CHAPTER 2

UNEDITED

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"We are beasts" The man explained. "Humans call us werewolves but we prefer to be called beasts"

"Our senses are superior to humans; I advise you to be careful with your words." The second said, a smirk on his face as he looked at our terrified ones. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't witnessed it. The man or beast was in front of us, bearing his canines at us.

When our eyes met, my breath caught in my throat, and I noticed his change. He appeared more at ease. His fur dropped and his canines retracted. My hands shook as he continued to stare at me, and then he began to move toward me...

My eyes widened and I looked to my right, towards Alexa who was also staring at me with scared eyes. I wanted to turn and run but I had a feeling he wouldn't be against that. He stopped just a few feet away and walked away. My lips parted and my hand reached for my chest, attempting to calm my racing heart.

"Welcome Slaves," The second said, going back to the king's table "And I hope you live long" He sat down on his chair. James turned back into a human, and the sound of his bones breaking caused a shiver to run down my spine.

He walked over to his clothes, unconcerned about the fact that he was naked, and put them back on. He returned to his seat and sat, and they all pretended nothing had happened. My heart, which I had been attempting to calm, was racing so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

A sound caught my ear. I turned to see someone on the floor, passed out. The humans around them were too scared to move so they left them on the ground. The human lay on the ground, unconscious for a while until someone stepped on them as they were walking by.

The person woke up in shock and groaned in pain. Even though the person was awake they still stepped on him or kicked them as they left the dining. I felt sorry for the person, they treated them like a mat.

The beasts left the room one by one until it was just us humans in the room. We all remained motionless, unable to move due to the information we had just heard and what we had just witnessed, those who were able to move either collapsed to the ground or ran to go barf somewhere.

"Bella, we need to clean up" I heard Alexa say beside me. I nodded my head and forced my shaky legs to move so I could clean up the tables. I and my roommates cleared the plates and went to wash them in the kitchen.

We didn't even have the appetite to eat the rest so we threw it away. We cleaned up the kitchen in silence then went to our room. Khalid jumped on his bed and screamed into his pillow. Sam just fell to the ground beside the door and held her head in her hands.

"This can't be real, right?" Alexa said in denial. I looked at her with sad eyes but she ignored it and continued to question. "Yeah, it isn't. Maybe that wasn't the man or it was all just an illusion" Her eyes widened. She tried to convince herself and she began to pull at her hair as if trying to wake herself up from a bad dream.

I grabbed her hand, and she clung to me like a starving child, as if I were food. I dragged her to her bed and forced her to lie down. I sighed and turned to face the other two. Alexa grabbed my hand as I was about to climb the bunk. She looked terrified.

"Sleep with me" she whispered. I nodded and laid on her bed beside her. She wrapped her hands against my waist and rested her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. We went to sleep and I prayed silently that everything will be okay.

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I walked through the dining room with shaky hands, carrying the tray to the King's table. As I walked by, I could feel their gaze on me. My heart was racing so fast that I was afraid they'd hear it.

I got to the empty table and place the plates down before turning to go back into the kitchen but Khalid caught my eye. He was standing at the door, unable to move. His eyes were filled with fear and his chest was raising and fallings fast.

He didn't even realize I was close to him until I tapped his shoulder. He jumped and the tray in his hand fell causing the plates to fall. The plate fell to the ground making a noise and the food splattered everywhere.

Khalid looked like he was about to pass out. I could feel all of their eyes on us, and when I heard a growl, my heart sank into my stomach. Angry footsteps approached us, and a female stood before us, towering over both of us.

"Who the hell did this?" The angry female asked. None of us spoke. "Are you deaf?"

Khalid began to stammer, annoying the woman the more. I felt bad for him and before I knew it my lips started moving.

"I did it. I'm sorry I-"

Slap

I collapsed to the ground, my empty tray slipping from my grasp. My hand flew to my stinging cheek, attempting to alleviate the pain. My lip stung as well, and I could feel something dripping down it to my chin.

The other beasts in the room stopped whatever they were doing and stared at us. Khalid covered his mouth with his hands and stared at me with wide eyes. Tears began to fill my eyes but I forced them back, scared that crying would anger her the more. She stared at me with disgust filled eyes.

"Get up you runt" I quickly got to my feet; my vision was blurry because of the tears. "Clean it up before I rip your head off" She threatened.

"Y-yes ma'am" I struggled to say before scurrying off to the storage room. They all stared at me not with pity as I walked by but with amusement. I felt embarrassed because of their gazes and walked faster. As I was leaving the dining room the king was entering.

I stopped and bowed before practically running away, not glancing at his face. I got the cleaning supplies and went back into the dining to clean up the mess. My busted lip stung as I ran my tongue over it, stopping more blood from coming out.

My eyes remained on the ground as I walked past them. I got on my knees and began cleaning the mess on the floor. I picked up the large broken pieces and the pancakes and threw them in the bag. For the tiny ones, I used a broom and then mopped the floor.

After I was done, I went back into the kitchen but no one was there. I walked to the fridge to grab an ice pack and placed it on my now swollen cheek. I winced and then sighed before sitting down on one of the stools.

The fact that she slapped me because of the plates still baffled me. It wasn't the first time I dropped a plate or someone around me dropped a plate. Before culinary school, I was a mess. I couldn't hold a plate in my hand without either pouring the food away or breaking it.

I was beyond clumsy. I still am but it's not as bad as before.

The door of the kitchen opened and the woman who slapped me walked in. I jumped out of the stool and placed the ice pack down. I placed my hands at my sides and looked at my feet. I realized that looking them in the eye angers them the more.

I heard her walk towards me until I could see her feet in front of mine. Suddenly her hand was wrapped around my neck, restricting my airflow. My eyes widened and I reached for her hand, trying to get it off me.

She growled and raised my body off the ground, making it harder for me. My feet dangled above the ground as I fought against her. My lungs began to hurt from lack of air and my throat hurt from the pressure.

I begged her with my eyes but she just tightened her grip.

"You bitch. How dare you?" She growled. "Do you know what you've done?"

'No, I don't'

I didn't understand why she was doing this. I did as she told me and left the dining room after. I whimpered in pain and tears fell from my eyes. I began to feel lightheaded and black spots started to cloud my vision.

With one last struggle, I passed out.

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My eyes shot open and I sat up from where I was laying. I inhaled as much air as I could, placing my hand on my chest.

I was alive......…but how?

I looked around, at my surroundings. I was in a white room, on a small bed with white covers. The room had some equipment here and there and there was a small trolley close to a door.

I felt pain shoot right through me and whimpered. I placed my hand on my bruised cheek and felt a bandage over it. I wrapped my hand around my neck and there was a bandage there too. I ran my finger over my swollen lip and looked at it. It was no longer bleeding.

I continued to look around the room, relieved. I noticed a figure standing at the window seal, staring outside. Fear overtook me once more, and I tried to flee, but I couldn't because of how weak my body was.

"You're awake," The man said, not turning. He kept staring out the window as if he was waiting for something. His voice was sweet and soothing to my ears. It was nice to hear him speak, and it sounded familiar for some reason.

I tried to talk but ended up wheezing and coughing. I closed my eyes and rubbed my hurting neck, hoping to soothe the pain there. I heard the man move from the window towards something and then roll it toward the bed. I opened my eyes and a gasp fell from my lips.

It was him.

The doctor from the hospital.

Doctor Eros?

He looked different from before. He looked taller, buffer, and more handsome than before which was shocking. His hair looked darker. His grey eyes were staring at me, accessing me, waiting for my reaction.

I wanted to scream and cry. What was he doing here? Did they kidnap him too? Why did he look so different? I couldn't say anything, because one, my throat and two, I was too awestruck.

I admired his beauty and build. He wasn't dressed in a lab coat and turtle neck like before, this time he was in a black buttoned-up shirt that was tucked in and the first few buttons were undone and black slacks.

Let me just say that black is this man's colour. It made him look scary in a sexy way. I forgot the situation I was in and continued to stare at him. He removed the cover of the trolley, revealing a bottle of water and a covered plate.

My eyes followed his huge arms as they moved to grab the bottle and move toward me. I slowly reached for it and collected it. Our fingers grazed and I felt something shock me. I quickly retracted my hand and opened the bottle.

I heard a sound come from him as I drank the water. It sounded like a rumble. I drank the water greedily, closing my eyes as the pain and dryness I felt reduced.

"Thank you," I said after I finished the whole bottle. He hummed.

We stayed in silence for a while, stealing glances at each other, or rather I was stealing glances at him. He was staring at me with no shame whatsoever like he had every right to do that.

I decided to break the silence and ask what he was doing there.

"What are you doing here? Did they kidnap-" I was interrupted by the door opening. A woman dressed in a white coat walked in. When her eyes landed on Doctor Eros she bowed, shocking me.

"My Lord, I thought you were with the Queen," she said, slowly rising. I stared at him with shock then followed by embarrassment and betrayal. He growled then turned away from me to face her, not before giving one last glance.

"Make sure she eats then take her back to the slave chambers." I winced internally at the sound of his voice. One minute he's sounding so sweet and nice the next minute he's scary.

"Yes, my lord," she said. The King walked out of the room without a word. I was about to sigh and relax but when I saw the woman's eyes, I held it in. She stared at me with so much disgust and hatred.

"Just been here for a day and already whoring around" She carried the plate from the trolley and placed it on my lap aggressively. I whimpered a little.

"If you make a sound, I will rip you apart. Got that?" She wrapped her hand around my thigh and squeezed it harshly. I nodded vigorously, praying for her to let go. She let go of my leg and walked away from me.

"Eat up and get out," She said, opening the door "Now I have to get a new bed"

I cried immediately after I heard the door close. I sobbed lowly in the quiet room, depressed. Why was all this happening? Why were they so mean? Why is he the king? I cried until no tears fell from my eyes anymore.

I ate the food silently and slowly then placed the plate on the trolley and made the bed. My legs were begging me to lie down but I didn't, I didn't want her to come back and find me here. I changed into my maid dress glad that it was long enough to cover the bruise on my lap. My face was enough.

There was no mirror in the room so I didn't know how bad I looked but by the stares I knew it was bad. I didn't know the way back so I took a lot of turns but only ended up going deeper. I found myself in an empty hallway.

I tried to open the doors but most of them were locked apart from one. My curiosity got the best of me and I peeked inside. The room was dark, only the light from outside was what was brightening up the room.

"Come in" I heard a female voice say inside the room. I froze. I didn't move, hoping that the person wouldn't do anything but the voice spoke again. "I know you're there"

I entered the room, my fear spiking up. I closed the door behind me and stared at the ground. What is wrong with me? Why was I always getting in trouble?

I stood close to the door and waited for the person to either hurt me or insult me.

"Look at me" I gulped and slowly looked up. It was a woman who looked in her late forties on a hospital bed. She looked at me with a gentle look, something that I had never seen before. She had white hair and pale skin. She looked thin, very thin.

She smiled at me, making her look less sick and friendly. Her grey eyes stared at me with patience and understanding.

"How may I help you, dear?" She asked. Her voice sounded so weak like she was really struggling.

"Are you okay?" I asked, worriedly. I didn't know why I was worried but the way she looked and sounded bothered her. She chuckled and waved me off.

"I'm fine dear well at least better than before," she said. I nodded slowly, not fully convinced. She scanned my face and frowned "What happened to your face?"

I ran my hand over my cheek and shook my head.

"Just a slight bruise. Please do you know the way to the slave chambers?" I asked, dismissing her question. Her brows furrowed but she didn't force me to speak or attack me.

"I don't know where that is but just follow the cracks in the wall. The fewer cracks the closer you are to the dining if they haven't painted over it" she said. I thanked her and was about to leave when I remembered something.

"Don't worry dear I won't tell anyone you were here" she smiled warmly "Now go"

I left the room, closing the door gently behind me. I thanked her internally again and followed the cracks as she said. Thanks to the sun that was peeking through the small windows it was easy. Before I knew it, I was in the empty dining.

I sighed and went to the slave quarters, glad that I didn't see any beasts on my way. I went to my room, ignoring the stares from other humans. I opened the door to see Alexa pacing around the room and Khalid and Sam sitting on the bed.

Their eyes shot to the door and landed on me. Alexa was the first to move and wrapped her arms around me. I winced causing her to quickly pull back.

"You're okay," she said her voice cracking. She looked relieved but also worried. I smiled at her a little. The other two came over to me and worriedly stared at me.

I told them to relax and that I was fine but they didn't believe me. I mean who will, I don't know how I look but I knew that if someone with my face said they were okay, I wouldn't believe it.

They said they heard what happened and after I had left to clean up, Angel told them to leave the kitchen and come to the room so they wouldn't get hurt. They've been waiting for me to come back since but I didn't so they started thinking of the worst scenarios.

I thanked them for caring about me. I appreciated the fact that none of them asked me what happened and left me alone. I was in pain and tired but at least I wasn't hungry, right? I thought about the sick woman earlier.

I'm glad she was who I met and not some other beast but I couldn't help but ask.

Who was she?

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