Claimed by The Rogue Alpha
Claimed By The Rogue Alpha Chapter 70

=Olivia==

I was in high spirits. One, because my period had just ended. The little devil came as usual and crippled me. This time, there hadn't been any wolf-in-human being to massage the pain away. I had to deal with the agony.

Secondly and more fantastic, tomorrow would make it three days to my exit. Precious day 27, it was. I stared at the mini calendar on the nightstand, still replaceing it difficult to believe I was almost there. Funny thing was that the days left had escaped my memory. Or rather, I had given up on the hope of being free. However, I chided myself. I shouldn't surrender. I oughtn't. And surely, come Day 29, I'd meet Matteo and remind him it was over.

I sniffed. Beads of tears rested on my eye lids. I survived. I actually...did f*****g survive. I pulled my legs to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. I thought about Matteo. I couldn't help but wonder if he had taken the doctor's word for it, just as I had. He hadn't showed up ever since.

I didn't care though. I was happy I'd never get to see him again. That haunting face of his. At long last, my senses had been restored.

Someone knocked. I didn't for the life of me know why Matteo was the name that hung on my tongue. I shut my eyes and sighed. You've past this stage. Stop this.

I climbed out of the bed and walked to the door. Pulling it open, my gaze landed on a rather shorter guy. Now, why my heartbeat dropped a notch was what I couldn't explain. Seemed like there were yet a lot of work to be done. My attention shifted to the dress dress hanging from his grip.

"The Master requested you wear this for dinner." I gaped like an idiot. What? "Jerez have it." He moved the bag towards me, shattering the glass of trance that boxed me in. I took the bag from him, and without saying any more word, he walked away.

I stared item. Matteo wanted me to dress up for dinner? I bit my lip, chiding myself for getting excited. Again, I had ti remind myself: having feelings for Matteo is f****d up on so many levels. He abducted me for godsake! It was frustrating. No matter how much I held onto that known fact, that established fact, I would always replace myself clamouring for the devil in question.

Was I held down by a spell? Could that explain all of this? I scoffed at that idea. If at all that was the case, there wasn't any logical reason why he'd enchant me. I mean, he didn't have anything to gain from having me tied around his finger. Or did he?

I sat on the bed and placed the bag on my laps. Pulling down its zip, a white lacy gain was revealed. My lips parted open. I was taken by how pretty it was. Oh my God. I raised the dress, coming to realise it was of a medium length. It was modest...well, except for the tiny shoulder straps and v-neck line. I eyed the dress, wondering why Matteo had sent me this. What did he have in mind?

Well, whatever it was, no more was I going to be pulled by his strings. I'd rather leave him frustrated.

***

I woke up to a knock on the door. I peeled from the bed, giving out a wide yawn when I suddenly realised I had slept off. I snapped my head to the wall clock. It was 8:40, meaning I was ten minutes late for the dinner. The knock came a second time, snapping me back to awareness.

It was the butler. "Miss, your dinner is served."

I nodded, then shut the door close. A sigh left my lips. Damn, I sure had slept off. Which was a good thing. It made me late. At least by now Matteo would be frustrated and would had stormed out of the dining.

I quickly had my shower, and put on the dress. Like I'd said: it was modest. Thankfully, it wasn't tight, neither did it expose my cleavage. I looked okay, although my hair was damn.

Again, that didn't matter. This wasn't a date I was going on. I'd simply apply some moisturiser which would help my rashes, and rub a balm ion my lips. I left my hair falling down on my shoulders and left for the dining. What I came upon left my mouth open. The dining had been properly set. A deep red cloth covering the table, and at strategic points were candles. The cutlery was nearly arranged, and fairy lights hung in the wall which further beautified the place.

Matteo was nowhere to be found. It wouldn't have come as a surprise except that his food laid untouched. Did it mean he was yet to arrive? That was odd. Matteo usually had a strict regimen. He did things exactly as planned. So, there was surely no way this made sense? Could it then be that he was waiting for me?

I chased that thought away. I wasn't going to thread in that direction again. Walking into the dining, I was about to pull out a chair when a guard walked over and did it instead. I muttered an uncertain 'thanks' before taking my seat.

Glass cloches gazed back on me. I was crippled with... Aha, I couldn't even tell the emotions I was having. Fear? Excitement? Surprise? It appeared to be a mix.

My eyes picked up the baked lasagna, spaghetti carbonara, pizza and chili. There were three bottles of wine, which frim the look of things, were of high quality. What the hell is going on? I looked around me, coming to see two guards around. As they got masks on, I didn't think I could inquire for them, the reason behind this feast. And I wasn't sure of what to do. First it was the dress and now this? What did Matteo want? What was he driving at?

I shakily picked up a fork and just then, a guard walked up to me. "Oh," I flushed as he began portioning the food for me.

"Thanks," I muttered, hesitated a while before picking up my fork again. I focused on the spaghetti. And dear heavenly gracious, the stuff was a complete 100. It was so good I had the urge of shoving the entire cloche into my mouth. And sure enough, I was done with what I had in my plate. I stared at the cloche, considering taking another serving.

"Please, help yourself, Miss." I turned sharply to replace the butler standing at the entrance of the dining. "Feel at home."

My cheek flushed. Wait, feel at home? I didn't like how that sounded. Not one bit.

"May I open the wine for you?" he said with a smile. I stared like a zombie. I made to speak, but couldn't replace the words to say. My reaction didn't make him to falter, because he walking to my side and uncorked the wine. He poured the deep red liquid into a glass. the wine, pouring Can someone tell me what in heaven's name is going on?

Just as he was about to leave, I said, "Wait." He stopped and turned to me. I swallowed. "What's going on?"

He paused for moment. "The Master will keep you abreast soon. For now, bon appetite." And with that, he left.

I didn't know if I should be apprehensive, but somehow, for some reasons I couldn't pinpoint, I went ahead to help myself. I stuffed my mouth with as much lasagna as possible and gulped down glasses upon glasses of wine which was a bit alcoholic.

When I couldn't have any more food, I heaved from my seat-having a bit if challenge in standing erect. My head was incredibly light and I had suddenly weighed a ton. F**k. What a problem it was going to be getting to my room. But I managed. I managed to climb the stairs and locate my room, letting out a deep sigh. I shook my head, determined to establish sobriety. F**k, I should have known there was something up with the food or drink. Was it the drink? Sh....should be the drink.

I plopped on the bed, my eyes turning three-sixty. Oh, f**k. For a reason I didn't know, I walked to the widow and stretched. A big yawn following suit. It sure was a long night. As I made to return to bed, my eyes caught something outside. Just some feet away from the maze. A frown slipped onto my face when I recognised whom it was, and what he was doing.

It was none other than Matteo, and he was brutalising his back with a long whip.