Episode 2

Chapter 2

ARYA

“What kind of joke is this?” Alaric thundered, his face red with anger as he exchanged glares with the guy on the throne.

“My lord, there's a messenger for you. He said it's urgent.” One of the gamma's alerted and the guy flickered his fingers.

“I have a guest. The messenger can wait for more than 30 minutes.” His eyes were on me and he didn't seem like just any guy that stopped my escape plan, this man right here might be my only chance of survival.

“You're the Alpha?” Alaric asked though he was more careful this time and his voice sounded a lot more calmer.

“Let's not insult me with comparisons with Alpha. Skip the long monologue,” He suddenly said and turned to stare a while at me thoughtfully like he could see through my very own soul, “Do you want to return to your pack with them?” The question was direct and straightforward and it felt like he was serving me my future on a platter.

It all depends on what the hell I pick now.

“No, I don't want to return with them. I'd rather stay here and work even as a maid than return with them.” I said quietly and his lips pursed into a thin line before he shrugged while nodding.

“You heard the lady.” He referred to Alaric and Alaric tried protesting when the guy placed a hand over his lip in a gesture of silence.

“Xaden, untie her. And as a part of her wish, show her to the maids quarters. Have Kael escort these men to the boundary.” He ordered standing up from his seat and the people he had called on hurriedly stepped forward to fulfill his wish.

“You refuse to cooperate? You will be hearing from Alpha Kavinsky soon enough.” The guy paused in his tracks for a moment before turning back to us.

“Council, throw this man in the dungeon. You'll be one not hearing from your Alpha for a long time.” Soon cuffs were on Alaric's hands while I was set free and I chuckled lightly.

“How fast the table changes.’ I muttered.

“He would tell you why his second name is Chaos.” Alaric yelled while being dragged away.

“That's a good thing.” He muttered and then stared at the other three guards that were brought in together with us, “Tell your Alpha that when he wants to address his letter, he shouldn't miss out on sending it to Lycan King Kai..” My eyes widened as I finally figured out why he said Alpha's are boring.

He was a god-damned Lycan King! He was the legend we had read about, the one whose face was not known.

“You're the Lycan King?” Alaric said in a daze as they dragged him away while a guard signalled to me to follow him.

“You can't take her away. Alpha Kavinsky would not stop until he gets her back.” Alaric yelled as they dragged him, the sound of his boots in friction with the hard floor.

I left a pack only to end up in a lycanthropy, at least here I would have new beginnings.

“So what's the name of this lycanthropy?” I asked the guards as we walked together through hallways.

“There's no chance you haven't heard about the Red Fangs.” He simply said and I shrugged.

“We read about that in books, I never thought it was real, it was supposed to be a myth. I never knew that we shared a boundary with Lycanthropy.” I stated and he didn't bother to answer me.

Lycanthropy and werewolf packs were different, Lycan's were higher than werewolves, at least that's what the myths say. That should probably be why Lycan Kai didn't accept being called an Alpha.

“How long has lycanthropy been in existence?” I asked and the guard raised a brow like I had asked the most ridiculous question ever.

“They've been in existence way before werewolves.”

“We're here.” He announced and if this is just the maids quarters, then this is fucking luxury. Everywhere sparkled and the rooms looked like something created for princesses not slaves.

“Rogue wolf, Xaden?” One of them asked and he nodded.

“Something like that. Have a duty assigned to her, my job is done here.” He walked out and suddenly I felt like the room was just too big for me to be under. I felt small, I felt caged.

“Hey, new pup. Are you going to keep standing here and gawking like an idiot? You stink, plus there are dishes in the kitchen. Get to those first.” Water was splashed on my face from a direction I couldn't make out and my bones stilled.

The girls are mean, the exact depiction of what my step mother looks like.

“Is that my assigned duty?” I asked in a call voice, waving off their rude manner.

“You'll do any task given to you, pup. Did you come out from a dumpster or something? You rot.” Someone said and I swallowed trying to keep myself in check.

“Get to the kitchen already, your body is polluting the area.”

“Sure, I'll do just that. Let me just magically know the route to the kitchen.” I said casually, my eyes landing on the girl that had poured water on me.

I gritted my teeth when water was poured on my face aggressively again and I lost my self control.

“You need the water, you stink.”

“Before going to the kitchen see…” I said and trailed off, walking closer to her, it seemed like I would walk past her but instead I grabbed her by the hair and pulled her out of bed.

“I'm not going to be very nice next time, consider this my welcome gift.” I smirked and slapped her across the face when the door opened and everyone stilled.

“Good thing, you're here, head maid. This new rogue just attacked Bria.” I rolled my eyes as the head maids gaze landed on me.

“You're new and already causing trouble. I can't deal with you the way I want because the King wants you as his personal maid else —”

“Hold on, she's new. Why would the King want her as his personal maid?” Bria questioned with squinted eyes and I just sighed.

“We can't question any order he has given, can we? Hey, new pup, walk with me.” The head maid ordered as shee began to walk out while murmurs filled the room.

“I won't answer to New pup next time, my name is Arya.” I said in a low voice, part of my heart drumming inside of my chest as to why the Lycan King choosed me as his personal maid.

I wasn't clumsy, I'm sure I would be able to carry out my duties fervently but why? Why?

“The Lycan King himself would brief you on your duties. Go in.” The head maid stated, gesturing towards a gigantic door and I folded my fists together to stop them from quivering while heaving up and down before walking into the room.

I shut the door behind me, unable to make out anything in the darkness when suddenly the lights came on and there he was, leaning onto the wall with his hands on the switch.

“My Lord.” I tried to show respect by bowing my head slightly but I still couldn't get off the surprise that he was actually a Lycan King.

“Arya Stone.” I wanted to ask how he knew my name but I must say, Lycans have their way.

“Is your wolf dormant?” He questioned and I shook my head in negativity while he squinted his eyes suspiciously.

“When was the last time you spoke to your wolf?” He asked and I folded my fist, feeling uncomfortable by the question.

“I'm sorry to deviate, my Lord. But the head maid said you're to brief me on my duties.” He nodded slightly before raising a brow.

“That's not the answer to my question, Arya.” There was something about the tone of his voice that made me shiver in my boots and sent sharp chills down my spine.

He was like a light switch, turning on and off at intervals without warning.

“I talked to my wolf this morning when I was being chased.” He nodded slightly, staring over me like he was in search of something.

“Try talking to your wolf now.” He commanded and I wanted to refute but his tone left no room for arguments.

“Hey Nyx.” I muttered and the only thing I received was loud absolute silence.

“Nyx?” I called again in confusion and he sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration.

“No, I swear. I talked to her just this—” I was abruptly cut short when he picked a lighter from his table and grabbed my wrist.

“Where were you bound with the chains?” He examined my wrist, his eyes landing on the cut on my wrist from the time I was bound as I tried to wiggle out of the chains.

“Wolfsbane, I thought so.” He grabbed a piece of linen and without warning, stuffed it into my mouth.

“Brace yourself, this will hurt.” He lit the lighter and seared my skin and I screamed biting into the linen as tears ran down my eyes. My scream was too loud to be muffled against the cloth but he didn't let go even as I tried desperately to get out of his clutches.

“Pleaseeee.” I yelled and he let go of me while I began to heal slowly while panting as pain registered to my nerves.

As he let go of me, the room began swirling and I stared at his eyes which were dark, cold and empty and suddenly turned ocean blue.

The scent of the woods mixed with strawberry wafted through my nostrils and I looked up to realize that the scent was coming from him. It felt so soothing, and my wolf seemed to feel protective and safe at that rich scent.

“Mate,” my wolf purred, her voice tinged with both awe and longing. My breath hitched as the word settled over me like a weight I wasn’t ready to bear.

Kai’s ocean-blue eyes locked onto mine, the flicker of recognition unmistakable. He nodded once, as if he had known all along, a slight shrug betraying his nonchalance.

Before I could find my voice or untangle the mess of emotions clawing at me, the chamber door flew open with a loud crash.

“My Lord, we’re under attack!” a guard announced, his voice urgent.

Kai’s expression shifted instantly, his relaxed demeanor evaporating like mist. His eyes darkened, a deadly calm settling over him. Without sparing me another glance, he turned to the guard.

“Prepare the defenses,” he commanded, his voice like steel. Then, as if remembering my presence, he paused. “Stay here, Arya. We’ll finish this later.”

He strode out of the room, leaving me standing there with my heart racing, my mind racing and a single word echoing over and over in my head.

Mate.