The Alpha’s Slave

BRIANNA’S POV

The next morning I woke up earlier than usual. The endless sprouts of dark thoughts that filled my head had kept me up throughout the night.

Preparing as fast as I could, I rushed down to the back garden. I didn’t want Sebastian to arrive before me. It’ll be wrong for someone considered a slave.

I had to walk a few distances before I could make it to the back garden. It was a stone’s throw away from the back of the castle. On reaching the garden, Sebastian was already there. I noticed he was wearing a pair of wireless earbuds and looking at the garden, the expression on his face peaceful and calm.

The garden was a beautiful site to behold as the soft rays of the morning sun bathed it. It was a haven of vibrant colours and intoxicating scents. The blooming flower beds, fluffy carpet grass, delicate vines and shrubs, colourful butterflies and bees that pollinated the flowers, the lovely tunes of the birds and the gentle rustlings of the leaves in the wind were so enchanting I almost lost myself in the serenity.

Keeping a respectful distance, I paused for a moment, taking in a deep breath. I know he asked me to come see him here. But I didn’t want to disturb his peace. He looked like he was transported to another world where there were no worries. A world of his making.

“Sebastian,” I breathed out, my voice like a whisper as I summoned the courage to settle by his side. I was finding it hard to get used to calling him by his name.

He didn’t hear me nor did he notice my presence. Turning to look at him, I reached for his shoulder and that was when his eyes which were as vibrant and as serene as the garden he was looking at met mine.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Ohh! Brianna,” he plucked out the earbuds from his ears and a graceful smile spread across his face. “Sorry. I was so lost I didn’t see you there.”

“It’s okay… I understand,” I nervously smiled back.

Suddenly, his gaze fell back on my eyes and lingered in them as though he was searching for something deep inside them. They travelled down to my lips and his hands reached out, his fingers gently grazing the small adhesive bandage the maid – Amelia had affixed in them yesterday night.

“Does it hurt?” A concerned expression was etched on his face.

“No….” I shook my head, even though it did hurt a little. But I didn’t want him to keep on worrying for me.

While his fingers were still on my lips, I felt my heart pounding, extremely heavy against my chest. I didn’t know why but whenever he was close to me, my muscles become stiff and tense. I lose myself. I lose control of my entire body. I lose control of my feelings.

I had never felt that way for any man. Not even for Hermes when I first met his loving side which turned out to be a lie.

But I swore within myself, I won’t let those feelings get the best of me again. Those feelings cost me dearly. They betrayed my naivety. Betrayed my innocence. And I vowed to always bottle them no matter how full they got.

“Honestly,” his hands broke away from my lips. He faced the garden and his face slumped to his chest “I’m so sorry for putting you through this. It was all my fault and I wish I had never left you all by yourself in that party.”

“You don’t need to keep apologizing,” I tried comforting him. “You defended me like no one had. And all your kind gestures towards me are more than enough apology.”

His face lit up with a soft smile as he turned to look at me. Those were the words he needed to hear and I was happy they had gone a long way in dissolving the guilt that was tearing him apart.

“You must be wondering why I brought you here,” a gentle wind suddenly blew past his face, teasing it and making his thick black curly hair ripple in waves.

“Yes,” I answered, admiring the beautiful sight before me and loving the way the gentle wind that emanated from it caressed my skin.

“This garden holds a lot of memories,” a look that mirrored his words reflected on his face. “The memories I cherish and the ones I despise. My parents loved gardens and flowers and everything nature. That was one thing they had in common.”

A scoff suddenly rushed out from his nostrils as he continued. “I watched them grow this garden and nurture it into what it is today. Every day, I watched them spend their whole day in this garden, watering, pampering and giggling like children in it. I was jealous and thought this garden was stealing my parents from me. They hardly spent time with me and was only after securing the position of me marrying Catherine so our two kingdoms can be merged since Catherine had no brother to succeed her father.”

I never wanted to look into his eyes as he spoke but his words captivated me so much it drew my gaze to him. In those eyes, I saw glistening moisture. I saw a glimpse of the man beyond his noble stature. I saw a part of an Alpha king I never knew existed. I saw a soft spot.

“One day while they were away, I made up my mind to burn it to ashes. I wanted to burn away all that beauty that attracted them to it. But… when I looked at it, something stopped me. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It… enchanted me. The beauty charmed me and weakened me. It was there I realized why my parents cherished it so much. And there I saw myself cherishing it as they did.”

He slashed out a long breath and momentarily squeezed his eyes shut to brush off all that feeling. It was obvious he didn’t want me to see him like that. To see him all softened and emotional.

“Whenever I’m troubled,” he turned to me and I flickered my gaze immediately away from him to avoid direct contact. “Or whenever I feel the heavy weight of being an Alpha king is trying to bore me down, I come here, plug in my music and just look at the garden to seek solace.”

Without me expecting it, he took out his earbuds and plugged them into my ears.

“Brianna,” he called out and I struggled to hear him from the buds that blocked my ears. “Listen, look and forget anything that troubles you.”

Could what he said to be true? Can I find happiness in this way? A big part of me thought it impossible because the pain and hurt I felt all my life was so intense, I doubted that merely listening to music and looking at the garden will heal it.

Suddenly a song started playing, spreading across my senses. The song was slow, seductive and erotic. I cringed on hearing it and dark chills crept into my skin. I knew that song. It was the same song that Hermes forced me to dance to. The same song that earned me the scars on the side of my stomach.