Alpha's Cruel Addiction

Ophelia could barely hear his words, uttered ever so low and sweet. Her lashes fluttered and she felt herself drawn to him like moth to a flame. She clutched his muscular arm, reaching up to kiss him, for that was all she could think of. He bent and just as her lips touched his, a rough knock interrupted them.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Ophelia gasped and jumped back, touching her mouth that suddenly felt warm, even though it had been a brief moment. Her face flamed and she swiftly turned to hear his frustrated growl. Killorn threw the doors open and gritted his teeth.

"A-Alpha, the water you ordered?" a servant quickly whispered, bowing her head in obedience. 

Despite the ambush happening just moments earlier, the vampires worked quickly to get their appearances tidied up. Heaven forbid they displease a higher-up from their horrid state. 

"Make it quick," Killorn snapped. 

"Yes, Alpha," the maid mumbled in fear with her eyes trained to the floor, never once daring to look him in the eyes.

Killorn roughly stormed to Ophelia and grabbed her upper arm. He saw her shiver and tremble, her eyes shakingly glancing away when one of the maids looked in her direction. What the hell was that?

"Ophelia," Killorn pressed. "What's wrong?"

Ophelia licked her lips. He was going to think she was being dramatic. She watched with a tightened throat as the bloodthirsty vampires walked in and out of the room, carrying hot water straight to their bathroom. For a brief moment, they spared a look in her direction, their fear washing away in that second. Then, they smirked and nudged each other, almost gesturing for the other maids to bully her with their eyes. She felt her heart frozen to her core.

If Ophelia told Killorn of their terrorizing behavior, would he even believe her? She didn't have evidence. 

"W-we'll only be bathing?" Ophelia tried to change the subject, tearing her eyes from her tormentors. "N-nothing more?"

Killorn's brows shot up. He grabbed her waists and approached her. She backstepped and he followed her every move, until her knees hit the mattress, and she had nowhere to go. He smirked, almost in amusement, before bending his head.

"Do we only ever bathe?" Killorn asked her in a low and collected voice. "We do more than that, don't we, my sweet?"

Ophelia's cheeks grew hot. She felt steam enter their bedroom, believing it was the hot water for the bathtub.

"W-well…"

"You'll fulfill your wifely duties tonight as well," Killorn said out loud, pecking her on the side of her head.

Ophelia stiffened at how wrong that sounded to the servants. She quickly glanced at them to see they were rapidly whispering to each other whilst walking out. My god, they must think the human girl was nothing, but a bed warmer. This would only give them more fuel to hurt her in the morning.

"W-when you leave in the morning t-tomorrow, can you come back as I-I'm getting dressed?" Ophelia asked.

Killorn's brows shot up. "What for?"

"P-please?"

Killorn paused, unable to process what she wanted from him. Just his presence? He tilted his head.

"Will you tell me why?" Killorn inquired.

"P-please… just be there for m-me."

Killorn narrowed his eyes. She made it seem like he never was. He opened his mouth, but he shamefully glanced to the ground, meaning the conversation was over. He let out an irritated sigh, causing her to flinch and tense. Then, her eyes began to tremble in the way that he hated. He gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening into fists.

"Ophelia."

Ophelia's mind was beginning to go numb. "C-can't you j-just do this little thing for me. I-I never w-want much from you, j-just you alone is fine. I-I just need you, is that s-so wrong?"

Ophelia felt her anxiety reaching an all-time peak. Her hands were shaking and her brain was buzzing. She couldn't think properly, her irritating tongue acting up again.

Killorn exhaled heavily. Ophelia's shoulders fell. She recalled he always tried to calm her down when she stammered to this extent. He must've been annoyed by her.

"K-Killorn?" Ophelia weakly asked, grabbing for his hand, but he roughly moved away and shook his head. She was stabbed right in the heart, pain and rejection prickling her chest.

Ophelia bit her bottom lips and glanced to the side. She tried to force air through her nose and lungs. She should try to control her stuttering. Killorn was patient with her for a certain amount of things, it seemed. There was a limit to his kindness, she realized. 

"You always keep secrets with me, Ophelia. Could you not tell me as it is?" Killorn inquired.

Secrets. Ophelia's heart began to race. It will be our little secret. Everest's words began to resonate within her entire body. She could feel herself hum to life, encouraged by his actions. He could fix her! Everest can change this horrible habit of hers. She let out a shaky breath.

"Soon…" Ophelia whispered. 

Killorn straightened when he saw her nervousness had died down. Was it that quick? Usually, he'd hold her and wait for her to breathe. Seeing the lack of her anxiety, he reached and grabbed her wrists, pulling her closer.

"I'm not mad at you, Ophelia. I just want answers," Killorn relented, his voice growing softer.

Ophelia only saw it as a sign of his approval. He seemed to be kinder to her only when she didn't have that horrid habit. So this was his way of indirectly telling her he was tired of hearing her voices.

"O-okay…" Ophelia paused. She sucked in a gaspful of air, closed her eyes and released it through her nose.

"Okay," she tried again.

Killorn pressed his lips together at how hard she was trying to change for him. He brushed his thumb upon her neck, causing her to jump and freeze.

"And this stutter of yours," Killorn muttered. "I've begun to search for doctors. There is word of a wandering healer and I'll do everything in my power to bring him to you."

Ophelia could only force a smile that came out as a grimace. "I-I hear he is expensive a-and hard to a-allocate."

"Money isn't an issue," Killorn deadpanned, cutting the conversation short.

Ophelia stiffened, realizing she must've seen as coming off as doubting him. "I-I don't mean it l-like that."

"I know what you meant," Killorn bit out with a slight frown. "Now, come, let's get you cleaned. You seem to need a massage dearly."

Ophelia didn't respond. She allowed him to drag her to the bathroom. In the mirror, she caught a glimpse of her disheveled appearance. She was ugly through and through, it was no wonder why he crushed the flower in her hair. It was no wonder why he rushed her to take a bath. He wanted her perfect and prim, but she was nothing like that. Shamefully, she lowered her gaze to the floor, whilst making up her mind.

"You're lovely as you are, my sweet, don't look so down," Killorn responded immediately. "Remember what I told you a few days ago."

Ophelia's heart lurched at the idea, but she had no choice. She nodded and thought back to what Everest promised her. She didn't know how long the healer would take to arrive? She wanted answers and solutions now, not in a few months. Soon, she'd have to make an entrance in high society. How nice would it be if she could fix this problem?

"Ophelia?"

Ophelia jumped, her head snapping to him. Her throat tightened and her voice died. Killorn had undressed down to nothing, his tanned and muscular body on display for her. Immediately, her attention wandered across the smooth plains of his chest, his toned abdomen, and her eyes slid lower to the veins that protruded on his hips.

"Come and join me, my lovely wife." His voice came out low and husky. He reached a hand for her and she stared.

Shyly, Ophelia slid her palms across his. Immediately, he linked their fingers together and he pulled her in his direction. She felt her breath hitch when her soft body collided with his chiseled ones that glistened under the steam of the bathroom.

"I'll make this a noteworthy night for you, just you wait, my sweet."