The Alpha Who Wanted Me Dead

The Fumbled Wine

"What the hell are you still doing here?!"

Regina barely had time to react before Garrick's rough hand clamped around her arm, yanking her off the thin pallet of blankets on the cold stone floor. Her vision blurred, the room tilting as a wave of dizziness crashed over her.

She was sick.

The fever had settled deep in her bones the night before, leaving her skin clammy and her body burning hot, yet wracked with chills. The other slaves had ignored her. No one could afford to care. If you couldn't work, you were nothing.

"I—" Her voice came out in a rasp, barely audible. "I can't—"

The slap came hard and fast.

Her head snapped to the side, pain exploding across her cheek. A low, strangled sound caught in her throat, but she didn't cry out. She had learned not to.

"You don't get to say no." Garrick's voice was a low snarl, thick with irritation. His fingers dug into her arm, bruising, as he hauled her forward. "The Alpha is hosting his strongest warriors tonight, and you will serve them."

Regina swayed, her legs trembling beneath her.

Garrick's grip tightened. "Now move."

***

The dining hall was loud with laughter, the clinking of goblets, and the scent of roasted meat and wine thick in the air. The warriors feasted, their voices booming as they bragged about their latest hunts and battles.

Regina moved silently through the room, a tray in her shaking hands. The heat from the torches made her dizziness worse, and her vision blurred at the edges, but she kept going. She had to.

Alpha Sirus sat at the head of the table, his presence looming over the room like a shadow. Beside him sat Marco, his expression unreadable as he listened to the men speak. She could feel his eyes on her. He always noticed when something was wrong. But he couldn't help her here.

No one could.

Her task was simple: pour wine, keep her head down, don't make a mistake.

She reached for a bottle of deep red wine, her fingers trembling as she lifted it. The goblet in front of Sirus was half-full. She just needed to pour a little and leave.

But the room was spinning.

Her grip slipped.

The wine bottle tumbled from her hands, crashing onto the wooden table before rolling to the floor with a loud shatter.

The entire room fell silent. Regina's breath caught in her throat. The wine spread across the floor like blood. She dropped to her knees, her hands frantically reaching for the broken pieces.

"I—I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

No one spoke. No one moved.

Everyone was waiting.

Waiting for Sirus's reaction.

Waiting to see how much pain he would make her suffer.

Her hands trembled as she picked up a sharp piece of glass. A single mistake could mean death. Survive, for us... she heard her mother's voice again. She didn't want to die. No, not tonight. But she knew better than to beg.

Sirus's chair scraped against the stone floor as he stood. He stepped toward her, slow and deliberate, his heavy boots stopping just in front of her trembling form.

Then—

A foot crashed into her ribs.

The force sent her sprawling, her body slamming against the cold ground. Pain exploded through her side, stealing the breath from her lungs.

"Pathetic," Sirus spat. "Is this what my pack is feeding? Useless, weak slaves who can't even do the simplest tasks?"

Regina curled in on herself, biting back a cry. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. But she kept her head low, willing herself to disappear.

Sirus wasn't finished.

He crouched, his fingers tangling in her hair before yanking her head back. Pain burned along her scalp, but she refused to meet his gaze.

A chair scraped against the stone floor.

"Father... she's ill."

Marco's voice was controlled, but Regina heard the edge beneath it—sharp, tense.

Sirus smirked. Without hesitation, he spat in her face before his son.

"Weakness has no place in this pack."

His words dripped with disgust as he straightened, turning his attention to the warriors surrounding them.

"Bring her to the dungeon."

Regina barely had time to brace before rough hands grabbed her, dragging her away.