The first few days after the wedding ceremony were filled with work and Ina helped here and there as she could. She wasn't really assigned any chores as she was there solely to serve the owner in bed. Now even that part was taken by his wife. Ina was making herself busy in the kitchen.
"Oh my god, the first day they didn't even leave the bed chamber." one of the maids was giggling.
"The master has really good stamina."
"Soon we will have children to look after."
Ina kept chopping the veggies and tried to focus on simple menial tasks. It was easy during the day but became harder at night. Ina felt a deep void in her heart. She felt betrayed and useless. It hurt to realize that she could be disposed of in such a short amount of time. Nobody said anything directly to her but she knew what they thought. Even before Ina was envied and hated by some of the servants as she was treated better almost like a member of the house not a slave she was. Now they thought it will all change. Ina has fallen from Jiha's grace.
Ina smiled, handing over a bowl full of chopped pepper. Then she took the dishes and washed them. That was actually it, all her work was done. Ina left the kitchen and took a stroll in the garden. This place was wonderful, with lots of flowers blooming and even a fountain sprinkling crystal clear water that felt like pure luxury. Ina was looking at the water droplets sparkling in the sun.
"What a beautiful view.' A deep pleasant voice made Ina shiver in the middle of a sunny day.
Ina turned around, it was Tar. She managed to avoid him for the past few days but this time they were alone in this garden, all other slaves were engaged in work.
"Yes. The fountain looks nice." Ina smiled and decided to leave this place as soon as possible.
"I didn't mean the fountain." Tar came closer and Ina backed off instinctively.
"Are you afraid of me?" He asked with a weird smirk on his face.
"Yes. You are Mrs Frescot slave and an Alpha. Those are two reasons why an Omega like me should be wary of you." Ina admitted.
"I won't harm you. You are the first Omega I really became interested in. Even your smell is nice and it is more intense these days. I could smell you in the house even after you were long left. Is your heat coming?"
That simple question made Ina's blood drenched from her face. Indeed her heat was about to come soon. No, no no. She refuses to be stuck with this Alpha male during her heat.
"None of your business." Ina hissed, she decided to stop playing nice. She looked him angrily in the eyes and boldly pushed him aside as she wanted to leave this place.
Tar grabbed her hand.
"Mrs Adeline promised me that you will be mine, it's just a matter of time Omega." Tar smiled radiantly.
"I will wait."
Ina freed herself and went back to the house. She was nervous she had to see Jiha. Ina was lucky she saw him in the corridor.
"Jiha!" She ran towards him only to be stopped by the sudden appearance of Adeline behind his back. Ina stopped and Adeline without a single warning slapped the impudent slave in her face. Ina bumped against the wall.
"How dare a slave call you by name?" Adeline was standing there like a goddess of rage with her hand still raised.
"On your knees Omega. I see you need proper training."
Ina looked at Jiha but he was just standing there with no reaction. Ina knelt, her cheek was throbbing it sure will be bruised.
"The house of Salter for such overstepping of rules punishes slaves with whipping." There was a triumphant smile on Adeline's face.
"Not my slave. Her skin will not be broken. She might have behaved wrongly but it was me who was wronged, so I shall decide how she will be punished." Jiha suddenly stood for Ina.
"She might behave wrongly?" Adeline was furious probably because she was opposed by Jiha and in a matter of punishing his former bed slave.
"I will punish her according to her delinquency. Ina follow me." Ina stood up and lowered her head, there was no point in escalating the matter any more. Jiha took her to Ina's room.
'I'm sorry my lord." She immediately recalled the proper way of addressing Jiha.
He sighted and lifted her chin up.
"She hit you hard. I'm sorry Ina but you must remember that calling me by my name is reserved only for bedroom activities."
Ina blushed, somehow she felt humiliated by his words. Right, they were never equals and now it was even worse, he had a wife.
'You must be careful, don't disobey my wife. She sure has a knack for discipline and she's not fond of you." Jiha was stroking her hair as he was speaking. Then he suddenly bowed and sniffled at her neck.
"You sure smell nice my Omega, even without seeing you for the past few days I could sense your presence. Are you doing it on purpose?" His hand started stroking her neck.
"No my lord, my heat is approaching." Ina looked him in the eyes.
Jiha smiled.
"Is that so, you are asking your Alpha to attend to you?" Ina sensed that the Alpha became aroused, however for the past few days he didn't care about her at all. She decided to pay him back a bit.
"Wouldn't dare my lord. I just wanted to beg you not to let that Alpha of lady Adeline near me at that time." Ina looked at Jiha with pitiful eyes and saw him getting angry.
"Where did this idea come from?"
"He threatened me that lady Adeline promised me to him. Please my lord, I can work. I can help in the kitchen or work in the garden or clean the house. I will be useful and promise not to anger lady Adeline with my presence. Just please don't make me that Alpha's mate. Please my lord." Ina decided to add a bit more to her show so she knelt in front of Jiha.
"That will never happen." She saw a vein popping on his forehead and clenched jaws. There it was, the possessiveness of an Alpha. No matter whether he loved Ina or not he wasn't willing to share an Omega with some other Alpha. That was a basic instinct.
"Get up Ina. No need to worry and you will not work in this household. You may do some small errands but you are here for my pleasure not for hard work. I will clear up the misunderstanding. As to your heat and the punishment, I will lock you up in the prison. It will be for your safety. Nobody except me and one of my Beta guards will be allowed to enter. Don't worry." He kissed her forehead.
"Stay here, I will send the guard soon." He turned around ready to leave but stepped back.
"I will visit you my Omega, as your heat should be all mine."