The footsteps approaching made Sofia lift her head, her heart skipping a beat as she wondered who was coming this time.
When the cell gate opened, she saw two guards and two maids step inside. Her lips parted slightly as she tried to speak, but before she could, one of the maids spoke.
"You have to come with us… Alpha Damien demands your presence in his chamber."
Sofia's eyes widened, her lips trembling. "My… my presence?" she asked in a shaky voice.
The guards didn't give her time to say anything else. They grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to her feet.
Sofia's heart raced wildly, but she didn't struggle. Her head was spinning with thoughts as they led her out of the cold cell.
Why was Damien summoning her tonight—of all nights? It was his coronation. He was supposed to be celebrating, surrounded by the pack, enjoying his coronation.
So why her?
What could he possibly want with her?
A part of her already knew.
A part she didn't want to face.
They climbed the stairs to the upper floor—the Alpha's private wing. The walls there were brighter, lined with gold frames and silk curtains. Everything felt too clean, too alive, compared to the darkness she had been trapped in.
When they finally stopped, one of the guards pushed open a heavy wooden door. The scent of sandalwood and smoke filled the air. The room was large—too large—with a grand bed draped in dark sheets, candles burning low, and a fire flickering in the corner.
Sofia froze at the doorway.
This wasn't Damien's room.
The guards released her arms and stepped aside. One of the maids moved closer, her voice flat. "You need to undress," she said. "You have to look presentable before the Alpha."
Sofia's stomach twisted. Her breath caught in her throat. "Wh-what?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The second maid smirked, her tone laced with mockery. "Don't act surprised," she sneered. "You're going to Alpha Damien's bed, aren't you? Isn't that what you wanted all along? That's why you killed your sister, right? So you could have him for yourself."
Sofia's eyes widened in horror. "No," she whispered, shaking her head weakly. "That's not true…"
But the words died on her tongue.
The maids exchanged cruel glances.
"You need to undress," one of them said. "The Alpha doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Sofia's knees felt weak. Her heart pounded painfully against her chest. She wanted to scream, to run—but there was nowhere to go.
Her trembling hands reached for the zipper of her dress, and for the first time, she understood what her choice truly meant.
She had chosen to live… but what kind of life was this?
Sofia's hands trembled as they clutched the edge of her torn dress. "Please…" she whispered, her voice small. "Can't I—"
"No talking," the other maid snapped. "You're going to the Alpha. You should at least look decent for him."
The words hit Sofia like stones. She didn't move, not until one of them stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and yanked the dress down off her shoulder. The fabric tore slightly, and the sound echoed in the room.
Her breath hitched as cold air brushed her bare skin.
The maids snickered. "Hmph," one said with a scoff. "Look at her. Just seeing her naked will probably turn the Alpha off."
The other one laughed cruelly. "No wonder he liked Lola. At least she looked like a Luna—not like this."
Sofia's lips parted, but no words came out. Her eyes burned, but the tears refused to fall. She just stood there, her body shaking, her mind numb.
Was this what she had chosen?
To live like this?
To trade death for humiliation?
"Move," the first maid barked, shoving her toward a smaller door at the side of the room. Inside was a bathing area—warm, steamy, scented faintly with herbs. The maids pushed her under the running water, grabbing brushes and soaps.
They scrubbed her skin roughly, their movements harsh, almost punishing.
Sofia didn't resist. She didn't flinch. She just stood there, her eyes blank, the water streaming down her face like silent tears.
Her mind drifted.
She thought of her cell. Of the cold, of the silence. Of how she'd told herself anything was better than dying.
But now… she wasn't sure.
Was this truly better than death?
When they were done, the maids wrapped her in a towel, wiping her dry as if she were an object, not a person. Then they brought out a silk robe—thin, soft, and pale silver.
"Put it on," one of them said flatly.
Sofia did as she was told, her fingers trembling as she tied the ribbon at her waist.
The maids looked her over from head to toe. "We need to dry your hair… sit."
Sofia slowly sat on the little wooden stool, her legs shaking so much she almost missed the seat.
One of the maids grabbed a towel and began rubbing her hair roughly, almost like she was trying to scrub her scalp off. The other stood with her arms crossed, watching with a judging stare.
"Hold still," the maid snapped.
Sofia didn't argue. She just sat there, staring at the floor, her hands resting weakly on her lap. Her mind felt far away… like she was watching everything happen to someone else.
The maid rolled her eyes. "Look at her. Acting like some innocent lamb," she muttered loudly on purpose. "As if she has never fantasized about fucking the Alpha."
The other maid giggled. "Yeah… who hasn't dreamt of being in Damien's bed? See how lucky this bitch is."
Sofia's stomach twisted painfully. Her fingers curled into the silk of her robe. She wanted to scream that she never wanted any of this… but the words stayed trapped in her throat.
The maid finished drying her hair and then pushed her chin up with two fingers. "Stand," she ordered.
Slowly, Sofia stood.
Her legs trembled so badly she had to grab the chair to keep herself from falling.
The two maids ran a disgusted look over her. They wouldn't say it to her hearing, but deep inside them they knew Sofia was stunningly beautiful, yet they would never say it to her. They would rather die than let Sofia know she was beautiful—not when the very Sofia thought she was unattractive because of her body size.
They both exchanged a look—one full of bitterness and jealousy.
One maid walked to the door. "Let's go," she said sharply. "The Alpha doesn't like to wait."
Sofia's heart dropped.
She followed them slowly, her steps unsteady. The guards were waiting outside the room. When they saw her, they didn't say a word. They simply turned and began walking down the long hallway.
"But damn! She is so sexy." One guard thought to himself.
Sofia kept her eyes on the floor.
Every step felt heavy.
Her heart beat hard against her ribs.
They led her down the hall…
Past tall windows…
Past rooms…
Toward the darkest door at the end of the corridor.
That door.
Damien's door.
One maid stepped forward and lifted her hand.
She knocked twice.
A long silence followed.
Sofia's stomach twisted so tightly she thought she might faint.
Then—
Damien's deep voice came from inside the room.
"Come in."