chapter thirty- six

**POV Cassandra**

"Behave, slave, or the King might order your head cut off!" the guard growled, releasing my arm with brutality and shoving me toward the imposing entrance of the room. The dark walls of the corridor seemed to absorb what little light there was, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.

I swallowed hard, my feet hesitant as I moved toward the Alpha King's office. The arm he had gripped was still red, and a dull pain throbbed beneath the bruised skin. The tension in the air was suffocating. When I reached the door, a deep and authoritative voice echoed from inside.

"Enter!"

My body trembled at the command. I took a deep breath and pushed the heavy door open. There was faint lighting in the office, just enough to reveal the silhouette of a man sitting with his back to me, his hands busy with papers scattered across the desk. He wore a fine linen shirt, but what caught my attention most were the runes and tattoos that marked his arms, accentuating his sculpted muscles.