Chapter Four

He was Alpha?

Valentine couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it. She thought he was just a beast locked away in the tower. She had no idea he was allowed to move about. He had to be Alpha too.

But this wasn't the man who passed judgement on them. While the King had been older with relaxed features that complemented his handsomeness, this man before her had a rough beauty with hardened features. He was wild. Unrefined. But he was dangerously attractive.

While the king had a comforting aura, his screamed power and commanded submission.

"You forget little things easily, pet" He said and rage filled her.

Pet again?

That name made her so mad. It made her feel like a common dog. He had her chains with him and the thought upset her more.

"I'm not a pet. You can't treat me like an animal simply cause I sneaked into your tower" Valentine fired. His jaw tightened and she knew he was angry. His face was blank as usual but she was sure he was angry. She'd already broken two rules.

He stepped closer and her legs felt like jelly. Her confidence suddenly eluded her.

"Do you know who you're talking to?" The harshness of his tone sent chills down her spine. She was in big trouble and once again, her tongue was responsible for it.

"I..I'm sorry..." She stuttered but he wasn't buying it. He kept coming closer until they were inches apart. Her breath hitched and she bowed her head quickly.

He forced her to look at him by gripping her face tightly.

"For every rule you break, you must face the punishment."

If she was scared before, now she was terrified. Punishment, she didn't like the sound of that. He forced her to kneel and fixed the chains on her neck.

"Before then, let's walk" He said. She was about to stand when he pulled her hair, forcing her back to the floor.

"There's a reason you're in chains, pet. You belong down there so crawl and don't be too sluggish else I'll pull the chains so hard that you'll choke" He said.

Tears burned her eyes. That was all that was left to completely trample on her dignity. She wanted to defy him but she remembered she had a pending punishment. Swallowing the last iota of pride left in her, Valentine rested her hands on the ground and began crawling.

He held the chains and strolled behind her. Everyone seemed to be passing by at that moment. Many threw her pitiful glances. She felt so sorry for herself.

A woman suddenly rushed in front of them with puffy eyes and knelt.

"Your highness.." She bowed but he didn't reply.

"Some young wolves wandered into the forest last night. My only son was one of them. They're yet to return and I fear the worst, my king. He's all I've got" She sobbed.

Valentine felt sorry for her. 

"You know where the throneroom is, don't you? Go there and you'll find your king" He said coldly and Valentine's jaw dropped.

Now it was confirmed he wasn't just being mean to her. He lacked compassion. He couldn't even pretend to be concerned yet he was Alpha. The woman scurried off and Valentine resumed crawling.

She heard him muttering inaudible things and she almost stopped.

She shouldn't be bothered. It's not like he was bothered about anyone either. But her knees were on fire. She'd be crawling for so long and the coarse sand didn't feel nice against her skin.

She wanted to ask if she could stop but she wasn't allowed to talk to him unless he spoke to her and she wasn't sure he planned on doing that anytime soon.

So she stopped. Seconds turned to minutes. He did nothing. She wondered if she was supposed to be happy or concerned. She stole a quick glance at him and found him staring ahead. She followed his gaze. Nothing. Plain space.

She sighed and resumed walking. It felt like she was the one pulling him. Like he had no interest in where they were going. She was almost sure he wasn't in this planet as well.

He was probably the strangest person she'd ever met. Valentine took a turn and slowed down incase he reacted. Nothing. So she led him back to the palace. Before she could go in, a lady in a royal robe with two maids blocked her path.

Valentine looked up and frowned at her. Why did she have to appear now she was trying to get rid of her problem?

"Eric, are you back from your walk?" The lady asked and Valentine rolled her eyes. She wasn't blind, was she? And Eric....could that be his name?

"Move" Came a command. She couldn't tell if he was talking to her or the lady blocking her. The lady stepped aside and Valentine resumed crawling.

"Are you busy now? I wanted....."

"Us to have sex? You know what to do. Next time, don't interrupt my walk" He snapped and Valentine almost choked on nothing. Did he have to be so blunt?.

"It's important, please. We need to talk privately" the lady stressed the word privately to gain Valentine's attention.

"Then send your maids away and speak" He snapped. She sent them away and fixed her attention on the lady in chains. She was his new pet but there was something different. She didn't have that terrified look on her face. In fact, She stared back at her fiercely.

"Leave us" She ordered.

"You don't order her. Speak or quit bothering me" He said. Valentine made a mental note he was calmer towards the woman. They must have some sort of relationship.

"I'm pregnant, Eric and the King......"

"Get rid of it" He interrupted and walked out on her pulling Valentine with him.

Kimberly was too stunned to move. His harsh words kept playing in her mind. Get rid of it? For how long? She liked him a lot. Why couldn't he simply like her back? That wasn't the most difficult thing on earth.

She was his betrothed for goodness sake! She sighed and walked away.

As soon as they entered his chambers, he shut the door. Valentine kept staring at him in disbelief. How could he be so brusque? It was his child not some animal he could just kill when he felt like. How come he had no regard for human life?.

"Just few hours and I'm already mistaking you for an animal. That woman was carrying your child. She's not some commodity you can use......" A slap forced her mouth shut.

"You just don't listen, do you? Now your punishment's triple" He said and she glared at him. He slapped her again.

"I hate you. You're a beast. I hate you. Hit me all you want, Eric. You can bash my head on the wall if you wish but as long as I breath, I won't stop talking" Valentine yelled.

For the first time, his emotionless face bore an expression. Fury. He took the chains off her. It would have been a good thing if he wasn't so terrifying. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to an adjoined room.

A gasp escaped her lips as her eyes travelled round the room. It was a torture room. Her heartbeat tripled. Now she understood why her mom often said her tongue would be the death of her.

"P..please..I'm sorry....I..." He shoved her against the pole. It already had several chains round it, informing her she wasn't the first. He had her bounded with the chains.

"Please....forgive me..." She sobbed.

"Every offence has a punishment. Unless I punish you, you will continue to disrespect me" He said coldly. She knew he wasn't going to change his mind. He removed the whips from the set and her stomach sank.

Who said the truth shall set you free? She would give anything to see that idiot right now. A piercing scream escaped her lips as he lashed her.

"Please....stop...stop please..." Valentine sobbed but he continued whipping her. She cried, begged, screamed until there was no strength left in her. He didn't stop. Until she went numb and embraced the inviting darkness.