4

Katherine's POV

Till Kai, the Lycan King left the hall, the silence could be heard. A pin dropping to the floor would be the loudest and deafening sound in the room. Kai held my gaze till he walked out. When I turned my head to Jackson, he had a murderous look on his face. 

Roma turned to me in panic and that made me stare up at the chef. I had never seen him that scared. He usually had a high shoulder and confidence when moving around the pack house but at that moment, he looked crumbled and defeated. 

"Let's leave," Roma asked. I nodded and quickly followed the others out of the hall through the back door. 

Soon, we heard a loud growl from the room. The sounds of plate, tables being thrown against the wall could be heard. It was scary but the scariest thing was the smile that was on the faces of every servant and slave standing in the backyard. Most of them were satisfied about what happened but to me, I was more worried about the outcome. 

We definitely will be at the receiving end of this matter later. 

Someone cupped my arm out of the blues. I turned to see a strange, large man staring me down. Everyone around me also stared at him. I was as confused as them. 

"Come with me," 

I looked to Roma for an explanation. Since she knew everything about the pack, I wondered if she knew anything about this man but she shook her head. 

"If I may ask, where are you taking me?" 

I asked out of fear for my life. 

"My King demands your presence," 

I tilted my head to the side, focused my gaze on him, waiting for him to repeat himself. 

"Your King?" 

"Let's go," 

He didn't waste any time dragging me with him. He wasn't holding my arm as tightly as I'd anticipated.

His King? Could it be the Lycan King? Or someone else. 

Still, I prayed for it to be someone else other than Kai. I didn't want to face him anymore or maybe I didn't know how to face him. 

The door to the private residence was thrown open from inside and I walked in alone. I could see him. His scent was well enthralling this time unlike earlier. I was more conscious of it. It took over my senses and I managed to breathe. 

He had his back turned to me while he rummaged through the fridge, looking for God knows what. 

"You left abruptly earlier," he suddenly mentioned. For a second, I was shocked he knew I was here but then, he was a Lycan King, he could sniff out a stick insect. 

"Apologies, your highness. I didn't…." 

"Kai…" 

"What?" I asked frantically. 

"Call me Kai," 

I shook my head. "I can't do that. It's disrespectful to call the Lycan King by his name," 

"The rules don't apply to you. You're an exception," 

He suddenly turned and I dropped my gaze to the floor. I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard his footsteps moving close to me. 

"The rules are for everybody, especially slaves like myself" 

I heard a low, throaty growl from him. I trembled. 

"Your name," he asked. I lowered my head further and my shoulder slumped. I was going to be rejected again, wasn't I? 

"Katherine, your highness," 

He hummed. "If you call me your highness one more time, Katherine, I might have to pull your tongue out," 

"What… I'm sor.." 

"It was a joke," he interrupted. 

A joke? How was I supposed to take his word as a joke? 

"Okay, your…" 

I stopped.

"How long have you been here?" 

"I came in a few minutes ago," 

"I mean this pack," 

I opened my mouth to give him an answer when I instantly felt a coldness settled against my cheek. My eyes flew up to meet his blue eyes. A cold compress in a bag was placed against my cheek.  

He raised an eyebrow. 

"Are you supposed to look at me? Aren't you breaking a rule?" He asked with squinted, playful eyes. 

My eyes went wide and I quickly stared back at the floor. He brought a finger to my chin and raised my face up. I met his eyes for a second but quickly looked away. 

"The next time you bend your neck in front of me, I'll mark you," he said softly but firmly. 

I was taken aback by his words. "Bu…but it's the rules," 

I didn't dare look down. I had to look at his shoulder. As the coldness settled on my cheek, I flinched. It was cold but it was soothing. 

"Did it hurt?" 

I knew he was talking about the slap I got from the chef. 

I shook my head. "I'm used to it," 

He winced as if something had pierced him. 

"Can you give names?" 

"Names?" 

He nodded. "Of those who hurt you. The chef shouldn't have to die so lonely and a pyre with just one head is boring," 

His statement made meaning of his actions to me. He asked for the chef's head because he slapped me. 

Is that possible? Or am I being delusional? 

"Names, Katherine" he repeated. 

"I c–can't remember their names," 

He looked at me coldly and didn't say a word afterwards. 

His actions were contradicting my view of him. He's the same as Jackson, isn't he? They're friends so they're supposed to be similar in some ways. He's no better than Jackson and getting myself involved with him would only bring me from fire to hell. 

"I should go back to others, they'll be worried if I'm missing for too long," I lied. 

"If you say so," he breathed out emotionless as if he was disappointed. 

His palm came to my cheek and he caressed the red spot, making my legs jelly. 

"Hold on for me for a few days. I have to go back tomorrow. I promise to come get you as soon as possible. Then, we'll talk about this thing…" he brushed our finger and I took in a deep breath at the sudden and electric contact. "...between us," 

I wanted to believe him but there was no reason to. 

His plan was to probably take me back to his pack and make me suffer more than Jackson did. 

"Wait for me, alright?" 

"Yes," I lied. 

I would rather die than go with him. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. 

I took a deep breath once I was outside the door. His scent was no longer there to cloud my senses but a tiny part of me felt horrible at the absence of it. I pushed the thoughts away as soon as I saw Roma waiting at a corner. 

She had a dead look on her face. 

"What's wrong?"

"Alpha Jackson is looking for you and he looks deadly mad,"