Chapter 4: Consequences

Evelyn’s POV

I didn't expect to see the young man from the forest again, much less discover he was a professor. He sat opposite me at the large oak table, his presence commanding and cold. The receptionist had followed him, she stood just inside the door.

"This is Professor Sebastian," she said with a hint of admiration in her voice. "He's the youngest professor here and is the head of the admission team."

She paused, her gaze turning to me, her eyes seemed to say, "You better not mess this up." She covered it with a forced smile.

She turned back to Sebastian, who was busy organizing some files at his desk. "Will that be all, sir?" her voice sounded too eager.

Sebastian simply nodded to her, not even bothering to look up from his desk.

The receptionist fidgeted a bit, her gaze shifting between me and Sebastian before bowing slightly and exiting the interview room, leaving us alone.

The silence that followed was deafening. Sebastian seemed to be going through some files and had disregarded my presence entirely. I raised a hand and was about to speak, but I caught myself. He probably remembered me from the last time we ran into each other. Best not to give him another reason to think I'm crass.

The room I was in was one of the hotel's lounges that had been repurposed for the sake of the interviews. As I sat in the ornate room, the rich wooden paneling and antique furniture only added to my anxiety. The grand fireplace and towering curtains gave it a stately, almost intimidating atmosphere. I was drawn to the large windows that overlooked the meticulously maintained grounds outside. The silence was heavy, broken only by the ticking of an old grandfather clock in the corner.

Eventually, Sebastian closed the file in front of him and looked up at me. "Miss Evelyn, it's been a while since our paths last crossed," he said, his tone neutral.

I cleared my throat before speaking. "Yes, it has," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

He leaned back in his chair, studying me with those piercing eyes. "I understand you're here to interview for a spot at Thunderclap. Tell me, why do you want to attend this college?"

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. "Thunderclap is known for its excellence and discipline. I want to be part of a community where I can learn and grow, and where my abilities can be put to good use."

He raised an eyebrow. "Abilities, you say? What exactly are these abilities you speak of?"

I hesitated, then decided to be honest. "Well, I'm good at strategy and thinking on my feet. Plus, I'm a very fast learner. I believe these skills could be valuable here."

He nodded slowly, but his expression remained impassive. "Strategy and thinking on your feet... yet those same skills led you to set traps for those boys in the woods?"

My heart sank. I had hoped he wouldn't bring that up so soon. "Professor Sebastian, I know what I did was wrong, but—"

He held up a hand to stop me. "Before you continue, let's make one thing clear. I don't believe you deserve this interview. Your actions against those boys were inexcusable."

I felt a surge of desperation. "Please, Professor Sebastian," I pleaded, my voice trembling. "I know what I did was wrong, but I had my reasons. Those boys---"

He cut me off, skepticism etched on his face. "A smart girl like you should know better than to set traps. Intelligence isn't an excuse for cruelty. Those boys could have been gravely injured or worse."

"No, you don't understand," I insisted, my frustration was starting to build up. "I heard them talking about how they would do terrible things to me. I couldn't let that happen. I had to do something, to protect myself."

For a moment, I thought I saw a hint of recognition or perhaps admiration in his eyes, but it was gone almost immediately. He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "And you thought taking matters into your own hands was the best course of action? Why didn't you report it to someone in authority?"

He leaned back in his chair again. "You certainly had the time. If you could set up such an intricate trap, you could have run and reported to an authority figure."

"I--- " I couldn't form the words. He was right.

He sighed, his expression softening slightly. "Words mean little without actions, Miss Evelyn. And your actions spoke louder. I can't, in good conscience, recommend you for admission. I'm sorry."

His words were a crushing blow. I realized then that changing his mind was impossible.

I held my head high as I thanked him for his time. With a heavy heart, I left the interview room, my dreams of attending Thunderclap crumbling around me.

As I walked down the quiet halls of the hotel, the echoes of my footsteps seemed to mock me. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of disappointment pressing down on me. When I finally made it out of the main entrance, I barely had time to take a breath before strong hands grabbed me.

I was too shocked to struggle as Hannah and several warriors dragged me away. They tossed me into a van, which sped off toward Alpha Hayes's house.

The doors were flung open as soon as the van screeched to a halt, and Hannah and the warriors dragged me out. My feet barely touched the ground as they hauled me toward Alpha Hayes's house. The imposing mansion loomed over me, its dark windows like eyes watching my every move.

They dragged me through the grand foyer and into the living room, where Alpha Hayes sat on a luxurious sofa, waiting for me. The room was opulent, with high ceilings, elegant chandeliers, and a roaring fireplace casting flickering shadows on the walls.

Alpha Hayes looked up as we entered, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. He gestured for the warriors to release me, and I stumbled forward, barely managing to stay on my feet.

"Evelyn," he said, his voice a low rumble. "You have caused enough trouble today."

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. "Alpha Hayes, I can explain—"

He cut me off with a sharp wave of his hand. "Save your breath. Do you have any idea what you've done? You think setting traps for your classmates is acceptable behavior?"

I shook my head, tears welling up. "No, I was trying to—"

"Silence!" His voice thundered through the room. "You're an omega, Evelyn. You have no right to take matters into your own hands. You are at the bottom of this pack, and you will remember your place."

Alpha Hayes's eyes bore into mine, unrelenting. "You think you're clever, setting traps? I ought to strip you of any remaining privileges. Maybe when you're finally treated like the worthless omega you are, you'll have some sense."

Hannah smirked beside me, her satisfaction evident. "She's a danger to everyone in the pack."

I knew then that this was all Hannah's doing—that bloody wretch.

I felt a surge of anger and desperation. "But they were going to hurt me! I overheard them talking about it. I had to do something to protect myself."

Alpha Hayes scoffed, his expression cold. "Protect yourself? You should have come to me. Instead, you chose to act like a rogue, and you know how we deal with rogues."

Hannah's eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction. "I suggest she be locked in the underground. Perhaps some time alone will help her reflect on her actions."

Alpha Hayes nodded slowly. "Excellent idea, Hannah. Evelyn, you will be confined to the underground until I decide otherwise. Maybe then you'll learn the consequences of defiance. Take her away."

Hannah's eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction. "I'll see to it personally, Alpha Hayes," she said, her voice dripping with malice.

The warriors seized me again, dragging me toward the underground. Hannah followed closely behind. I knew that any hope of being believed had completely slipped away.

I was dragged down a narrow staircase that led to the underground. The air grew colder and damper with each step, and the faint light from the mansion above quickly faded into darkness. A heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit space that smelled of mildew and neglect.

The Underground was a single, large room with low ceilings and rough stone walls. The only source of light was a flickering bulb hanging from exposed wires, casting a pool of yellow light that barely reached the corners of the room. The floor was cold, uneven concrete, damp with patches of moisture that made it slippery.

In one corner of the room was a thin, dirty mattress on the floor and a bucket, I guessed to relieve myself with. The walls were covered in scratches and graffiti left by previous occupants, a grim testament to the suffering endured in this place.

Hannah shoved me toward the center of the room, the door clanging shut behind her and the warriors.

Hannah wasted no time in making me suffer.

"I hope you come to like your new accommodations." Hannah sneered as she approached me, a malicious glint in her eyes. "I think it's quite fitting for someone like you."

I tried to put up a strong front, but inside, I trembled with fear. "You're a vile creature," I spat at her.

She laughed, a cold, bitter sound. "Vile? You think I care about what you think? You're nothing but an omega, and it's time you learned your place."

Before I could react, She ordered the warriors to tear my clothes apart. They were on top of me in moments, like savages, ripping away at every piece of fabric I had on. They made sure to take their sweet time. Their hands were everywhere, and I couldn't help but feel an immense sense of helplessness.

When they were done, the warriors backed away. I could feel their lustful eyes on my naked body. Hannah walked up to me and pulled me by the hair. "Such perfect skin." She ran a finger from my leg up to my thigh. "It's a shame I'll have to ruin it."

One of the Warriors handed Hannah a whip. Her grin widened. She cracked it in the air, the sound echoing through the basement. I backed away, pressing myself against the cold stone wall, but there was nowhere to go.

She stepped closer, her face twisted with a cruelty I had never seen from anyone before. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy this." She raised the whip and brought it down hard across my back. The pain was immediate and excruciating, a burning line of fire that made me gasp.

I bit my lip to keep from crying out. I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry. "You're a monst—" My words were cut off by another lash, the force of it knocking me to my knees.

"Oh, were you saying something?" she chuckled, the sound filling the enclosed room. She handed her whip back to a warrior. "Show her how we treat lowlife omegas."

The warriors surrounded me, each one brandishing their whips. Then came the storm. To say I had never felt pain like this before would be an understatement. Each strike was worse than the last, the shock overwhelming my senses. Tears streamed down my face, and I could taste blood from where I had bitten my lip. But I refused to scream. I wouldn't give her that power over me.

Time lost all meaning in that underground cell, and after what felt like an eternity, they finally stopped. I was a bloodied mess. Everywhere hurt. I couldn't move. I just stared at the floor in a pool of my own blood and sweat.

Hannah grabbed a bucket of salt water from the corner of the room and threw it over me, the sting of the salt in my wounds making me gasp in agony.

"Remember this, Evelyn," she said, her voice cold and cruel. "Remember what happens when you step out of line. You're nothing. Less than nothing."

She turned and left with the warriors, the door slamming shut behind them, leaving me alone in the darkness. The pain was unbearable, and I could feel my strength fading. But even as I lay there, trembling and broken, I held on to a tiny spark of defiance. I would survive this.

I wasn't sure how long I lay on the cold, hard floor, the darkness pressing in around me. Pain radiated through every inch of my body, and the chill seeped into my bones. When I finally gathered enough strength to move, I took a deep, shuddering breath and forced myself to sit up.

My head throbbed, and my vision blurred with each movement. I was probably coming down with a fever. My stomach growled painfully, reminding me of how long it had been since I last ate. I was weak and desperate, but I knew I had to find some way to survive.

To my surprise, the basement door was unlocked. Hannah must have been so confident in my broken state that she didn't bother to lock it. I silently thanked whatever small mercy that was and slowly pushed the door open, wincing at the creak of the hinges.

The house was eerily quiet, and I knew I had to move carefully to avoid detection. Every step was agony, but I gritted my teeth and pressed on, slipping through the shadows of the narrow hallway. The flickering lights cast eerie shapes on the walls, and I held my breath, listening for any sound that might signal approaching warriors or house staff.

I finally reached the kitchen, a modest room compared to the grandeur of the rest of the mansion. The shelves were stocked with supplies, and my eyes locked onto a loaf of dried bread on the counter. I grabbed it with trembling hands, breaking off pieces and stuffing them into my mouth, barely chewing before swallowing. The bread was stale and hard, but it was food, and I couldn't afford to be picky.

I turned on the sink, letting the cold water flow. I cupped my hands and drank greedily, the water soothing my parched throat.

As I ate, I heard footsteps approaching. Panic gripped me. There was nowhere to hide. Had Hannah realized I had left the underground? I held my breath, bracing for the worst.

But when I looked up, to my surprise, it wasn't Hannah. It was Sebastian.