Chapter 18: Drink

Everyone froze as they turned toward Beta Mathew.

His chest was rising and falling fast, his eyes burning as they locked on the slave master.

“Beta…” the slave master started nervously.

But Beta Mathew took a sharp step forward.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, his voice shaking with fury.

“Have you lost your mind?”

The slave master swallowed hard, backing away slightly.

“The next time I catch you even looking at her,” Mathew said coldly, “it will be the last time you ever use those eyes.” He Snarled. “Do you understand?

“Yes….” the slave master, known for his brutality, nodded slowly.

Sucking in a deep breath, Mathew turned toward Sofia, and his heart clenched.

She looked so small standing there.

So fragile.

Like one hard push could break her.

Her arms were wrapped around herself, her shoulders slumped, her eyes dull and tired. There was no fire in them anymore. No fight. Only a deep, silent pain that had settled into her soul.

For a moment, Mathew forgot where he was.

Forgot the slaves.

Forgot the guards.

All he saw was a girl who had been hurt far too much.

“Sofia…” he said softly, but his voice still carried power.

Her eyes lifted slowly to him. They were red and swollen, like she had cried all the tears she had inside her.

“I… I’m fine,” she whispered, even though it was clear she wasn’t.

Matthew’s jaw tightened.

Fine?

There was nothing fine about the way she was shaking.

Nothing fine about the bruises on her skin.

Nothing fine about the empty look in her eyes.

“You don’t have to pretend with me,” he said quietly.

The slave master shifted behind him, but one sharp look from Mathew made him freeze again.

“Take her to the lighter section,” Mathew ordered coldly. “Now.”

“But Beta—” the man tried.

“I said now.”

The slave master bowed quickly. “Yes, Beta.”

He turned to Sofia. “Come.”

Sofia hesitated, fear flickering across her face.

Matthew softened his voice. “You’re safe. Go with him.”

Sofia nodded and followed, but Mathew stayed behind, watching her walk away, his heart aching.

He wished he could do something.

Anything.

Get her out of this hell.

But his hands were tied, bound by loyalty and fear of what would happen if he defied his Alpha.

This was Damien’s doing.

Sofia was Damien’s sex slave.

The same Damien who had once been madly in love with her. The same Damien who had loved her since they were teenagers.

And now… this.

Mathew didn’t understand it. He knew something had happened, something terrible—but Damien had refused to talk about it.

His chest burned as memories rushed back.

He had loved her.

Not loudly.

Not boldly.

But deeply.

From the very start.

But Damien had loved her too. And Damien was his Alpha… his best friend. So Mathew had stepped back. He had swallowed his feelings and pretended they never existed. He had watched Damien grow closer to Sofia and told himself that was how it was meant to be.

He had chosen loyalty over his own heart.

And now…

Now he was being forced to watch the woman he loved be destroyed by the very man who once swore to protect her.

Matthew’s jaw tightened until it ached.

Damien was not like this.

He knew that.

The Damien he grew up with would never have let anyone touch Sofia with cruelty. The Damien he knew would have burned the world to keep her safe.

So what happened?

What broke him so badly that he could do this to her?

Matthew turned his face away before anyone could see the pain in his eyes.

“I failed you,” he whispered under his breath. “I’m sorry.”

Sofia was led away to the lighter work area. Even though they called it “lighter,” it was still a lot of work.

Her arms ached. Her back throbbed, but she kept moving because she had no choice.

The slave master stayed far from her.

He did not shout at her.

He did not hit her.

He did not even look at her.

Matthew’s warning still rang in his ears.

Sofia worked quietly, lifting small stones, passing them down the line, her hands shaking with every movement. Sweat ran down her face. The sun made her dizzy. Her throat felt dry and tight.

She was so thirsty.

So hungry.

It felt like her body was eating itself from the inside.

Her stomach twisted painfully as she swallowed nothing but air.

After a while, she could not take it anymore.

She slowly walked toward the slave master, her steps weak. Her body heavy.

“Please…” she said softly. “Can I have some water?”

The man stiffened when he saw her approach. He glanced around nervously, as if afraid Mathew might still be watching.

“Go back to work,” he snapped. “I’ll bring it.”

Sofia nodded and turned back to her place. Her legs trembled as she bent down again, trying to keep working even though her vision was starting to blur.

Minutes passed.

Her throat burned.

Then finally, the slave master came.

He held out a metal cup toward her. “Here.”

Sofia took it with shaking hands. The water inside looked clear… but the moment it reached her nose, her stomach turned.

The smell.

Her eyes widened.

It smelled like urine.

Her hands started to shake harder. “This… this isn’t—”

“Drink it,” the slave master said coldly. “It’s a must.”

Sofia’s chest tightened. She looked down at the cup, her heart pounding in fear and disbelief.

“This is urine,” she whispered. “You… expect me to drink your urine?”

The man’s eyes hardened. “You think you deserve clean water?” he scoffed. “You’re a slave. Drink it. It’s Alpha Damien’s order.”

Tears burned in her eyes.

“You are lying.”

He moved close, leaning down to her ear.

“Drink it… or you don’t want to know what I’ll do to you. Remember, I am the slave master.”

Her lips trembled.

Her whole body felt weak and broken.

Slowly, painfully, she lifted the cup closer to her mouth, her hands shaking so badly that some of the liquid spilled on the ground.

The smell made her gag.

Her stomach twisted.

This was her life now.

Humiliation.

Pain.

Being treated like she was less than nothing.

Behind her, some other slaves looked away, unable to watch.

Sofia closed her eyes as silent tears slid down her cheeks. Her hands shook as she lifted the cup to her lips—but just before it touched her mouth, something inside her finally broke.

Her fear turned into anger.

Her pain turned into fire.

With a sudden motion, she hurled the cup forward, splashing the filthy liquid straight into the slave master’s face.

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