Chapter Five

The way she asked the question made Drakken grit his teeth in outrage. Why does she look like she doesn't know who he is? Everyone knows him in the three realms of this world!

He snorted in resentment.

On top of everything, she is also a pretender!

What a mega jest of the century!

Now he would not be able to kill the chit of a girl as planned... Their mate bond only made him find her appealing rather than repulsive.

No, he shouldn't be thinking like that! He took a step back.

Eleanor's heart pounded faster against her chest and Drakken was overjoyed at knowing she feared him. He admired her inane attempt to appear the least bothered by him in the facade, but her skittery nerves and hammering heart spoke volumes.

"Relax," Drakken said briskly and rolled his eyes. "I am not going to eat you."

"Ironic," She braved, "...because that is exactly what wild animals do."

Wild animal? Did she just refer to him as a wild animal? He would have shown her what wild animals did to sharp-mouthed humans right there and then if not for the stupid bond that binds them together.

The audacity.

Eleanor had heard enough rumors about how ruthless and unmerciful the Alpha king was, especially to her own kind. Yet, nothing prepared her for this hunk of a man before her.

Immediately, she internally chided herself for finding the beast attractive and looked away from his mesmerizing eyes.

"Let us skip the small talk." The wave of his hand was accompanied by a sinister smirk. "Since you already know who I am and that we are mates, I will have you know that henceforth you are mine, and no other man is allowed to ever come close to you, not to mention touch you... And no one is to ever know we are mates."He fixed her with a steel look to inform her he was serious.

Horrified, Eleanor gaped at him like the man had gone completely bonkers. What was he babbling on about? "What are you talking about?” She questioned in terror. “You can't just kidnap me and claim me... I am not some property to be claimed!”

"And what will you do, huh?” Drakken's wry smirk widened. "You are going to cry? Scream? Well, be my guest. Everyone here answers to me. No one is coming to rescue you." He edged menacingly closer, cornered her into a wall and ran a sleek finger down the baseline of Eleanor's neck. Her scent engulfed his wolf senses, the smell of her anger gorging itself into his nostrils. She was his mate but also the enemy, so, he would do what had to be done.

“You shall serve me as my slave," Drakken declared, “and my mistress, and shall yield to me whenever this wild animal needs you!" And there was no room for argument.

The close proximity of their bodies had her mind in a fog that made it a tad hard to form any coherent thoughts. "I-I... I would do no such thing!” Her heart was almost leaving her chest as the words flew out.

"Quite bold of you to assume you have a choice." Drakken recovers from her charm and took a step back and Eleanor felt like she could breathe again. "With the look of things, the moon goddess is on your side. I had other plans that were far from making you my slave. You should be jumping for joy I did not have your head mounted up on a spike right now."

"What?"

Drakken groaned in exasperation. The girl was a bit of an airhead for such a pretty face. "I could have killed you, but I did not."

“What did I do to you?” She asked as tears brimmed in her eyes.

The dark look in his eyes made Eleanor clip her lips shut. She was pushing his buttons. She did not want to imagine what could happen if she went too far.

"Never in a million years am I going to accept you as my mate," he ignored her query. "As I said, you are to serve as a slave in my house and a mistress who would attend to my bed needs whenever I want." His hazels were icy now.

The way he said it was like a slap to Eleanor's face and her fragile heart sunk further into the pits of her stomach. Is this all she deserves in this life? Life of a whore. From one misery to another, life keeps tossing her around. This is unfair. "I am a stripper, not a prostitute." She tried again, her hands tightening in her gown to show her anxiety.

"There is a very thin line between those words."

"Different meanings, nonetheless."

Drakken's lips cracked a smile, and she wondered what was so amusing to him this time. And then it was soon replaced by a devilish glint. "You would do what I say if you want your son to live."

Her temper she had been doing her best to milden since the beginning of their conversation, went up in flames at the mention of Nicky. "Don't you dare bring my son into this, you monster! Why in God's name are you doing this?"

All trace of amusement on his face disappeared after that question. Drakken did not owe her an explanation. He did not see the need to express his deep hatred for her father that also extended to her. Instead, he scowled and slowly, backwardly retreated in his steps until he was out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Eleanor stood alone in the middle of the room after he departed, and then she flung herself to the bed, burying her head deep in the mattress as it soaked in her overflowing tears. She feared for the safety of Nicky after losing her temper and refusing to abide by the King's request. Should she just have given in for the sake of her son?

He called her his mate and then he reduced her to nothing but a slave. She was not a bloody sex toy, but the Alpha King could not think farther than keeping her as that.

She sat up on the bed and dried up her tears. Crying would not do any good than develop a wicked migraine and she could already feel one coming up. She needed to find a way to get to Nicky before Drakken did.

Walking up to the door, she twisted the knob and it creaked open to her surprise. She did not take as much as a step outside the room before a scrawny-looking lass stood in her way.

"Excuse me," Eleanor said through gritted teeth.

"I am afraid you would not be able to leave your room. Alpha Drakken gave orders that you are to remain in your room at all times and never show your face outside. So to make things easier for the both of us, I suggest you head back inside."

Eleanor was near panicking now. Her palms suddenly produced so much sweat, and her face grew hot despite the weather. "Let me...Let me speak to him."

For some reason, the girl did not still move out of the way. "The King would have my head if he sees you outside. I am sorry but there is absolutely nothing I can do for you other than bring you meals. On that note, what would you have for dinner?"

They were holding her captive and all the girl cared about was food? She lost her appetite the minute Drakken mentioned her son. "I am not hungry." She twisted around and went back in.

Eleanor heard the soft click of the door when she retreated back into the room. She went to the bathroom and splashed a generous amount of water on her puffy face and stared into the mirror above the white sink. Eyes, so red and swollen blinked back at her.

She had gone through a series of so much absurdities in her lifetime but this one topped the charts. Ambrose set her up by sending her here, that fact she could gather. No wonder he had been that stern about it. Eleanor dried up her face with a nearby towel and collected her nerves.

She would think of a way out before morning. There was no way she could continue being kept in here. The core plan was to escape that brute.

And she would do everything in her power to execute it.

...