Chapter 3

Leah's POV

You've really done it now, haven't you, Leah?

What was I supposed to say?

Shit. How was I going to explain that this wasn't what it looked like when it most definitely looked like I was about to escape?

There were consequences for attempting to flee. I couldn't let him know I had planned to run. Not yet.

“It's honestly not what you think, Alpha. I was just…”

He walked straight past me, shoving my shoulder as he entered the room.

I stumbled sideways, catching myself against the doorframe. My mouth fell open. Excuse me? Was an excuse me too much to ask for? He could have at least said something before pushing me out of his way. What was wrong with this man?

And wasn't he the one who had requested a breeder? The fact that he had actually come here only confirmed that he had, in fact, requested one.

Unfortunately for him, he'd gotten the wrong woman. I wasn't breeding for anyone.

“An excuse me would have been nice, you know,” I snapped, turning to face him. “You didn't have to shove me.”

He didn't spare me a glance.

Instead, he walked farther into the room and began taking off his clothes.

What…what was he doing?

He pulled off his top first, revealing a broad chest and well-defined muscles. Then his hands moved to his belt.

My throat went dry.

He wasn't even going to speak? Was this how it was done? Some barbaric mating ritual where he just threw himself at me, plunged into me, and expected me to push out his children?

What the actual fuck?

Why hadn't the bastard just found himself a mate? A real mate. Someone who actually wanted to have his children.

He stopped halfway through unbuckling his belt and finally looked at me.

“Pull it off.”

“What?”

“I'm sure you're not deaf. Off with the dress.”

For a second, my head spun. A laugh almost escaped me, but I couldn't tell if it was because the situation was ridiculous or because I was about to lose my mind. Nah. This had to be some sick dream.

This was the man I had admired for years, the Alpha whose achievements I had built my dreams around. And this was how he treated women? He couldn't even speak to me before ordering me to strip.

Fuck him. And his pathetic pack laws. I wasn't doing this shit with him.

My gaze dropped to the clothes he had removed. Something caught my attention near the edge of his discarded top. A badge.

I leaned slightly, trying to get a better look.

Was that a council badge?

The Royalwood Academy council badge?

My eyes widened.

“Wait. You're a council member?” I asked. “At Royalwood?”

He paused, staring at me before answering reluctantly.

“And what does that have to do with this?”

Oh my fucking goodness.

He was a council member. That meant he could help me get into Royalwood. Maybe not guarantee my admission, but he could at least give me a chance to prove myself. He could put in a word for me, arrange a trial, or tell the council to consider my application again.

Hope rushed through me so suddenly that I almost forgot the man standing in front of me was currently ordering me to take off my clothes.

He didn't seem remotely bothered by the fact that he was asking a woman he'd met only moments ago to strip in front of him. My irritation was still there, and it made the words I wanted to say get stuck in my throat.

“What is the problem with you?” he asked.

“What?”

“Do you need help stripping off those rags, or are you planning to stand there all day?”

Rags?

I glanced down at my dress, then back at him.

This fucking asshole.

I wanted to tell him exactly what he could do with his opinion, shove it up his ass and remind him I hadn't asked to be assigned to him.

But then I remembered the badge.

Cool down, Leah. This isn't the time to get witty. He could be my ticket into Royalwood.

I swallowed. It was humiliating, but I needed to try. I only needed to get him to listen.

“Alpha, please,” I began, forcing the words out. “I know this isn't what you want to hear right now, but I need you to listen to me. I don't want to be a breeder. I never wanted this assignment. I've spent most of my life training because I want to become a warrior. I want to attend Royalwood Academy.”

He watched me without saying anything.

I took that as permission to continue, even though his expression wasn't encouraging.

“I applied, but they rejected me because I'm wolfless. They didn't even give me a chance to prove what I could do. I know I don't have a wolf, but that doesn't mean I'm useless. I can fight. I've trained for years, and I'm good at it. I can do more than clean someone's house or spend my life having children for a man.”

My voice grew firmer as I spoke. Once I started, it became harder to stop.

“I know what the academy expects from its students. I know the standards are high, and I'm not asking you to pretend I'm qualified if I'm not. I'm asking for a chance to prove that I can meet them. Let me take a trial. Let me fight someone. Give me an opportunity to show the council that I deserve to be there.”

I hated how desperate I sounded. I hated that I was standing in front of a man who had just ordered me to strip, practically begging him to help me achieve the one thing I had worked towards for years. But I needed him to understand that I wasn't asking for a comfortable life or special treatment. I wanted to earn my place.

“Please,” I added, quieter this time. “I have so much more potential than being somebody's breeder. I know I do.”

For a moment, Roman said nothing.

Then an amused expression slowly crossed his face.

My heart lifted.

Was he actually considering it?

I barely had time to hold on to that thought before he started moving towards me. He crossed the room without hurrying, his eyes fixed on mine. I instinctively stepped backwards, but there wasn't much space behind me. A second later, my back met the wall.

He placed one hand against it beside my head, leaning close enough that I could see the faint details in his blue eyes.

I stiffened. The amusement hadn't left his face, and I had to fight the urge to slap that grin right off. Still, I didn't look away. Maybe he was actually considering helping me.

Then his gaze settled on me, and he finally spoke.

“And why would I help you?”