LOGINThe door slammed shut and my heart skipped a beat. I watched Lycan Cassius drop his box case on his large, king-sized bed. He took off his shoes and turned around to look at me, still staying close to the door. I lowered my gaze, and I felt footsteps coming towards me quickly.
"What skills do you possess?" His question sounded abrupt, and my gaze remained lowered as I didn't have an answer to this.
He raised his voice, and I felt his fists knocking at the air. "Take your eyes off the floor and look at me when I am speaking to you."
I quickly raised my gaze, setting it on his chest instead. I couldn't return those brutal stares. They were piercing my eyes. The room felt tense, and for many reasons, I just wanted to go out and breathe a deep sigh of relief.
"I can see that mark on your neck. It's an honorary badge given to warriors, but it amuses me that you can't answer a simple question," he said, a smirk playing on his lips which faded the moment I stared at him.
"Keep the gaze intact," he commanded and leaned in closer. "I will have my men take that badge off your neck. You belong to me now. Not as a warrior, but as my property."
His hands grabbed my neck, and he gently pushed me to the wall, sniffing the air around us. "I will advise you to learn your place in this pack before I teach it."
His voice became so low and threatening. "I don't care what badge you might have received in your pack. All that matters is... you're here. You don't breathe until I tell you to."
And then he dropped his hands from my neck. That tingling sensation I felt rippling across my skin vanished. That must have been a result of the pressure he held my neck with.
"I don't understand why Jace has not yet arrived. He will show you where to stay, and he will give you some instructions to follow. If being alive is one of your plans, I suggest you follow his rules without complaint," he said and turned towards the door, while my breath remained shaky. I had started staring at the floor again now.
And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the reflection of green eyes on the door as curiosity raised my head. It was actually a reflection of his green eyes. He stood quietly while his eyes reflected illumination, and suddenly, he snapped back to life.
"What took you so long?" He asked in a low tone as the door kicked open. A middle-aged young man with nice features walked in, bowing his head. He had a muscular build as well, but not up to half of Cassius’s.
Cassius must have sent a mind message to him, I said to myself and snapped back to reality when I heard my name.
"Safely guide the little Camilla to the last room here," Cassius said, his eyes complimenting his words while his Beta stood there, a little confused about the order.
"I have contacted the Omega District, and they are eager to welcome her. There is plenty of work to do and..." His Beta spoke firmly, but Cassius cut his words short.
"Are you telling me what to do? Are you adjusting my command?" Cassius growled. "Show her the room and return to your duty."
The Beta lowered his head and stretched out a hand to me. "Please come with me, little Camilla."
I quietly stepped behind him, and my mind felt freed the moment I left the Alpha's room. It felt like I had just gotten out of captivity.
I heard the low chatter of the wolves outside. I saw different sets of girls walking up and down in this Alpha's dormitory, some discussing schooling, some discussing mating issues, and I was almost losing myself to these imaginations.
We finally reached the doorstep of my new room. I thought about this again. The Beta was actually right. Was I not supposed to work in the Omega District? He told me he didn't care whatever I might have been in my old pack. All that mattered to him was my presence here and the fact that I would obey every last one of his orders.
The Beta pushed the door open and stepped inside, letting the switch come on. Fear gripped my heart for one second. How could I be given this large and beautiful room? It felt awesome so awesome that I was close to declining this great gift.
"This is the room. Guards will be here for you very soon. The mistress will attend to you as well. Please ensure you stay inside here and don't cause any commotion to the pack," the Beta said and slightly lowered his head.
It was brave of me to reply with a bright smile, but I guessed it was worth the risk. He replied with a bigger smile and stretched out an arm. "My name is Jace. How about you?"
"C-Camilla," I said, smiling.
"Yeah, I've once heard that name," Jace said and quickly switched the topic. "I have to go now. Take care of yourself, Camilla."
I waved at him as he walked out of my room with calculated steps. And then that fear returned to my mind. The Beta slammed the door shut and probably locked it from the outside. I stood in the center of the room as I took in the features: white marble tiled floors, the walls painted with silky brown, and several diagrams hung on the wall. The bed was properly set, and my mind suddenly came up with a thought.
"His previous mates could have made use of this room. There are female materials in here," I said to myself as I walked toward the wardrobe. I wanted to feel scared. I wanted to feel unsafe. I wanted to feel anxious. But I sucked it all up.
He didn't throw me off to the Omega section. He didn't claim he'd beat me up if I didn't give a response. Maybe his previous mates had too much anger in their tone. Maybe they didn't. Maybe I was just new to this and felt he was an innocent master who just wanted everyone to be under his control or maybe not.
The weather began to change, and it was getting cold now. It had been many hours, and no one had arrived yet. Just as I was thinking about that, I heard a soft knock on the door. I rushed to get it open and saw a young maiden. She lowered her head, and two guards did the same.
"My name is Kate, and I will be here to help you with anything you want," she said, and my response came out in a low tone. I didn't know how to treat lowly people. I was a high-ranked warrior in my pack, fine, but at the same time, I didn't have time to relate with so many people. I just helped them with tasks and missions and kept my focus on my supposed mate who rejected me and on my friend Noelle, the architect of my deep sadness.
"Please come in, ma'am," I lowered my head as well and shut the door behind me as she walked inside. She led me toward the bed and told me to lie down while she spread sheets over me because of the cold.
It felt so different. It felt so dangerously comfortable to be treated in this manner. But my heart cried out to the goddess to take me out of this comfort zone if the dead end would be the fate of Cassius’s two previous mates.
Camilla's POV“This is a very similar death occurrence. You should ask your men to conduct a thorough investigation on this,” I answered Jace. This wasn’t normal. Kate and Avery must have been killed by the same person.“I know it is,” Jace replied. The image of the blood traces on the spot where Avery was last seen must still be haunting him. “But the Lycan wouldn’t want to be involved in this. He’s supposed to bring cases like this to me, not the other way around.”“That’s understandable, but this situation is urgent. You’ve got to tell him now. He’s got to know a thing or two about this. It’s unusual and sudden.” I stepped closer, my gaze locking on his. My confidence had definitely grown.He shrugged an arm as we headed to the Lycan’s room, reminding me of the task of cleaning up his room that he instructed me to do, but I stepped out instead. Anyone would. How could your maid die and the prime suspect is sitting on the bed with a smile, asking you to stay in the room for a little
Camilla's POVHis door was left on the latch, giving me a clue of his presence. Recently, he’s either out of the pack for a meeting or a quick mission. I gently opened the door, my eyes meeting his green eyes as I stepped into his room.I’d refused to answer his call some minutes ago, and it was nothing but boldness to step into his room now, not even when I had just found traces of blood in my room.“What do you want?” Cassian asked. It was highly likely for me to be the first to speak most times, but the narrative changed this time around.I stammered. “I…I…saw…I don’t know.”He laid his head on the bed, revealing that no weapon was in his hands. “Why did you walk into my room without ringing the doorbell?”“I saw blood on the floor…floor of my room.” I was finally able to gather my words together, my lips shaking with fear. “And I didn’t see Kate.”And then his nickname returned to my mind in an instant — The Alpha with blood on his hands.“Kate won’t work with you anymore. You’ve
Camilla's POV "I know you're angry," Jace began. "But listen to me. Cassian told me that he was going for a meeting. I didn't know he had other plans. I didn't lie to you.""I've heard you, Jace. You can really leave me alone now," I concluded. I didn't even want to look at his face. Of course, he would say anything to make himself look like the innocent one."Are you sending me away?""If you call it that," I shot back. "Your friend has ordered my father's arrest. I think both of you are happy now, right?""Why would you say that?" He stepped further inside, his voice rising. "How can I be glad to hear that news? We can plead with Cassian to let him go, and that's why I'm here.""I don't want you to help me. I don't want to see your face. Your presence here is nothing but a distraction. Get out of here, Jace," I said to his face, anger rising in my mind."I won't," Jace insisted, then turned to Kate. "Talk to your mistress. We need to have a peaceful chat. I didn't cause this. I'm n
Camilla's POV"I had to cover my face with a mask to walk down here. Jace told me that the Lycan King has left the pack for a meeting with the neighboring packs," I quickly said to my father after making sure the door was tightly locked."You shouldn't take risks because of me." Father sat up in bed. He’s been in bed for close to two days now because the Lycan King commanded it."You're worth every risk I take," I said, sitting next to him as my eyes met his own tired eyes.He squinted his eyes as his face suddenly filled with shock, making me suspicious of the sudden change in his countenance. "Camilla, why didn't you tell me that you were already pregnant?""Pregnant?" I asked, scoffing hard. "What does that mean?""I can see it in your eyes. You're pregnant, Camilla. Conduct tests if you don't believe my words," Father said, his gaze shifting to the walls. He didn't want to look at me. I'd suddenly become the vile daughter."I am not pregnant, father. I can't be," I defended as he
Camilla's POV“Didn’t you say you lost your parents to the battlefront?” Jace asked. I was as shocked as he was. I couldn’t even properly recognize the face of my father anymore.I stepped back, taking his hands off mine as disappointment flashed across his eyes.“I’m not lying to you, love,” the man continued. “And I’m so sorry. It wasn’t my fault either. I tried to leave the captivity land, but it was so tough to do so. Come and have a look at the mark on the back of my neck.”Jace’s eyes met mine as he gave me a simple nod to go ahead, promising to attack him if he tried anything silly. I took a quick look at the mark as the memories of the past returned, troubling my mind dangerously. I had to lower my head and keep my emotions in check.“Is there any problem?” Jace asked, gently pulling me away from the man. “What did you see? Why aren’t you saying anything, Camilla?”“He is my father,” I mumbled, tears dropping from my eyes. “Jace, I’m scared as hell. My father died right in fro
Camilla's POVTears streamed down my face as I watched Damon and Noelle step out. Their cruel words and harsh statements returned to mind, adding salt to my injury. I shut my eyes, hopeful for help to come through for me when I suddenly felt my wolf snap back to consciousness.I tried to crawl back to the middle of the room, but the restored strength gave me the energy to stand, causing my eyes to widen in shock.How did energy return to my wolf? I could literally sniff wolfsbane on my clothes and skin. Perhaps the effect was gone now, or my wolf was doubling up to catch up with the wolfsbane’s strength and overtake it.I tried to send a telepathic message to my wolf when a message came from nowhere. The voice was deep and low, but pretty clear.“Can you say something to me, please? Can you tell me where you are?” the voice questioned. It was a little shaky. I tried to reply but I couldn’t. Perhaps my wolf wasn’t strong enough to reply to telepathic messages sent to us.And then the v







