Lysandra's POV As I stood before Alpha Dmarcus, my heart sank like a stone in a bottomless pit. It's been weeks since my life turned into a nightmare. My father's ruthless ambition had destroyed everything I held dear. He had destroyed people's lives and enslaved innocent people, both young and old. He had torn families apart, ravaging different packs. The memories of that day still haunt me till now, every single night when I sleep. My pack was attacked unexpectedly, leaving me as the only survivor of my family. And now I'm left to face the consequences of my father's action. But the shocking part is that I didn't even shed a tear for my family. Like I couldn't care less. It was painful that I had lost my whole family in one day. "But why didn't I cry?" No matter how hard I tried. The tears weren't just coming out. That shows how the people I call family have been cruel to me. They had made my life a living hell, treating me like a servant and a punching bag. My father's hatred for me was palpable, and I couldn't fathom why. We shared the same blood, but it seemed like a curse rather than a blessing. My sister had been just as cruel, ordering me around like a personal maid. And my mother? She was the embodiment of pure evil, a witch who revelled in my misery. I should be grieving, but all I felt was a deep-seated relief that they were gone. But my freedom was short-lived. Alpha Dmarcus had taken over our pack, and I was now his slave. The weight of my new reality crushed me. I was forced to endure the whims of my new master, who seemed to take great pleasure in my misery. As I stood before him, half-naked and vulnerable, I knew I had to make a choice. I could give in to my fear and humiliation, or I could find a way to survive. Alpha D'Marcus eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I knew I had to tread carefully. One wrong move could mean disaster. I was scared for my life; Alpha Dmarcus was one old man but very ruthless among the realm, and I wondered how my father was so foolish to have crossed paths with this man. He loomed over me, sniffing every part of my body. "Oh my god, this man disgusts me." As he continued to sniff me like a wild animal, I felt a wave of revulsion wash over me. His eyes seemed to gleam with a sinister intent, and I knew I had to keep my wits about me if I wanted to survive. "You're a pretty little thing, aren't you?" He said, his voice reeking with spite. "I can see why your father kept you hidden away. You're a prize worth keeping." At this moment I was boiling in anger, but there was nothing I could do; I knew I had to keep my feelings in check. I couldn't afford to upset him yet. "What do you want from me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Alpha Dmarcus chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I want," he said, his eyes glinting with lust. "You're going to make a fine addition to my collection." Realisation hit me now that I was trapped, at the mercy of this ruthless and depraved man. As he reached out to touch me, I flinched, trying to pull away. But he was too strong, and he held me in place with ease. "Don't struggle," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "It will only make things worse." "Why did you think I spared your life?" Alpha Dmarcus sneered, his eyes glinting with hate. "So you would pay for all the things your father had done to the people of my pack. But unfortunately, your sister had to die so fast. Guess she couldn't take the pain, but you did, surprisingly." He paused, his gaze piercing through me like a dagger. "So right now, you will do as I say and obey my every command. If you don't want to meet your demise like your family, you'll do exactly as I tell you. Do you understand?" "Yes, yes, I do," I replied, my voice trembling as I shook with fear. My mind reeled from all the possible things I knew this man was capable of doing to me. Alpha D'Marcus' eyes seemed to gleam with sadistic pleasure as he gave his next command. "Now, take off that robe and lay on that bed, and spread your legs," he ordered. "I want to see that pretty face of yours." I felt a wave of humiliation wash over me as I slowly began to remove the robe, my hands shaking with fear. As I lay on the bed, I watched him take off his robe. My heart sank, knowing what was to come. He got onto the bed, his naked body pressing against mine. "You're going to be my new plaything," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin. "And you're going to regret ever being born." I felt disgusted as he reached out for my thighs as he touched them. I flinched, trying to pull away, but as old as he was, he was still very strong. He slapped me hard on my face, and I could feel the surge of pain. "Remain in that same position," he growled, his eyes flashing with anger. I had to gradually adjust to the way he wanted, trying to obey his every command. But as I did, my knee jerked up, and it hit him directly on his jaw. I could hear the clenching of his teeth as they jammed together, and he cried in pain. He raised his head up, his naked body tense with anger. But he wasn't balanced, and as he moved, he slipped from the bed and fell onto his neck. I didn't hear any sound of him groaning in pain. The room was totally silent. I stood up, crawling on the bed to see Alpha Dmarcus on the floor. He wasn't moving. I touched him and called out his name, but there was no answer. I checked his heartbeat, but there was nothing. He was dead! "Oh no, this can't be happening now," I muttered to myself, panic setting in. "Fuck, wrong timing." But then, something unexpected happened. I let out a loud, hysterical laugh. It was as if my brain couldn't process the absurdity of the situation. "What is happening?" I laughed, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. To be fair, Alpha Dmarcus did look ridiculous on the floor, naked with his neck twisted at an odd angle. But my laughter was short-lived. I knew I was doomed. My whole pack had been slaughtered, and I was paying for my father's sins as a slave. And now, I had mistakenly killed the alpha. "This is not good," I whispered to myself, trying to compose myself. "This is very, very bad." Immediately, I started shaking as reality kicked in. I didn't know what to do. My mind was racing with thoughts of the consequences of my actions. I had killed the alpha, and I knew that this pack would not take kindly to this. "What have I done?" I whispered to myself, my voice trembling with fear. "What have I done?" Just then, I came down from the bed, crying. I tried to keep Alpha Dmarcus in a straight position; maybe I could just lie that I met him like this. I took his robe, trying to cover him up, just like how I had met him. While doing this, I didn't care about myself; I was stark naked, trying to dress up a dead man. Suddenly, the door burst open. "Daddy, Daddy, we have a huge problem," a voice exclaimed. I turned to see who it was, and my heart stopped. It was Alpha Dmarcus's daughter, Theodora. She was a stunning beauty with piercing green eyes and long, curly brown hair. But her beauty was the last thing on my mind as she took in the scene before her. "What the fuck?" she blurted, her eyes wide with shock and disgust.

Lysandra's POV Theodora looked at me, then at her father's lifeless body, and back at me again. I froze, unsure of what to say or do. I was still naked, and Alpha Dmarcus's robe was still clutched in my hand. I looked like a culprit, and I knew I had to think fast. "I...I can explain," I stuttered, trying to come up with a believable story. But Theodora was beyond reason. She looked like she had been punched in the gut, and her eyes flashed with anger and grief. "You killed him," she spat, her voice venomous. "You killed my father." I shook my head, trying to defend myself. "No, Theodora, it was an accident. I swear." But Theodora wasn't listening. She was already calling for the guards, her voice echoing down the hallway. "Guards! Guards! Come quickly! This... this thing has killed my father!" I knew I was doomed. The guards would come, and they would take me away. "It was a mistake, a terrible accident. I didn't mean to," I cried, trying to find the right words to convince her that I didn't kill her father. I looked around, hoping to find a way to escape, but there was none. I was doomed, and I knew it. "I didn't mean to kill him, I swear!" It was a mistake; please have mercy!" I cried, tears streaming down my face. But Theodora's expression was unforgiving. She slapped me hard on the face, yanking my hair backward. I winced in pain as she glared at me with contempt. "You killed my father," she spat. "You will pay for this." The guards grabbed me by my arms and tried to drag me. I fought against them, but I was definitely outnumbered. As I was pulled away, I watched Theodora screaming and holding her father's corpse on the floor. Her cries were ringing in my ears, and it almost felt like it would never go away. I was thrown into a cell that felt dark and cold. When the door shut, it felt as if the whole world had ended. A wave of anger surged through me, and I hit the stone floor. So, this is what it felt like to strive against an alpha and lose. ****** I rested my back against the wall in my cell, which was too cold and dank with too much moisture. All my body parts hurt from head to toe. I was starving. I haven't had food for two straight days, and I wonder how I'm still alive till now. I felt too exhausted to move any further. The palms of my hands felt warm while the blisters on my lips burnt like dry ice. My eyes felt empty, and my skin too clammy to touch. The emotional pain I had endured was nothing close to the physical torment I'd endured for 48 hours. I'd been subjected to never-ending torture. Lysandra had given the order to use every trick in the book to break me. From beating, whipping, starvation and worse. I'd actually lost count of how many times I had fainted from the agony. I couldn't believe that just a few weeks ago, I was a princess, living in comfort. I had everything I could ever want, even though my family hated me. But all of that was ripped away from me in an instant. I was nothing but a prisoner imprisoned in a cell, waiting for certain death. That was almost too much to digest. The loss of everything was extremely bitter, to be "everything" and then cast out into the nothingness around me by cruel hands of fate. The fabrics coated with my tears recall the thoughts of every memory I have lost, which reveals my tattered family, captivating home and freedom transformed nothing. Life was an adventure, and now it's staring deep into the abyss. I closed my eyes, feeling tears fall and releasing all my sadness. My body shook, but my muscles felt too weak to move. I felt exhausted, hungry, and trapped. The darkness felt overwhelming. Will it last forever? Only time will tell. I heard footsteps coming towards me, and my heart filled with dread. I backed away, pressing myself against the wall for support. My body trembled with fear. "Are they here to hurt me again?" "I will not be able to last," my self wished to whisper, knowing every drop of concocted tears made the willies more vibrant. My thoughts were interrupted as a figure clothed in fragrant perfume erupted to my cell, which then revealed Theodora. Her hair was styled in the perfect way that fits her facial features, and she looked like she was ready to attend an important meeting. The guards opened the gate for her, and she walked carefully inside the cell, scanning the small space in disdain. "Not a suitable place for a princess, I guess," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "You reek of vomit." She spat on the floor, her expression twisted in disgust. Just then, she told the guard to bring a chair. The guard quickly obeyed, placing an ornate chair in the centre of the cell. Theodora sat down, her movements elegant and calculated. She waved her hand dismissively, and the guards retreated, leaving us alone. Tears welled up in her eyes, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of sadness. But it was quickly replaced by a cold, hard anger. "You killed my father," she spat.  "You killed the only man who treated me like his own. I'll never forgive you." But then, something strange happened. Theodora's expression changed, and an evil smile curled up her lips. "Well, well, well," she whispered. "You just made things easier for me. How clever could you be? I just couldn't bring myself to do it, but you just did. Bravo." She leaned forward, her eyes glinting with spite. "Tell me, how did it happen?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm fascinated. How did you manage to kill the one person who stood between me and the throne?" My eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what?" I asked, my voice shaking. Theodora's smile grew wider. "Oh, well, let's just say he's an old man. I wanted to make his death simple, but you just had to do your thing. That's so sad." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Theodora didn't even look capable of harming anyone, let alone killing her own father. "Oh well, my time here is up," she said, standing up and smoothing out her dress. "I couldn't spend more time here; if not, I would smell like this cell." I fell to my knees, desperation taking over. "Please, just let me go. I beg you, I'll never show my face again. You'll never hear of me." Theodora's expression turned cold and calculating. "Oh no, dear, this is just the beginning of your nightmare. You will pay for killing my father and for what your father did to us." With that, she turned and left. "Please, just let me go!" I cried. "Shut up, Lysandra!" her voice echoed as she walked away. Just then, one of the guards came in with a tray of food. I grabbed it quickly and started eating because I was starving. The food was my only concern. After I finished eating, I noticed there was a note on the tray. It read, "Thanks for making things easier for me. Your Highness, Theodora." I knew exactly what she was referring to, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that I had eaten. But as I leaned back against the wall, my stomach began to churn. A searing pain shot through my abdomen, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I stumbled forward, vomiting up the food I had just eaten. That's when it hit me-I had been poisoned. I doubled over, clutching my stomach in agony. The pain was unbearable, a searing burn that threatened to consume me whole. I tried to cry out, but my voice was hoarse and barely audible. My vision began to blur, and I felt myself swaying, my body weakened by the poison coursing through my veins. I tried to hold on, but it was no use. With a faint whisper, I collapsed to the ground, my world going dark as I lost consciousness.

Lysandra's POV I groaned as I lay on the bed; my vision was very blurry. I just woke up, and my throat and my chest hurt badly; I could feel the burning sensation. My stomach was empty now because I had basically thrown up all the food I had eaten. I felt lightheaded while trying to understand how I got to this place. The room looked really strange, with stone walls and wide window bars. There was a light smell of herbs and medicine in the hair, and I couldn't understand why I could perceive that. But it made my stomach churn. My memories were all fuzzy. The last thing I remembered was Theodora's visit... and the food. I had eaten the food, and then...everything went black. Suddenly, the events came flooding back. Theodora had poisoned me. But as I tried sitting up, my head spun, and I just had to lay back down. My whole body felt heavy, like something was pushing down on me, and my head kept spinning. "How did I even get here, and where was I, anyway? I asked myself. Just then I realised I was chained by my hands. And I was dressed in a transparent cream dress. I felt a surge of humiliation and vulnerability. "What the...?" I muttered, tugging at the chains. "Why am I chained like an animal?" I exclaimed, my voice shaking with rage and fear. I looked down at the dress, feeling exposed and degraded. "And what is this...this thing I'm wearing?" I demanded, trying to cover myself with my chained hands. Just then Theodora strode in with a maid. I flinched, my heart racing with anxiety. "Ah, Lysandra, I see you're awake," Theodora said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I hope you're feeling...refreshed." I glared at her, trying to keep my emotions in check. "You poisoned me." "It was just part of the lesson I wanted to teach you," Theodora said, her voice devoid of empathy. "Well, this is just the beginning. You're lucky you didn't die. And you're a liability to me now, since you had my father killed." Her eyes narrowed. "Looks like I could use someone with your skill to terminate anyone who comes my way. You're just like a snake in the green grass. If i didn't want a cold-blooded killing; I'll just use you simply." She raised her voice, her words dripping with malice. "Do you understand, Lysandra?" she yelled. I stood there, stunned, my mouth unable to utter a word. Theodora strode over to the bed, her fingers digging deep into my flesh as she grasped my chin. "Do you understand?" she repeated, her eyes blazing with intensity. I stuttered, "Y-yes, I do." Even then, she didn't release her grip on my chin. Her fingers remained embedded in my skin, causing me to wince in pain. Finally, she let go, but her hands still lingered on my chin. She leaned in, her lips brushing against mine as she planted a soft kiss on my lips. "Eat and get ready for me later. I'll send for you. And I want you to look good." Her gaze swept over me, her expression disdainful. "If it's not too much, bathe with all the perfume and oil Elara, the maid, is going to give you now. I'lrecogniseze the scent because, frankly, you smell like shit right now." With that, she stormed out of the room, leaving Elara standing there with a tray of food. I thought, what did she mean by she'd send for me later? And kissing me on the lips? Was this part of her new plan to break me? I felt a wave of revulsion wash over me at the memory of her lips on mine. Elara's voice broke into my thoughts. "Miss Lysandra, please eat something. You must be starving." "I actually don't feel like eating anything at the moment," I told Elara, trying to convince her despite the hunger tearing my stomach apart. "Please, you don't have a choice; now you have to eat something at least." Elara urged, her voice soft and firm. "I know you're starving; I can tell, given that you threw up everything you ate back at the cell." "Swear that this food isn't poisoned again," I told her, eyeing the tray suspiciously. Elara hesitated before speaking in a low tone, "I promise you, Miss Lysandra, the food is safe. I prepared it myself." I raised an eyebrow. "Why should I trust you?" Elara's expression turned sombre. "Because, Miss Lysandra, with the way things are now, you shouldn't be rejecting food. You wouldn't want your story to be that the Almighty Alpha Cain's daughter died of hunger." Her words stung, and I felt a surge of resentment. "What do you know about my father?" I spat. Elara's voice remained calm. "I know what everyone knows, Miss Lysandra. Your father's actions...they had far-reaching consequences. Many suffered. But," she paused, "you should be glad you're still alive and in a luxurious room, eating. Some aren't so fortunate." I glared at her, but Elara's words struck a chord. Was I being foolish to reject the food? Was I letting my pride get the better of me? I reached for the tray. "Fine. I'll eat." Elara nodded, a small smile on her face. "Good, Miss Lysandra. Eat, and then bathe. You need to be presentable for...later." What did Theodora have planned for me? Was Theodora genuinely concerned about my well-being, or was this just another ploy to manipulate me? I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to her kindness than met the eye. ********* The queen's slave. The voice woke me up from sleep while I had already got ready, like Theodora had asked me to. I fell asleep in the process of crying and waiting. I cleaned my sleepy eyes to see who it was that had entered my room without me hearing a knock or the sound of the door opening. To my surprise, it was Demi. I rubbed my eyes again with my hands; I thought maybe I had started seeing things. Demi? Here? Standing in front of me? This can't be true. But when I stared at her, I saw the young girl who had been tortured by my father,  being one of his slaves, hurt and used. Demi looked into my eyes, and for a moment we just looked into each other's eyes like we were staring into our souls. I could see her mixed reactions-her face, shock, fear, or whatever it is. I couldn't tell. "Demi?" I whispered, my voice shaking. "What are you doing here?" "Well, Theodora sent me to get you," Demi replied, her eyes flashing with anger. Before I could even speak, Demi's hand connected with my face in a stinging slap. I was hurt, and I was shocked. Another slap followed, leaving me reeling. Demi's gaze bore into mine, her voice dripping with venom. "As long as you're in this building, I'll make your life a living hell. You'll wish you died along with your parents." My heart racing, Demi dragged the chain locked to my hands, pulling me off the bed. "But for now, I'm taking you to Theodora's room," Demi spat, her grip on the chain tightening. I followed her, my mind spinning from the shock and pain. I couldn't even say anything because I kept thinking about what they had all suffered at my father's hands. The heaviness of their suffering made me quiet, leaving me feeling weak and small. I stood in front of Theodora's room, my heart racing with worry. Demi's last words kept playing in my head: "Knock and enter." I waited there for over three minutes, my hand shaking as I thought about knocking. No matter what, I didn't want to die. Finally, I found the courage and knocked softly on the door. I took a deep breath and opened the door, my heart pounding hard. What I saw, I couldn't believe. Theodora was on her bed, her body spread out like a feast. Her guard, Logan, was on top of her, their bodies moving together with a wild passion. I quickly said, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt..." Theodora's voice stopped me. "No, Lysandra, come inside. Lock the door behind you." My heart sank as I did what she said, my hands shaking as I locked the door. "Fuck, Logan," Theodora groaned, her head thrown back in ecstasy as she ground her hips against Logan's. "Your dick feels so fucking good." Theodora's eyes were closed, her lips parted in a silent moan as she took Logan's dick deep inside her. I couldn't tear my eyes away as I watched them, my own body responding to the erotic scene beforme.. "I can come back later," I said, trying to apologise and retreat. Theodora's voice was icy and commanding. "No, you'll stay right there and watch." I froze, unsure of what to do. Theodora's guard continued to ravage her, oblivious to my presence. "Watch!" Theodora ordered again, her eyes flashing with anger..