The color drained from my face, my stomach sinking into a pit of despair.
Gracing his bed? That meant he would expect me to sleep with him.
But I was a virgin. I had vowed to give myself only to my mate.
Why would he be so cruel as to take that from me?
My heart pounded violently in my chest as I frantically searched for ways to avoid that fate.
“Gracing his bed? Doesn’t he have people for that?” My voice was heavy with barely concealed distress. I had tried to sound composed, but sadness bled through every word. “I thought I would be assigned tasks…”
Tears welled in my eyes, cutting off the rest of my sentence as I bit my trembling lips.
“Why would he ask them when he has his own property to use?”
Why hadn’t I considered this before agreeing to be his?
No wonder my parents wouldn’t stop crying.
“A friendly piece of advice-if you want to live, take Ric’s words to heart and serve the King well,” she said, patting my slumped shoulders.
“Who’s Ric?”
“The man who brought you here.”
“And what if I don’t please the King?”
“You’ll die faster than you can say ‘oops’,” she replied coldly.
“Will I be able to go home if I serve him well?”
She stifled a chuckle before letting her soft gaze rest on me.
“Whoever told you that lied. The King doesn’t let go of his property. Once you’re in, you’re in… Death is the only way out.”
Maybe not. There had to be another way.
“Have you ever thought of escaping?” I asked in a hushed voice, afraid the guards might overhear me.
A burst of hearty laughter escaped Alex’s throat, and I stared at her in confusion. What was so funny?
“That doesn’t work here, trust me. I’ve been here my whole life. I tried it too, and yet, here I am,” she said dismissively.
“But-“
“There is a slim chance of escaping. If you ever try, just don’t get caught.”
“And if I do?”
“You’ll still get killed, but this time by rogue hunters. So escaping isn’t really an option.”
Silence fell between us as I weighed my limited choices. This was harder than I thought. I needed help.
As we strode deeper into the heart of the castle, more guards appeared, their presence making the barren hallway feel suffocating. The murmur of voices filled the air, adding to my unease.
“We’re here. Compose yourself,” Alex warned.
My heart flipped as we neared the massive double doors separating his chambers from the rest.
Noticing my faltering composure, Alex pulled me into a brief but warm hug.
“Cheer up. It’s not that bad. At least you get to see the Alpha. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen him-“
Her words were abruptly cut off by the sharp, breathless cries of a woman.
My eyes widened in surprise as Alex’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
She wasn’t screaming in pain. She was moaning.
She was in the throes of pleasure.
Was she also his property?
I swallowed hard, stifling the urge to react when Alex leaned in, her lips brushing against my ear.
“One more thing if you want to survive here… Avoid that moaning woman. She’s the King’s mistress, and she’s nothing but trouble.”
Her face slowly pulled away from mine, and I turned to mouth a silent thank you to her.
If he already had a mistress, then maybe he wouldn’t need anything from me.
Before I could process that small relief, the heavy double doors swung open, and a guard stepped out. His heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway, each one tightening the knot in my stomach. His piercing gaze locked onto me, sending a shiver down my spine.
“You are dismissed, Alex,” he said curtly before shifting his icy stare back to me.
“Come with me, Aurora. The King wants you.”
I followed behind the massive guard, my eyes burning with unshed tears. I turned to look for Alex, but she was gone.
For the first time since I arrived, I felt truly alone.
My only companion had left me to my fate.
I couldn’t blame her-this was beyond her control.
A cold breeze wrapped around me, making me shiver. I hugged myself tightly as my heart pounded, fear creeping in and swallowing me whole.
The guard reached for the doorknob, but before he could turn it, the door swung open.
No, it was opened.
By her.
The moaning woman.
Her icy stare was enough to freeze me in place. She halted, her eyes raking over me, sharp and assessing. My throat dried up, and I found myself unable to speak.
Maybe the cat had caught my tongue.
Her aura radiated power, demanding respect. There was no doubt she was important.
I lowered my gaze, forcing myself to look away.
“Who is she?” Her voice was cold, edged with something that sent a shiver down my spine.
Without looking at her, I knew she expected an answer. But fear held my tongue, trapping the words in my throat.
“I’m sorry, Mistress. She was brought according to the Alpha King’s instructions,” the guard answered, his voice steady.
A shaky breath escaped me. I hadn’t even realized I was holding it.
I silently thanked him for stepping in.
Then, something strange hit me-a scent, thick and bitter.
Jealousy.
It clung to her, unmistakable.
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