Chapter 10 Tala

• POV: Echo
• I made it to my spot by the door just as it swung open. Immediately assuming a servant’s stance, hoping to the Goddess that he doesn’t notice how hard I’m breathing, I focus on calming my pounding heart. I watched his feet move forward a few steps as he took in the sight of all the folded laundry on the table and in labelled baskets on the floor.
• “Hmm…” he hums, his feet turning back towards me and stopping just in front of me. He watches me try to and fail at containing my panting breath.
• I don’t think I have ever moved that fast in my life. I owe my speed and ability to mostly complete an impossible task to my wolf. She lent me what little energy she had to spare.
• I know I am screwed when he stiffens, raising his hand to my damp hair. I’d done my best to give it a solid rinse with the water I was provided through the single cold tap to my trough tub. However, I didn’t have time to wash it with soap, as I’d literally had two minutes to bathe, dress, and be on my spot.
• He slowly rubs a lock of my hair between his fingers, before leaning in and smelling my hair. “Close, but not quite!” He growls, backhanding me hard enough that I bounce the other side of my face against the wall. My lips and cheeks split open on each side from the sheer force he used.
• I swallow my cry of pain, quickly and carefully moving myself to a position that makes the blood drip harmlessly on the floor, and not on my brand-new dress. My ears ring from the double impact. Hearing him grunt with approval, he moved toward my bathroom. He rummages through something and runs the water for a moment.
• He makes his way back and gently grips my chin with a cloth in his hand, allowing me to sit up while the absorbent material collects the blood that runs down. Brady stops and stares at me for a second, taking in the injuries on my face in quiet contemplation. He leans down and inhales deeply next to the cut on my cheek. I resist the urge to jerk away as he darts his tongue up my cheek, inhaling sharply before doing it repeatedly, lapping at my blood.
• “Mmmm” he groans, smiling at the whimper that bubbled its way out of my throat, his wolf emitting a purr as he does the same to the other cuts on my face before pressing gentle kisses to my lips. Nauseated, I trembled violently, staring at the floor, keeping my face neutral despite being disgusted by his actions.
• “Good girl,” The Alpha purrs in approval before he gently wipes my wounds clean with a damp cloth and disinfects them with a stinging liquid. He then cleans the remaining blood from my face. Satisfied I am sufficiently cleaned up, he tips my head back, meeting my eyes.
• “Oh, my Little Doll, I think you’re finally getting it!” He growls in approval, his eyes flickering to my lips before meeting mine again. He sighs before he lets go of my chin and gently raises me to my feet.
• “Now, come upstairs. Sadly, we don’t have time for any more fun this morning! That will have to wait until tonight!” He says with a smirk, eyes darkening at whatever sick thoughts flood his mind.
• As we make our way up the stairs, I follow closely behind him, not wanting to disappoint him again, while I gently probe my cheeks and wince at the swelling and deep bruising already formed.
• ‘I can heal you, if you want, but it will leave me out of it for a while again. I won’t be able to do anything else for you today, maybe even tomorrow.’ My wolf’s voice floats through my mind. It’s only the second time I’ve heard from her.
• ‘Save your strength. I have no idea what’s to come, but I suspect this is nothing compared to it! What’s your name?’ I asked, needing to put a name to the melodic voice in my head.
• ‘Tala, my name is Tala. And you are Echo.’ She has a smile in her voice, and I smile internally as I repeat her name in my mind several times, getting used to the sound of it. I love it.
• As we entered the kitchen, I saw the cook at the stove, and several other she-wolves prepping breakfast at the counters. He halts in front of the kitchen island, right in front of a full plate of breakfast. I glance at it, realizing the last time I ate was yesterday morning when he claimed me as his Little Doll.
• Stifling the look of hunger in my eyes, I faced forward, my expression passive and waiting for instructions, certain this was some kind of test. Unfortunately, my stomach didn’t get the memo and its growl could be heard across the kitchen. I glanced around quickly, hoping no one had heard it, when Brady caught my gaze, smirking.
• “Remember, being a good Little Doll earns you a reward. Let this be an example of my mercy and kindness in return for good behavior. Yesterday was an example of what your misbehaviour can earn you.” He finishes with a growl, remembering how hard I’d fought him yesterday in his room.
• Placing his hand against my lower back, he guides me to the seat in front of the food. “At 6:15, you will start your rounds for stripping rooms. Once our guest and his men arrive, you will do your serving duties for my table while he is here.” He waits until I pick up my fork and scoop up some eggs before leaving the kitchen.
• ‘I don’t like this…’ I could feel Tala’s disapproval radiating with concern. ‘Neither do I, but he will probably kill us, or worse, if I don’t go along with his twisted games.’ I replied, continuing to make my way through the breakfast.
• ‘I am so sorry, Echo, no one should be treated like this, no one!’ She whispers. I look down as my eyes tear up, ‘I am the one who is sorry. If I were stronger, you wouldn’t have to endure this with me.’ Tala would now be stuck suffering with me in this cursed life.
• ‘Nonsense! I am you and you are me. We are one, and we are strong! Just do what we have to in order to survive, and we will get through this!’ she declares in determination.
• Once I’ve eaten all that I can, I quickly clean up after myself, not wanting to anger the kitchen staff. I then scurried off to the second floor to begin my task of stripping the rooms.