Alpha's Cruel Addiction

Ophelia was stunned speechless, her heart falling so hard into her stomach, that she nearly broke down in tears. Her husband…was going to what?

"Madam?" Cora called out, retracing her steps when she realized the little lady was nowhere in sight.

Killorn's head snapped to the stairs, but Ophelia was long gone. She dashed to catch up to Cora, her dress swishing behind her. She felt her heart pound against her chest, her head spinning, and her breath caught in her throat. What she had feared the most was coming true.

Killorn was going off for war? For what? A Direct Descendant of the Moon Goddess? As in, a woman whose flesh and blood could heal werewolves and vampires alike?

Ophelia's heart skipped, for she pitied the existence of such a woman. May the heavens smile kindly upon whoever it was…

- - - - -

Killorn strolled down the dark hallways, realizing his lovely wife stood out against the black decoration too much. The windows were so polished that they reflected his disgruntled frown. Should he have made this place more welcoming for her?

There was not a single colorful decoration in sight, especially in the barren garden. Killorn's father hated flowers and thus, before Killorn's regime, nothing truly grew in the soil around the estate.

Desolation followed them no matter where they went. The floors lacked rugs leading from the entrance to the central staircase and sweeping up different hallways or paths.

The Mavez Castle was still in mourning over their late Alpha. In Killorn's eyes, his sadistic father didn't deserve anything.

"Cora!" Killorn called for.

Ophelia flinched when she heard Killorn's thunderous voice from outside the room. She had mutely stood by the door, trying to process what Everest had said. Her thoughts had been interrupted by her husband. He had never used that kind of tone with her. And she could only blame herself for not complimenting the castle enough. She had been so paralyzed by her own fears and shock to even say anything the entire time.

"Order the merchants to our house soon, my wife will need new things," Killorn decided.

"Yes, Alpha, it shall be done," Cora murmured, not at all fazed by his sudden roughness. Even before the Forest of Blood incident where Killorn usurped his own father through a massacre, the pack people were used to cruelty for the late Duke had not been a kind man.

"M-my lord…"

Killorn sharply turned around. He exhaled roughly when he saw her timid head poking from the doors. He thought the conversation had been private enough, but didn't realize his stealth tone had terrified the last person he wanted to affect.

"Ophelia."

Killorn's throat tightened when he saw her teary eyes. He never wanted to see her cheeks wet with anything that wasn't his seed. He gritted his teeth and sharply turned to Cora.

"Where was the purple decoration I ordered? Did Maribelle not do anything?" Killorn was irritated, for he wanted everything to be matching the royal purple of Ophelia's eyes.

Cora could only blink. She had never seen him this riddled up before. She supposed she should be grateful that he didn't reprimand her in front of the crowd. That was beneath him. He was a man of honor.

"Lady Maribelle didn't dare to touch the estate, Alpha. She was worried she'd decorate it distastefully, given her fawness of frills and lace."

Killorn's brows tugged together in abrupt agreement. It was a darn good thing that Maribelle didn't touch a single part of the estate. If Maribelle could have her way, this place would be a pretty pink palace.

"And where is Maribelle?" Killorn demanded, his voice rising an octave when it involved her.

"In the forest hunting and refusing to see you, Alpha."

"As expected," Killorn growled. "Have her dragged back."

"Screaming and kicking if it occurs?" Cora asked.

"If you must."

"As you wish, Alpha." Cora said, bowing her head in departure.

Killorn narrowed his eyes. "We're not finished with this discussion, Cora."

Cora paused. She swallowed when she saw his enraged eyes. Without a doubt, there was going to be punishment dolled out. She had grown up in this estate all her life and knew Killorn's father was a cruel man.

The late Alpha would whip and smack the servants around for every single mistake. And when his temper was at its highest, he would even resort to ravaging the females.

Cora had an inkling Alpha Killorn would be much more different than this, but she didn't dare to speculate.

"T-the castle i-is nice…"

Both pairs of eyes snapped to the meek voice from the end of the hallways. Cora didn't expect the Madam to dare speak back to the Master of the estate. Not to mention, Killorn was an Alpha. No one was to disobey or argue with him. His opinion was law. His words were absolute.

"You should feel grateful to Madam." It was the last thing Killorn seethed before storming to his wife.

Cora was stunned. Was… is there no punishment? She slowly blinked and gazed at the timid woman in a newfound light.

Cora had served House Mavez all her life and never came across a Madam like the current one. In fact, the late Madam was also a soft-spoken woman, but with too many bruises on her face and body to fathom speaking up.

Whenever Cora had to shield one of the servants after they were violated, the Madam was nowhere in sight. Cora once resented the Madam for it, but knew there was nothing the young wife could do. She was already being tortured in bed. Certainly, the late Madam didn't want to be smacked in front of a lowly servant.

"What are you doing out here?" Killorn gruffly demanded, grabbing his wife by the waist and pushing her inside the room.

Cora was even more stunned by how soft his voice was. The last thing she saw of him was his broad shoulders, but lowered head. He was trying to hear his wife properly. Cora felt like cold water was poured over her. She had years of expertise in serving the Mavez men, but never witnessed something as startling as this.

Their heartless Alpha… cared for a human girl.

- - - - -

"You've been crying." It wasn't a question. It was an observation.

Killorn slid his hand over her face. He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing the wetness away.

Ophelia stubbornly shook her head whilst holding onto his wrist with two of her timid hands. He frowned at her delicate gesture. Any man would feel a sudden urge to claim her if she behaved like this.

Ophelia was a small little thing compared to his height and size. Just his palm could take up half her face.

Killorn groaned when he felt a surge down below. They had just done it, but now that there was a bed, he was throbbing to do it again.

"It was overwhelming, I should've prepared you for how many people would be present." Killorn awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "And there's nothing purple here, but we'll put it into the decorations soon, Ophelia, so stop crying."

Ophelia's lips trembled. Her watery gaze stabbed him right in the chest. He rubbed the aching spot, feeling more pain than the night of the murder.

"Please?" Killorn softly mumbled.

Killorn cupped her waist and brought her closer to his body. She sniffled and shamefully glanced to the side. His heart ached at her expression. She was so lovely, how could he ever dare to hurt her?

"Ophelia, we'll get rid of everything. Don't be so tearful, the merchants are coming soon. I told them to prepare purple things for your arrival, Cora is already giving orders as we speak." Killorn cursed every god he knew up above, the Moon Goddess included.

Killorn had never felt more of an incompetent husband than now. She was the youngest daughter of a House Eve. Ophelia was spoiled since birth with all the grandeur in life. How could her dainty feet ever dare to set foot in this shabby castle?

"T-the castle i-is nice," Ophelia insisted, but her voice cracked and decreased credibility. "T-the purple isn't the p-problem, I am. My stutter has worsened to the point I-I can barely talk. I just don't k-know if I'd make a good mistress of the e-estate."

"You're the Madam, not the Mistress," Killorn deadpanned. "You own this place."

Killorn bent his head and cupped her face. He forced her to look at him. The second he forced it, he regretted his action. He wasn't ready to stare at her tear-stained face.

Killorn had gone through thousands of battles. Sometimes, he was stabbed and the pain was excruciating. As a kid, he was horribly abused, until his entire body was bruised and bloodied. There was nothing that he didn't face. But this? Seeing his wife's crestfallen expression? He could never recover from it.

Killorn could feel his inner beast howl and scratch at his chest, demanding a solution. He, too, could feel a strange ache where his heart was supposed to be.

"Ophelia…" Killorn muttered in defeat, resting his forehead upon hers. "I will give you everything you desire—the world, the riches, anything, so long as you smile by my side."