I backed away in fear as i screamed, freeing my ripped shirt from his grip. I scrambled to gather the ripped shreds, trying to cover my now exposed breast.
My hands trembled as i sob.
I could feel the room heat up, his breathing ragged and I wished I hadn't looked up at that moment.
His eyes stared fixedly at my bosom, guttural growls escaped his throat, his chest heaved widly.
He took a step forward, and my heart lurched as i took multiple backwards, my back hitting the walls.
Shit! I was trapped.
His gaze were still locked on my chest, I could see the bulging veins on his hands, showing how tightly his fists were clenched.
Despite my fears, I could feel my nipples hardened uncontrollably, a weird feeling pooling in my lower belly as I pulled my legs together tightly.
"Pl-please Roman" I managed to utter, but it came out in a weak whimper instead. Which seemed to make things worse as his eyes turned a deeper shade of gold, with a tinge of red.
If I weren't scared shitless, I'd have admired how beautiful his eyes were.
He took more steps towards me, closing the gap between us, ,my fear intensified as I tried to cover my exposed chest.
My shaky hands touched my hardened, sensitive nipple in the process and an involuntary moan escaped my lips.
My eyes snapped to his in shock, in time to catch the feral look in his eyes.
The mate bond. It definetely must be the mate bond making my body react like this.
There's no way i'd feel so turned on just from a look from this heartless monster. Not when he just killed two people in front of me. I reasoned with my brain.
Finally he looked away from my chest and met my eyes.
"You're such a needy bitch, aren't you" His voice mocking. " I'm yet to touch your filthy body and you're already moaning for me"
His finger came under my chin and he traced it down my neck lightly. I felt electrified, my body tingling.
I shivered, but not in total fright. My neck tilted unconsciously, giving him more access to my nape.
I bit down on my lips, almost tasting blood, my mind in a turmoil.
'I shouldn't be enjoying this' I chided myself. 'I should be screaming and fighting against this cruel man' the rational part of my brain thought.
But my eyes closed and my back arched when I felt his touch across my nape, to my collarbone, going down the valley between my breasts.
This was the first time he'd been this gentle with me.
My grip on my torn shirt weakened as his fingers went lower.
"Take your hands off" He commanded, leaving no room for refusal.
A rational part of me resisted, but my hands moved regardless, exposing my bare body to his raving eyes.
My eyes lowered in shame, hating the wetness pooling inbetween my legs.
I swore I heard him purring as he took in my bare sight, my stomach knotted, goosebumps rising on my skin at the sound.
"You're such a slut" He grabbed my left breast suddenly, squeezing hard.
A gasp left me at the touch, tears welled up in my eyes at the pain, but my back arched when he rubbed his thumb on my needy rockhard nipple.
I let out a maon and that seemed to snap something in him.
His gaze hardened, his grip tighter as his squeezed. I winced at the pain.
"You don't deserve pleasure" He gritted, my eyes snapped to him in shock.
"You're weak, pathetic and filthy" he released my brusied breast as he choked my neck, pressing me against the wall.
My hands clawed at his in desperation as I struggled to breathe, my vision clouded.
"You're nothing but a slave, remeber that" He growled, his other other fumbling with his belt.
Whatever high I felt before had vanished as terror now consumed me.
He was still the same monster I knew, foolish of me to think otherwise.
I tried to plead, but my neck was still held in a death grip, tears continually streamed down my face.
Juat as I felt my consciousness fading away, he released his hold and before I could breathe, he turned me around forcefully, my nose slammed against the wall, bleeding.
I cried out out in pain as my head pounded terribly.
He didn't relent his hold on my neck. he held it in place against the wall as his other hand pulled my hips towards his crotch.
Before I could struggle in protest, he ripped whatever was left of my shirt apart, my back exposed.
I sobbed loudly as I knew what will follow, the thought of how he'll take my first time brutally just to deny me pleasure filled my heart with intense pain.
He was supposed to be my mate, love me and care for me, but here he was, about to ruin me.
I waited for the pain but nothing came.
I blinked in confusion, cool air hit my exposed skin as i remained exposed to him, waist bent.
but he did nothing, not even a sound, just frozen. I resisted the urge to move or a make a sound.
Then I felt it, his touch, light as a feather, tracing the whip marks on my back.
I bit my lips to endure the pain from the burning marks.
His fingers stopped at the deepest wound near my shoulder, his breath hitched and a low growl came from him.
"Who?" he asked. And I blinked in confusion. Is he asking who beat me up? I nearly scoffed.
He gave a warning growl and his grip tightened on my neck. I could feel the anger radiating off him.
"The men at the auction house" I replied
Then silence. So long I felt I was imagining things.
With a sudden furious growl, he threw me to the sides, fixed his pants and stormed out of the room.
He slammed the door so hard, it bounced on its hinges, nearly breaking apart.
And I layed on the floor, my whole body burning in pain, looking towards the door in confusion.
What the fuck just happened?
********************************************
I didn't know how long i layed on the floor to clear my breathing, my mind in turmoil as I recalled all I've been through today.
I couldn't help but wonder if he's bipolar? One moment he's raging like a beast, the next he's asking about my scars.
My eyes looked at the maid's body few feets away from me, one of her hand stretched towards the door, showing her last struggle to leave.
"i'm sorry." I mouthed. "I'm sorry", I didn't even know her name. Yet I got her killed.
Hot tears spilled down my cheeks as my emotions took over. Anger, hatred, frustration, guilt and shame.
The door creaked open.
Alarmed, i dragged the shreds of my clothes around me, crawled towards the edge of the bed and curled, my head buried in my knees
I couldn't resist trembling and I mumbled 'please' continually. Why is he back? to continue?
Then I listened carefully, it wasn't the heavy sound of Roman's boots, these footsteps were soft and unhurried.
I lifted my head as an Old woman with silver hair pinned into a bun came into my view, carrying a wicker basket, her eyes on the maid's body, her expression even, as if she'd seen it too many times before.
She knelt down beside it, closed the girl's eyes with two fingers and whispered a prayer to the moon goddess. Only then did she turn to me.
"Easy, child," she said, seeing me flinch. "I'm not here to hurt you."
"Who are you?" my voice came out as a rasp.
"Jade" she said with a smile, then hesistated before adding "I'm Roman's aunt"
Every muscle in my body tensed. 'Don't ever trust anyone in this castle.' the maid's voice rang in my head. I moved further away until I hit the bedframe.
Lady Jade didn't move closer, she only looked at me, signed in resignation, then noded slowly in approval.
"It's good to be cautious" she set the basket down between us. "but let this old woman look at your wounds. You're bleeding."
"Why would you help me" I bit back in anger "He's your nephew." The same man who did this to me.
"Yes, he's my nephew" She unwrapped a bundle of cloth, and draped a robe over me before I could argue. "That's exactly why."
She tilted my chin to inspect my nose, her hands gentle. I held back a sob.
She applied a concoted salve onto my wounds gently, I gritted my teeth to endure the pain.
"He sent for me you know" she broke the comfortable silence. "pounding on my door, ordering his aged aunt to bring her salves to you."
I stared at her.
"Unbelievable?" she asked. "I stopped trying to make sense of that boy a long time ago" she wrapped the last bandage on my shoulder.
"There girl, You're done" she patted my uninjured shoulder, as she rose to her feet.
"I'll have the maids bring you something to eat, so you can rest." She turned towards the door. "You'll need all the energy tomorrow morning dear" she continued.
I frowned in confusion.
With a last glimpse before she stepped out the door, "The Alpha ordered the start of your training at first light tomorrow." And she left.
Training?