Chapter 3

Alicia's POV

He looked at me and then retreated. 

He then turned to his guards.

"Untie her and bring her to me," he ordered. They did as he commanded, bringing me before him. The moment I was within his radius, the pull increased.

Despite being scared to the bone, I couldn't deny the insane attraction I felt for the monster.

He grabbed my hands, marking me as his slave. The unmistakable initials of our names engraved themselves in our arms. It was then that I realized the man was none other than the infamous Alpha Astor.

At that moment, I screamed, begging for them to kill me instead.

Alpha Astor was enraged by my outburst. In his anger, he ordered his guards to bind me and drag me to their envoy. I was forced to walk alongside the envoy, resisting the guards but ultimately succumbing to their overpowering force. We journeyed to the Ravkian kingdom, where Astor ruled.

Upon arrival, as soon as I was released, I attempted to escape, but I was immediately caught.

"Sir, she attempted to escape," reported one of the guardian warriors.

Astor looked at me blankly and sniggered. "I see you are recalcitrant. You need to be taught some lessons," he said with indifference.

"Should I kill her?" the guardian warrior asked.

Astor examined me, sizing me up, and chuckled. "She'd be useful. Let's keep her."

"Then, what should I do with her?" the guardian warrior inquired.

He inhaled sharply as his eyes darkened. "Throw her into the dungeon. She needs a better understanding of where she is," he said coldly.

*************

In the dungeon, I saw that there were other prisoners as well. A frail voice of an old man curled up in a corner jolted me.

"New here?" he asked.

I blinked my eyes, filled with compassion for him. I moved closer to him and held his palms in mine.

"Yeah," I nodded.

The old man grunted. "You look like a nice girl." He smiled at me, and the wrinkles on his face revealed his senescence.

I smiled warmly back at him.

Looking around, I noticed people of different ages locked in the dungeon, including little children. Despite my misfortune, I felt great sympathy for them.

"How did you end up here?" the old man asked me.

I sighed and explained what had transpired at the auctioning grounds and when I arrived at the Ravkian kingdom.

After listening to my story, the man also shared how he ended up there, and one by one, everyone in the dungeon shared their stories with me.

They revealed who Alpha Astor truly was—a beast and a monster. Rumors spread that he would even kill his court members for breathing too loudly. They also told me about his first mate, who was killed when she couldn't bear him a child. Hearing all of this spiked fear within me.

************

Alpha Astor began frequenting the dungeon, disguising his visits as inspections just to see me. Each time he came by, my heart raced. He ordered the guards to ensure we were well-fed because of me. I couldn't help but feel a mixture of fear and curiosity whenever he was near.

One day, I gathered the courage to request an audience with the king, claiming that I had something important to tell him. However, the guards ignored my plea, and soon I let go of the idea, not thinking much about it afterward.

Two weeks later, the guardian warrior called me out of the dungeon in the dead of night. A glimmer of hope sparked within me, thinking that perhaps my wish had finally been granted. However, the guardian warrior led me through an endless tunnel, and I had no idea where he was taking me.

When I asked him where we were going, he remained silent, maintaining his composed demeanor. Realizing that it was futile to press for answers, I reluctantly followed him, not having much of a choice. Finally, he opened a door and pushed me into a dark room. I was about to protest and demand an explanation for such inhumane treatment when the room lights suddenly came on, revealing a surprising sight.

My eyes landed on an item in the room that instantly caught my attention. It was a golden object, resembling the gift my grandfather had given me before he passed away. Intrigued, I moved closer to examine it when a voice from behind startled me.

"Did anyone give you permission to touch my belongings?" Alpha Astor's voice echoed in the room.

I turned around to face him, my heart pounding in my chest. I stammered, "I-I... I didn't mean to, I was just curious..."

He approached me slowly, his eyes piercing into mine. "Curiosity killed the cat, my dear. And disobedience has consequences."

Fear washed over me as I realized the gravity of my mistake. I hastily dropped my gaze to the floor, unable to meet his intense stare.

Alpha Astor circled me, his steps deliberate and predatory. "You have been quite the nuisance since the day I laid eyes on you. But you intrigue me, Alicia."

His voice sent shivers down my spine, and I dared not speak a word, afraid of provoking his wrath further.

After a few moments of silence, he continued, his voice softer this time. "Tell me, why did you want an audience with me? What could you possibly have to say?"

Summoning my courage, I spoke, my voice quivering. "I... I wanted to ask for my freedom, my lord. I understand that I am now your slave, but I hoped there might be a chance for me to earn my release."

Alpha Astor chuckled darkly, his breath hot against my neck. "Freedom? You think that's something you can earn from me? You underestimate the depths of my power, my dear."

I swallowed hard, my voice barely a whisper. "Please, I beg of you... I will do anything you ask if you will just grant me my freedom afterward."

He leaned in closer, his lips grazing my ear. "Anything, you say?"

"Yes, anything," I stuttered, shuddering at his touch.

"Well, my dear one, you see..." he said, circling me, "that isn't exactly how things work around here. I own you now, and of course..." He smiled wickedly at me. "You will do anything I want, anytime I want it."

"Now let's get down to business, shall we?"

"Business? Wh-what business?" I stuttered in fright.

"You will soon find out, love," he replied.

"Oh, I've been looking forward to this day," he said, taking a few steps closer to me. My heart started pounding, my cheeks flushed, and my eyes sparkled under the room's illumination.

As he approached, a tingling awareness unsettled me. It was evident that I felt an attraction towards him. "You drive me crazy," he grinned, his words sending shivers down my spine. I nervously clasped and unclasped my hands behind my back.

A gust of wind blew into the room, tousling my hair and emphasizing my beauty. Astor couldn't resist any longer. I found myself leaning against the wall as he leaned in closer, his fingers entwined in my hair. "Now, I'm going to do what I've wanted to do since I laid eyes on you," he whispered before kissing me passionately. I gasped for breath when he released me, his broad grin indicating his satisfaction. His hands caressed my hair.

But amidst the intensity of the moment, a sense of unease washed over me. My instincts screamed that I was making the wrong decisions. The earlier goosebumps on my skin turned numb, and the warm feeling in my stomach transformed into a cold lump of fear. Everything felt inherently wrong.

I mustered the strength to break free, but he was strong and relentless, already consumed by his desires. The full moon emerged, and a transformation began to take hold of his body. His fingernails morphed into claws, and his eyes turned a menacing shade of red. In an attempt to shield his altered appearance, he switched off the lights in the room.

His change caused him to release me momentarily, and I seized the opportunity to make a run for the door. Yet, he was swift. He grabbed me by the arm, yanking me forcefully to face him. His grip was unbearably firm, causing me pain.

"You're hurting me," I managed to whisper, aware that remaining calm would be my best chance of survival. Struggling against him would only worsen the situation and result in more harm to myself.

Tormented by his insatiable thirst for blood, he growled, revealing his sharp fangs. To heighten his haunting game, he released his grip on me, and I immediately began to flee. However, it didn't take him long to catch up with me.

He swiftly elevated himself, preparing to launch an attack. I couldn't help but let out a piercing scream, desperately calling for help.