Freya's POV
The journey back to my mistress's estate was far shorter than I would have liked.
I was made to ride within a carriage, and all along the way I found myself wishing for something—anything—to delay us. A broken wheel. A horse going lame. Mud so thick it swallowed the road whole.
But nothing of the sort happened.
We arrived in what felt like no time at all.
The door of the carriage was opened, and I stepped out with reluctance, my feet heavy as they met the ground. When I lifted my head, I saw Luciana standing at the entrance of the estate, her daughter beside her.
The urge to turn and throw myself back into the carriage nearly overtook me. My body moved before my mind could stop it. But I did not run. I stayed where the soldiers had left me, standing still until the carriage turned and rolled away from the estate, leaving me behind.
The moment it disappeared, I dropped to my knees.
"Milady," I cried out. "please have mercy on me."
"Why are you begging for mercy?" Luciana asked coolly. "You have done nothing to warrant being granted one."
I lifted my head. She looked down at me with a cold gaze. Olivia stood just behind her, her face drawn and somber, though I knew better than to trust it.
"Come here, Freya."
I immediately moved to rise, but her voice stopped me.
"On your knees," she said. "Crawl to me."
My eyes dropped to the ground before me. Sharp uneven stones littered the path. I gulped down nothing, before lowering myself back down.
I began to crawl.
"Faster," my mistress demanded calmly.
I obeyed, increasing my pace despite the pain, tears slipping from my eyes as the stones scraped into my skin. It did not take long before I reached her feet.
Before I could speak to plead for mercy yet again, Luciana drew out a rod from behind her and struck me across the face.
The blow sent me flying backward. I hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the breath from my chest. I felt blood slide down my face as I groaned.
"Crawl to me again, Freya," she said. "Make haste. You would not like me to step forward to meet you."
I forced myself up at once and returned to my knees. As I did, I glanced at Olivia. The gloom she wore earlier had vanished. She was smiling now.
But of course.
I crawled back to where she was and I braced myself for another blow but none came. I slowly opened my eyes thinking I had been pardoned just to be whipped across my eyes with the same rod.
A scream tore from my throat as I fell, clutching my face. My vision swam, my ears ringing so loudly I could barely hear anything else.
"How dare you embarrass me," Luciana thundered. "Today of all days."
Her words reached me faintly due to the pain. It was too much for me.
Just then, I felt rough hands seized my arms and dragged me upright.
I forced my eyes open and saw Thomas standing there, along with another of Luciana's workers—a man who had never bothered to hide his hatred for me.
"Take her to the square," Luciana ordered. "Make sure she is thrashed on her back with the Zaro whip."
I stilled at the mention of the Zaro whip.
That whip was used to punish those who defied pack law. And it was used to punish werewolves because it was the only pain they could not endure and could break them.
But I had no wolf.
One strike alone could kill me.
"And make sure she is naked," Olivia added.
"Yes, milady," the workers answered before leading me away.
I stumbled as they dragged me, my feet barely keeping pace. I was not sure how far we walked. Pain had blurred my sense of time, but I knew the path well enough. I knew where the square was situated.
It sat at the back of the estate, far from the main halls. A place meant to be unseen. A place meant for punishment.
When they finally released me, my legs nearly gave out. I realized we had arrived.
The ground here was bare and packed hard, worn smooth by years of use. I could smell old blood beneath the earth, faint but lingering. My stomach twisted.
A hand clamped down on my shoulder.
I stiffened.
"I'm sorry, Freya," someone said.
I turned my head just enough to see Thomas standing beside me. His face was tight, his eyes unable to meet mine.
"Please," I whispered. It was all I could manage.
Before he could answer, another hand seized my other shoulder. His claws that were already out, cut into my clothing.
"We have a job to do," the other worker said. "Do not pity her. She deserves it."
Thomas hesitated.
"What are you waiting for?" the man snapped. "Go fetch the whip. I will make sure she's naked and ready."
I could hear the excitement in his voice of being the one to make sure I was naked… and I couldn't help but weep.
I've had worse life, and suffered in ways I would never speak of aloud. But this was by far the worst of them all.
Just then, Thomas spoke.
"This is no fun," he began. "If we are to do this, we should at least make use of the chance. When else will we see the mutt brought so low?"
I stared at Thomas in disbelief at what he had just said.
He met my gaze and kicked me by my side harshly, sending me sprawling across the ground.
"What are you staring at?" he snapped. "Keep your eyes down."
The other man laughed in delight. "That's more like it. Now you're speaking sense."
Thomas turned to him slowly. "Why don't you fetch the whip," he said, forcing a grin. "And call the others while you're at it. They won't forgive us if we keep this to ourselves."
The man's eyes lit up. "You're right. They would hate to miss this."
He turned and hurried off, boots pounding against the stone.
Thomas waited until the sound of his steps faded.
Then he moved.
He crouched beside me and grasped my arm, not roughly this time, but firm enough to steady me.
"Get up," he whispered urgently. "We do not have long, you need to leave and never come back."
I stared at him, my breath still uneven. "Where would I go?"
"I do not know," he said. "But you cannot stay."
He pulled me to my feet. "This is all I can give you. Run. As far as you can. Do not look back."
He pushed me away from him.
"Go. Now."
I hesitated only a moment before turning and running.
I took the path that led toward the front of the estate, the only one I knew. Gravel cut into my bare feet as I ran, branches catching at my torn clothes. The entrance came into view just as my strength began to fail.
And then I saw the carriage.
It stood before the estate gates, dark and familiar. The same kind that had brought me back here earlier.
Why was it still here?
A hand suddenly clamped around my wrist causing me to scream in fright.
I turned to face him and realized it was the man Thomas had sent away to fetch the whip and the others.
"I knew it," He said, breathing harshly. "That soft fool never had it in him."
His eyes raked over me with satisfaction.
"Too weak to do the task," he went on. "That leaves you for me."
He dragged me closer. "I'll enjoy myself first. Then I'll return you for the rest of it."
He brought out his claws and reached for what remained of my dress to rip it from me, when a voice spoke making him halt.
"There you are."
The grip on my wrist loosened instantly.
The man turned toward the sound, stiff with sudden fear. I did not need to look to know who had spoken, but I did anyway.
It was the King.
He stood at the entrance of the estate, his back partly turned, yet his presence filled the space as though the ground itself bent toward him.
Before I could think of doing anything, soldiers surged forward. The man who had been holding me released me completely and fled without a word.
Hands seized my arms, dragging me forward before I could find my footing. I stumbled as they pulled me across the stone until they finally released me near where the King stood.
It was then I noticed Luciana standing there with her daughter behind her. They looked shocked and distressed. The duke was standing behind the king.
Slowly the king turned to face me. His eyes met mine and my blood ran cold.
"I have come," he said evenly, "for her."
Luciana finally found her voice. "Your Majesty," she said, forcing a strained smile, "you must be mistaken. That is my maid." She quickly gestured toward Olivia. "This is my daughter."
The King did not look at her.
"I know exactly who she is," he replied, his gaze fixed on me. "Your daughter already has her Duke. I have come to ask for her hand."
Silence fell over the estate.
"But she's just a maid… a foolish maid," Olivia exclaimed, drawing the King's attention away from me. His eyes glinted, revealing his wolf-like presence, and Olivia quickly hid behind her mother.
"You dare call my Mate foolish?"
My heart skipped a beat at being referred to as his Mate.
Could that be it?
Could that be what made me the King's weakness?