catherine had told me the other night I was returning from Sebastian’s dinner started to replay in my head. But I hoped Sebastian will tell her that whatever she saw wasn’t the case.

Removing my clothes and ornaments, I went straight into the bathroom. I scrubbed and wiped away all the iniquities I carried from that party, trying hard not to picture the scenario.

After I finished showering and drying myself, I wanted to fall into the bed and forget everything that happened today but I knew I needed to check the gown that brute tried to rip off my body. The edge was torn badly. But it was something I could amend easily if I had a needle and thread.

Back at Hermes castle, when I didn’t satisfy his outrageous desires or his sister’s unnecessary demands when I was locked up in my room for the whole day or week, I passed time by sitting in front of the window, sewing with my hands and knitting. The pieces I sewed were still in his place and if I had the chance I would have taken them all before I left.

I searched for a needle and thread but I couldn’t find any. I didn’t expect to find any since the room used to be the master bedroom of the castle and Catherine didn’t look like someone who kept those kinds of things. If only the maid wouldn’t ask me to return the gown tonight or early tomorrow, then I might ask around for a needle and thread.

I was still searching, rummaging through the drawers of the dresser when my ears caught a soft knock on the door.

On opening it, I saw a maid carrying a small red box adorned with a white cross. I haven’t seen her before. There were many maids in the castle, so many I found it hard to remember their faces. So many it made me wonder if there will be a vacant spot for me when Sebastian orders me to start working.

She was roughly the same age as the one that prepared me for the cocktail party, petite with large emerald eyes. The only difference between them was this one had a calmer, more welcoming demeanour than the one that prepared me for the cocktail party.

“Miss Brianna, I heard there was an accident,” a concerned expression gleamed in her eyes. They were so large you could see whatever emotion she was feeling raw in them. “Alpha Sebastian had ordered me to come to offer assistance and treat you.”

I looked at her, not surprised by her arrival. Sebastian had told me earlier he’ll send a maid. But it wasn’t necessary. It was just a scratch. He didn’t have to send her.

“Thank you. That’ll be greatly appreciated,” I forced a smile and made way for her to enter.

With hands as gentle as feathers, she began her tender ministration. She applied a cold compress, and a healing ointment and carefully affixed a small adhesive bandage to the side of my lips.

“Please take it easy, Miss Brianna,” she advised kindly. “Give yourself some time to heal. If you need anything else, you can come downstairs and call me. My name is Amelia.”

“Thank you so much, Amelia,” I nodded and smiled at her, gratitude shining in my eyes. It’s been so long since someone took care of me like this. “Your care means a lot to me.”

With a warm smile on her face, Amelia left the room. I sprawled on my bed, looking at the ceiling and that was when I remembered I had forgotten to ask her for a needle and thread to stitch the gown. By the time I made it to the door, she had already disappeared out of sight.

I decided to leave it for tomorrow. Climbing back into the bed, I tucked the duvet over myself and prepared to sleep. Sebastian had told me to meet him first thing tomorrow morning in the back garden. I wondered what it is he wanted to show me. What he wanted to tell me. All his kind gestures were more than enough apology.

Bringing the duvet over my chest, I tried to bury myself in its ensconce. I closed my eyes and suddenly the fears I was trying hard to avoid flickered in the darkness. I saw the brute who tried to defile me. I saw Hermes and his sister laughing at me. I heard their voices echoing. I saw everything I passed through filling my head.