Chapter 1

Kaiya

The guards herd me into a small room full of young she-wolves. Before I can even ask what’s going on, one of the guards, a burly male, slaps a collar around my neck, threads a chain through a loop on the collar, and binds my hands in iron cuffs. “You’re really in for it, Rogue.” He giggles like a four year old, and leaves.

In for what? I wonder.

I know Alpha Dorian’s reputation, and he’s not one to gather breeders or keep a harem, but he can’t stand rogues, although he couldn’t do anything to me as long as I didn’t enter his territory. Tonight, of all nights, I just had to go and blunder onto his lands like a stupid, clueless pup.

Dammit, I should have been more careful. I knew taking a shortcut through Alpha Dorian’s territory was a bad idea, but I was cold and hungry and I was in a hurry to get home.

His warriors ran me down in minutes.

I’m fast, but I’m not faster than a fully-grown and well-trained wolf warrior.

For a while, I just stand around, trying to manoeuvre my arms so the way I’m tied up doesn’t put too much strain on my already aching shoulders.

I don’t say anything yet. Over the years, I have learned that speaking too soon can end you up in a world of trouble. I take my time to look around the room at the other she-wolves sitting on the hard benches along the wall. There’s no room for me, so I make myself comfortable on the floor, pulling my legs up so I can rest my wrists on my knees.

All of the girls appear to be in their late teens and early twenties, and they all wear the same collars I do with their hands bound in iron. The chains are so short that we have to keep our arms up and hands together close to our chests. This is going to get really irritating, really soon.

The only sound in the room is the clinking of chains and soft groans as the girls shift around, trying to get comfortable. Apart from that, they all stare at the floor with similar forlorn and resigned expressions on their faces.

There are no guards in the room with us, but there’s only one door, and I bet there are plenty of guards right outside. “Why are we here?” I finally ask.

The girls don’t stir, but one does speak. “You don’t know?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t ask.”

“The Lycan king is here.”

“So?”

Not much is known about King Bowden, or any of the Lycan rulers for that matter, except that he rules his kingdom with an iron fist. He has no mate, no children, and no family, and he rarely leaves his castle. Their lives are veiled in myth and secrecy.

“He’s looking for breeders,” another says. “He does this every few years when all his breeders die. He visits all the packs and picks new ones.”

“Oh,” I say softly. “And what happens to those he doesn’t pick?”

“Why don’t you know?” another asks me. “You are young and decent looking. Didn’t your Alpha present you to the king?”

“Obviously not,” I say, “or I wouldn’t be here, now would I? I don’t have a pack.”

“Why not?”

Because my father was an asshole and when his Beta overthrew him, they killed my entire family. I managed to get away, but still bear the scars of that day.

I don’t tell the girls. I never tell anyone. If they find out I’m the daughter of the ‘dread Alpha’, as they called my father, they’d kill me where I stand. Or sit in this case. “My Alpha killed my father, and I thought it would be safer for me to run away,” I say at length.

“You’re just an Omega?” another girl asks.

“No,” I lie. I’m so used to lying now that it comes easy to me. “My father was a Beta.”

“Then I wouldn’t worry - he’ll probably pick you.”

“What if I don’t want to be picked?”

“What makes you think you have a choice?” another girl asks and starts to laugh while tears run down her face. “I’m just an Omega. He will never pick me.”

“But that’s a good thing, isn’t it? You can go back to your family and live your life.”

“No,” she says. “That’s not how it works. If the king is displeased with an offered she-wolf, he kills her right away.”

My heart nearly breaks out of my chest with shock and fear. “That’s stupid. Why?”

“How should we know?” another asks. “That’s just how it’s done.’

I remember the night my family was killed right in front of me. I was supposed to be next, but the Beta hesitated. I was the youngest, I haven’t even shifted yet, and one of his warriors asked the same question I’m about to ask, “What difference does it make if you’re alive or dead? You are no threat to him.”

That warrior saved my life. He gave me the chance I needed to get away.

The door to the room swings open and an impressive wolf with curly brown hair and amber eyes walk into the room. “My name is Griffin. I’m King Bowden’s Beta,” he announces. “When the king enters, you are to go on your knees before him. Do not look him in the eye and only speak when spoken to.”

“Pffft,” I scoff without thinking. “Who does he think he is?”

“He is the king.” The Beta trains his eyes on me. “What is your name?”

“Kaiya,” I answer and look the Beta straight in the eyes. “And he’s not my king. I am a rogue. I answer to no one.”

An amused little grin plays over his full lips. “Good for you. I suggest you get your mouth under control if you don’t want to die this night.”

My stomach flips over and my legs turn to water. Shit. I haven’t spent much time with wolves since I ran away, choosing to live among humans instead, and I sometimes forget how touchy they can be.

I get a glimpse of the king as he strides into the room, his hands behind his back, head held high. His aura is overwhelming, and all the girls gasp and slide off their benches to go to their knees. Since I’m already on the floor, I don’t bother, but I do remember to bow my head as the Beta instructed. From this angle, all I can see is the king’s legs dressed in what looks like very expensive slacks and his feet.

“You,” the Beta says and touches my shoulder. “Come with me.”

What? The king didn’t even say a single word about me. For the life of me, I don’t see why a king would want me. I’m a rogue, a nothing, and any Alpha would just as soon see me in his dungeons, or better yet, dead. It’s a miracle that Alpha Dorian brought me to this room instead of just killing me on the spot.

I try to get up, but without the use of my arms, it’s much more difficult than it should be. Somehow, I manage to get to my knees, try to put my foot out and fall sideways instead. Beta Griffin tuts impatiently, grips me by the upper arm and pulls me to my feet.

I dare to take another quick look around. The girls are still on their knees, their chains rattling as they shake in fear, but the king has already left. Did he already pick the girls he wants for his harem? In less than two minutes?

Maybe he only picks one or two girls from every pack before he moves on.

The hallway is completely empty, apart from two guards on either side of the door. They look bored and relaxed as if they know that the girls inside won’t try anything.

Griffin leads me down the hall to a room two doors down. He doesn’t do anything to me, nor does he speak. He just opens the door, plants his hand between my shoulder blades, and gently pushes me inside.

The king is standing at a window with is back next to me. He has impossibly broad shoulders, and shiny, black hair curls in his neck. His massive hands are clasped behind his back and his long legs are spread wide apart.

“Thank you, Griffin,” he says in a beautiful, melodious baritone.

The door closes behind me, and the reality of my current predicament sinks in with a terrifying crash that lands on my shoulders like a boulder. I’m weak in the knees and butterflies flap up a hurricane in my stomach.

I’m alone with the Lycan king. The most dangerous wolf in all of creation.

He turns away from the window to look at me.

I swallow hard against the sudden lump that forms in my throat. My Goddess, but he’s beautiful. Like a masterful painting, with a perfectly straight nose, high cheekbones, full lips and piercing green eyes. “What’s your name?”

“Kuh-“ I clear my throat -“Kaiya, my lord.”

He nods. There’s no hint of emotion on his face. No smile or frown. He’s a marble statue. “I have some questions for you, Kaiya. I want you to answer me honestly.”

“What kind of questions?” I ask before I can stop myself.

The king grimaces in disapproval. I expect him to slap me for my insolence, but instead he just asks, “Are you part of Alpha Dorian’s pack?”

I shake my head. “No, your majesty. I’m a rogue.”

“How old are you?”

“I was fourteen when Beta…I think I may be about nineteen or twenty…thereabouts.”

“Hm,” he grunts. “A little on the young side to be put forth as a breeder, don’t you think?”

“It’s not as if I get a say in the matter.”

“No, you do not,” he replies, his face still completely blank. “Are you a virgin?”

A blush creeps up my neck and burns my cheeks. “Yes, Sir.”

“Sire,” he says. “When you address the king, it’s sire, not sir.”

“My apologies…Sire.”

“You were never raped?”

“No.”

He walks towards me and rests the tips of his fingers on the back of an armchair. He smells divine. Like fresh dew on a warm summer morning. “You were either very lucky or you’re lying to me.”

“I…I stayed out of werewolf territories, my lord.”

His lips twitch a little as if he’s trying to smile. “How did you end up here?”

I sigh dramatically. “I was stupid. I thought…I thought…I was just stupid, Sire.”

“Why didn’t Dorian throw you in the dungeon?”

I blush again when I remember the conversation he had with his patrollers. The Alpha cocked his head this way and that, looking me up and down like I was some kind of show pony. “She’s not bad looking is she?” he asked his Beta. “A little on the small side, even for an Omega.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Hm. Pretty though. The king might like her. I heard he likes them young, blonde, and innocent. Take her to the other candidates.”

“The Alpha thought you might be…pleased with me,” I finally answer the king.

“Yes, he was right,” the king replies without a hint of embarrassment. He reaches out and lifts a lock of messy hair away from my shoulder. “You’re an Alpha’s daughter.”

How does he know that?

“And you think that you don’t have a wolf, don’t you?”

My stomach goes cold. No one ever managed to figure that out. That’s why other wolves usually don’t know that I’m an Alpha’s daughter. I barely have a wolf’s aura or scent.

“You do have a wolf,” the king declares. “She just-” for the first time, his face moves as he frowns and cocks his head at me -“she doesn’t want to emerge. She’s frightened.”

“Oh, I-”

“My wolf likes you,” he interrupts. “I don’t care one way or the other to be honest.”

My mouth almost drops open, but I manage to stop myself just in time. I’ve never come across anyone that’s so blatantly honest, hurtful even.

“Griffin,” the king says in a slightly louder voice.

The door opens and his Beta enters. “Your majesty?”

“We’re done here. Kaiya will come with us.”