Chapter 4

Leah's POV

“But I just fucking told you why!” I blurted.

Shit. Language, Leah. I had just cussed at him.

Roman smiled. He pulled his hand away from the wall and folded his arms across his chest, watching me as though I had said something amusing.

“No,” he said. “You told me what you would gain. You told me why you needed my help. You didn't tell me why I should consider giving it to you.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

Well…

That was annoying.

I had no answer.

The silence stretched between us. Roman didn't seem bothered by it. He simply stood there, arms folded, looking at me with that irritating little smile.

I hated that smile.

“Okay, fine,” I said at last. “What exactly do you want me to say?”

“If you go through with this without making another fuss…” He unfolded his arms and moved closer. “Maybe I'll consider freeing you early so you can pursue these little dreams of yours.”

My heart jumped.

Freeing me? Early?

I looked at him, trying to work out whether I had heard him correctly. If I agreed to stay here as his breeder, I might eventually get my freedom and still have a chance at Royalwood. Well, it was something.

But it just wasn't what I wanted.

Roman leaned closer. His voice dropped as he continued, “You might even find that I can be quite reasonable when you learn to cooperate.”

His hand moved towards my neck, his fingers brushing lightly against the side of it.

My hope died.

Oh, absolutely not.

My knee shot up.

It connected with his crotch.

Roman's expression changed so quickly that I almost missed it. His arms dropped, his body folded, and he stumbled away from me before sinking to the floor with both hands clamped over his balls.

For a moment, he couldn't even speak.

Then a strangled groan escaped him.

“Why the fuck would you do that?” he managed, his voice strained with pain.

I took a step back, breathing hard. “Sorry, Alpha. But I did try to reason with you. Since you couldn't help me, I'm afraid you forced me to do it this way.”

I wasn't sorry. Not even a little.

I couldn't afford to get caught now. Roman had already threatened me, and judging by the way he had looked at me, he wasn't the sort of man who would forget being humiliated. But what was he going to do? Send me back to the room and expect me to put on that ridiculous dress? He could try.

I turned towards the clothes he had discarded earlier. I had seen the badge near his top. A man like Roman was bound to have money on him too, and I wasn't going to leave empty-handed.

“Wha… What are you doing?” he demanded.

I ignored him and crouched beside his clothes.

“You….” His voice sharpened, though he was still bent over. “What are you doing?”

“Pursuing those dreams of mine, dear Alpha.” I picked up his top and searched the pockets. “And it turns out I don't need you to free me to do that.”

My fingers found a wallet.

Aha!

I pulled it out and opened it. There was cash inside. I collected some, then noticed the council badge again.

I lifted it between my fingers.

Roman's head snapped up. His face had gone pale, but his eyes were furious.

“Put that back,” he warned. “I'm giving you one chance to do the right thing. Keep it where it is, and I might still forgive you for what you've done.”

I looked at him, then at the badge.

Was he seriously threatening me while sitting on the floor because I had kneed him?

A laugh escaped me. I dropped the badge back onto his clothes and kept the cash.

“There. I didn't take your precious badge.”

“You little…”

He tried to straighten, but whatever he did made him wince. He sank back down, one hand returning to his crotch.

“Oh, for God's sake, stop being so dramatic.” I rolled my eyes. “I didn't even kick the main area. Just the side, to keep you down for a while. You'll be fine.”

“You think this is funny?” he growled.

I glanced at him. “Not particularly. But you're making it difficult not to laugh.”

I slipped the money into my dress and backed towards the door.

“Don't you dare walk out of here,” he snapped.

I paused, looking at him. “Why don't you make me, Alpha?”

His expression darkened.

Then, just as I turned to leave, he raised his voice.

“Help! Someone! A thief just robbed me!”

My stomach dropped.

Oh, shit.

I hurried towards the doorway, but before I left, I looked back at him. “Well, look at that. Guess an Alpha's balls aren't indestructible after all.”

“You little!..!”

“And I promise I'm only borrowing this.” I tapped the money hidden in my dress. “Whenever we meet again, I'll return it to you. By then, you might even see the kind of potential you wanted to reduce to a mere breeder.”

“When we meet again, you will pay for this! Do you hear me?”

I shook my head. “Guess there's no reasoning with you, then.”

And I bolted.

I rushed down the corridor, keeping my head low as I passed the rooms. Roman's shouting continued behind me, and I knew it wouldn't take long for someone to come looking. I had to get out of the manor before they caught me. I wasn't going back there willingly.

A matron appeared at the end of the corridor, her face creased with confusion.

“What in the heavens is going on?”

I didn't stop to explain. I drove my elbow into her, knocking her unconscious, then hurried past her.

“Sorry!” I called over my shoulder, though I doubted she heard me.

The outer grounds were busy, with people carrying supplies and going about their duties. I kept my face turned away and slipped between them. Every shout made me move faster.

I spotted a carriage near the entrance, its driver preparing to leave. Without thinking twice, I hurried towards it and climbed inside.

“Hey, lady!” the driver protested. “You didn't even ask me—”

“Just drive!” I said, practically throwing myself onto the seat.

I glanced past him and saw matrons and guards gathering outside the pack house, searching for someone.

Me.

I quickly turned away.

The driver muttered something under his breath, but the carriage finally lurched forward. I held my breath until the pack house began to disappear behind us. Only then did I let out the breath I'd been holding.

Finally.

I was getting out of that place.

I closed my fingers around the money. It wasn't much, but it was a start. I didn't need Roman or his stupid pack laws. I was going to get into Royalwood. I would find a way to make them watch me fight and prove that being wolfless didn't mean I was incapable.

No one was going to stop me from trying again.