Chapter 3 Are You Afraid Of Me?

• Aphrodite's Point of View
• "From now on, this will be your room. Don’t expect anything more," Marco said coldly as he pushed the door open with a creak.
• I stepped inside cautiously, my eyes widening in disbelief at the sight before me. The room was far from what I’d imagined. Dust coated every surface, cobwebs hung from the ceiling corners, and the stale air smelled of damp wood and mildew. The floor was littered with scraps of paper and broken furniture—a cabinet missing a door, a sofa with springs sticking out, and a bed with a threadbare mattress and no blankets.
• My stomach churned. This place looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years.
• Marco smirked, leaning against the doorway. “What? Not what you expected? You thought the Alpha would spoil you?”
• I turned to him, my voice trembling. "W-why am I here? Why this room? What about the agreement with my parents?"
• He rolled his eyes, his expression laced with annoyance. "You really don’t get it, do you? You’re part of the Red Blood Pack now, but don’t think that makes you special. You’re here because Alpha Zeus wants you here. That’s all you need to know."
• I hesitated, trying to process his words. “B-but what’s the purpose—”
• He cut me off sharply. “Shut it. You’ll find out soon enough. And don’t think you’re anything more than property here.” His tone was harsh, his words like daggers. “Now stay out of trouble, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”
• Before I could respond, he slammed the door shut, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence of the room.
• ---
• I took a shaky breath and looked around again. The longer I stood there, the more suffocating the room felt. I walked toward the bed and gingerly sat on the edge. The springs groaned loudly under my weight, and the fabric scratched at my skin.
• I stared at the cracked mirror across the room. Dust blurred the reflection, but I could still make out my disheveled hair, pale face, and haunted eyes. Those eyes. My cursed eyes.
• My chest tightened as memories of the Dark Moon Pack flooded back—the taunts, the beatings, the isolation. I clenched my fists, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung to me like a second skin.
• Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Instead, I focused on the faint light streaming through the grime-covered window. A faint hope stirred within me. Maybe things would be different here. Maybe...
• But the hope was fleeting.
• I wiped my face and curled up on the bed, trying to ignore the rough texture of the mattress and the chill that seeped into my bones. Exhaustion eventually pulled me into an uneasy sleep.
• ---
• A sharp knock jolted me awake the next morning.
• I stumbled to my feet, still groggy, and hurried to the door. My heart raced as I hesitated, memories of harsh punishments flashing through my mind. Bracing myself for the worst, I slowly opened the door.
• Standing before me was Alpha Zeus. His tall frame filled the doorway, and his cold eyes bore into mine. His dark brows furrowed slightly as he took in my hesitant posture.
• "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice laced with irritation. "Were you expecting something—or someone?"
• I blinked, startled by his question. "N-no, Alpha. I just..." My voice trailed off as I stepped back, unsure of what to say.
• Zeus didn’t wait for an explanation. He stepped into the room, his presence commanding and intimidating. His eyes swept over the mess with a mixture of disdain and curiosity before they landed on me.
• “Are you afraid of me?” he asked, his voice low and deliberate.
• My lips parted, but the words jammed somewhere in my throat. What was I supposed to say? That I wasn't afraid? Lie?
• I swallowed hard, heart racing, as I found my nerve to answer. "I-I'm not afraid of you," I whispered, hardly audible, and wasn't sure if I lied to him or myself.
• He cocked his head slightly; his eyes narrowed. "You're shaking."