《Otherworldly》 Chapter 1 You suck in a sharp breath, consciousness forcing its way through you as you yank yourself forward. Sharp rocks pierce the palms of your hands as you sit upright against the concrete. Your eyes shift below to the torn, dirty fabric that conceals your grimy, muddy legs. Your fingers twitch as you bring them to the forefront of your vision, examining the mixture of filth and blood that covers your hands and arms. Your breathing is ragged as you try to make sense of your predicament. Your head turns, eyes shifting around the environment as you view the crimson sky¡ªblack shadows that mimic clouds streak across the firmament. What snatches your attention is the large moon that glows yellow, its cracks shaping it to resemble an eye, the dark circle in the middle staring at you like a pupil. Old buildings surround you, the area resembling that of a fallen city. Some of the structures are still standing tall, though the windows are shattered and entrances are either blocked off or broken down, while others are destroyed, large holes gaping as if there had been an explosion. It is completely abandoned. Your hands touch your torso, feeling your body through the ripped fabric of the white shirt as you try to reassure yourself that you are physically apparent. Confusion and fear strike you, your heart¡¯s pounding becoming erratic. Suddenly, a loud, croaky roar echoes through the atmosphere. Your body freezes, shock evident in your features as you shift your gaze to search for the source. You hold your breath, the silence of your surroundings eerie as you turn your head. You feel your instincts go haywire as a hidden, watchful gaze settles on you. Despite your fear, you feel the need to prepare for something¡ªanything¡ªto happen. The hairs on your arms and back stand tall as you slowly push yourself off the moist pavement. When the bottom of your bare feet meets the ground, you slowly lift the rest of your body up, steadily, as your eyes shift around the area. Your arms are stretched out, fingers spread as you balance your shaky legs. You swallow hard, silence still perceptible as you listen for anyone or anything to appear. Pat, pat, pat. You exhale sharply as you immediately take off, ignoring the pain in your feet as your skin meets with the gravel. Another raspy, guttural roar fills the air as you run from whatever is chasing you from behind. Your breathing is irregular, your heart thumping against your chest. You dash through the ruins, barely feeling the sweat surfacing through your pores. You can hear the harsh, throaty breaths of the beast behind you as it grows closer, feet practically beating against the ground. You know that you aren¡¯t fast enough to outrun whatever is coming after you. There¡¯s already an ache forming in your legs, as well as a straining in your stomach. You have to think of something¡ªanything. Your eyes quickly scan the vicinity as the buildings pass by. Your irises shift to the left. Nothing. Your pupils shift to the right. Nothing. Your lips are apart as you struggle to steady your breathing, your grunts becoming louder as you push yourself past your limit. You can feel the lump burning in your throat as familiar moisture fills your eyes. I don¡¯t want to die! You can feel it closing in¡ªhear its growling right behind you. You can sense its presence reaching for you. Suddenly, you bend your knees, dropping yourself to the ground as you wrap your arms around your legs. Your quick plan is successful, the beast tripping over you as it flips ahead, landing a few feet away. You observe the broad creature as it rolls on the ground. The beast¡¯s dark fur conceals the skin beneath, aside from the large, crimson scars prominent along its torso and arms. It resembles a wolf, though it clearly uses only two wide feet to get around. Its claws protrude, sharp and black. What catches you off guard is the long, scaly tail with spikes stabbing through the skin. It is silver, contrasting with the yellow eyes plastered around its entire body. Terror contorts your expression as the thing slowly picks itself up from the ground, low growls and grunts escaping its long snout. You can¡¯t take your eyes off the razor-sharp teeth filling its mouth, stained with scarlet. You know there¡¯s no way you can escape this creature. The realization that you are no longer on Earth hits you. You are stranded in an unknown world that you¡¯ve never seen nor heard of before. You have no recollection of how you appeared on this planet. You don¡¯t even know if you¡¯re truly alive or not. Could this be hell? Is my soul destined for eternal punishment? Your sobs combine with the ragged breaths of the predator as it slowly stalks toward you. Your head bows forward as you shut your eyes tightly, accepting your fate as the hopelessness of your thoughts consume you. There¡¯s no point. I¡¯m lost and alone. I know nothing about this world. There¡¯s nothing I can do. I can¡¯t escape this. BANG! Your breath hitched as you heard an echo of the shot burst through the air. Your eyes shoot open to see the creature fall with a loud thud. You watch as the ruddy substance puddles around the monster¡¯s head. Despite the original source of your fear now truant, your heart didn¡¯t stop pounding against your chest as you heard the footsteps of something else closing in behind you. More tears streamed down your face as you felt the hard object against the back of your head. Your fingers fidget against the skin of your legs as the grip of your arms tightened around yourself. ¡°Name.¡± The male¡¯s tone is authoritative and commanding as it slices through the silence. You exhale. ¡°Y/n L/n,¡± your voice is shaky and quiet. ¡°When and how did you escape?¡± He emphasizes his question by applying pressure to your head. At first, you are confused by the question, unaware of the meaning behind it. ¡°I¡ªI didn¡¯t escape anywhere, I¡ª¡± You are cut off by another voice. ¡°Hey, Brontes! You catch another runner?¡± You hear a slightly higher-pitched voice break through the tension. His footsteps can be heard, a steady pace as they become louder. ¡°A stray human, huh?¡± Black boots fall into your vision as the second male stands in front of you. Your eyes look up, meeting wide silver orbs. Why did he say ¡®human¡¯ as if the term is separate from himself? Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The man has two loose blonde-and-green-streaked strands flowing over his face while the rest of his hair is pulled into a slightly tousled ponytail. One hand is shoved into the pocket of the dark green camouflage jacket he wears over the black, form-fitting shirt. His other hand holds the shotgun that¡¯s slung over his shoulder. His solid black pants are baggy, the hem stuffed into his boots. His soft facial features contrast with the eerie gaze plastered on his face as he studies you. His earrings jingle as he lowers himself into a crouch, the tattoo of a bloody carnation on his neck more prominent in your view. ¡°You smell different,¡± he says quizzically, almost to himself, as he tilts his head. ¡°What¡¯s your status?¡± Your brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°Status? I¡ªI don¡¯t know anything about that. L¡ªlook, I don¡¯t know where the hell I¡¯m at. This isn¡¯t my world,¡± you hesitate for a response, though both men stay quiet as the male in front of you studies your form. ¡°I just wanna go home, back to Earth.¡± The male¡¯s eyes perk at your statement. ¡°Earth, huh? No wonder you smell¡­ off.¡± Off? I mean, I did wake up covered in mud and grime. Not to mention the fact that I just ran from a fucking alien-wolf thing. Your eyes widen as you hear the gun cock behind you. ¡°Get up,¡± the man behind you demands. Your eyes drift away from the man in front of you as he raises himself from the ground. You steadily pick yourself up, the breeze you hadn¡¯t noticed before kissing against your skin. You feel the barrel of the gun shift to your back, pressing against your spine as Brontes tells you to move. The second male walks behind you as he and the other man converse. ¡°M¡¯ guessing we¡¯re taking her to Mur, right?¡± the second male questions. Brontes grunts. ¡°Yeah. He¡¯ll figure out what to do with it.¡± You give a pointed look at nothing as you hear him refer to you as an ¡®it.¡¯ ¡°Asshole,¡± you whisper, the statement slipping through your lips before you can stop it. Suddenly, the hard pressure from your back disappears, only for a rough grip to snatch the back of your neck, yanking you backward as you¡¯re forced to face the male who shot the beast. You can feel his bare fingers protrude from the leather glove as the platforms squeeze your skin. His expression is one of mild anger but heavy annoyance as his brows furrow. Loose black-and-brown-streaked strands frame his face as the rest of his neck-length waves are pulled back into a small ponytail. From your viewpoint, you can see that he wears the same jacket as the other male. Instead of earrings, there¡¯s a silver chain necklace secured around his neck. There¡¯s a sharpness in his golden irises while he glowers at you. ¡°What¡¯d you call me?¡± His tone is eerily calm, but you can still hear the lingering dark undertone. I called you an asshole, you fucker. You only stare back at him silently, your expression slight with apprehension. You don¡¯t see how the other male watches the display with a tinge of amusement. He heard your statement as well, but it only makes him curious about what kind of society you came from. The male holding you grits out a chuckle. ¡°T¡¯s what I thought,¡± he says before shoving you forward and releasing you, reapplying the barrel of his gun to your back. ¡°Move.¡± You huff in offense, fingers curling into fists as you comply, walking in the direction they lead you. ¡°Got any cuffs on you, Geo?¡± Brontes questions, tone settled. ¡°Nah. We¡¯ll just get ¡®em from the twins,¡± he responds, his eyes studying your figure from behind. Their conversation becomes a low hum in the background as your mind drifts off to your situation. You are confused, scared, and irritated. You are also stranded in a world that¡¯s clearly different from yours. You have never been a fan of the unknown when it comes to your future¡ªnot on Earth and definitely not here. Especially not with the concept of life and death. This planet brings on a whole other kind of dilemma. Your unfamiliarity will be your downfall. You wonder how the other participants of this land will be. They¡¯re not off to a great start. The walk to the destination wasn¡¯t extensive. The three of you arrived outside of the fence, just on the outskirts of the abandoned city. Your gaze shifts to the black military vehicle that¡¯s parked on the pavement. There¡¯s a man with blonde curls, the red tips reaching his shoulders, leaning against the car. He wears the same attire as Geo and Brontes, but the color of his pants and the pattern on his jacket are switched. He has two silver earrings piercing his ear. You feel the gun push you along as you walk forward, closer to the red-eyed man. ¡°Well, well, what do we have here?¡± he beamed, amusement and mischief embedding his tone. His hands reach his hips as his head turns to the side slightly. ¡°Yo, Alex! Come check this shit out,¡± he called out. A man with similar features stepped out of the vehicle, his face bare of any emotion as his red eyes shifted to you. The only difference is that he has blue at the tips of his blonde strands. ¡°What¡¯s with her smell?¡± Alex questioned, his gaze shifting from you to the men who caught you. Do I really stink that bad? ¡°She¡¯s not from here. Somethin¡¯ about Earth, right?¡± Geo¡¯s finger reached his chin as he drifted off into thought about his statement. Alex hummed. ¡°Earth, huh?¡± Ajax asked as he walked up to you. You leaned back as he leaned closer to you, his grin eerily wide as he tilted his head, showing off his razor sharp teeth. ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡± You hesitated for a moment, unaware that he had asked you a question in the first place. ¡°Nothing like this.¡± He hummed. ¡°Fair enough! Well, welcome to Vireos,¡± he said, his tone lighthearted and playful as he took a few steps back. ¡°No wonder there¡¯s no alpha scent,¡± Alex mentioned as he turned to Brontes and Geo. ¡°I just wanna know what that scent is,¡± Geo mused while crossing his arms, his gaze shifting to you. ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit what it is. Grab me some cuffs and send its ass to Murali,¡± Brontes muttered as he balanced the gun between his leg and the ground. Alex grabbed the dangling metal from the backseat and tossed them in Brontes¡¯s direction. Once he caught them, he took a step in front of you and snatched your arms. You flinched as he roughly secured the restraints around your wrists, strapping your arms in front of you. ¡°Get in the car,¡± he commanded. You faced away from him, rolling your eyes as you walked toward the vehicle, ignoring the snickers from Ajax and Geo, who caught the expression. ¡°She¡¯s kinda funny, huh?¡± Ajax said as all four of them watched you climb into the car. Geo hummed as Brontes scoffed. ¡°Let¡¯s go, G¡¯.¡± The ride to wherever they were taking you was eerily quiet, except for the casual conversation between the twins and the wind rushing through the open windows. You noticed the subtle shift in the night sky as the car drove away from the ruins. It felt like you had crossed into another realm, where the firmament turned a deep blue, with pastel-colored stars dotting the sky. The grass along the roadside was lush and green, a sharp contrast to the landscape you¡¯d seen earlier. The moon hung high and bright, unblemished by any unsettling cracks. Your mind drifted off to the wonders of how you appeared in this mysterious world. You tried to remember¡ªrummaging through your mind as to where you were before you woke up. You vaguely recalled lying in your bedroom with your phone¡ªthat you no longer had¡ªas you dozed off. It was frustrating how unexplainable your situation was. As the car approached a sprawling building, your gaze shifted to it. The manor loomed ahead, a modernized castle, grand and imposing. Roses and flowers spilled across the grounds, while meticulously trimmed bushes lined the driveway. It was the largest mansion you¡¯d ever seen, and you wouldn¡¯t be surprised if dozens of people lived there. Once Alex parked the vehicle, the twins hopped out of the car before Ajax pulled your door open. ¡°We¡¯re hooome!¡± he beamed tauntingly as he grabbed your arm to help guide you out of the car. Once your feet hit the foundation, he pulled you along as Alex led the way. The interior was nothing short of breathtaking. The marble floors were cold underfoot, and the walls, adorned with portraits and paintings of men, seemed to watch you as you passed. Shiny artifacts and antique decorations stood on pedestals and tables throughout the expansive foyer. ¡°Yo! Dimitri!¡± Ajax called out to the figure walking toward you. Your eyes shifted to the broad man approaching the three of you. His hair is styled into a navy mullet with sky blue undertones. Black leather straps criss-crossed over his exposed chest, emphasizing the hard lines of his muscles as well as the large snake tattoo on his torso. His black military pants barely covered the v-line of his waist. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± he asked, his hands resting casually on his hips with the brass knuckles gleaming under the light. ¡°This is¡­ uh¡­¡± Ajax stuttered, his chin pinched between his thumb and index finger. ¡°Bron and G¡¯ found her in the ruins. She¡¯s a human from Earth,¡± Alex informed Dimitri, whose golden eyes examined your form. ¡°Uh huh,¡± he began. ¡°She stinks.¡± You felt heat rush through you in embarrassment and slight annoyance as you lifted an eyebrow toward the blue-haired man. ¡°Duh, I¡¯m covered in mud and grime. What the hell do you expect?¡± you muttered without realizing the thought had slipped through your lips. Dimitri exchanged an unamused gaze with a snickering Ajax and a scowling Alex. ¡°Tch, I got it from here,¡± he exhaled as his fingers curled around your bicep. Angry nodded in Dimitri¡¯s direction as Ajax waved you both off. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll see ya around¡ªif Murali doesn¡¯t eat ya first, human girl,¡± Ajax chuckled, despite the shock evident on your expression. Eat me first? I hope that¡¯s metaphorical. ¡°Watch your mouth. Mur doesn¡¯t take disrespect lightly,¡± Dimitri glanced at you before his gaze shifted ahead, gently but firmly pulling you along. Chapter 2 Your fingers fidget with the dirty, ripped material of the bottoms that partially conceal your legs. You shift your weight to one side of your body as you kneel with discomfort. You inhale deeply, exhaling through your lips slowly as the throne room blurs into the background of your vision. Your eyes are planted on the cold, marble floor that your form is connected to. Dimitri¡¯s boots appear in your peripheral vision as he stands tall next to your bowed figure. You¡¯ve waited for the arrival of the person named Murali, agog and anxious about what is to come of your meeting. Your expression of worry contorts into bewilderment as you hear the click of the grand doors opening behind you. You hadn¡¯t noticed the chill of the room until the crisp air caressed your skin. The hairs on your back stood tall as you felt the weight of a presence closing in on your lowered figure. You can feel the piercing gaze of the person, their shadow looming over you as the silhouette reflects off the shiny platform. You hear steady footsteps rounding your position before black pants and sandals appear in front of you. ¡°Get up,¡± he commands, his voice calm and authoritative. The chain of the handcuffs secured around your wrists clanks as you comply, shakily lifting yourself from the position you were in on the floor. You feel the ache in your knees as your spine straightens. When your eyes meet with dark irises, you immediately feel the power radiating off this being, regardless of his simplistic clothing. The male wears a white t-shirt, his wavy, ruby red hair falling just past his shoulders. His expression is indecipherable as he observes you. You freeze as his hand reaches out, the platforms of his fingers pressing firmly against the side of your neck. His eyes squint as his head tilts with wonder. Murali hummed at your lack of reaction. ¡°You don¡¯t feel that?¡± Is that supposed to be a rhetorical question? ¡°Um¡­ I guess?¡± you respond, unsure of what response he expected. He releases you before taking a step forward in your direction, his nose almost touching your skin as he closes in. You¡¯re staggered and cautious at his lack of personal space. Suddenly, you become overly aware of your position as your lips press into a hard line. ¡°Nothing? Not even a little? Hah¡­¡± he mused, an eyebrow lifting as he finally took a step back. What the fuck is he talking about? ¡°So you can¡¯t smell pheromones and don¡¯t have a scent gland. Tch¡­ you really aren¡¯t an alpha,¡± he said, mostly to himself as he turned away, heading for one of the two large thrones that sat before you. You only stare at his back with your hands hanging in front of you. Your eyes shift to his form on the golden throne as he leans back in his chair, leg crossed over as his elbow props against the arm, leaning his face against the palm of his hand. His free set of fingers tapped against the gold as he hummed. ¡°What am I gonna do with you, huh?¡± He questioned, his eyes never leaving you. Oh shit, I¡¯m gonna die. He¡¯s totally gonna kill me. Your fingers curl around your thumbs as you squeeze your own skin. Your eyes shift to the ground as you contemplate your potential last moment, the lump forming in your throat once more as the moisture of your eyes threatens to fall. You begin to think about the limited memories you had of Earth. Did you have a family? Did you have friends? Did you even have a job? What was your life like? You¡¯re obviously old enough to at least have lived past your teenage years. Did you meet your goals? What about your dreams? Or what if I¡¯m already dead? What if this is my own personal hell and it¡¯s all an illusion my soul created? You¡¯ve never been a fan of the concept of death or an afterlife, despite your prodding and searching for answers. Of course, out of all aspects of your life on Earth, your fears are the most memorable. Especially in this dire situation. A loud creak interrupted your inner wallowing as your heart skipped a beat. Your eyes first shift to a still Dimitri, who is staring ahead in silence with a stoic gaze, and then behind you as you search for the culprit who just walked in. ¡°Turn back around,¡± he said, his tone quiet and firm as he swiftly glanced at you. Complying, you turn back ahead with discomfort on your face. The sounds of a woman whimpering and pleading doesn¡¯t help the anxious curiosity you¡¯ve held back from expressing. You hear ominous footsteps among the silence of the room, aside from the slaps against the floor that the struggling lady is making. When your eyes shift to the side, your breath hitches as you restrict a gasp from leaving your lips. A man, who¡¯s taller than Murali, with long peach strands that are pulled back into a neat ponytail, a stray, curled lock flowing in front of his face, sauntered by you while dragging a woman with his gloved fingers entangled within the roots of her hair. His green irises flick towards you through his bright eyelashes in a bored manner before he returns his gaze to Murali. Once he makes it to the space in between you and the thrones, he tosses the girl to the marble floor before turning to face you with his arms behind his back. He wears a long dark fur cloak that¡¯s fastened around the collar of his neck, contrasting with the white, ruffled blouse underneath. His leather pants are sleek, over his black, shiny boots. He has piercings that cover his ears, silver chains running across his shoulders and exposed chest. A smirk forms onto his expression. ¡°My king welcomes your arrival, human. Hope you¡¯re ready to learn how things really work around here!¡± he beamed, his tone dripping with mischief and sarcasm as he unsheathed the sword from its holster. Your chest felt constricted as you listened to the cries of the woman who squirmed on the floor. She hugged her knees as her free hand reached out to the red-haired male, who eyed her with indifference. ¡°P¡ªplease! My dearest king, spare me! I beg of you!¡± she exclaimed as she shifted to kneel on the floor. ¡°You should be flattered! You think you¡¯re above the king¡¯s fate for you? Accept your position as an example to the newcomer!¡± The peach-haired male nearly growled as he placed the bottom of his boot against her back, pressing the young woman against the foundation. You bit your lip as your brows furrowed with concern. You had an internal battle on whether you should step in to fight for her. On one hand, you are most likely going to die anyway, so why not help her? On the other hand, what exactly could you do in this situation? It¡¯s not like your opinion or actions matter. These men are going to do whatever they please with whoever they want. ¡°I know exactly what you¡¯re thinkin¡¯,¡± the voice catches your attention before you shift your gaze to the golden-eyed male beside you. ¡°If you wanna live, don¡¯t be an idiot.¡± You almost whimpered in response as a sob threatened to escape your throat. Your eyes shifted ahead of you as you watched the display. You swallowed hard. I¡¯m such a terrible person¡ªor worse, a coward. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. You can¡¯t help but stay in place, fear and shame striking you all the same as you trembled in your stance. Your senses are tingling¡ªsomething deeply wrong is about to occur, and you¡¯re going to be a witness to it. Suddenly, Murali pushed himself from the throne before he strolled down the platform. His footsteps echoed amongst the whimpers of the sobbing woman. His eyes stayed on her form as he stopped in front of her. She shook as he crouched in front of her bowed form, the former male¡¯s foot weighing down on her back. ¡°You alphas are so weak¡­ it¡¯s unfortunate for you,¡± he said with indifference, his tone oddly calm during this scene of chaos. Your own heart pounds against your chest as he stands upright. ¡°You wanna die by being useful, or die by Silas¡¯s hand?¡± Goosebumps appeared on your skin as you felt the iciness of his detached tone. How could he say something like that in such an objective tone? Are these men really not as they appear? Are they not human? ¡°Y¡ªyour grace¡­ please! I don¡¯t want to be made an example! I want to live! Please, I¡¯ll do anything,¡± she groaned, sobbing hysterically as you could hear the wet sniffles of snot. I can¡¯t do this. I can¡¯t watch this shit. But you couldn¡¯t look away either. Despite your erratic breathing, the irregular heartbeats, and the hairs that stood straight against your body, you kept your attention ahead of you. ¡°Pathetic. You should feel blessed,¡± Silas muttered as he glared down at the woman, removing his foot from her back before placing it against her head. She tried to pick herself up against the force, but only her lower body lifted in the air as the palms of her hands were placed flat against the floor. You were stunned, speechless, as your lips fell apart. Your brows furrowed in fear and disgust as you watched him push all his weight against her skull, effortlessly. Almost like it was nothing to him. Her strangled cries were slightly muffled as the pressure on her head became unbearably heavy, trapping her forehead against the marble before the sickening, crunching sound of bone breaking echoed throughout the room¡ªa wet crack that reverberated through the air. Silence. He lifted his foot, a disgusting squelch filled the atmosphere as the thick, crimson substance stuck to the bottom of his boot. You couldn¡¯t move, trapped in your trance as you replayed the moment over and over again in your head. Time seemed to have slowed as you watched two slithering, withering, black fabrics protrude from Murali¡¯s back. Both of the materials¡¯ ends opened into a steep, peculiar hole with pink insides that resembled a throat. You exhaled a small, strained breath as they closed in on the woman¡¯s body. One focused on the upper part of her figure while the other consumed her from the waist down, essentially ripping her apart from the middle. A puddle of blood splattered against the floor as her remains were gradually sucked into the fabrics, a grotesque sound of crunching, squelching, and grumbling echoed through the room. You began to pant, hyperventilating as the revelation that you are among an alien species took its toll. Despite your itch to run out of the room, you knew that you had nowhere else to go, and escaping would be a lost cause considering the success rate. So you stayed put, though you couldn¡¯t help but drop to your knees, bile rising to your throat as you spilled your guts to the floor, some of the content splashing against your torso. You gagged, heaved, and grunted as you released the weight of disgust, fear, and disbelief. ¡°Women are disgusting, even from another planet,¡± the peach-haired man murmured as he watched you become undone with a heavy-lidded gaze. More withering fabrics protruded from Murali¡¯s back as they were dragged through the blood, his footsteps becoming louder the closer they got to you. You flinched as one of the materials wrapped itself firmly around your neck, forcing you to sit upright as your eyes shifted to Murali. You almost cowered under his cold gaze as he studied the expression on your face. Your heart skipped a beat at the smirk curling upward as he tilted his head, revealing his sharp fangs. ¡°I think my brother will find you interesting,¡± he mused. Brother? You weep as the woman, Ginko, scrubs your back, the suds of the bath hiding your lower half as your arms conceal your breasts. You had insisted on washing your own body, but the older woman was persistent in her instructions to cleanse you thoroughly. The king didn¡¯t trust you to clean yourself properly in such an emotional state. She sighed as she shifted the cloth to your shoulder. ¡°You have to grow thicker skin if you¡¯re going to survive on this planet. It¡¯s tough for the women here,¡± she explained, her tone firm but slightly comforting. You sniffled as you allowed her words to soak in. ¡°I know, I just haven¡¯t experienced anything like what I saw. My planet, it¡¯s nothing like this. Everyone is human.¡± She hummed. ¡°Humans are the majority here as well, though we are not strong enough to overthrow the omegas as the noblemen did the alphas.¡± You paused, shifting your head to the side. ¡°Can you tell me what happened? I feel so lost not knowing anything.¡± She stopped scrubbing you, checking her surroundings before she rested her arms against the edge of the tub. ¡°This planet was once ruled by noblewomen. They were strong alphas who were the same type of alien species as the omegas who rule now. Although the human women were seen as weak, they were still held in higher regard than the omega males who roamed the city,¡± she began, resuming her cleansing of your arm. ¡°The noblemen now, who consist of seventeen men, including the ones you¡¯ve met, used to be human thousands of years ago.¡± You gasped with shock evident on your expression, turning your head to face the auburn-haired woman. ¡°Thousands of years old? They look like adult men! Are you for real?¡± She nodded with a hum. ¡°Yes, I know,¡± she responded before continuing the history lesson. ¡°They were favored by the noblewomen. They were deemed the prettiest amongst all the other human males who were abused and used as cattle. So the alpha aliens would use the men¡¯s bodies.¡± The sound of water splashing caught your attention as you listened to the story. She paused to dip the cloth into the tub before resuming, scrubbing your neck. ¡°The men grew tired of being treated like common whores who were only good for lying on their backs and either being a horse to ride or a toy to play with. Their heats, a special season of vulnerability, were also taken advantage of and used against them. So they planned their revenge, which was led by King Murali and his brother Ezra.¡± You pondered the name in memory of when Murali had mentioned his brother. So there are two kings and the rest are just the noblemen who were once favored omegas. You hummed in response, urging her to continue. ¡°They faked an external attack, distracting the queens and sending the castle of aliens into a frenzy. They were so focused on the outside that they missed the ambush within the walls of their own home. The various alien women were drugged, tortured, raped, and eaten alive by the seventeen men.¡± ¡°Disgusting bitch. Look at you now. So weak under me,¡± the man with short lilac hair framing his face hissed. Blood covered his features, white eyes cold with a crazed glint in his irises as he used his hand to consume more of the alien woman¡¯s flesh. His naked body was covered in crimson, rubbing himself against what¡¯s left of the corpse as his hunger for power overrode his sense of humanity. ¡°Jesus Christ,¡± you whispered as you read the passage. You gasped as you shot up from the futon. Your hand was placed on your chest as you breathed heavily, glancing around the dark, quiet basement of the sleeping maids. ¡°Fuck,¡± you quietly exhaled as you lied back down, staring at the ceiling as you remembered the conversation with Ginko before. ¡°Once they consumed the women, the men gained the same powers as the aliens before. The fabrics are tunnels to their digestive tract. Despite their mouths and regular throats, they can eat through the fabrics. It makes it easier to consume whole bodies or attack enemies. It¡¯s almost humorous considering they don¡¯t even need to eat. The noblemen gained immortality so they don¡¯t feel hunger. They simply feed to satiate their craving for power and dominance.¡± The palm of your hand reached your forehead as you felt the pulse of your brain. It throbbed in heaviness as you recalled the events that you lived through within the night. How the hell did I get here? You tried to push yourself to remember, but no matter how hard you searched through the folders of your mind, you couldn¡¯t understand why you woke up in the ruins. ¡°Now, the alpha women are seen as the weakest. We are nothing but servants, maids, cattle, and occasional playthings if they¡¯re bored enough. The noblemen favor the omega males in the district closest to the castle. I¡¯m surprised they haven¡¯t sent you to the women¡¯s common village, but maybe it¡¯s because you have an unknown status so they¡¯re keeping you close, within the walls of the mansion like the rest of us maids. The only time the human men and women are together is the yearly tradition of the males¡¯ heats, impregnating the women to bear more humans. They separate the males and the females as soon as they¡¯re born, and the parents indoctrinate them into this world¡¯s system. Now, everyone thinks of them as gods.¡± You were speechless, staring at the woman as you held the towel around your torso while she cleaned the tub. ¡°That¡¯s so fucked. What the hell is wrong with everyone here?¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s screwed up. But the alpha aliens were no better,¡± she grumbled. ¡°The rest of us are just trying to survive at this point.¡± ¡°You¡¯re human, right?¡± you questioned, waiting before she nodded in response, brown eyes shifting to you. ¡°So how do you know so much when everyone else is completely blind to the truth?¡± She chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve snuck into the library a few times since I was a little girl. Came across some old passages and called it a day,¡± she began. ¡°If you ever decide to do the same, just don¡¯t get caught. They¡¯d rather you be naive and passive.¡± You decided that you had no choice but to play along for now, but once you¡¯re given the chance¡­ You will find your answers. Chapter 3 ¡°Human,¡± you heard an unfamiliar voice say as you were pulled out of your slumber. Your brows furrowed as your blurred vision gradually cleared. You could feel the exhaustion that resulted from a restless night, causing heaviness in your eyes. Brown irises came into view as a male with short brown curls hovered above you. You kept the groan of annoyance that was threatening to escape your throat silent as you steadily sat up, scooting backward on the bedding. You eyed the attire the man had acquired¡ªa similar style to the hunters who had caught you. However, there was no camouflage design, just a black jacket, black pants, and boots. He had a hoop earring pierced into his earlobe, and you could see that the back of his head was shaven to a buzz. ¡°Name¡¯s Caine. I¡¯m an enforcer of law, and you¡¯re comin¡¯ with me,¡± he said before tossing you a uniform to change into. His tone was firm, and his expression was one of indifference. You paused as he walked out of the empty basement, studying the fabric he gave you. Once you had changed out of the nightgown and into the white shirt and pants, you followed Caine through the mansion. You observed the maids scrubbing the floors and dusting the window sills. You were surprised to see none of the noblemen who lived here. Back on Earth, you would¡¯ve never imagined a life like this for yourself. Now, you had no knowledge of what was next for you. Would you be treated as an alpha because of your sex and become a maid, servant, or worse? Would you be treated as an anomaly and forced into a position that had not yet been created on this planet? What exactly was in store for you? As a matter of fact, where was he taking you now? The door to the passenger seat slammed shut, dragging you out of your thoughts as Caine rounded the front of the car and climbed into the driver¡¯s seat. Your fingers pinched the fabric of your pants as you peered out the window of the vehicle while the engine roared. Once the car departed from the land that the mansion was built on, the city you entered rolled past in a blur of soft lights and clean streets. Sleek glass towers and charming ancient buildings structured the lush, green landscape. Well-dressed males strolled in small groups, some holding the hands of their children. Cozy boutiques and smaller establishments lined the roads. There was a large park that you passed, with trimmed trees and shrubs, along with an elegant fountain that centered the city landscape. From a distance, you could see well-built residential areas. The beauty was feminine and colorful¡ªa deep contrast to the distant village ahead as you rounded the outskirts of this particular city. You figured that at some point, you would live amongst the women of the dull-colored society that caught your eye for a moment as the car made a left turn away from the area. In between the regions, a large, towering white building came into view as Caine drove toward the structure. Inside, the floors were white tiles, and the walls a soft cream color, reminiscent of an Earthly hospital¡ªthough the stark absence of chairs made it feel sterile, cold. You followed Caine down a hall lined with light brown wooden doors. He stood aside and knocked on one with the back of his hand. The door swung open to reveal a tall, lanky man. His lab coat, stopping just below his knees, complimented his sleek black pants and plain black shirt beneath. A dangling earring caught the light, and his mid-length hair was slicked to one side in a loose ponytail, streaked with blonde and orange. His purple irises studied you carefully as he adjusted his glasses. ¡°This the mystery guest?¡± he questioned, an undertone of mischief present in his voice despite his gaze remaining stoic. ¡°Yeah,¡± Caine responded, his hand firmly set on your shoulder before slightly pushing you forward to the male. ¡°Tell Kiro to be careful. Mur doesn¡¯t want any permanent scarring on her skin,¡± he informed the purple-eyed male. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± he responded, irises shifting over your form to study you. The brown-haired man¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I¡¯m serious, Fox,¡± Caine warned him before leaving you with the male he had just named. ¡°Well, this should be entertaining, yeah?¡± Fox said, mostly to himself, as he grabbed your bicep, pulling you into the room before shutting the door. The room around you resembled a doctor¡¯s office, though the unsettling sight of human skulls displayed in glass cases along the shelves made the atmosphere feel unnervingly morbid. In the center, a padded rubber bed awaited, a thin sheet of paper covering its surface. Nearby, metal instruments glinted in the harsh light of the overhead lamp, sending a cold chill through your spine. ¡°Strip,¡± Fox commanded, his tone casual as he crossed his arms. Your expression contorted to shock as you looked at him. Your brows furrowed in disapproval as you rubbed the palms of your hands against the fabric covering your hips. ¡°Is that really necessary?¡± You couldn¡¯t hold back this time. There was no way you would strip completely naked in front of this random man, alien or not. You felt your heart skip a beat when a smirk curled onto his face. ¡°Strip willingly, or I¡¯ll do it myself,¡± he began, licking his lips. ¡°Your choice.¡± You paused in contemplation, catching the bottom of your lip with your teeth as you crossed your arms. When he took a step forward, you immediately held your hand out in surrender, causing him to pause. ¡°J¡ªjust wait a damn minute, alright? I¡¯ll do it, just give me a second, please?¡± You cleared the lump of discomfort in your throat as you tried to reason with him. He huffed, rolling his eyes as he shrugged. ¡°Hurry up.¡± You hesitated. ¡°Can you turn around, at least?¡± You already felt the heat of embarrassment rushing throughout your body. You felt exposed under his gaze as you desperately tried to ease the tension. ¡°So high maintenance for a human woman,¡± he chuckled, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he leaned on one foot. ¡°M¡¯ not budgin¡¯, so get it over with. Gonna see you anyway, so you might as well get used to it, yeah?¡± You exhaled sharply. ¡°Okay,¡± you said with defeat. You could scream in humiliation as you stripped your clothes. The crisp air kissed your skin as goosebumps formed down your arms with every piece of clothing you removed. You currently have an arm covering one of your breasts while the hand attached covers your other. Your stray hand conceals your private area. You are surprised that you haven¡¯t drawn any blood from your lip as you stood in the eyesight of Fox. He seemed to be enjoying your discomfort, considering the smirk that is planted on his face. He gestured for the bed, telling you to, ¡°Hop on.¡± You hesitate before walking to the surface, sitting down first before slightly scooting onto the rest of the platform, careful not to tear the sheet that¡¯s spread over the rubber. Tears pricked your eyes as he forcefully removed your hands, securing the leather straps over your arms, torso, and ankles, your knees propped and raised. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. He grabbed tools from a cabinet, sanitizing the equipment before setting it on the tray. He slides the metal closer to your lower half as he sets everything in the correct place for the head man to come and work. You notice the needle, vial, and worst of all, a speculum. What the hell are they gonna do with that? Give me a pap smear?! You¡¯ve never been a fan of that uncomfortable experience. As soon as you hit twenty-one, you were absolutely dreading your first examination. You cry every single time that you attend an appointment. Your vagina already has a hard time opening during normal intercourse or even when you would try to pleasure yourself. You feel two cold fingers pressed against the familiar spot on your neck. This time, Fox shifted to his thumb as he massaged the area. ¡°Feel anything?¡± he questioned skeptically, eyes shifting to your expression to search for a reaction of some sort. ¡°Nothing but pressure,¡± you say quietly, ready for this session to be over. ¡°Do alphas and omegas exist on your planet?¡± he asked while his fingers moved to the opposite side of your neck to test the skin again. ¡°No. We had nothing like that,¡± you respond, exhaling a breath you had been holding. Fox hummed in response before releasing you, the cold air replacing where his thumbs had warmed you up. The click of the door you had entered caught your attention before you turned your head in the direction of where the newcomer had walked in. He was shorter than the first man, but his presence was far more imposing. He wore the same uniform as Fox, but his black hair was neatly combed back, and his glasses added an air of sharpness. Even before he spoke, you could feel the weight of his eyes on you. ¡°So this is the human,¡± Kiro¡¯s voice was smooth, his tone calm but laced with curiosity. He stepped closer, his eyes flicking briefly over the man who stood on the other side of the platform before settling on you. ¡°Interesting,¡± he murmured to himself. Your heart raced, the pressure of his gaze making you feel more vulnerable than ever. Fox kept his eyes on Kiro, though his expression was unreadable. ¡°I want every detail noted,¡± Kiro ordered, the tension in the room thickening as he gestured for Fox to step aside. ¡°We need to understand what she is.¡± Moments later, your tears finally fall as you feel the intrusion of the cold metal inside of you, stretching your vagina¡¯s entrance as Kiro uses a mini flashlight to inspect your inner walls. Your nails dig into the rubber of the bed as you sob from not only the discomfort of the speculum but the embarrassment of having it done by alien specimens who weren¡¯t your usual certified gynecologist. Your toes curl as you feel the swab tickle the cervix inside of you. Kiro and Fox were far too detached to apply the accommodations she would do for you. After a moment, you release a cry of relief as Kiro closes the speculum and gradually pulls it out of you. He hands Fox the swab and tells him to run a test on it, to which the taller man complies and walks away. Your knees meet as you make an attempt to close yourself after feeling the air hitting your hole. You bite the bottom of your lip to restrain from releasing any more sobs. Kiro grabs the needle from the table, prepping your arm to stick your vein while connecting the vial. You flinch once you feel the sharpness of the pinch as he draws your blood. The process is slow but eventually comes to an end as he uses a cotton swab to press against the opening and wraps a bandage over the area before pulling the needle out. He hands Fox the vial and grabs a plastic meter to set on the sides of your neck. Each time, the device only beeps once before going blank as the male tries to get a read, only to receive nothing in return. ¡°Nothing. Not an alpha or an omega,¡± he muttered before setting it down and sitting in the rolly chair next to your quivering form. ¡°No secondary gender markers,¡± Kiro wrote something down, his voice unwavering. ¡°No alpha aggression. No omega hormonal shifts. No scent glands. No pheromones, either.¡± Fox hummed as he pulled the printed document out of the machine that tested the swab of your DNA and your blood sample. ¡°Guess that means there¡¯s only one option left,¡± he said as he handed Kiro the reading. Kiro hummed in agreement. ¡°A beta, huh?¡± Murali mused as he leaned against his fist, elbow propped against the throne¡¯s arm. A man with lavender eyes and short black hair that¡¯s dyed green at the tips had just finished reading aloud the document Kiro had prescribed. He wore a deep gray, high-collared coat that flared past his knees. Underneath, a form-fitting black shirt concealed his torso. His pants were black and sleek, hovering over his black boots. His earring was a silver cross. Dimitri stood next to your kneeling form in the same placement as the night before. His expression was stoic and stern as he focused on Murali¡¯s form. Brontes leaned against the wall behind you on one side of the doorway connected to the grand entrance. Geo stood in the same position on the opposite side of the entry. Caine stood a few feet away from your bowing form on the opposite side of Dimitri. The twins stood next to each other in an open space, a distance away from the thrones that sat in the front area of the room. Silas stood next to Murali¡¯s throne as he looked ahead with a heavy-lidded gaze. ¡°How fucking boring,¡± he released a dry chuckle as the conversation continued. Geo clicked his tongue in disapproval. ¡°What else did you expect?¡± His eyes flicked to Silas with a bored expression. ¡°She¡¯s not from Vireos.¡± Brontes scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. ¡°Ain¡¯t no point in sittin¡¯ around and talkin¡¯ about the obvious,¡± he began, eyes shifting to Murali. ¡°The real question is, what are we gonna do with it?¡± You disparage the fact that they conversed about your fate as if you weren¡¯t present. It was expected but still lacked fairness. Despite feeling antsy from the examination you had undergone earlier, you inhaled slowly to retain the irritation that peeked over this entire situation. ¡°We can¡¯t make a decision until Ezra and the rest of them get back,¡± Caine said in response. Brontes¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Why do we need their approval when we can just get it over with now?¡± Murali hummed. ¡°What do you think, Zakai? Since you¡¯re the diplomat.¡± The lavender-eyed male turned his attention toward the king, his expression unreadable as he blinked. ¡°We wait until the others get back. Until then, we can make her useful,¡± he suggested while holding the file at his side. The peach-haired man snorted in response. ¡°Why drag this out? Let¡¯s decide right now. The Labyrinth. Toss her in¡ªif she makes it out alive, she can stay as a maid.¡± ¡°Heh, why not? Let¡¯s see if she¡¯s got what it takes,¡± Ajax advocated with a wide smile, his tone light but with an underlying tinge of unsettlement that added to your discomfort. Caine walked forward, his lips curving into a frown. ¡°The Labyrinth? No human has ever survived that. She wouldn¡¯t even stand a chance,¡± the brown-haired man responded, his tone evincing disbelief. ¡°Caine¡¯s right,¡± Geo concurred with a dismissive tone. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t last a second. What¡¯s the point of even trying?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you might as well eat her now and get it over with,¡± Dimitri added while crossing his arms, his voice monotone. Alex¡¯s eyes flicked briskly over your form before shifting toward Murali. ¡°There¡¯s no point in a trial. It¡¯d just be a waste of time.¡± You bit your bottom lip, concern evident in your expression as your eyes looked upward. You wondered what this meant for you. What exactly was the Labyrinth, and why would your success rate be so low? Would it be as bad as the abandoned city¡ªor worse? You felt a spike in your heart rate as you remembered the experience of running from that wolf-like creature. Were there more monsters like that on the planet, or were they a different species? ¡°Let¡¯s just do it. Worst case?¡± Brontes¡¯s tone was laced with impatience and aloofness as he continued, eyes shifting to you. ¡°The beta dies, and we don¡¯t have to deal with it anymore.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Silas confirmed with a smirk. ¡°She¡¯s gotta prove she¡¯s even worth existing on our planet.¡± Murali hummed. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it then. Who¡¯s all in favor of the Labyrinth?¡± he asked, eyes flicking over the noblemen. ¡°I¡¯m in! It¡¯ll be fun to see what she can do,¡± Ajax beamed, crossing his arms. ¡°Us too,¡± Brontes said, nodding over to Geo, leaving him no room to deny. ¡°Whatever,¡± the silver-eyed male shrugged, his expression contorting to boredom. ¡°Of course, my King,¡± Silas mused, excitement apparent on his visage. The rest of the noblemen remained silent in protest as they deemed the declaration pointless, considering your status. You only felt confused, with apprehension for the future. What would you have to survive? Why were you having to prove your worth just to become a maid? Why wouldn¡¯t they just kill you if the Labyrinth was unavoidably hard to escape death? Suddenly, Murali¡¯s dark orbs settled on yours, and for a moment, the room felt as though it was spinning. Your chest constricted as you felt the realization slicing through your mind. This¡­ This declaration was purely for their merriment. Playing with your life as if you were nothing but a pawn was conclusively a way to divert boredom into pleasure. When you rule an entire planet¡­what else is there to do? A ruler with too much leisure is dangerous, as they become interested in more perverse forms of amusement, turning the lives of others into mere pieces on a board for their own entertainment. The corners of Murali¡¯s lips curved upwards as he looked down at you. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you can do, beta.¡± ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ??, ?????????? ????????????!