Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Amira POV

“Is she awake?” a voice asked somewhere near me.

“Not yet,” a woman replied quietly.

“Wake her. If she isn’t downstairs in twenty minutes, then start saying your farewells.”

That cold, cutting voice, Santiago. Even half-conscious, I recognised it instantly. My heart tightened and a wave of anxiety rushed through me.

Why was he everywhere? Why couldn’t he just leave me alone, even in sleep?

At first, I thought it was just my imagination, the echo of everything I had endured. But then I felt hands shaking me, rough, impatient.

The discomfort kept building. I tried to endure it, tried to stay still, but eventually, it was too much. Annoyance flickered through me, and I opened my eyes sharply.

My gaze met the nurse’s.

“Why did you hurt me?” The words came out before I could stop them.

As soon as I heard myself, I went still.

Really, Amira? Raising your voice here, of all places?

I had promised myself I’d be quiet, obedient, careful, just like the prisoner I now was. Yet here I was, already failing.

“I, I’m sorry, ma’am!” the nurse stuttered, immediately dropping to her knees. “I didn’t mean to be rough with you.”

Seeing her kneeling like that made me feel embarrassed, so I hurried to help her up.

“You don’t need to feel bad,” I said quietly. “You waking me up was wrong, and I was wrong for yelling. So let’s just call it even.” I tried to smile a little.

Then I looked at her more closely. She seemed tense, too tense.

“Why are you so anxious?” I asked. I had noticed it the moment I woke up.

Could it be because of that voice I thought I heard in my sleep?

I hesitated, then asked, “Was Alpha Santiago here?”

“Yes! How did you know?” she blinked at me, surprised.

I let out a bitter smile. So I wasn’t imagining things. And of course, she had rushed to wake me because of his orders.

To ease her worry, I said gently, “You can go downstairs. I’ll take a bath and come down soon.”

“Alright,” she replied quickly before leaving the room.

I stared at the closed door for a moment, then turned toward the bathroom. I didn’t go in right away. I looked at the bed, picked up the neatly folded clothes laid out for me, then walked inside.

After bathing and getting dressed, I noticed the clothes fit perfectly. But I didn’t care about that, didn’t care about the room or the mirror or anything else. I just needed to go downstairs. The nurse was probably waiting nervously.

But when I reached the bottom of the stairs, I slowed down. The living room was quiet, too quiet.

The three men were nowhere in sight.

Aphia was gone too.

Did they leave already?

I shook the thought away when I saw the nurse’s face brighten with relief. She had a bag slung over her shoulder, adjusting it as she prepared to go.

“You’re leaving?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

I didn’t say more. She had done what she came for. Honestly, I could practically feel her happiness to be leaving this place. I couldn’t blame her, I wanted to leave too.

“You should be fine now,” she said with a small smile. “I’ll head off first.”

She turned to go, but I stopped her.

She paused. “Is something wrong?”

“Um… do you know where everyone is?” The words slipped out before I could think. I knew she wasn’t part of the staff, so she might not know anything. But the house was too empty, not even servants around, and that gave me a strange feeling.

She looked around too, confusion crossing her face.

“I don’t know. Alpha Santiago only told me to bring you downstairs… but I don’t see him here either.”

From her voice, I could tell she was relieved not to see him.

As for me… I didn’t even know how I felt anymore. This house already terrified me, and now, with no one in sight, the silence made it feel even heavier.

I walked over to the couch and sat down, watching the nurse leave the mansion.

“Phew…” I let out a weak breath and rubbed my hands gently over my stomach.

I glanced around the room. Not even a piece of bread in sight.

What kind of house was this?

Morning had already arrived, and even if this place was filled with monsters, they should at least have food.

If I remembered correctly, I hadn’t eaten since the incident with Aphia. Everything happened so fast, from the confrontation with Aphia to being brought here. I hadn’t even had the chance to understand any of it, let alone eat.

I looked around once more. Still nothing.

So I leaned forward, rested my head on my arms, and closed my eyes. Maybe sleeping would be easier than sitting here with hunger twisting my stomach. At least until someone returned.

I wasn’t sure I had even slept for thirty minutes when I opened my eyes again. This time, the mansion was no longer silent. Workers were already moving around, their expressions stiff and focused.

“When did they all come back?” I wondered silently. But I stayed where I was. Those serious faces alone were enough to keep me from asking questions.

Then one of them walked toward me.

“You should head to the dining room. Alpha Santiago, Alex and Maximus is calling for you,” she said.

My heart immediately jumped, and my hands trembled slightly without me meaning for them to.

I still didn’t understand why the sound of their name alone could make my whole body react like this.

Even though I didn’t want to, I slowly stood and followed her.

When we reached the dining room, she stopped.

“You may go in,” she said.

I nodded and stepped inside, keeping my head lowered as I walked.

I really didn’t want to face them, but I didn’t have a choice. The moment I entered, I could feel their eyes on me. Heavy. Overwhelming.

These men… were going to be the end of me.

My palms felt sweaty, and my feet were unsteady from how nervous I was.

“Why are you shaking like a wet dog?” one of them said, and another burst into laughter. I didn’t even know who said what, but embarrassment burned through me all the same.

For a moment, I wanted to snap at them. But I bit down on my lip.

Would I be shaking if they weren’t so terrifying?

They caused this, but I was the one being mocked.

“Someone catch her before she faints,” another voice teased.

My cheeks heated even more.

“Who’s going to faint?” I blurted out before I could stop myself, lifting my head without thinking.

I didn’t want them believing I was that weak. Even if… deep down, I was.

Maximus’ eyes flickered with interest. The look he gave me made my skin crawl, like I was something new he wanted to examine, to play with.

Before I could react, Alex suddenly appeared right in front of me.

“Oh—” I stumbled back, but he caught me easily.

“Don’t be clumsy,” he said, and I couldn’t help the small pout of irritation that formed.

Clumsy?

He was the one who appeared out of nowhere like some ghost.

I gently pulled myself away with a quiet huff.

These two were insufferable.

Then my gaze unintentionally drifted toward Santiago.

He hadn’t said a single word. He just continued eating, calm, composed, completely unbothered. But even that simple movement, lifting his fork, cutting his food, looked deliberate and powerful.

I caught myself staring.

And then, he looked up.

I sucked in a breath, choking on nothing. Our eyes met.