chapter six

Pov alpha Gideon

"I... I..." Her voice faltered, retreating until it found the cold, rough wall behind her.

"I asked... what are you? A hybrid?" I growled impatiently, advancing toward her and fixing my eyes on her pale face.

"I... don't... know..." She stuttered, a tear streaming down her face. Her body trembled with fear, unable to muster the courage to meet my gaze, as if my mere presence was enough to intimidate her.

The young redhead recoiled again, looking around as if searching for an escape, but she found herself facing a bed adorned with a red sheet. Eleanor blinked several times, fearful of what I might do to her in that moment, and shrunk her shoulders, attempting to hide behind a small curtain covering the window of the room.

"I think I was quite clear when I said to only bring humans to my palace!" I raised my voice, hurling one of the objects from the table toward my beta, who immediately flinched in fear, dodging the object.

"Alpha... forgive me... I thought... I thought she was human... I couldn't detect her wolf," Josh replied, trembling nervously. I shot him a furious look, enough to make him plead for mercy.

"You thought?" My growl echoed low, laden with authority. "You thought wrong. Your incompetence put the entire pack at risk!"

I took a step forward, my imposing figure dominating the space around us, veins pulsing with heat coursing through my body, my eyes taking on a reddish hue, my wolf on the brink of emerging with bloodlust.

"You had the audacity to bring a stranger into our territory without confirming her true nature? Do you find that acceptable?" I growled again, hurling a bottle toward my beta, who remained still this time, without flinching.

Josh swallowed hard, the weight of my disapproval bearing down on his shoulders. He knew he had failed, and anything he did now could worsen the situation and fuel my fury; at this moment, my wolf desired nothing more than to tear his throat with my sharp teeth.

"Alpha, please, give me another chance. I will fix this. I swear," he pleaded, his words almost a whisper of submission.

I took a deep breath, the gleam in my eyes slightly diminishing until I was face to face with him. In a swift motion, I lifted him by the collar of his shirt.

"You have one last chance, Josh. But do not disappoint me again," I declared firmly, pushing him toward the wooden table.

"Yes, Alpha," he responded earnestly, and I gestured for him to leave my chambers.

Josh hurriedly ran toward the door, but a shadow passed by me. Eleanor. Did that girl truly believe she could escape from me so easily? Or that I would let her go without consequences?

"Eleanor..." My deep voice echoed in her ear, making her body stiffen at my touch. "I did not give you permission to leave this room," I stated, pulling her by the arm and slamming the door shut with force.

Eleanor swallowed hard, her eyes betraying the fear she could barely conceal. I had no patience for games. If she thought she could challenge my authority, she was about to learn a painful lesson. I approached her again, Eleanor Parker, with her red hair, sparkling green eyes, and beautiful freckles on her face. There was something in those eyes that made me feel slightly drawn to her, even though she was nothing but a mere hybrid. I lifted my hands and caressed her face, but she instantly closed her eyes, rejecting my touch, and bit her lower lip in fear.

"Eleanor..." I whispered her name, my voice cold and domineering filling the space between us. She trembled before me.

"I don't have what you want... so please, let me go!" she pleaded, her trembling voice betraying the fear consuming her.

"You don't even know what I want," I retorted with a malicious smile, approaching her neck. Her sweet and enticing scent filled my senses, awakening the primal desire within me.

"I heard what you said to the beta. And you're right, I'm not human... and my wolf hasn't awakened yet. I can't be part of your plans, whatever they are. It was a mistake to bring me to this harem... Please, send me away!" she begged, retreating behind the table as if trying to escape my intimidating presence.

"Eleanor... Many girls would give anything to have a place in my harem, and you refuse it so easily? I am the great Alpha King... Having the opportunity to serve me and contribute to my lineage is a privilege granted to few women..." I replied, approaching her again.

Eleanor tried to argue, pointing to herself and turning so I could observe her better. "My body is small and frail, my mother was blind, and my wolf is asleep... I could give birth to disabled children. I'm not suitable for your harem. Those men, the Locks... They deceived you! I should kill them for selling defective merchandise!" she said, her voice laden with confidence, trying to convince me of her supposed weakness and malnutrition.

I stared at her with a penetrating gaze, calculating every word and movement. Eleanor was cunning, trying to play with my instincts. But I wouldn't be easily fooled. She had potential, and I was determined to find out how far she could serve me.

"Well... maybe you're not worthy of carrying my pups..." I shrugged, and she sighed in relief, thinking I would leave her alone... "but, you can still be useful for other things... we can still have some fun..." I smiled again, approaching her and sealing our lips with an unexpected kiss.

I held her firmly by the waist, surprising her with my boldness. Eleanor stood still for a moment, but to my surprise, she reciprocated, her hands finding their way to my nape, while her fingers tangled in my black hair.

The kiss was a shock to both of us, a mixture of desire and challenge. I could feel the energy between us, a palpable tension burning in the air. Eleanor was more than I had anticipated, and I was determined to find out how far she could take me. It had been a long time since my wolf had felt so drawn to one of the women in my harem. The fire inside me burned with an intensity I hadn't experienced in a long time.