CHAPTER 8

Selene's Point of view

“Looks like you need help, Beta.” He asked calmly but with a blank face.

“No, Alpha.” Beta, Gareth replied with that amused smile still playing on his lips.

“Selene here was only testing our security, and before you came, she was just about to settle down. Weren't you? Selene?”

I hesitated for a while and then pulled free from him. The door was still open, but I didn't dare to attack again. I could barely take on the old man. I knew it would be foolish to try it when the ash king was also there. If I could barely handle myself with the old man, I believe it was safe to assume that my chances against the Ash king were next to nothing.

“Give us the room, Gareth.” The ash king spoke, no, he ordered, and Beta Gareth bowed before leaving the room.

I slowly pushed back to the bed and sat on it, glaring angrily at the ash king as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He quietly began to walk forward, and my breath caught in my throat.

 What was he up to now?

 I didn't like the feel of this.

He stopped directly in front of me, regarding me with his fiery golden eyes, and for a moment, I had a thought, a rather bad thought, that he would suddenly push me onto the bed, forcing me into disgusting acts. My heartbeat increased because of the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

Without warning, his hand shot out and clasped around my jaw. I winced and wanted to yank free of his touch, but I could barely move under the iron grip.

My hand slowly went to my thigh, under my garments, where the poisoned dagger was strapped in its sheath. I had the intention to find the cure for Liam before going ahead with my secondary mission, but at the moment, it was beginning to look as if my secondary mission would soon become my primary.

He turned my face a little to the left and a little to the right, looking at me, studying my face like I was some kind of specimen for him or something. Just when I thought he wouldn't let go, just when I was already getting ready to pull out the dagger, he released me and stepped back.

I saw him still stare at his hand for a while in awe, like he couldn't believe why I was not burning and then his eyes fell on mine again.

“What are you?” He growled.

Seriously? That was it? Like, I was the monster here.

“It's actually 'who are you?'” I snapped.

 “You were educated, were you not? Why don't you act like it?”

He frowned slightly and slowly began to pace back and forth along the little space before me, but keeping his eyes on me all the time.

“This has never happened before.” He muttered.

“I've always lived with this curse, burning whoever I laid hands on. Why won't you burn? What rune are you using to protect your body?”

“I guess I was born to defy you!” I snapped.

“You're really that bothered, right? You're just a big, bad bully who no one's had the guts to stand up to.”

“Why did your father send you here?” He asked, ignoring my own words.

“Because of my charm, maybe?” I shrugged nonchalantly.

“He really thought I'd be the one to make the ask king laugh, because of my humor.”

He stopped pacing and focused on me.

“Make jokes all you want now, but soon enough, we'll get it all out of you.” He said coldly, like the Beta had said.

A sudden rap came from outside the door.

“Enter.” He said, and the door opened, revealing a scared-looking girl who looked nervously between the ash king and me.

“I was told you wanted to see me, Alpha Logan.” She spoke nervously.

“I want you by her side.” He pointed at me.

“She is now your responsibility. You'll make sure she bathes, make sure she attends dinner, and you'll make sure she stays, but doesn't wander off. From now henceforth, she's your responsibility. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Alpha Logan.” The girl replied with a nervous nod.

“For your own sake, I hope you don't go about making trouble.” He said to me before turning around.

The scared girl quickly jumped out of the way as the ash king passed, and I watched her take great care to avoid even the hem of his garments. Finally, the door shut behind him, and I was alone with the scared girl.

“Great!” I scoffed.

 “Just what I wanted, a scared-looking babysitter!”

“No, lady Selene.” The girl quickly shook her head.

“I'm not a babysitter, I'm just a maid, your maid now.” She smiled nervously as if that was going to make me feel any better.

“Okay... that's good. I have a well-furnished prison cell and a maid. I'm starting to enjoy my captivity already.”

The girl laughed.

“You're not a captive, Lady Selene. You should have seen what the captive really goes through here at Ashen Claw.” She shuddered slightly and quickly shook her head like she was trying to get rid of a really bad memory.

“What do you mean?” I asked apprehensively with narrowed eyes.

“Never mind.” She spoke quickly and then moved to the side of the room where she threw a door open.

“It's almost time for dinner. Come. I'll draw you a hot bath, get you ready for dinner with the Alpha.”

I frowned immediately at that sentence.

“With the Alpha?” I asked in disgust.

“Yes, Lady Selene.” She nodded.

“I told you you're not a prisoner here. You're the Alpha's guest.”

Her positivity and friendliness were really getting to me now. Maybe, I would make good use of her just yet, getting good information out of her.

“Say... you know the lupine sickness, right?” I suddenly blurted out.

“Why? Yes, I do.” She replied casually.

 “Terrible sickness. My cousin once had it.”

Good... I was making progress already.

“Okay.” My voice softened.

“Your cousin was cured, right? From the cure derived from the volcanic minerals of your pack, ye?”

The girl frowned.

“My cousin died long ago.There's no cure for that sickness here.”

My heart froze momentaril