Chapter 8
Bora would visit, easing Siyeon into eating and talking. Releasing her scent to allow her to calm down more. By the third day, the older alpha frowned when she saw how she looked.
The room was still in shambles, no maid had dared to walk into the room ever since the first day. They heard everything being broken and watched how she was brought in. No one wanted to cross paths with the aggressive alpha.
But what Bora was worried about was Siyeon.
She had dark circles under her eyes, and her breathing ragged. Clearly, she was overexerting herself to remain in control of very little.
“Princess…” Bora bowed as she walked into the study, her voice laced with concern.
“Bora.” Minji’s voice was curt. Heart disrespectful.
“Minji,” the alpha sighed.
“Yes?” Her tone shifts and the book is set down, giving her undivided attention to the alpha, who smiles at her as well.
“I believe the alpha needs out…” Bora frowned. “She’s been in that room for too long…”
“Are you suggesting I walk her?” Minji asked, confused at the suggestion.
“She is simmering… she is going to explode again and destroy the room further…” Bora warned before taking her leave.
The omega made it a point to meet with her purchased alpha that afternoon, frowning when she heard the growling again.
“Come with me.”
Minji wasn’t sure how the alpha just listened to her. But once they were outside, the omega saw a different alpha. Her eyes nearly shut at the sudden brightness, wincing almost for a few brief moments before adjusting.
“We’re going to take a walk,” Minji smiled at her.
The alpha followed slowly. The omega made sure to keep good tabs on her, watching her glance in every direction before seeing the gardens nearby.
“We have wonderful gardeners,” Minji explained, leading her closer to the beginning of the extravagant area. “Do you like it?” She asked.
Siyeon blinked a few times before shuffling near the bushes that dawned beautiful baby blue flowers.
The omega frowned when she passed her, seeing the torn, ragged clothes she still wore. She could see blood splotches on them, darkened from a lack of care. She was going to need a proper bath and healing at this rate…
“You’ll need a bath…” Minji whispered. “Have you ever been bathed?” She asked while leading the alpha away from the gardens.
“Bath?” Siyeon repeated the word as if it was a foreign language.
“Yes, nice warm water, lavish smelling soaps,” The omega explained.
“No.” The baths the alpha experienced were cold and angry… no soap only water and a rough rag to get the dirt off if they were having special visitors.
“Oh, then you’ll love them here,” Minji smiled.
The palace was beautiful to look at from the outside. Minji always thought the grounds were a nice compliment to the gorgeous architecture of her home, but to the alpha? None of it looked beautiful to her. It was almost like an illusion of sorts, just waiting for everything to come tumbling down.
She didn’t see the wonderful carvings on the stone walls… She just saw high walls she couldn’t get over. The gothic-style bars that covered most of the windows? Barricades so she couldn’t escape. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t right to purchase alphas and bend them to whatever the omegas needed them for. She knew that most of the time omegas just needed someone to satiate their heat and for breeding purposes. But she wasn’t sure why this omega was even trying.
She lazily followed, feeling the pain scorching through her back as she walked. She didn’t mind the fresh air, but she really disliked the feeling of walking at that particular moment.
“Come, we can get you at least partially cleaned,” Minji spoke calmly, leading her up the palace steps.
The princess paid no mind to the maids and servants that would immediately move out of their way as they walked. The alpha behind her had a face that could kill millions if you let her. Each alpha was afraid of her. Despite her small stature… She was terrifying.
The omega was never one to allow others to do things for her. She preferred her solitude and preferred to do her own things, especially when it came to her private life. Not just within the palace walls, but within her own room. She didn’t know what to expect when she brought the alpha into her personal domain, shutting the wooden door behind her. Yes, she could’ve taken the alpha to the bathing rooms, but she didn’t know how she would react around others.
“Come,” Minji gestured toward the connected space, walking into the already warm room.
The alpha looked around in pure curiosity, eyes darting back and forth for any signs of danger or ambush. Not that she expected that, but she expected someone to come and attempt to harm her at this point.
The room was humid. The muggy feeling immediately clung to both women as they stepped in. Siyeon growled at the feeling, trying to wipe it away, only for it to return quickly. But then a new scent caught her nose. A floral, sweet smell… She turned her head to see the omega pouring steaming water into a low wooden basket, and she saw various flowers floating on the top. She wasn’t sure if the smell was the flowers, but it smelled nice…
“It isn’t much… But I do like smelling nice… Other than my scent of course…” Minji didn’t know why she was explaining the process to the alpha. “You can get in the tub,” She smiled, gesturing to the wooden bathtub. “Let me help you,” She stepped closer, hearing the snarling and hissing from the alpha. “Your clothes are… Ragged…” The omega frowned. “It’s a shame…” She sighed while trying not to get swiped at by the still-angry alpha in front of her.
It took some work, but once Siyeon was fully stripped, she sat in the tub, letting out quick, small breaths as she let the heat of the water start to calm her.
“It isn’t that bad… Is it?” Minji asked, taking a ladle of hot water and pouring it onto Siyeon’s back. She watched as the alpha winced, watching the little spots of open wounds bleed and mix with the water. She waited a few moments, watching her start to relax before repeating the actions, less and less tensing and wincing… Less growling… Almost as if it was soothing her.
“No…” The alpha finally spoke.
“No?” Minji frowned. It had been quite a while since she spoke. She was more focused on gently scrubbing the alpha’s back before moving to her arms.
“It… isn’t… bad…” Siyeon whispered. “Warm…” She sighed.
“Yes, well… I prefer warm,” Minji smiled before taking the alpha’s hand in hers and carefully scrubbing the hand. “Better than cold,” She whispered.
The alpha watched as the little subs would appear, slowly moving off of her hand and dropping into the water below her. The dirt was finally coming off, the dried blood finally melting away… She could finally see more of her skin rather than what they did to her. She was mesmerized by how soft the omega was being, despite how hard certain areas were to clean, she was still gentle, letting it come off on its own rather than forcing it and making her skin red.
Minji was entirely focused, cleaning the alpha’s upper body like her life depended on it. Delicately focusing on the little bits, being careful around her nails since they still looked tender from the splinters… She felt a burning sensation in her head, causing her to look up and lock eyes with the alpha.
Siyeon’s pupils were larger than normal, almost causing her entire eyes to have been blacked out. She heard stories of alphas going into ruts and their pupils being large… Yoohyeon explained that to her the very first night after she purchased Siyeon. She explained how Bora was and hoped that Siyeon wasn’t that way.
But this wasn’t any kind of arousal.
It was dimly lit in the bath area, and it didn’t scream need… Her eyes screamed curiosity. Nothing else. Nothing else could have been behind those eyes.
Once the bath water had gone cold, the alpha was wrapped in a scrap towel, and being tended to by a servant. Of course, Minji had to promise that she was safe with Siyeon. The servant covered the open wounds on her back with a salve, all to make sure the wounds would heal and close sooner rather than later.
Minji made sure the alpha had new clothes to wear, dressing her in the traditional red for the staff to know she was purchased. That she was a royal alpha and not one of them. Siyeon stared down at the shirt, frowning when she felt the cold metal of the muzzle hit her chest as she looked down. She couldn’t help but growl at it when she heard the familiar sound of the door opening.
She was currently hiding in Minji’s room, waiting for the princess to escort her back to her own private room.
“They’ve cleaned up your room,” Minji smiled at her. “Come,” She led the alpha out, taking her back to the same room she had first been dragged to. She saw there were orange lights coming through the window, signaling that it was growing closer to evening. “I’m needed for dinner downstairs… Bora will come up with your meal,” She explained while leading the alpha into the room. “I hope you feel more comfortable now…” She whispered before leaving.
The alpha did feel better, clean meant better…
Bora did come, holding two bowls in hand as they both sat on the floor, enjoying their dinner quietly.
“I saw you out with the princess today,” Bora spoke. “She is kind… Isn’t she?” She asked, tilting her head as she looked at the younger alpha.
“Kind…” Siyeon whispered.
“Not… mean…” Bora frowned.
“Yes,” She mumbled.
Their conversations never lasted, never long… Never more than a few words.
When dinner was finished, Siyeon stayed close to the alpha, enjoying her time near her while watching the moon start to rise through the window.
“Do you miss outside?” Siyeon asked, never turning her gaze to the smaller alpha.
“Sometimes… I never really got to go outside… Only if we were good of course,” Bora smiled. “Those are the times I cherish the most….” She sighed. “With Yoohyeon… We go on many walks… She lets me relax outside… She takes her studies out as well,” She smiled. “Just so I can feel the air on my face again.”
Siyeon was curious about this Yoohyeon. She had yet to meet her formally. She assumed she was the other omega she had seen the first time she was brought in, but she couldn’t be sure.
“I have never met her…” Siyeon whispered, finally breaking her gaze. “The way you speak of her… She must be nice?” She asked.
“Very… She is the younger princess. Sister to Minji,” Bora explained. “They’re both incredibly kind,” She smiled.
Siyeon looked down at the stone floor, her mind focused on everything she had been so far. It was all she knew… She didn’t know any better…
“No one is angry with you… They’re… Just scared… Like you are,” Bora whispered.
“Minji shows no fear…” Siyeon muttered.
“She purchased you, I would hope not,” She chuckled. “But… You did quite a number the second you walked through the doors… Tore apart your room… Even swiped at the princess… Honestly… If I were you… I would’ve done the same…” she sighed.
“How did you react?” Siyeon asked.
“I was happy to have a bed… But anxious… Scared of what would happen… I knew the princess wanted me for companionship… But I never imagined what that meant to her…” Bora explained with a small smile growing on her lips. “It is much different here than what other alphas spoke of… The ones that would be returned after so long of being with the omegas…” She chuckled. “I expected her to return me… But… I feel more than anything else with her.”
“More than anything else?” Siyeon tilted her head, watching the alpha closely.
“Being with her… I don’t feel angry… Upset… Nothing negative… Even if I begin to feel those feelings… I just look at her… and they melt away… I know she isn’t using me… She cares for me. She looks at me just like my mother looked at my father all those years ago.” Bora’s smile faltered, showing signs of sadness.
“You miss your family as well?” She knew the smile, the forced smile that everything was okay when it really wasn’t.
“Everyday… I wish to tell them I’m well… That I’m alive even… and I’m happy… I’m so happy…” Bora whispered. She looked up at the younger alpha, seeing the same sad smile on her face.
“I hope you are able to one day,” Siyeon sighed, turning her gaze toward the window again. “I hope my family is well… And is okay…” She whispered.
“I hope as well,” Bora sighed.
It was silent in the room. A comfortable silence this time. They heard the faded footsteps and muffled voices, each from servants and maids crossing paths in the halls nearby.
“Do you still feel scared?” Bora asked.
“Sometimes…” Siyeon admitted.
“With the princess?”
“Sometimes… Not as much as before.”
“Good. Because… I would like you to meet Yoohyeon… Prove to you that the omegas are kind here.”