6

GEMMA

I didn't know which was worse. Spending the rest of my life trapped in a cell, or becoming this man's Luna. Either choice would leave me in bondage but at least, as his Luna, I would be free.

I wouldn't be a slave anymore. "Why should I choose?" I asked, stubbornly, sitting up.

"I'm the Alpha King. What I say goes," he replied, that smile still on his face.

I wanted so much to wipe it off his face. But I knew I was powerless against him. I had tried to push him off the cliff and that hadn't worked.

"Just let me be. Let me end my misery." I begged. It was pathetic, begging the same person who had ruined my life. But I couldn't take it anymore.

He grabbed my arm and squeezed, pulling me to my feet. "Choose now, mate." He growled out.

I whimpered, tears falling down my eyes. "I'll be your Luna." I gasped out.

"Wise choice," he replied, letting go of my arm.

"I hate you," I said in anger, glaring at him.

He was slightly surprised but he covered it up so quickly that I began to think that maybe I imagined his surprise.

I heard the footsteps before they appeared next to us. A group of men surrounded us, glancing around at the forest. A few of them gave me a curious look.

The Alpha King sighed deeply. "You guys found me quickly." He said.

Another set of footsteps approached us and I saw Madam Margaret and her guards. A newfound fear filled me and even though I hated my enemy, I found myself trying to hide behind him.

"Gemma!" She yelled, the sound vibrating in my body.

I did not dare to look at her face. I was scared that if I did, she was going to get even angrier at me.

"What do you want with her?" The Alpha King asked, his voice calm.

Madam forced a smile before she bowed. "My King, she's nothing but a lowly slave of mine who stepped out of line. I told her to serve you but she had the guts to join the ceremony to find her mate." She explained.

"And that is wrong, why?" He asked.

"She has brought embarrassment on my household and she deserves to be punished for disobeying me." Madam signaled for her guards to come and get me.

"If one of you take another step, I will kill you where you stand." The Alpha King threatened, his voice low and scary.

I looked up at him. Was he protecting me?

"My King," Madam chuckled nervously. "You shouldn't be bothered about the likes of her."

"I have a question, Madam." The Alpha King said, "Would you punish my mate?"

Madam shook her head. "Of course not, that is treason. I cannot punish a royal mate." She said with a bow.

"Then, tell me why you wish to punish Gemma." The Alpha King said.

I could almost feel everyone's shock. Madam looked at me in disbelief and so did almost everyone standing there.

I don't blame them. It would be hard to believe that I was his mate. After all, I'm just a slave.

"My King… Are you saying that she… she is your mate?" Madam asked, looking at me and then the Alpha King. "This lowly slave?"

"She is no longer a slave, Madam. You will be careful how you talk about her. She is my Luna." The Alpha King announced again shocking everyone.

He could get any girl he wanted, why keep me? Why not reject me and save himself the trouble?

"My apologies, My King. I was out of line." She bowed and told her men to fall back. "Forgive me."

"You're forgiven. I would like to take my leave now, along with Gemma." He said.

"Of course, My King. I'll have you escorted back to your cars." Madam gestured for him to follow her.

As I passed by her, she grabbed my hand and whispered into my ear. "I will find you and when I do, I will make sure to kill you. A slave like you cannot be royalty."

She let go of me quickly and led us back to the cars. The Alpha King held the door open for me and I got in. Madam stared at me from the window.

"I will find you and when I do, I will make sure to kill you. A slave like you cannot be royalty." I heard Madam's low voice in my head.

I swallowed hard and looked away from her as the cars began to move. It took us a couple of hours before we made it to the Alpha King's palace.

"Show Gemma to her new room," he instructed one of his guards. He began to walk away.

For some reason, I didn't want him to just abandon me like that.

"Wait!" I called. He turned back to look at me.

"What's your name?" I asked. I was tired of referring to him as the Alpha King.

"Call me Nate." He smiled before he turned and left.

***

I opened the door to my room quietly and peeped outside. There was no one by the door.

Knowing the cruelty of the Alpha King, I had been sure that he would leave guards outside my door to keep watch. In case I tried to run or kill myself.

But, there was no one here. I stepped out of the room carefully and closed the door behind me.

I didn't know what I wanted to do. I couldn't run away. Madam Margaret would find me and she would be sure to kill me without any evidence.

I wonder if the Alpha King would be able to do anything if I was already dead.

I remembered the way I had come to this room so, I turned the other way and began to walk without direction.

This place was huge. There were many rooms as well as expensive-looking furnitures, vases, and paintings. The Alpha King was wealthy.

There was no doubt, after all, that he was royalty.

I stopped in front of one of the doors for some reason. It wasn't all that different from the others but, there was something about it that made me curious.

I grabbed the door handle and opened it, walking into the room.

This room looked more like a study. It had a large desk, brown leather couches, and paintings on the wall. But, a major part of the room was lined with shelves of books.

Whoever owned this room must like books a lot. There were so many different sections of books.

"Who are you?" A voice demanded as a hand-wound around my neck and slammed me into a wall.