CHAPTER FOUR
Catherines POV
Today is exactly a month since the day I was falsely accused. After spending just a night instead of the whole week in the dungeons, the Alpha ordered my release. This came as a shock to everyone as this is so unusual of the ruthless Alpha Nathan. It was later that I realized he wanted me around just to satisfy his sexual needs. I'm nothing more than a sex toy to him.
Life has been a living hell lately. People look at me with judgment and contempt. They make sure they don't have any of their valuables in sight when I pass by them. Some even go as far as to curse at me.
Princess Petra looks at me with indifference whenever she sees me. This makes me doubt myself sometimes, whether I’m truly innocent of the crime I was accused of.
“Get this washed and neatly ironed before tomorrow morning”. Someone threw a bundle of clothes at me, causing me to snap out of my thoughts.
My heart skipped a beat when I realized it was Petra. I hurriedly got on my feet and bowed my head.
“Yes, ma”. She cut me a look and left without any other word.
Among the laundry was a big black silk robe with red stripes, adorned with beautiful patterns of the moon. I assumed it was for the Alpha as the texture was fine and smooth.
There also was a red lace gown. Staring at the dress, I could picture Petra in it, short and plump.
It was midday and it was going to take just an hour to finish with this heap of clothes. I hurriedly grabbed a basin and started with the washing.
Soon I was done with the first part, it was when I rose to head towards the well that a dark shade flashed my eyes. I felt a sharp pain in my head and once again the black shade engulfed all over me.
My eyes itched as soon as the bright light of the day hit my eye through the door. I groaned in pain as the other half of my head hurt like it was being torn apart. I slowly crawled out of my bed in an attempt to close it.
Suddenly, a scorned voice took me by surprise causing me to retreat to the ground.
“You silly girl! You dared to defy my order? I’ll show you who is in charge here!”
At this, she grabbed me by the hair and pulled me out. It was then that I realized it's Princess Petra!
She picked up something from the basin beside her and threw it across my face.
“Do you know how important today is!” She yelled out.
Oh! the laundry… I voiced out in remorse as the memories of yesterday rushed to me. What happened” I whispered to myself while I shamefully searched around for a basin.
“What's happening here?” Someone thundered. It was the Alpha himself.
“What is taking you so long to bring my robe!”
Oh gracious goddess, why does trouble always find its way around me”, I lamented.
Today is the day the King of Wolves will be visiting our pack and the Alpha’s garment is yet to be washed?!
I'm as good as dead!
“You must have eaten the heart of a lion to dare to do this!” the Alpha yelled.
“I'm sor.… Whoa”
All the people around gasped in shock.
I subconsciously threw up on the Alpha while pleading for mercy. With my hands covering up my mouth, I looked up at him and what I saw sent a shiver down my spine.
His eyes had turned all black and I could see rage burning in it.
Wham, Wham… My cheeks got swollen instantly with the Alpha’s hand imprinted on them.
My inner wolf jumped in shock, this is the first time in a while the Alpha laid his hands on me. The pain was excruciating almost the same as the day he rejected me.
I trembled down to the ground with resignation. I’m tired. I’m tired of all this. May whatever that fate has in store for me happen. I’m not going to fight it.
The disgusting smell of blood, sweat, and rusted metals woke me up. No one had to tell me I’d been dragged to the dungeons again.
The guards around would want to torture me if they realized I was awake so I dared not to open my eyes nor make any noise. I slowly turned to face the wall. As I closed my eyes, the thought of my actions earlier caused me to sit up.
“Why all this, what’s wrong with me?” I wondered, trying so hard to find a sound reason behind my actions.
I’ve been feeling dizzy and nauseous off late but it must be from the tedious task I’ve been doing. I once considered going to the Pack Doctor for treatment but the queue there made me change my mind.
Suddenly, a thought swept across my mind. Could it be that I’m pregnant? Little beads of sweat started forming all over me.
“No… no… I can’t be pregnant”, I said with tears in my eyes. The thought of it alone made me shiver. “If anyone finds out about this I’m doomed,” I said as I paced around the little cell in the dungeon.
“No… I must run away”.
I caught the attention of the guard on duty when I bumped into an abandoned barrel right behind the entrance door.
“Hey! Where are you going?”
Without turning back, I immediately took to my heels to the bushes. I paused midway and wondered if I was on the right track. I had not fully planned my escape so I didn’t know where to head.
“You know what? Survival first!” my wolf declared.
With my heart thumping wildly, I ran through the bushes, in hopes of finding a hideout.
“They’re getting closer,” my wolf said with terror.
I could feel the sounds of their mighty paws. I jumped over a boulder.
Thump!
The hollow sound that rang in my ears caused me to frown for a second.
I let out a loud yelling sound which echoed and bounced back to me. I didn't see anything again till my hand knocked against a rock. A sharp-edged rock at that.
My whole body was on fire and it felt as if I had broken a few bones. I looked up weakly, the blood dripping from the wound on my forehead blurred my vision.
I fell into a fucking pit. A very deep one at that. I tried climbing up but the walls were smooth making it impossible to get out.
I scanned my eyes around and I must say, this pit looks dangerous. It looks like an abandoned habitat for a dangerous creature.
Goddess!
What bad luck? At this rate, the guards do not need to catch up to me to arrest me. I'm as good as dead.
All my attempts to get out were futile last night. The songs of birds chirping woke me up the next day. I passed the night in this dark and lonely forest. I couldn't even catch a good sleep as the mosquitoes I encountered last night were as though created to haunt me. The scratches I severed from their bites caused my wounds to open up. They were hurting and itching so bad. I need to find help as soon as possible before I bleed to death.
Suddenly, something hit my shoulder and it caused me to snap out of my thoughts. I hesitantly moved my fingers across my shoulders to look at what it was. I was shocked when I realized it was a raindrop.
I looked up to see the birds that were playing merrily around fleeing in hopes of finding shelter. The clouds had become dark and moving. The velocity of the wind that accompanied it showed clearly it was going to rain really hard.
“But wait! What am I supposed to do? Is this pit going to be my graveyard?”
No sooner had I finished this statement than it began to pour cats and dogs. Soon, the pit started filling up. It was not until five minutes ago that it was at my knee length, it had now risen up to my shoulders.
I started pedaling my legs so hard in order to stay afloat. However, this couldn't last long as I started drowning. I gathered the very last energy in me to try to survive but quickly gave up. The scenes from the day my mother died took over me and I was shivering in fear. It felt real and I couldn't stop but blame myself for her demise.
“So this is how mummy struggled that day. It'd be better if I joined her”, I thought. After this statement, I could feel my soul finally leaving my not-so lucky body.