“Gather around! The Alpha has new orders!”
The slaves and workers on the field stopped their work and gathered as they were told. The air was thick with the smell of dirt and sweat.
A tall guard stepped forward and unrolled a scroll, reading in a flat, bored voice. “By Alpha Zayn’s orders, if anyone finds anything unusual while digging—carved stones, metal pieces, bones with markings—must report it right away.”
He paused, then added, “There’ll be a reward. Extra food for anyone who finds anything useful.”
The crowd shifted quietly. Some people looked interested. Others looked suspicious, like it was too good to be true.
Lily stood near the back, her shoulder still wrapped tightly in a bandage, her body sore from the day before. She winced as her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten since the potatoes Victoria forced on her that had almost killed her.
