Like A Goddess

**BLANCA**
Max leads me to the only set of double doors on the third floor as says, " Wait here a moment."
He disappeared into another room further down the hall and I took a moment to admire my surroundings. The white carpet on this floor is thick and plush. It probably gets replaced every year or so. The walls are all dark wood paneling, accented with rustic paintings hung every few feet. There's even a window seat at the end of the hall, with velvet pillows stacked all around it.
It's hard to believe I am standing inside the Alpha's house and not back in my cold, dank cell. Just a few hours ago, my every waking moment was filled with nothing but the dark stone walls of the dungeon. The only excitement that ever came for me in that dreary hell, was when I was asleep. Dreams were all I had to keep myself from going mad. Sometimes, I would sit for hours and simply concoct scenarios in my head. Pretending the way a child might do. Now, it's almost as if I'm standing in one of those daydreams. Well, I mean, it *would* have been if the Goddess had chosen someone that actually wanted me. I can't even count the number of times I imagined being rescued by a handsome Alpha - it was one of my favorite fantasies. But of course, in *my* fairytale, the Alpha is in love with me and asks me to be his Luna. In my *perfect* world, he loves me too much to care that I'm Shiftless.
Max comes walking back toward me holding a small bundle of clothes. Opening the double doors with his key, he urges me inside. The room is huge and my jaw falls open in amazement. There's a fireplace on one side of the room with two matching velvet arm chairs in front of it. A bookshelf stands behind each chair, both stuffed with tons of beautiful leather bound volumes. A giant king-sized four poster bed dominates the space on the right. Topped with more pillows than any one person should need and draped in layers of blankets. An immaculate white velvet sofa sits along the wall beneath the windows and in the corner of the room stands an open door.
This is Max's room. I know it. His scent is everywhere.
"Oh my," I can't help but gush. *Is he really going to make me sleep in here, in his room? Then shove me into my tiny slave's quarters tomorrow? Yeah, probably.*
"Take these," he says, shoving the bundle of clothes into my arms. "They should fit you."
"Oh," I say, holding the soft bundle to my chest. "Thank you, Alpha."
"Through that door is a bathroom. I want you to take a shower or a bath or both! Whatever it takes for you to wash your lover from between your legs," he commands me.
I can feel myself growing angry again with just the way he's looking at me and for once I wish it were true. I wish I *did* have someone, just so that I could throw him in his face.
"I don't have a lover," I grumble, heading for the door.
"If I'm not in here when you're finished, just have a seat and wait for me. You are *not* go anywhere else," he snaps. "Is that clear?"
I turn around when I'm inside of the bathroom and give a slight bow. "Yes, Alpha."
"I mean what I said. If I can still smell him on you when you're done, I'll make you wash again."
My fists clench as heat boils over my flesh and I slam the door angrily, screaming my frustration into the bundle of clothes.
*I hate him.*
At least, I wish I did.

**MAX**
I take my shower in my mother's old room, then head downstairs to grab some leftover chicken and a bottle of wine. *Really? Wine for the slave?* But I don't have anything else at the moment, so wine it is. *What are you doing? Are you trying to fuck her? Do you really think it's wise to fuck a mate you have no intention of marking?*
I curse at myself, wishing I hadn't touched her in my study. If I had just kept my distance, I wouldn't have been driven to wander her curves. Was it not difficult enough already, with her being so beautiful? I had to add the swell of her heart shaped hips and the full globe of her taut round ass to the list of things I would fight to ignore. They fit so perfectly in my hand that I'm as hard as a war cannon now, fully loaded and ready to shoot. It wouldn't be fair to fuck her like I want to.
But then again, I *am* supposed to be making her suffer.
The fact that she's not a virgin still boils my insides. *How do you go to prison at the age of ten and come out without your virginity?* If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to find out who the guy is. The moment I realized I could smell a male's seed on her, I saw red. If Jared hadn't had my car ready right then, I would have ruined everything. I was seconds from snatching her by the throat and demanding to know who the bastard was that fucked my mate. The entire pack would have heard me screaming and the rumors would have spun out of control from there.
After placing the chicken and wine on a tray, I pulled out my phone and dialed Jared.
Although it was well after one a.m., he picked up on the first ring. "Alpha?"
"I need you to find out who went to visit Blanca in the prison before the execution," I say, attempting to sound nonchalant.
"Why? Did something happen?"
"She isn't being honest about some things and I need to know if she has any allies that I'm unaware of." It was more or less true.
"As far as I know, *nobody* is ever allowed to visit the death row prisoners and Frank and Talbot are pretty strict on that front. But I'll find out."
"Good. Also, have Frank and Talbot stop by my office tomorrow. I have a few questions for them."
"Will do Alpha. Is that all?"
"Yeah. That's it."
"Is the girl okay?" Jared asks, and I don't miss the concern in his voice.
"Who cares if she's okay? She's a slave who killed my brother, or have you forgotten?"
"Right. Of course, Alpha."
"Cut the bullshit, Jared. We've been friends for years. You don't have to call me Alpha a hundred times in one phone call."
He laughs, "I was practicing."
"Good night."
"Good night Alpha Max."
"Fuck off Jared."
When I opened the door to my room, I placed the tray of food and wine on the coffee table in front of the fireplace just as Blanca came out of the bathroom. Without looking at her, I begin to pour two glasses of wine.
"I was hungry." I say. "And I know they don't feed the prisoners very well, so I thought you might like something too."
"Thank you, Alpha," she says. "That's very kind of you."
"Don't get used to it," I say, finally turning around.
The night gown I gave her fits almost perfectly. But it's the *almost* perfect, that nearly drops me to my knees. It's too tight around the chest and her breasts are more than a little visible through the sleek silk of the garment. *Holy shit.* But the rest of it molds against her curves like second skin, revealing all of the things her old gray dress was so good at hiding.
Her long white hair falls around her like a cape and her wide blue eyes shutter nervously. "Is something wrong?" she asks, looking down at her gown. "Did I put it on backward or-"
"It's perfect," I admit. *You're perfect.*
*She looks like a goddess.*
But... she's not one. She's a slave. And... a murderer.