Chapter 4

Everyone gasped. I didn't understand why. Maybe it was because I was about to die after doing the most ridiculous thing: coughing. Of all things, why did I have to cough? As he came closer, I realized just how massive he was. He had to be at least 6'4", towering over everyone around him. His presence was overwhelming. But what did he mean by "mate"? What was that supposed to mean?

I looked at Jordan, silently pleading for him, or anyone, to help me. Tears streamed down my cheeks, blurring my vision. The large man was now standing directly in front of me, making me feel like a tiny mouse trapped in the gaze of a hawk. He watched me with cold, expressionless eyes, a void I couldn't read. He just stood there, and it made my skin crawl, every inch of me screaming to flee. In that moment, I wished I could vanish, sink through my seat, and disappear.

Elijah appeared beside him, looking uneasy. "That is impossible, Alpha. She is my slave," Elijah said, his tone tense. For a split second, a flicker of relief washed over me. Somehow, being Elijah's slave felt safer than whatever this new claim might mean.

The Alpha did not seem pleased. He growled, low and dangerous, a sound that rumbled like distant thunder. I jumped in my seat, clutching the chair's edge so tightly my knuckles turned white. His silver-grey eyes snapped to Elijah. "This human... is mine now. Is that... understood?" His voice was frigid, leaving no room for argument.

Elijah merely nodded, his expression unreadable, before returning to his seat without another word. The Alpha's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, as if sealing some unspoken fate, before he turned and walked back to his place at the head of the table. I was left confused and shaken. I didn't want to be "his." Whatever that meant, it couldn't be good. I glanced desperately at Jordan.

"What's going on?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. But Jordan wouldn't look at me. He kept his eyes fixed forward, as if I were invisible.

A tall, regal-looking man stood up from his seat next to the Alpha. "Let us enjoy this feast!" he declared, raising his goblet high. "Our Alpha, our King, our Lord, The First of his kind, has conquered lands for us to thrive for centuries now! Soon, the world will be ours. Let us celebrate and be merry!"

A roar of cheers erupted, but it felt forced, tense. I could feel eyes darting toward me, whispers passing like waves through the crowd. I stayed rooted in my seat, too afraid to move or draw more attention.

A girl approached me, younger than me, maybe eighteen or nineteen. She wore a dress similar to mine, revealing and sheer, making her appear fragile yet strangely resilient. She leaned close, whispering so softly I could barely hear her. "Follow me. You shouldn't stay here-it's drawing too much attention."

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, looking up at her. Her short brown hair framed a kind, freckled face. Her green eyes were filled with pity. I nodded, feeling a tiny flicker of gratitude. "Thank you," I managed.

"We'll go to the kitchens," she whispered as she led me away. "It's a good thing we're not allowed to eat around them. Just keep your head down and don't look back."

I obeyed, staring at my bare feet as we weaved through the crowd. I could still feel their eyes on me, like I was a spectacle on display. We finally entered a large, bustling kitchen filled with humans. The atmosphere was different here-busy, but almost normal. It was so clear who was human and who wasn't. There was a simplicity to us, a rawness that these beasts could never mimic.

The girl closed the door behind us and sighed with relief. A chubby woman in an apron turned to us, her hands on her hips. "Is this her?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

The girl nodded. "Yes, this is her."

Another woman, with sharp brown eyes, chuckled. "Well, this is going to be interesting."

"Leave the girl alone, Sophie," the young girl snapped. "She's had enough for one night."

"Haven't we all?" Sophie muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Lily is right, Sophie," the chubby woman scolded. "Get back to work." She approached me, her face softening. "Here, dear. Drink this." She handed me a glass of cold water.

I gulped it down, the cool liquid soothing my dry throat. "Thank you," I said, giving her a small smile.

She refilled the glass without a word. "Sit down, sweetheart," she said gently.

Lily started dishing up food for us, placing silver plates on the table. "How is it possible for a monster to have a human mate?" she mused aloud. "Do you think there's some sort of mistake, Madam Anna?"

The older woman, who must have been Madam Anna, placed a loaf of bread in front of us. "I don't think the Alpha makes mistakes. Fate is strange... It doesn't make sense, but it's happening for a reason."

"What is a mate?" I asked, as she handed me a plate of bread and a bowl of chicken soup with mushrooms. The aroma was intoxicating, and I dug in without hesitation.

Lily sat next to me, sighing as she took a bite of her bread. "These beasts have mates, like soulmates. Lovers chosen for them by the Moon Goddess, their deity."

I nearly choked on my soup as I laughed bitterly. "I am not his soulmate. That's bullshit. I'd rather die than be tied to those monsters in any way."

Sophie smirked, leaning closer. "Or you could find a way to kill him. You'll have plenty of chances to get close."

"Don't even think about it," Madam Anna interrupted, her face suddenly serious. "Talking like that is a death wish. Many have tried, and none have succeeded. Your best option is to escape, dear. That's the only way you might survive."

She was right. I wasn't foolish enough to think I could kill one of them, not when just being in their presence made my blood run cold. But I couldn't stay here. The thought of being claimed by one of them, of being his, was worse than death. I had to escape. No matter what, I had to find a way out of this place.