5

“Alpha!” Logan  greeted the man with respect.

The giant, gorgeous man acknowledged him with a simple nod, an aura radiating off of him that reeked of authority.

He looked towards Natalie, who immediately pulled out her report. “Alpha, Miss Avalyn is still quite weak, but with proper care, she should be much better in two weeks.”

His expression didn’t change, but he moved as she spoke.

He was coming towards me!

I had never seen such movement—graceful and swift, faster than any wolf I had ever encountered.

So fast that, in the blink of an eye, he was at my bedside.

The faint scent of musk surrounded me. The earthly aroma reminded me of the forest on a rainy day, and it replaced the smell of sterile chemicals in the ward. It was cold but almost psychedelic, just like him.

I couldn’t help but lower my head. Through the gap in my hair, I saw his black leather shoes stop right next to my bed, with the toe of the shoe aimed in my direction.

He had to be staring at me! I didn’t need to see to know that.

“Look up,” he commanded.

His voice was deep, very deep. It struck me and sent shivers through my whole body. Pausing for a moment, I put myself together.

The cold reflection from his metal cufflinks came into my view. His hand had already stretched toward my face. His fingers were long, neither bulky nor too slim—just perfect, and full of power.

What was I thinking? Avalyn, stop focusing on the wrong things!

Within a second, his hand clamped down on my chin, his fingers strong and hot, pressing hard—forcing my head up.

He was clearly not a patient man.

I could feel my face flush, and I was grateful that my long, loose hair was still half covering my face.

“Look at me,” he commanded again.

With slight hesitation, I lifted my eyes to look at him.

I didn’t dare refuse—no one dared to disobey his order.

The cold white light of the ward cast a soft glow around him, and I couldn’t help but think that he looked like a prince—royal and handsome.

There was a crease in between his well-defined, jet-black eyebrows. He was frowning, as if he was full of loathing for this world.

As he bent down, his piercing blue eyes locked onto me, like a falcon honing inon its prey. I was that prey, trembling, wondering whether the next second he would just swoop down and seize me, either take me straight up into the cloudy sky or throw me down on the craggy cliffs.

Trembling within his hands, I forgot how to breathe. The only sound I could hear was a rumbling caused by my blood rushing to my eardrums.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw his right arm moved. Almost instinctively, my body tensedand I half-flinched—I was expecting a slap to land on my face, as that was what my father would have done—but I stopped myself, because I still remembered his order to not close my eyes.

I wouldn’t disobey him. I just barely managed to keep my eyes open.

However, the slap never came.

Instead, his hand reached up brushing the hair away from my face. My hair tickled my cheeks, and I smelt the gentle scent of his musk again enveloping me like a cocoon.

I watched as his piercing blue orbs scanned over my own, as if he was memorizing every detail of my face.

When facing oppressive aura, those blue eyes had been like an angry sea, ready to devour lives at any time. But now,when he looked at me closely, the waves of anger faded, and only then did I realizewhat a clear and beautiful pair of eyes he had.

I was lost in his gaze. All the fear and anxiety faded away—only the pure blue in his eyes was real.

It reminded me of the clear sky I had seen when I was all the way up on my swing in my backyard.I was seven at that time, and my mother’s laughter and my father’s non-deterrent reproaches rang out in the background. I remembered the scent of grass tinged with soil after the morning dew…

It was all gone. Long gone.

When I gazed into his eyes though… I saw my own reflection—a helpless girl, sitting on a hospital bed, wearing a white dress that was gifted by her mother as a symbol of happiness, being forced to look up at her new master who had bought her from her father.

I wanted to cry, butI couldn’t.

As his skin touched my own once again, I had to suppress the moan that wanted to escape from me. Never had I felt this feeling inside me.

Then, as if he was sure of something, he let go of my face, and took a step back before turning around and walking away.

As he pulled back, the scent of his musk left me and pulled me back from the memories I had been reliving.

“Alpha!”

This might be my only chance to ask him... Avalyn, I told myself, you have to ask him!

I gathered all my courageand asked the question that might cost me my life.

“Alpha, would you let me go once I work enough to pay back the money you gave my father?” I quickly stammered out. “I’ll work really hard as your maid, or any tasks you assign me… I can…”

I was so anxious that I was on my knees in the hospital bed, willing to chase after him out the door if I had too.

Thank goodness, though, he stopped and turned around, raising his eyebrow. He seemed to be processing what I said.

I didn’t need to look around to know that everyone was watching me like I lost my mind.

“Maid?” He repeated to himself.

He stared at me for a moment before crossing back. I felt the air shift between us before he sat down beside me.

The indention from his weight on the mattress made me unintentionally slide slightly closer to him, and the closeness of his body made my body tremble… in fear and desire.

It was so strange—as the distance between us shortened,I wanted to be closer to him.

I wanted him to stay!

My heart was racing, and my breath was coming faster. Fear, attraction, uncertainty, desire… All these emotions mixed together clouded my mind.

“Didn’t your father tell you?” he whispered. His voice was soothing, almost gentle.

 However, gentle it might have sounded, though… my instinct told me that he wasn’t pleased.

“Tell me what?” I asked hesitantly, not sure if I wanted to hear what he was going to say.

There was a feeling deep in my gut telling me that something was wrong.

Little did I know that what he would say next would take my last hope and dream away.

"The only job you have here is to bear a child," he replied.

I found both my body and my emotions freezing over.

He stared at me, his fingers brushing the hair off of my cheeks again, exposing my entire face to him.

“You will be a breeder… my breeder.”

Breeder. The word rolled through my mind, and I tried to comprehend it.

Now I understood his gaze – the one that seemed to want to remember all the details of me. It wasn’t out of desire or interest.

He was examining the goods he had just bought.