CHAPTER 3

Alexander spotted Lyra as she stepped out of the car with Jack. He smiled as he sat in his chair, adjusted his clothes, and went to his guest room.

"Good afternoon, Alpha," Donald bowed.Alexander remained silent in response to his greetings. His brows furrowed, and his face turned fiery red. He then turned to Jack.

"Why is he still here?"

"Erm... I thought it was unnecessary," Jack stuttered.Alexander didn't flinch but smirked.

"It seems someone is incompetent. You now disobey my orders and do your own thing, huh?"

"No, sir!" Jack growled pleading but Alexander wasn't accepting his apology. He turned and fixed his gaze on Donald.

"Why did you choose to defy my orders?" 

"I'm sorry. Forgive me, my lord," Donald begged as he trembled in fear,his hand shaking.

"You're sorry? You're begging?I don't need any apologies," Alexander scowled.

"Then what can I offer you, my lord?"

Alexander pointed at Lyra and said, "I want her as my slave." Lyra's eyes widened in astonishment. She prayed it wasn't true.

"S-slave?" Donald stuttered,he turned to look at Lyra who immediately rolled her eyes and he knew she wouldn't agree.

"My lord, she won't agree," Donald obliged. Lyra turned to fix her gaze on him, but the Alpha's voice came again.

"Are you willing to give her to me?" he asked in a friendly tone. Donald always wanted to get rid of Lyra so he could sell the house and valuables inside. It was a win-win situation for him.

"Yes, my lord, it's my pleasure!" he replied excitedly. Lyra furrowed her brows, trying to understand the excitement. It felt like solving a puzzle with missing pieces.

"I'm not interested, and I'll never be!" she said sharply to her uncle, capturing Alexander's attention. But, her uncle quickly interrupted. 

 "I'm sorry, my lord. Please forgive her,"He quickly nudged her and scowled. "Bridle your tongue or I'll help you do it. Don't you dare mess this up for me."

Lyra knew better than to keep quiet, giving herself time to think about the offer. Staying in the palace might be better than staying with an uncle who wouldn't let her go out. She hated being stuck in her house with her uncle, but the Alpha's palace was quite different. She would have the chance to associate with other slaves and even Alpha Alexander.

Alexander walked out but then stopped. "You have sixteen hours to decide," he said.

"Don't worry, if our business does well, I'll make a special plan for you," he said confidently. But, his smile quickly changed to a frown.

"You're selling me off for some elusive package?" Lyra snapped at her uncle once they reached home.

Donald had had enough of her. He growled. "I promise you, brat, I'll tame that tongue!"

"I dare you!" Lyra scoffed, causing Donald to turn swiftly towards her. He wasn't sure if she was talking to him.

"Was that for me?" He asked to clear his doubt and Lyra nodded approvingly before entering the cab.

"Tame my tongue, and your package is gone," she taunted angrily at her uncle who was already filled with rage and almost wanted to hit her but restrained himself. 

**********.

Jack had seen Donald and Lyra step out of the cab. He quickly went to inform Alexander who was almost dressed,his maida were adorning him as she stood gazing at the mirror in awe of his handsomeness. Alexander was one of the most handsome Alphas in the werewolf kingdom. People called him a Greek lord because he had blue eyes, dark hair, broad shoulders, and a chiseled jawline. This made him stand out and made women adore him.

Jack stood at the door, waiting for the maids to finish dressing him. He wouldn't dare utter a word while Alexander was being attended to.A few minutes later, Alexander was ready.

 "Sir, they are here,"Jack said.

Alexander walked to his seat. They greeted him and he acknowledged their greetings.

"Let's get down to business. I don't have much time for pleasantries," he chimed in.

Donald immediately replied, "Yes, My Lord."

"I've spoken with my daughter, and we've come to a suitable agreement."

"Is she agreeable to it?" He asked. Then, turning to Lyra, he repeated the same question "Do you accept this, pup?"

Lyra felt bewildered. Should that even be a question? She wouldn't dare reject and go back with her uncle,Not after their banter yesterday that would be sealing her own fate.

"Yes, my lord."

"In that case, it is settled she will live in my palace from now on," Alexander declared.

"I need to get my clothes," Lyra interjected. She had not packed anything when she left. She didn't know she would start living in the palace so soon.

"No need for those rags. Everything will be sorted," Alexander hummed, making Lyra blush and avert her eyes in embarrassment.

 "I love it this way."she muttered, trying to cover up.

Alexander heard her. He turned and glanced at her, fixing his eyes on her torn blouse and patched skirt. It was damp,she had washed it yesterday, and it wasn't fully dry, but she needed to wear it.

"That chair should never get wet," Alexander mocked while he turned his face away.His mocking tone filled the room. Everyone tried to grasp what was said, but only Lyra understood that he had mocked her.

"My lord, I would like to excuse myself," Donald requested.

"I would have liked it if you joined us for dinner," Alexander said, fixing his gaze on Donald who nodded his head disapprovingly.

"It's fine, My lord, I'm good," 

"You can go. Jack will deliver your package to your house," Alexander said in a gentle tone.

Alexander smiled, something he rarely did, and said, "Doing business with you was enjoyable." But then he frowned.

 "Thank you, My Lord! I appreciate it."

"This way, sir," Jack said, ushering him out.

Lyra watched as her uncle left. With each step he took away from her, her heart sank deeper as she continued to look at him.

"Do you wish to leave with him?" Alexander jolted her back to reality.

"No, sir, my Lord," she answered, turning her attention back to him immediately.

"Fine. Premature pup," he teased. Lyra fixed her eyes on him, remembering that he was the man she had bumped into at his birthday party a few days ago.

'What! He is my mate?' her eyes widened as she refused to digest the information.

Unable to control herself as she remembered how he made her look like a lunatic." You!" She yelled at him and pointed her fingers, but Alexander ignored her. He called one of the maids to usher her around.

****

Where's she?" Alexander asked, turning to Jack who was engrossed with his food.

Who?" 

"Call Lyra to come have dinner," he ordered and Jack chuckled."Having dinner with you?" 

Alexander scoffed, pretending not to hear what Jack had said.

"My lord. She's a maid,No maid dared to eat on the same table with the…." 

Alexander chimed in, cutting Jack off," No she's not! I bought her as a slave for the Alpha king only," he explained. 

"She will serve only me!" As Lyra entered the dining room, he ordered, admiring her in her new dress. She looked stunning with her blue eyes and neatly tied blonde hair..

She sat two seats away from the Alpha, but he whispered, "Come closer I don't bite."

. "I'm fine here." She replied, refusing to leave her spot.

"You don't contradict my orders here in the Wintermoon pack!" Alexander bellowed in anger forcing her to almost jump out of her skin. She wasn't expecting him to yell at her like that over such a fragile thing.

"Nobody dares!" he added as he walked out of the dining room.Lyra sat dumbfounded as she watched Alexander leave the table.

"Don't ever contradict his words. You're lucky you didn't lose a finger," Jack said, instilling more fear into her.

Lyra sighed. "Okay, I'll keep that in mind while I work here."

"He's more ruthless than he appears," Jack muttered as he walked past her, leaving her alone in the dining room.Lyra sat there, concern etched across her face. She was extremely confused about how she was going to cope with Alexander.

Lyra!" Alexander called from his room as she hurriedly ran to him as she almost tripped. 

"I'm here, my lord," she forced herself to bow.She wasn't used to bowing down every now and then as she saw every other maid do.

"Fetch me my drink," he ordered her but she stood confused which drink to serve.

"My Lord, which drink?" She asked, a look of concern on her face.

"You don't question me. You haven't earned the right to question me just yet."he sneered.

"I'll give you five minutes to serve me my drink,"

She hurried away,as she traced the smell of edibles to the kitchen making her sigh in relief.

"Hello, please, what drink does the Alpha take?" Frustrated, she asked a maid for help, but the maid ignored her. As she turned to leave, she accidentally bumped into another maid.

"Oh, thank goodness Lena you are here, What drink does the Alpha take?" She asked immediately upon spotting Lena.

"That one over there." Lena pointed to where the drink was.

"Thank you," Lyra breathed a sigh of relief. She hurriedly grabbed the drink and took it to Alexander's room, hoping the time hadn't run out.