Chapter three: Pain

AMELIA’S POV

After being blindfolded for hours, the cloth that covered my eyes was yanked off, and the brightness of my surroundings pierced my eyes, making me wince.

My body ached all over, with little marks indicating that I was thoroughly flogged. I was caught yesterday eavesdropping on the Alpha's conversations, and I was flogged thoroughly as punishment for the grievous offense. As a normal wolf, I should heal, but since I was an Omega, it was going to take longer. 

So the deal went through. Lycan King Talon agreed to fight the shadow moon pack, and in return, I would be given to him as a breeder. After my punishment, I was given the order to prepare to be sold off to Lycan King Talon. No one asked for my permission because I was a maid; after all, I was just ordered, or else I would face death. 

I looked at the majestic pack and couldn't help but marvel; my pack was trash compared to the Red Claw pack. It was evidence of how successful Lycan King Talon has been over the years; no pack has been able to match his rank. 

I was taken to what I assumed was the Lycan king's house. As if the outside wasn't grand enough, the inside was nothing short of royal; everything screamed riches. 

The man taking me walked up to an elderly woman and said, “The king breeder, he said he wants her to be brought to him as soon as she arrives.” 

The woman nodded and led me into the building, stopping at the gold-carved door. She knocked, and we waited till the familiar, deep voice of King Talon called for us to come in. 

My heart hammered in my chest wildly as the door opened. I suddenly felt anxious to go in and face my master. My legs felt like they were made of bricks, heavy and reluctant to walk in. It felt like walking into the room would conclude my fate as a breeder forever. 

My wolf yipped in strange excitement, a sharp contrast to how I felt at that moment. I didn't understand why she was so delighted at the thought of laying pups for a strange man; she kept pushing me to go into the room.

I gave in eventually and walked into the room to see the king seated majestically on the throne. Immediately our eyes met, and my wolf purred and pounced around, almost wanting to tear out of my skin. 

“Mate” rang through my head, too loud and clear for me to think I heard it wrong. 

But how? It's not possible.

His scent wrapped around me as if he were telling me that it was possible. He smelled like burning wood and coffee; it made my legs feel weak. I felt a mixture of fear and happiness—happy because I found my mate but scared because my mate was the domineering man in front of me.

I have been dreaming of my mate since I was little, but nothing prepared me for the reality in front of me. At this point, I was beginning to wonder if I was cursed. I asked the moon goddess for a loving mate, and I got a ruthless one. I asked her for a mate that would clear me of the stigma of an Omega, and I got one that exchanged me as payment to be a breeder. Was my luck so bad?

Lycan King Talon's eyes raked through my body like he could see my soul, but his face remained indifferent. I couldn't tell if he knew we were friends or if he just didn't care. After a few more seconds, he waved his hands and looked away, almost like he was done assessing me and didn't want anything to do with me again.

The woman gestured for me to go out, and with each step, the hope that he would call me back and tell me we were mates dimmed. I was taken away from the golden doors and through a flight of stairs till we arrived at a normal wooden door. The woman said, 

“This is your room; the Lycan King will send it to you when he needs your service." Then she left, and I was all alone.

Need my service? It sounded like I was just a baby-making machine, but that was exactly what I was. 

I thought it would take a while before he sent for me, but I was shocked when the woman came to my door that night and told me the king needed my service. I was still not prepared for the life of a breeder, and I knew I never would.

I was brought to the King's sleeping chambers, and with every passing second, I was growing more and more anxious and scared. It was raining heavily outside. I almost wanted to give up the consequences and run away, but I knew it was impossible and I would only bring more trouble to myself. 

“Come in,” The king's voice came from across the door after the woman knocked. His voice always sent chills down my spine. As soon as I entered, the door closed behind me, and I was all alone with Lycan King Talon.

“Come here,” he ordered. His deep voice made butterflies run wild in my stomach. My wolf liked his voice, and I shamelessly did too.

My head was bowed slightly, refusing to meet his eyes. I dragged my legs and walked towards him slowly as I prayed seriously for the ground to open up and swallow me. I couldn't help but think back on my life at my former pack and wonder which one was better. There as a maid, or here as a baby-making machine?

“Don't waste my time; I don't have all night." Lycan King Talon grunted, a little irritation in his voice.

I increased my pace, seeing the need to look up to see where I was going. Talon was on the king-sized bed in a silk robe; his eyes were as hard as steel and were on me, watching my every move. 

When I reached the edge of the bed, he said, "Strip.”