My eyes suddenly snapped open and Cold metal bars dug into my back as I stirred awake, the rough sound of wheels grinding against gravel echoing in my ears. I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of my surroundings. My head throbbed, my limbs feel weak, and as I sat up, the sharp realization hit me like a ton of bricks; I was in a cage.
What the actual fuck?
I looked around, confused.
The space was cramped, the air damp and heavy. Chains rattled with every bump of the road, and I could hear the murmur of voices outside. I pressed my forehead against the bars, trying to see where I was or what was happening. It was dark, save for a few streaks of moonlight cutting through the trees.
Panic threatened to take hold, but I swallowed it down. Stay calm, I told myself. Whatever this was, I needed to figure it out and wait for the right moment.
Memories of what had happened just moments before came in bits and pieces.
I was back to the physical world but where and why the fuck was I in a cage?
How the hell had I gotten here?
The moon goddess couldn't find a better place?
The cart stopped abruptly, nearly throwing me off balance and causing me to yelp. A few gruff voices barked orders, followed by the thud of boots on gravel. The cage shifted, and I gripped the bars tightly as the doors creaked open.
"Time to move," a man snarled.
Before I could react, strong hands yanked me out of the cage, dragging me to my feet. My body felt foreign, weaker than it should have been, but I forced myself to stand, glaring at the man who held me. He sneered and jerked a chain attached to a metal collar around my neck.
"Don't try anything stupid," he warned, tugging me forward like a dog on a leash.
I clenched my fists, biting back the humiliation that burned in my chest. This wasn't the time to fight. I needed to figure out where I was, what was going on first, and why the hell I was chained up like a dog and being led by these men.
As we trudge forward, the trees gave way to a sprawling estate. The mansion loomed ahead, its grand structure illuminated by the glow of lanterns. It was enormous, more like a fortress than a home with towering iron gates and a meticulously kept garden.
I was shoved through the front doors, the opulence of the mansion striking me instantly. Marble floors gleamed under crystal chandeliers, and gold-trimmed furniture lined the massive hall. My stomach churned as I was pulled further inside, past curious glances from staff and other figures lurking in the shadows.
The place felt tense like I was in some kind of huge Courtroom awaiting trial. I didn't like it and I especially didn't like the fact that I was here.
Finally, we reached the living room. It was grand yet suffocating, with high ceilings and heavy curtains that blocked out the night. The man dragging me stopped abruptly, forcing me to stumble to a halt.
"Master, she's here," he announced.
A figure stepped out from the shadows, his presence commanding the room. My heart stopped, then began to race.
Milton.
I froze, disbelief crashing over me like a wave. He looked exactly as I remembered him from high school, broad-shouldered, with sharp features and cold, calculating eyes. But there was something more menacing about him now, a cruel authority that oozed from every movement.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "No, it can't be."
His gaze locked on me, and the corners of his lips twisted into a smirk. "Well, well," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Look what we have here."
I felt the bile rising in my throat, the memories flooding back with brutal clarity. Milton, the tormentor of my teenage years. He had made my life a living hell, bullying me at every turn, humiliating me in front of my friends, and ensuring I never forgot I was a weak Omega. It was hell and today; it still traumatized me.
And now, he was my… master? I wasn't even sure but that was what it looked like.
I couldn't stop it. The nausea overtook me, and I turned to the side, retching onto the pristine marble floor.
The room fell silent, save for the sound of my labored breaths. My captor cursed under his breath, jerking the chain to force me upright.
Milton's eyes narrowed, "What is the meaning of this?!" he barked, his tone as venomous as it was authoritative. His words reverberated through the grand space, bouncing off the marble walls.
The man holding my chain flinched but quickly masked his unease, tightening his grip on me as though I might bolt at any moment.
"She was caught sneaking near the estate's perimeter," the captor explained, his voice steady despite Milton's palpable ire. "We thought it best to bring her directly to you, Master."
Milton stepped forward, his boots clicking against the floor. His sharp gaze swept over me, dissecting every inch of my being. I could feel his eyes lingering on the collar around my neck, the dirt smudged across my face, and the defiant glare I couldn't quite suppress.
I clenched my jaw, refusing to cower under his scrutiny. This wasn't the Milton I remembered not fully. He was older, darker, and carried an air of authority I hadn't seen before. Yet, I could still feel the same vile energy rolling off him, the same cruel amusement in his smirk but there was something now different about him.
"Who is she?" Milton asked, his tone calmer now but no less dangerous as he assessed me like a dog about to be bought. I didn't like it.
The man hesitated, glancing at me. "She wouldn't give us her name," he said. "We thought you might recognize her."
Milton arched a brow, his expression darkening with impatience. "Do I look like someone who wastes time on stray intruders?" he snapped. "Speak up, girl. Who are you?"
I bit my tongue, the words bubbling up like acid. I could feel the weight of his command pressing against me, demanding an answer, but I couldn't risk revealing my identity. I didn't even particularly know who was in the body yet. Her memories hadn't come yet...
When I didn't respond, Milton's eyes narrowed. He moved closer, his presence overwhelming, suffocating. The faint scent of cedar and smoke surrounded him, a scent I remembered all too well from those awful high school days. I wanted to spit him so bad but I knew that would instantly get me beheaded.
"Mute?" he sneered, tilting his head. "Or just stupid?" His words were laced with mockery, yet his gaze seemed sharper now, as though he were trying to piece together a puzzle he didn't even know existed.
"I don't answer to you," I spat before I could stop myself. My voice was hoarse, unfamiliar even to my ears.
The room went still. My captor hissed, yanking the chain hard enough to make me stumble. But Milton raised a hand, stopping him. A dangerous gleam danced in his eyes.
"You don't answer me?" he repeated, his voice deceptively soft. "Do you have any idea where you are, girl? Or whose mercy you're under?"
I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my expression neutral. The truth was, I didn't. I had no idea where I was, why I was in this body, or what Milton was doing here. But I did know one thing: I wasn't about to grovel before him. Not again.
Milton studied me for a long moment, his smirk returning. "You've got spirit," he said, almost to himself. "But you're filthy, weak, and lost. Hardly worth my time."
He turned to the man holding me. "Clean her up," he ordered. "I'll decide what to do with her later."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Your majesty?
The realization that Milton was the king of the Alphas suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks, and I swallowed.
What kind of game was the moon goddess playing?
The man nodded, tugging the chain again and pulling me toward a side door. I stumbled after him, my heart racing as I processed everything. Milto
n didn't recognize me. Not yet. And that was good. It gave me time to figure out my next move.