Chapter Three

My body stiffened from the surge of power accompanied by that voice, forcing us all to bow to a higher hierarchy—the King.

I could feel the pack members dropping weakly to their knees around me, unable to withstand the crackling force of this immense power. The suffocating mix of their terror hummed in the air.

My face paled when I felt a defiant urge within me fighting the force to kneel. I stayed hunched forward, sweat trickling down the side of my face, my breaths coming out in pants. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I felt it.

The force was nearer—it was heading straight for me. I whimpered, searching for a way out. Nothing was under my control, not even my own body.

I clenched my eyes shut, knowing the crippling force was now standing right in front of me.

This is where I die—at the hands of the terrifying King.

I could hear his harsh breathing over my own and feel his burning, slithering gaze moving over my entire body as if he wanted to see into my soul.

If I wasn’t tied to the pole, the sound of his ferocious growl that followed the next second would have sent me flying. I could only clench my eyes even tighter, tremble, and hold my breath.

“UNTIE. HER.” The thunder in his voice came again, more calculated and poisonous this time.

Neither I nor the rest of the pack seemed to understand what he meant—or so I thought. The sound of a shaking guard filled my ears, followed by a loud click, and I could feel myself falling forward.

I was too weak to break my fall, so I prepared myself to hit the ground, only to feel tingles erupt on my skin, causing my heart rate to spike. I gasped at the large, strong hands holding me up.

I clenched my eyes knowing who it was—that my throat would be slit open any moment now. But the warmest hand I had ever felt were gently placed upon my cheek.

The animalistic, erratic breathing of the King and the sound of my heart stuttering in my chest filled my ears.

Another growl came, softer this time, almost pained. I jumped and attempted to free myself, but another large hand wrapped around my waist, igniting a bolt of gasps around the pack grounds.

“Regalia.” The King's baritone voice groaned out as he buried his face into my neck. My already stuttering heart began to hammer against my chest.

Was this a ritual in his pack before he killed his enemy?

Shivers and tingles spread across my body, causing me to whimper. I gasped at my own reaction, mortified. The man towering over me, whose face I still hadn’t seen, hummed at me.

“M-my King, I a-apologize for this t-traitor’s insolence. She will be punished immediately. Begin the execution,” Lucas's shaky voice soon found strength, hoping to please the King and save himself.

A blur of motion followed, and I let out a loud shriek at the splash of blood on my face and body. Lucas’s bawling filled the air as he collapsed onto the ground, clutching his face.

The King had slashed Lucas's face with a knife!

Lucas crawled on his knees, away from the Alpha King, and I could only watch, too shaken to think.

I saw a blur of Joan running toward Lucas’s side, the horror on her face mirroring mine as she cradled his head in her hands. I couldn’t find it in myself to feel any pain at the sight of them.

The King suddenly picked me off the floor, igniting another shriek from me. My snapped up to him, and I found myself drowning in a lake of green irises.

I was breathless as I held the furious King's gaze. I saw a flash of physical pain in his eyes before it disappeared. The incredibly handsome man holding onto me left my sense of reasoning and survival instinct thrown out the window.

He hugged my face to his chest as he began to walk. I was too stunned, too weak, and too powerless to protest.

The ache and great urge from within me moments ago was nowhere to be found.

A few minutes felt like hours of walking until I was carefully dropped onto something soft and fluffy.

The King pulled away from me like I was a plague, taking a few steps backward. I was left breathing shakily.

The room smelled of citrus and sandalwood—like him. He had brought me to his room. One could cut through the tension in the air.

I wanted to speak, but I couldn’t find my voice.

“Did you do it?” His deep voice had my head snapping upward.

“Do what?” I breathed out.

“Kill the Luna?” the King asked, his baritone voice sending a shiver up my spine.

I shook my head, hiccuping.

“Use your words,” the King growled softly.

“I-I didn’t do it,” I muttered shakily, looking away from his intense green gaze.

“Why—Why can’t I sense you?” the King bursted out, increasing the suffocating tension in the room by pacing around, his tight grip on his hair. I watched on, frightened and confused.

He abruptly stopped pacing, his slithering gaze falling on me. “What. Are. You?” he stressed out, unable to hide his distress before looking away.

“I-I do not have a wolf,” I whispered, hoping to ease whatever was wrong with him for some weird reason.

“What do you mean?” he breathed out in bewilderment, his eyes narrowing at me.

I swallowed harshly. Was this where he killed me for being a living abomination in his kingdom?

“I-I don't have a—”

“I heard you the first time, dammit,” the King burst out. A gust of wind filled the room, and his green eyes flashed uncontrollably. I could tell his wolf was on edge.

“I-I have no wolf,” I squeaked in fear.

“That’s impossible. It’s impossible. How can I—” The King ran his fingers through his hair and then met my gaze.

“Get the pack healers in here,” the King growled, and I jumped to my feet in a hurry to follow his command.

“Not you,” the King said, glaring hard at me, and I shrank back into the bed.

It had been a few hours. The fidgeting head healer, who had trained me, patched me up brand new and gave me herbs to numb the pain in my body from my numerous injuries and bruises.

I was finally alone without the King breathing down my neck. I still couldn’t figure out why he was keeping me alive and letting me be treated. I couldn’t help but also be on edge.

The King barged into the room, pausing by the entrance and looking more rigid than before he left. His brows knitted forward, and his eyes ignored my presence.

“We are leaving,” he announced, and it took me a few moments to process his words.

“We?” I whispered meekly.

“Yes,” he simply replied.

“Lucas—”

The King snarled at me. “I’m certain the young Alpha has no problem with you coming with me,” he stated looking bored.

“Why are you keeping me alive?” I asked, unable to hold back for much longer.

The King looked up at me. “Because I can,” he remarked in a strong voice. I forced myself to blink back tears, looking away from him.

The King led me outside, where a group of unfamiliar warriors werr waiting. From the power they exuded, they had to be the King’s warriors.

The pack members were also gathered outside. I could feel their confusion, fear, and hate.

It all happened so fast. One second, the King stopped to speak to a warrior, and the next, Joan was running toward me at primal speed until she stood right in front of me.

Hot flames rippled through me, and my eyes widened in pain—a silver-glazed knife was sticking out of my stomach.

“I’ll never let you leave here alive without paying for killing my parents, you bitch.”

A malicious and ferocious growl meant for a horrid battle filled my weakening ears.