4

Today has been a nightmare. I thought it couldn’t get any worse, and that was my greatest delusion. My wolf was already screaming his name, and I wanted nothing more than to be out of here before he gets to know we are mates. This would actually be the first time the idea of being someone’s mate scares me off.

I don’t know why, but the more I think of how complicated this would make everything, the more I felt the moon goddess should never have bothered.

All my life, things have always been out of my control. Things just happened and I’ve had to adjust. I get bullied for my ugliness— something I can’t change, and taken advantage of more times than I could count. Even while everyone else would go crazy with excitement over the annual ball, an event meant for mate-finding, I’ve always been left out. Not once had a she-wolf ever missed it, except for me. And it’s not like the pack ever cared. I didn’t need anyone to tell me where I belonged among them. They’ve made it known that I was unwanted from the start.

They made me give up on ever having a mate, and when I was surprisingly bestowed with Karl without having to attend the ball, I realized maybe I wasn’t so unlucky but now, it’s crystal clear the moon goddess has always been part of those people that find joy in making mockery of me. All along, she’s been toying with my entire life. As if Karl dumping me wasn’t enough, my heartbrokenness didn’t sit well with her and she’s decided to torment me even more by mating me right after with an Alpha king, among everybody else it could have been.

But hell, I’m not obeying her this time.

My nails digging into my palms, I fixated my eyes on my sister and I knew I’ve never been so desperate than I was now. My head was buzzing a danger warning to me, but it was the only option left and I had to do it.

I had to run.

By all means, I wanted an escape. But who was I kidding?

Before I could reach my sister’s unconscious body, they had taken her away. No one knows where they were taking her to, and I meant to find out. But only if the Alpha King did not seize my arm before I could take a step.

“Sshh. If you want your sister to remain alive, then you can’t leave yet.” Heart hammering in my chest, my eyes shifted to him as his cold voice cut through the air. My mouth parted, finding the right words to say but ended up not speaking, afraid I could make things worse for my sister. “I need you guys to excuse us for a while.” He turned to his men and said, his hand withdrawing from mine and he barely finished speaking before they vanished into thin air, leaving me all alone with him.

My gaze never wavered from him even just a little as he crossed the room, striding off to our living room and giving me a view of his broad shoulders. For all I knew, he was in his wolf form not too long ago. I had no idea how he managed to change so quickly in the same room as I, and I didn’t catch it but I couldn’t expect anything less from a man who is perfect himself.

Realization dawned on me that the time was ticking and I shook my head numbly, shaking myself out of my reverie and for a moment, I stood there to brace myself for what was ahead before I finally sped off to the living room.

His scent was the first thing to greet me before I actually saw him. There he was, already seated in the largest and only chair we own, his silver eyes pinning me down with an intensity that ran a shiver down my spine.

The silence stretched as we stared at each other for what felt like forever before he finally spoke, breaking the silence. “Now that it’s just us, have your sit and let’s talk.” He stated firmly, signaling to the floor. When I didn’t budge, he leaned back in his seat, titling his head to the side as if questioning me.

But I actually heard him right. Not only is an arrogant asshole, he’s also condescending. His command was simple; he wants me to sit on the bare floor to prove I’m at his mercy but the truth is, I actually don’t mind. This was little compared to what I can do, as long as he agrees to free my sister.

So instead of giving in immediately, I urged myself to remain standing and squared my shoulder, meeting his gaze head-on.

“Before that, what about my sister? Can you promise her safety? She has a heart condition, who’s going to take responsibility if—” I thought I’d reminded myself what was at stake until my emotions overwhelmed me, and I failed to hold my tongue until I was close to being done for. My words came crashing right back at me and my entire body stiffened.

I thought I knew better but here I was, acting so stupid. I shook my head, burying my face in my hands for a moment. Until I started feeling his gaze penetrating through my skull and snapped my head back up.

To my surprise, the Alpha King didn't break eye contact. I could tell my outburst had clearly caught him off guard and he was raging from within, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hide my disappointment. W—hat have I done?!

His eyes seemed darker now, and I was sure I’d screwed this up. Except that he wasn’t saying anything. He just kept watching me, almost like he was giving me a chance to take it back. And I did.

“Fine, let’s talk. What do you want from me?” I breathed out, settling on the floor like he wanted. If helplessness had a face, it would be me.

My eyebrows are quirked, waiting for him to speak. Now that I get to see a clearer view of his face, I realized I was unprepared for how handsome he was. His sharp jawline was the first to catch my attention, then his brooding eyes that felt like they could see through anyone’s soul if they tried. And although his lips has been set in a firm stern line all through, it still surprised me how someone could look this good.

I hate to admit it but I felt my cheeks flush the longer I stared at him, and if he hadn’t cleared up his throat, breaking the silence just in time, I wasn’t sure how far I would’ve fallen for him.

“I don’t have the time to beat around the bush,” He raised a document I hadn’t realized was in his hand and slammed it onto the table right in front of me so loudly it sent a jolt through me that I hadn’t seen coming. “I want you as my Luna.” His words struck me like a thunderclap, rendering me momentarily dumbfounded.