Chapter 2

I tilted my head, observing my father. His back was turned, shielding his face, yet his tense posture revealed so much.

For the first time, I witnessed my strong stepfather trembling in fear. The man who always exuded power and intimidation was now scared before the beast he wants me to live with.

"I... I've arrived, Alpha Sebastian, but not with the money," he stammered.

"What do you mean by that? you didn't come with money? Does that imply you're ready to face the consequences, perhaps having your throat torn out?" His words sent a chilling shiver down my spine, inducing intense fear.

My wolf recoiled at the ominous threat. Would he truly go as far as ripping my father's throat out? The unsettling thought churned my stomach, and I raised a trembling hand to my still-bowed face, wiping off the beads of sweat that had formed on my forehead.

My father dropped to the floor on his knees. "Please, Alpha Sebastian, I don't want to die. I didn't come empty-handed."

He looked in my direction, touching my leg with his trembling hands. "I...I...came with my daughter; please accept her as payment for what I owe. She's a virgin, never been touched by any man. Take her in as your slave," he stammered.

The tension in the room was so thick it could be cut with a knife. The Alpha king walked from behind me to the front. His footsteps screeched in my ears as he stood before me. My face was down, staring at his shoes.

"Look up!" he commanded. I slowly lifted my face until my eyes rested on his. In that moment, part of the fear I felt melted away. Standing before me was the most good-looking man I have ever seen.

His hair was long and silver in color. He was draped in a black lovely night robe, but it did nothing to mask his muscular, finely-toned body. I could see the muscles perfectly bulging from his robe. He looked 6'3" tall. He was an epitome of a Greek god. My big brown eyes were locked onto his sharp green ones.

I swallowed hard. I had never been with a man before. It was funny how I fantasized at that scary moment just how it would feel to be with a man that good looking.

"Calm down, Athena. He might be devilishly handsome, but remember, he's still the cruel Alpha king everyone talks about," my sense of reasoning kicked in, and it was right.

I couldn't afford to let my guard down. He stepped forward, standing just an inch away from me. Reaching out to my face, he nudged my chin upward, as if examining me. His touch sent waves of pleasure throughout my entire being.

My heart pounded against my ribcage so loudly that I could feel the blood pulsating in my ears.

Then, the realization hit me. He was my mate! The cruel Alpha King was my mate! I felt a mix of pleasure and terror at this revelation. What in the world? How was that even possible?

"Yes! Yes! Today must be my luckiest day," my wolf exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. Finally, it had discovered its mate.

On my birthday, I didn't sense my mate, and it was disheartening. I had hoped to experience the joy of smelling my mate on that special day. Now, several months later, it was happening.

He abruptly withdrew his hand from my face, as if sparks of electricity had coursed through his body, a frown replacing the earlier cold expression.

Did he feel what I felt? Could it be that he also sensed I was his mate?

He turned away from us.

"You can leave, Robert. I will accept her as payment for your debt," his voice remained as cold as ever. My father was overjoyed, leaping up to thank the Alpha king.

"Leave!" he snapped, his head slightly tilting in my father's direction, a low growl escaping his lips. He appeared visibly angry, leaving me to wonder why.

Was it because of me? It was hard to tell if he had discovered I was his mate. My father glanced at me one last time before hurrying away.

I was now alone with the ruthless king, he abruptly turned towards me, seizing my hand and pulling me close. I collided with his robust frame, it felt like hitting a solid wall.

His burning desire was palpable. His angry gaze fixated on my lips before he claimed them. Struggling against his unyielding body, resistance proved futile.

Eventually, I surrendered. My body craved it, responding to the pleasure he stirred within me. This was an unfamiliar sensation, something I had never experienced before. Heck! I had never been this way with a man.

He withdrew, growling in anger, fury glaring in his eyes.

"No!" he screamed, my eyes widening in shock as I swallowed hard

"Is there a problem, King Robert?" I managed to stutter, wondering if I had somehow erred.

He promptly seized my hair, forcefully yanking my head back. The pain was excruciating.

"Please, I am in pain." My pleas fell on deaf ears as his grip on my hair intensified.

"I know you felt it too, the connection between us. I want to make one thing clear," he lowered his head and whispered into my ear, "Don't get any funny ideas. I can never mark you as my mate! You are a mere slave, and that is all you will be to me—a slave I can bed whenever I want."

His finger trailed down my face and neck, pausing briefly at my bosom, which responded involuntarily. "Just like I will tonight," he snarled before releasing my hair. I immediately crumpled to the hard ground.

Stunned, I tried to process everything he just said. The pain in my head throbbed as much as the one in my heart. I could feel the wetness on my scalp. Raising my trembling hands, I touched it.

Blood!

It was smeared in blood! I closed my eyes. "Moon goddess, this can't be my fate, can it?" A tear trickled down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. The last thing I wanted was for him to see me cry.

He stared at me coldly. "Now, you will accept your rejection."

"I, Alpha Sebastian, king of the Crimson pack, reject you as my mate!"

I stared at him blankly, my lips parted slowly, and out of it came the words i had never thought i would say soon after i found my mate.

"I, Omega Athena, accept your rejection," that was all I could mutter.

"Good, now that is settled." He said feeling satisfied.

He summoned the palace guards and directed them to take me to the head maid for cleanup before bringing me to his chambers in a couple of hours.

I was led away by the men, their grip rough as they pulled me along. My legs felt weak.

I glanced back briefly at the Alpha king, his face was cold and menacing as he stared at my retreating figure.

His words echoed in my ears, crushing my spirit and soul. I sensed my wolf was equally sad.

The men introduced me to the head maid as a new addition to the slaves. She took me to a hall filled with girls, all engaged in various tasks.

"Stay here; I'll be back shortly to get you ready for the king," she scanned the room with her eyes.

"You there! Why are those flowers not properly placed?" The girl she referred to turned around, fidgeting.

"I... I'm sorry, ma; I'll arrange them now," with trembling hands, she adjusted the flower that was at the edge of the table to the center. It seemed they were decorating the hall for an impending event.

The head maid stormed out, shutting the door behind her. As soon as she left, one of the girls approached me. She was tall, slender, and very beautiful, with red hair and brown eyes. Clearly frightened, she rolled up her shirt sleeve, glancing anxiously from left to right as if there was an imminent danger lurking in the shadows.

"Hi, my name is Gia; what's yours?" she whispered as she drew near. Despite her fear, she seemed like a nice, innocent girl.

"I'm Athena," I replied, still puzzled by the fear in her eyes.

"I see you're new here; you seem like a very nice girl. This is no place for you; terrible things happen here," she glanced towards the door to ensure it was still shut.

Her eyes widened as she fixed her gaze on me. "One of us died yesterday here in the palace," I froze at her words.

Someone died here in the palace? My throat immediately went dry as I swallowed.

"She was the king's favorite," she scanned the surroundings, "the only one among us he slept with."

A cold shiver ran through my body.

"I overheard the head maid saying she'll prepare you for the king. I've witnessed that too often; I thought it necessary to warn you." She placed a cold hand on mine. "Please be careful and watchful. It's believed that it was the king who killed…"

The door swung open, revealing the head maid. Gia promptly began dusting the table in front of us with the rag in her hand.

The head maid eyed me suspiciously. "You, follow me," she commanded, then turned around, heading outside the door. I quickly trailed behind her, stealing a backward glance at Gia, who gave me a warning look.

I sensed she was watching out for me. It surprised me how someone I had just met could be so kind as to caution me about an approaching threat. No one has ever done something as considerate for me.

The head maid led me down the brightly lit hallway until we reached a room at the far end. She knocked lightly on the door and waited. After a few seconds, the door swung open, revealing the Alpha King.

The head maid bowed and exited. He assessed me with his piercing green eyes, and I felt uneasy under his scrutinizing gaze. He widened the door, revealing his spacious, well-illuminated room.

"Get in," he commanded.