Enslaved by the Alpha

Chapter 16

The mirror reflected the discomfort gnawing at me and I frowned, loathing the insecure coward staring back. It was hard to believe the submissive, mistreated woman in the mirror once dominated a room with pure confidence and beauty. Beauty that went with every newly formed knot in her hair, every new scar on her body, every last bit of self-care that was lost until there was nothing left—nothing except the shell of what came of it after all these years.

"Scarlett?"

I looked past myself in the mirror to see Gia standing in the doorway with Onalee and Liane behind her, unsure expressions on their faces after catching me during a self-hate session.

Rather than reply, I lowered my head to stare at the wood of the dresser, clenching my jaw in total embarrassment.

"It's been a week since you asked for space and Draven's extremely worried. Is it what happened to your King? We hear you guys have some connection to each other that no other species has," Gia added softly, walking into the room with the others close behind.

"No, it has nothing to do with that bastard," I snarled. My thoughts circled around his death and a coldness washed over me. Although I'd never admit it, killing him did mess me up.

Ever since, I've felt like I've lost all purpose. I have this void in me that just won't go away. And as much as I hated him, he was still my maker and we shared something very similar to a father-daughter bond.

"I just need time," I added with a grimace, raising my eyes to my reflection only to turn away quickly in disgust. My heartbeat quickened in a blaze and I sneered, keeping my gaze low to avoid looking them in the eyes.

Was it shame? I'm not sure what's wrong with me. All I know is that being here is making me hate myself, it tears away any strength I had, and it has left me a disaster. I'm hoping I can find myself again. I just need to be alone.

"I know what's going on here," Onalee butted in. I looked over at her and she approached me with a gentle smile, leaving the other two standing side by side. She came to a stop next to me, tugging out the wrinkles in the men's t-shirt over my body and parting my hair to reveal my full face. "You've lost yourself, girl. It happens to the best of us. The question is, what done it?"

My jaw ticked and her smile grew. "We're not quite there yet, that's fine, so how about the four of us take a spa day? That's all you need to feel better, I promise you. Isolation is never the answer."

"No." I turned away, catching a glimpse in the mirror and halting in place. A low hiss left me and I spun around to face them. "Fine, only because you three will leave me alone after this."

"We never said—"

"Deal!" Gia interrupted Liane.

"Come. Let's start you off by getting rid of that crankiness. We know a place that'll take the tension right out of those muscles," Onalee said, signaling me to follow as she led the way.

𓃥

The man's hands pressed into my bare back, moving firmly up my spine and across my shoulders. Liane and I grunted and groaned feeling the relief and the other two girls stifled laughs at the noises emitting from us.

"I get why she's groaning, but you? You've gotten more massages than years I've been alive," Onalee announced with a small laugh.