Chapter 4

Angelina kept fluttering her thick eyelashes. Her eyes were shining, full of hope since Rafe never refused her request before. No matter what she demanded, Rafe always fulfilled them because, after his mate, Angelina was the only person who physically attracted him.

To her surprise, Rafe turned and took one big stride to stop in front of her. His penetrating gaze backed her off subconsciously and she swallowed hard subconsciously. His words buzzed out after a low, guttural growl, 

" Seraya is my prisoner, Angelina. You know, I don't fucking like to share my object with anyone. She can only be my servant, you understand? Now, get out!"

Angelina nodded her head rapidly, her eyes tearing up in rage. Her only hope was Rafe and she believed that turning Seraya into her servant would be her biggest slap on Seraya. But she failed miserably. Angelina squeezed past a nervous smile, muttering before taking a quick leave from his room,

" I...I understand...my king.."

Angelina didn't dare to waste her words in front of him anymore. But she was hopeful at the thought that she would turn Seraya into a servant one day.

______

That night, Seraya woke up in the castle to hear some whisper, coming from through the loopholes of the door. Although she wasn't a light sleeper, those whispers sounded clear as though someone was trying to talk with her. Sitting up from the ground, Seraya whipped her head around swiftly to find nothing else than some old, used staff.

The living quality of this room was more miserable than any of the lowest-pack members. Even the gammas never served so poorly in the pack. She had no bed to lay down and the cold floor was her only hope to spend the nights here for these two torturous months. Her eyes shifted over to look through the window and saw stars shining so brightly tonight. But unfortunately, the scene inside Red Darkling was the opposite of her imagination. She was held captive here to repay the unknown crime that her father committed.

As she let out a painful sigh, those whispers returned this time more evidently,

" Seraya... Seraya..."

Seraya was startled this time and watched around closely. Nothing but a gush of cold wind was surrounding her room. Even though she was a creature, it was easy to get scared to hear something that she couldn't see in her eyes. Seraya blurted frowning and looking around,

" Who..who is it? Show yourself or I will scream!"

Seraya opened all of her Alpha powers to connect with the invisible thing, lurking around her. After several tries, she didn't see anything except the power of the wind grew stronger outside. Curiosity sparked from her thoughts. Pushing herself from the ground, she followed the whisper of wind outside, determined to figure out what was happening exactly.

Seraya came out of her room, trailing the wind blindly. She didn't know for how long she had walked out of the servant quarter and ended up entering the Royal Resident. The corridors seemed like an endless road, never ending and her chase didn't stop for a split second.

After she came a long way from her living room, she stopped stopping and discovered that she was acting like a maniac following a whisper. Clueless, Seraya attempted to walk back until a dark figure appeared out of nowhere, startling them momentarily. Even though she didn't get the face in a single glance, her eyes faltered to imagine who it could be.

The King?

On the other side, Rafe had just come out to breathe some fresh air after a hectic day. Seraya's disrespectful glare kept coming back into his mind and he was restless to punish her. His voice came out groaning,

" What are you doing here?"

Realization kicked her hard and Seraya concluded that she had successfully offered herself as his prey voluntarily. The two times humiliation in the battlefield and courtroom weren't enough for her. Her wolf suggested she behave politely and she cleared her throat, murmuring lowly,

" I...I was just lost.."

Rafe didn't seem convinced by her words. Probably because she kept avoiding his piercing eyes repeatedly. After a while of spending in silence, Rafe suddenly took her arms, pushing her closer to lie on his massive chest. His eyes found the exit of Red Darkling, not too far away from this place.

The king blurted, sending her dagger-like eyes,

" Or are you trying to escape?"

Seraya had the urge to kick straight at his groin. But her Alpha thoughts did tell her that it wasn't a wise decision to anger the king. Besides, she had to survive for two months before her father finally represents himself as innocent.

Seraya snorted back, her eyes staring at the king hatefully,

" An Alpha doesn't run, King Rafe. I am sure, you must have figured it out already."

Seraya finished her words, forming a smirk on her face. Her boldness was top-notch. Rafe clenched his teeth harder and with a hard pull, she pressed her against the wall on her back. She felt his breath on her neck, fanning and sending shivers down her spine,

" I know, Alpha Seraya but you will learn that it's not worth provoking a king."

Seraya gritted her teeth hard, her face darkening in anger. She hated to be dominated by anyone but this king was full of dominance and wanted to possess her in every possible way. Her words came out sharply,

" You can't kill me!"

Seraya knew that there was no way, a king would back off from his words. Since he had given them two months, he would fulfill them at any cost. Rafe grunted in a low voice, his lips stretching into a smirk to whisper into her ears slowly,

" Yes, but I can make your life living like hell, Alpha Seraya. In words, you will learn how to respect your king."

" You aren't my king!", her words rolled out instantly, angering him more.

Rafe's sharp claws plucked out instantly from his caramel skin, followed by a tearing noise. Seraya gasped hard when her shabby gown was torn into two pieces, forcing her to press her hands over her chest. Rafe's words hummed into her ears coldly,

" You will walk back into your room naked, Seraya."

______

Moments afterward, Cohen appeared on his side, trying to get through the emotions that his king possessed while staring into someone's retreating. Rafe felt more tortured to see that she didn't protest nor did she ask him to have mercy on her.

This stubborn Alpha...

Rafe barked inside and was pulled back to earth when Cohen started speaking,

" You are being too harsh on her, King. She isn't at fault here."

Rafe sent a sharp look at his beta who quickly lowered his head down, realizing his mistake. Rafe took a sharp breath painfully, his visions turning blurry in painful memories, his mate covered in blood. Even the distant memories were enough to make a painful howl in his heart.

Rafe barked his words out, his eyes narrowing in rage,

" She is, Cohen because she is Artemis's daughter. She is equally blamed for her father'swrongdoingss. I am not showing any mercy on her unless his father proves himself innocent. She is just another shadow of him."

Cohen understood that it was impossible to pursue his Alpha anymore. Ever since his mate was killed that night, he had been acting all this impulsively as if he couldn't control his actions anymore. As for his loyal beta, he just wanted to warn him because the other members kept spreading various rumors about Alpha Seraya. In the end, she was an Alpha.

Exhaling through his nose heavily, Cohen notified the king in a serious voice,

" The pack needs a gathering, Alpha. There have been a few attacks recently. Would you like to go on patrolling now?"

Rafe shook his head negatively and replied snapping his head toward the way that Seraya just left,

" I want to see her getting humiliated in front of everyone. I am coming later, Cohen! Inform the pack members that we will be holding a gathering soon over Alpha Artemis's dead body."

Rafe stalled on the way after his words and left Cohen in deep thought. Though everything started from hatred, ever since Seraya entered Red Darkling, his king kept giving all his attention to her.

Everything is because of vengeance or did the moon goddess had something else planned?