CHAPTER 7: SAYING NO

SORAYA’S POV

A naked one.

That was the kind of monster on the other side of the door.

Alpha Khai sat on a majestic black-and-gold throne like it was made for him and no one else—one hand draped over the armrest, the other lazily twirling a glass of deep red wine like he had all the time in the world.

One leg rested lazily over the other, muscles flexed beneath skin that caught the firelight like polished bronze.

In front of him, a long obsidian table overflowed with luxurious food—roasted meats, jeweled fruits, crystal decanters of wine, golden goblets—but nothing on that table looked half as tempting as the man himself.

All lean muscle, golden skin, and raw heat.

The sheet around his waist did nothing to hide how dangerous he was—or how blessed. Like a beast dressed in royalty.

Eyes like ice and fire swept the space with unrivalled dominance and power, seizing our breaths and sending our hearts stuttering.

A dangerous smile lit his face with dark mischief.

The aroma infiltrated my nostrils the second the doors opened, causing my stomach to rumble. It was then it occurred to me that I had not eaten all evening.

But why does it feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks?

I seemed to be the only one interested in the food. The other girls had their mouths watering at something else—at the great Alpha King Khai.

From where I stood, the sheet slung around his waist was an insult. It hid the one thing every woman in the room was thinking about—but barely.

It sat low, dangerously low, teasing the sharp V of his hips, each muscle cut and tight like his body was carved from temptation itself.

His abs were the kind you wanted to trace with your tongue—toned, strong, sexy, and flexing with every lazy shift of his weight.

And Goddess, there were litters of scars. Marks that made him all the more masculine. Sinful. Attractive.

He was exactly the kind of man your body reacted to before your mind could catch up.

The kind of man who didn’t need to touch you to make you yearn and wet and drip.

I must admit, I had never seen a male with a body as magnificent as his.

Heat crawled up my cheeks as my thoughts wandered back to how hard his body was pressed against mine at the auction.

Just how hard is his—

Goodness gracious, Soraya. I should not be thinking about these things.

But I couldn’t help myself. Even my wolf was smitten by him.

She was no different from the girls surrounding me—purring dreamily at the sight of his bare body, wanting nothing more than to feel his touch in the most sensual of ways.

But I cannot give in just like that. I still remember the way he treated me at the auction. He was so rude. So disrespectful.

I’d thought he was my savior, but that might have been far from it.

He might be good-looking, but he lacks heavily in personality. And I will not ignore a man’s personality ever again.

I will not have two Ragnars in my life.

I will not have any man in my life.

I just need to stay focused on the plan and be smart. And one day, I will finally be free.

A series of sighs and giggles filled my ears. And just a single lift of Khai’s hand was enough to give them the go-ahead.

The girls rushed to his side, throwing themselves on different parts of him like he was some prized slab of meat tossed to a pack of starving slaves—greedy hands grabbing, lips pressing, bodies pressing up against his like they’d been waiting their whole lives just for a taste.

I stood there, paralyzed to the spot, caught somewhere between shock and… something far more dangerous.

They kissed him like he belonged to them. Licked him like he was a god and it was their duty to worship. Touched every inch of him like they had a right to.

My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when one of them slid her hand under the sheet—then pulled it back, rather shamelessly, just to run her tongue over his long, veiny cock like it was only ever hers for the taking.

The girls moaned and giggled, utterly drunk on the moment—as if pleasuring him was some sacred honor they’d spent their entire lives chasing.

The sight evoked a thousand emotions in me—mainly lust, anger, and disgust. There was something about this that attracted me, yet repelled me.

I couldn’t understand it.

My eyes had mainly been focused on his body and what the girls were doing to him. But when they dragged up to his face, my breath hitched.

He was staring right at me.

One would think he’d be halfway across the moon with five women showering him in pleasure. But his face remained stoic, his eyes cold—directed solely at me.

I could have sworn he looked... annoyed.

One of the girls began to stroke his hard member, all while taking the top of him down her throat.

It amazed me how he managed to keep a straight face. He just kept staring at me like I was a puzzle he was trying desperately to solve.

Slowly, a smirk curled up his lips as he leaned further into his chair. He raised his hand and said, “Why are you just standing there? Get over here and do your job.”

I swallowed, then stood my ground.

I might not have a head after this, but fuck it.

“No.”

The girls on him froze. They looked at me like I was the first mortal to challenge a god.

A growl left Khai’s chest as his lips pulled into a snarl. The girls hurriedly continued their work on his body, desperate not to get caught in his wrath.

“What did you just say?”

I knew he was giving me another chance to correct myself. To submit. To avoid making a fool of myself.

But I just couldn’t see myself acting like they did. It was beneath me.

I am not a slut, and I never will be one.

“I said no,” I said, my voice firmer. “I’m not a whore you can just summon to suck your cock. I’m a woman with dignity and pride. So no. I will not come.”

Silence.