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5

I’d been relieved of my servant duties, and I poured my diligence into lovemaking. I would have been sublimely happy just bringing pleasure to His Lordship and his omegas and having them use my body day in and day out. A few kisses, a little praise, a pat on my head—I didn’t need much else in my life to satisfy me. I had my place and more loving attention than I could absorb. I was pampered and rewarded.

Except I was still annoyingly curious.

If only I could silence the questions in my head, the ones I was afraid to ask. Everything would have been perfect if it weren’t for my stupid nosiness.

Where did His Lordship go for days on end? Why didn’t he and his omegas ever speak about his pursuits, travels, and work? Why did he sometimes return so furious that he needed to take his anger out on us?

Not that I minded those hard fucks. But what about those other strange things that everybody else seemed to ignore?

His Lordship never ate with us. He watched us eat, but never even tasted any of the luxurious dishes the omegas were served. He was the strongest man I’d ever met. He could also recognize every single one of us by our smell or the sound of our steps without opening his eyes. Once, Angelo dropped a glass, and His Lordship caught it without looking, with speed that didn’t seem human. The movement had been too fast for my eyes to follow. His Lordship’s senses seemed sharper and his reflexes faster than a cat’s.

Sometimes, there was this glint in His Lordship’s eyes, a strange light that shone when he looked at my bare skin, almost like hunger. Not desire, but real hunger. As if my flesh was the food the great alpha craved. I told myself I was just imagining things, but then we made love, and His Lordship grazed my neck with his teeth and growled, and again, I remembered the drop of blood on his lip.

And why did that one door at the end of the hallway remain locked? What was in the Red Room?

I wanted to stop thinking about those things, but I couldn’t. My curiosity was a relentless itch, not unlike the itch up my hole, but not even the deepest, hardest fuck could soothe it.

One night, I woke up, needing to go pee. The bedroom was dark, and I didn’t want to turn on the light so I wouldn’t disturb the others. I didn’t feel His Lordship in bed next to me, but maybe our alpha had rolled to the other side of the vast mattress.

On my way back from the bathroom, I heard what sounded like cries of pain. They seemed to be coming from behind the last door. The locked door to the Red Room.

I ran to find His Lordship and wake him, but he wasn’t in the bedroom. Raphael was gone, too. I gently touched Elliot’s shoulder. He was the oldest omega, and we all looked up to him for advice when our alpha wasn’t at home. He’d know what to do.

“What is it, pet?” Elliot murmured sleepily.

“I heard noise from the last room. It sounded like someone was hurt.”

Elliot took my hand and pulled me into his embrace.

“Shh, little pet. All is well.” He hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead. “Nobody’s getting hurt. Close your eyes and sleep, love.”

I couldn’t fall asleep, even with Elliot’s kisses in my hair and Meo’s hand stroking my side. They both drifted off, but I remained awake.

His Lordship returned, carrying Raphael in his arms. He laid Raphael on the bed and curled around him. I didn’t move, and His Lordship didn’t seem to notice me being awake.

The next day, Raphael slept much longer than usual. He was pale, his complexion a little sickly, but the pink hue returned to his cheeks during the day. In the evening, he seemed as healthy and playful as ever.

I wondered if I had dreamt the cries.

Two nights later, I woke up when the mattress shifted under me.

His Lordship rose and walked out of the room, with Meo following him. I didn’t dare to go after them, but I lay awake, too nervous to fall asleep again.

When His Lordship returned, maybe an hour later, he carried Meo. Meo’s arm hung lifelessly, and his head lolled. He looked unconscious. His Lordship laid him on the bed and spooned his body before closing his eyes, too.

The following night, I lay still, my eyes closed, and I listened. As far as I could tell, everyone stayed in the bedroom all night.

I finally drifted off long after midnight.

A few days later, I woke up around two in the morning. His Lordship, Elliot, and Brooks weren’t in bed. I told myself I needed to pee, but maybe I was simply too curious for my own good. In the hallway, I paused and listened.

There.

A garbled wail, muted by the heavy door.

Heart pounding, I hurried back to bed. I curled up to Angelo, shivering.