TWO

Lyra's POV

“Your ex mate?” The first ever words he uttered that did not look programmed. His eyes were widened as though he could not hide his shock.

I felt his eyes size me up, making me feel even more humiliated than I already did.

“Is there a problem with my Alpha?” Edmund said, proud with the fact that he had gotten to him.

“If she is your mate, even if an ex… then, why does she look this tattered? Why is she living this way? Why do you still keep her…she.. She looks too tattered to be a maid in the first place,”

“Because she is a lowly maid and an Omega,” Edmund replied without missing a beat.

“Her eyes tell me that she is more than an Omega,”

“You have no idea what you're talking about my alpha,”

My legs were glued to the marble floors, my eyes fixated on Edmund as he conversed with the wolf king. I gulped down every second, my chest heaving up and down in fear of what was going to happen.

“I still want this one,” the words echoed in my head as I watched his outstretched finger in my direction.

“I am sorry, your highness but you can not have this one,” he protested, “she is— just a maid. She won't be of use to you,” he added, his eyes signaling to the door to leave.

I nodded and looked at my feet, turning to walk out of the room as quietly as I could.

“Where are you going? I’m not done talking to you.” His voice sprang up, raining shivers down my back.

“You don't need to worry then. I will just take back the deal,” his deep voice rang out again, sending chills down my spine.];

I have never come across someone as intimidating as he was. The aura he radiated just sitting beside Edmund was deadly, cold and seductive.

I spanked my forehead inwardly, cursing at the type of thoughts I was having when I knew fully well that my freedom and life in general was at stake.

He was rumored to be ruthless— everyone has heard stories about him. I hated it here. I hated being around Edmund but the devil I know is way better.

“And why is that?” Edmund's voice jolted me back to reality, I could feel the sole of his shoe on my toes, in an attempt to get me to leave the room.

Moving farther away from him, I was determined to remain here till the decision was made.

The handsome god moved in his chair, placing his hands on the table and Interlocking his fingers. I tried so hard not to breathe in his rich scent— a mixture of leather and cigarettes. “Because I want her,” he stated simply, his words causing my heart to sink. Clearing his throat, he continued, “but since you are unwilling to give her to me, I might as well retract my offer,”

I was scared for Edmund, scared that his eyes were going to leave his sockets because of how wide he opened them. The look of surprise on his face was second to none— it needed to be framed and hung against these white walls, but now wasn't the time to crack silly jokes.

I watched him rise to his feet, gulping at the perfection that stood in front of me.

I was clearly mistaken when I referred to him as a handsome god because he was worth more than that— he was majestic, out of this world even. His navy green tuxedo clung beautifully to his chiseled biceps.

Straining my neck further, I observed that he was putting on a shirt underneath and the first two buttons were undone.

But what was that ink print I noticed against his pale white skin? A tattoo?

My insides spammed at the thought of a Tattoo on his chest, how I would run my fingers against them.

He turned sharply in my direction before walking in the direction of the door.

“Whe— where are you going?” Edmund stuttered, jerking up from his chair and rushing towards him.

“Wait,” he called out desperately, unable to catch up with the wolf king's long strides.

“You… you can have her,” my heart sank as the words left his lips. Was he really willing to give me up just like that? But he had promised…

I could not control the tears that escaped my eyes as I rushed towards him, going on my knees, pleading while the tears continued to fall freely.

I could feel his eyes against my skin, the intensity of his gaze— it was as though the brown orbs were literally placed on me, burning deep into my skin. But all that did not matter, I did not want to go with him, I did not want to abandon my life here.

Only the moon goddess knows what exactly he would do to me.

“Edmund please,” I cried, pulling his legs, refusing to give in to the kicks he was giving me, “remember your promise, don't do this please, not after everything you took away,”

A sharp pain pierced through my abdomen as Edmund shoved me to the side with his boot, and I lay, curled up on the floor, coughing out blood.

“You can have another person here,” he chuckled nervously, “but Lyra here is just… too useless of a person,” he added, looking at me with disgust. “I will tell you what, you can have any other person and I could even split my side of the deal… how about that?”

“Is there any specific reason why you do not want me to have her?”

“It seems to me that she is more than just a maid or rather an ex-mate to you and tell me Edmund, what is the promise she keeps on talking about?” He added, watching in amusement as I clutched on the floor.

“That is the thing, my alpha. She is… quite unstable you see. Which is why I am asking that you take any other person, just not her,”

I crawled over to him, hoping that maybe my words would get through to him, “Please sir, I beg of you don't take me, pleaseee,” I wailed, clasping my hands together in a plea.

I opted to clutch his legs instead, preventing him from moving. I was still holding him tightly when I felt him crutch to my level, holding me by the chin.

My breath hitched, and I dragged my eyes away from his face, focusing my gaze on the floor.

His fingers.. I felt them graze the skin of my arm as they moved, sending shocks of electric through every part of my body. They settled on my neck, pushing my hair aside and caressing it.

I shuddered as his finger got in contact with the injury that Edmund had inflicted on me just few days before now.

I could tell that he noticed me flinch, as he bent his head, examining the wound closely.

Not saying a word to me, he stood up abruptly and walked towards Edmund.

“What did you do to her?”

“Whatever I do with my maids is none of your business, you have no need to worry, it's just an injury… you see, she can be clumsy at times,” I could tell Edmund was smirking, his way of hiding the shock from the king's reaction.

“It is indeed my business,” his voice was domineering, he turned sharply in my direction, “because I'm taking Lyra now,”

The sound of my name from his lips was enchanting, melodious to my ears.

“Since you have insisted, I'll help her pack up,” Edmund declared, springing from his chair and heading towards the hallway.

I watched him, racking my brain to figure out what his next line of action was— Edmund was schemy as hell and I'm sure he has something up his sleeves— he had to.

“Aren't you coming, Lyra?” Edmund's voice pulled me out of my dazed state, I glanced from Edmund to the alpha king, wondering if it was the best idea to follow Edmund.

“Right behind you,” I whimpered, following him hurriedly in the direction.

I was barely able to shut the door when I felt a large arm pull me from behind.

“Shut the fuck up,” he warned, before I was able to process anything, “now, I want you to listen and listen properly, do you hear me?”

His grip around my arm tightened more, his eyes glaring with anger as he bored them deep into mine.

“You better not spill anything when you leave with the Alpha King,” he warned, pointing an index finger at me. He paused, glaring at me with eyes filled with so much disgust, before turning round the hallway as though afraid that someone would hear what he was saying,

“I know you remember what happened five years ago. If you don’t want anything like that again, keep your filthy mouth shut.”