Chapter 7

• BELLA'S POV
• "Excuse me?!" I exclaim, not sure I heard the guy right.
• Did he actually say he would kill my little brother?! It must be the devil seated in front of me.
• "You heard me well, I am sure. I didn't buy you so you can come choose the work you want to do! I have enough slaves both for work and pleasure. Stealing those records from that palace is all I want from you. And I will offer back your freedom in return. I however will have that brother you cherish so much decapitated if you decline to obey my orders." His words feels like an electric shock.
• "But your money isn\'t even worth the risk! You know what happens if I get caught?!" I say in a voice sharper than intended.
• It's like he is asking me to choose between my life and Skylar's! Because even if I look like the Prince's mate like they say, there is no way I can succeed in stealing from the palace of scorpion kingdom without being caught.
• Scorpion Kingdom is the biggest and richest kingdom. Their soldiers are well trained and I hear the King is quite an arrogant and merciless man. If you are accused of breaking the rules of the kingdom, pray that Prince Hayden be the one to decide your punishment. Because his father is quite ruthless when it comes to rendering judgement to criminals.
• "I can send your family more money if that's what you want. As for getting caught, no one will blame you, this is a huge risk we are taking." He answers in a calmer voice.
• "But don't dare mention that I am the one that sent you! Otherwise I will make every member of your little family a slave!"
• I bite my lower lip to avoid screaming at the man. I need to calm down my agitation before I stupidly lambast the Alpha and find myself more trouble.
• "Why do you want these secrets so badly? They don't concern your kingdom in any way." I point out.
• The Alpha chuckles. "Just because Angel Hayden is not of this kingdom, it doesn't mean he doesn't pose a threat to us! Every Kingdom should feel threatened by the existence of such a powerful creature. It's only a matter of time before he decides he is not satisfied with ruling Scorpion kingdom alone. And unless we actually know what is true and what is false about his wings and powers, we will not be able to stop him from taking our kingdoms." The Alpha says in a tone that hints his hate towards Angel Hayden.
• To me, it sounds more like envy than sane reasoning.
• Scorpion kingdom has never attacked another kingdom, why would he think that Hayden will get that greedy? Besides, everything that is said about Hayden's wings is of course exaggerated. He may not be as extraordinary as people say.
• "The only thing he has ever confirmed is he is to live for a whole millennia. There are rumors about a possibility that he can reincarnate, but we are not sure its true. Once you get the records, we will find out if that too is true." The Alpha says.
• Reincarnate?!
• Seriously?
• How else can one proclaim they are mad?
• There is a line of things a normal mind should believe, thinking of people reincarnating is way past that line.
• "Are you sure there are such records? Because I don't want to be the one carrying the blame if all that is sweet rumors." I say.
• "The records are there. The Royal family keeps every prophecy made about Prince Hayden a secret. They are only recorded in writing and locked in the secret library." He answers.
• If the Library really has such vital information, won't I be executed when caught trying to steal?
• "You're to leave here early tomorrow. A few of my men will escort you to scorpion kingdom. You must attempt sneaking into the palace before the Prince returns from his visit in Silver Moon pack. He is the only person who can't be fooled by your looks because he knows the smell of his real mate." The Alpha states.
• So the Prince is out in another kingdom? That's kind of refreshing. But again, I may still get caught and it will be the ruthless king who will decide my punishment. I hate that I am being sent out to steal, but what option do I have? I can't decline to do the risky job and have Skylar beheaded. I love him too much to let that happen. Our family didn't have many friends. We were very poor and not many wanted to be associated with us. We learned to be as close to each other as possible, love one another with all our hearts. That's how we survived. I have learned to sacrifice anything for the sake of my family. One may think that is silly, but I know they would do the same for me.
• "My Luna will see to it that you have the finest dresses to make you look as classy as angel Usher." He says.
• * * * * *
• HAYDEN'S POV
• The reason I don't enjoy parties outside our Kingdom is because everyone out here is always too curious about my wings and the mystery prophesies about me that my parents chose to keep secret. I am glad they didn't let everyone know, because the way the people around me speak, I don't think they are happy with what is said about my wings or the years I am to live. I can only imagine what it would be like if they knew every prophecy. Some things even I have a hard time believing.
• "Don't tell me you don't drink! This is the most expensive wine in any market. We bought it specifically for you!" The Alpha seated across from me mutters. He starts to pour me a glass of the expensive wine on the table.
• BELLA'S POV
• The Luna leads me back to the room where the Alpha was. That gigantic man with a beard, the one that gripped my hair so tight that I am still feeling sore around the spot.
• It hurt like hell when the maids combed the hair. I did ask them to take it slow, but being a slave means no one listens to you. I had to bit hard on my lip to restrain myself from crying out everytime the hair was pulled.
• Now that I am going to meet the man again, I feel like my intestines are on fire.
• The Luna swings the door open and pushes me inside. The Alpha and his Beta rise from their seats when I stumble into the room, the heels are making it hard to keep balance.
• "Look at the beauty queen that was hiding under those filthy rugs!" The Beta says, approaching. "Now you look like something a man may like, come here!" He says, now so close and holding out a hand.
• I step back, still careful not to raise my head and look him in the eye. It's against the rules here.
• "Are you now defying my orders, slave?!" He snarls angrily. I step back farther.
• What on earth am I supposed to do? Slave or not, there is no way I am going to go to him. My parents would not have let me go if they knew some psycho is going to be manhandling me.
• We all thought I am going to only get overworked and not paid.
• "Stay away from me, psycho!" I snarl.
• The Beta glowers down at me. His face turns into one big frown. He takes a step forward, before I jump back, his hand wraps around my neck.
• Frightened, I use my nails to scratch the hand. He starts to squeeze and I cry out.
• "Let her go!" I hear the Alpha roar, his voice laced with authority. The Beta immediately relinquishes his grip around my neck.
• I step as far away from him as the walls of the room can allow. The muscles of my neck hurts!
• I would rather be out there working with the other slaves than be in here with this two mad giants.
• "What the f***k is wrong with you?! Play with every other slave but not that one!" The Alpha snaps.
• The Beta raises his eyebrows. He turns around to face his Alpha. "Why? She is a wolfless slave like any other. Don't tell me she gets special treatment just because she looks like Prince Hayden's mate!" He raves.
• The Alpha closes the small space between them, he looks ready to chastise his Beta.
• "She gets special treatment because she is our key to finding out what else that Angel is capable of! Until I have those secrets in my hands, no one will be touching the girl!" He mutters, his words marked with a tone of finality. "Do you understand me?!"
• The Beta grudgingly nod his head. But when he looks at me, the evil smirk on his lips clearly tells me the Alpha's words didn't sink into his thick head.
• "Now leave us!" The Alpha commands. The Beta makes his way out of the room. And right before he makes his exit, he looks at me and winks.
• How I wish he would drop dead!
• "Sit down!" The Alpha orders, points at the couch he was sitting on. I wait until he takes his Beta's seat, then make my way to the grey couch.
• I keep my gaze downwards after I sit, more to avoid looking at the man's face than to stick to the silly rules.
• "You may look up." I hear him say. His tone is no longer harsh.
• I nervously look up at him. He holds another glass of clear liquid in his hand whose contents he gulps down at one go. The man must be a drunkard!
• "My Beta says you sold yourself to save your little brother, tell me more about that." He says, setting down the empty glass.
• I remain silent. It's not like they are going to return me back if I don't answer their questions.
• "I will not force you to talk, after all most of you slaves like to remain mute!" He starts, leans back on his seat, a smirk curved on his thin lips.
• "I only care about the job I have for you. You do it well, you will be free to go back to your family." I hear him say and feel my heart throb with new hope.
• "Really?" I hear my mouth ask.
• The Alpha looks straight into my eyes. His icy gaze is unnerving. "Yes. You win your freedom if you get me what I want." He assures.
• I want to smile but he hasn't told me what exactly I am supposed to do. Considering the amount of money they used to buy me, I am certain the job I am to do is tough. But I am glad to be offered a chance to win my freedom and go back to watching Skylar recover.
• "What's the job?!" I ask.
• "Ever heard of the secret library of scorpion kingdom?" He asks.
• Seriously? I thought that's another stupid and unrealistic rumor about the famous Prince Hayden? The secret library in the palace where records of prophecies about the mysterious Angel Hayden are kept, I thinks it's total bullshit!
• "Does the library really exist?" I ask.
• The Alpha nods his head. "Yes. It's the most guarded room in Scorpion Palace. No one gets in unless they are members of the Royal family." He answers. "What I want are the documents about the powerful Prince Hayden. And since you look like a perfect copy of his mate, I am sure the guards will let you into the library without questions."
• He sure must be mad! Assuming I actually look like Angel Usher like they say, who would be stupid enough to attempt to steal from the palace of Scorpion Kingdom?
• Steal from the home of Goddess Israel's most beloved creature? The rumors about that man alone makes my heartbeat pick up speed! I wanted my freedom but didn't want to die in the process of finding it.
• "I can do any other job, just not that one." I blurt out.
• The Alpha narrows his gaze at me. He doesn't look diplomatic anymore. "I stated what you would get if you did for me what I purchased you to do, but I forgot to tell you what would happen if you decline to do the job!" He says in an stern voice.
• What would happen if I decline? Yeah, I already know that there are guards with whips all around the house. But they can whip me to death and I will not accept to risk having my head cut off.
• "Either help me get those secret records, or I will send my men back to your little family to cut the head of your beloved little brother and bring it here to me!" The Alpha snarls.
• I am not sure my heart is still locked within my ribcage."I do drink, just not alcohol." I answer. It's like my body rejects anything that can mess with it's normal functioning.