CHAPTER 5

Ryker Pov

The maid served my tea and excused herself.

“Alpha Ryker.” I looked up to meet Vance's eyes. He entered without knocking again.

“How many times have I told you to knock? I'm your alpha, you need to treat me as such.”

Vance rolled his eyes at me.

“Sorry, alpha,” he said sarcastically as he took a seat.

“Scarlet has requested your presence today. Are you going?”

I let out an exhale as I sipped my tea.

“Tell her another time.” Vance scoffed as he shook his head.

“How long will you stall, brother? Scarlet has been here for so long, and you've never touched her. Why did you appoint her as your concubine if you wanted to just keep her cooped up here like that?”

I stood slowly as I walked to my heavy oak table. I rested my palms on it as I sighed heavily.

“Until I figure out how to get rid of this curse, I am not making anyone my luna,” I said without looking back.

“How's the case going?” I tried changing the topic.

“We're still ongoing. Garruk hasn't reported back, so we're still waiting.” I nodded as I turned to face him.

“Still haven't found a mate yet?”

“I think this moon festival might be my last shot.” I nodded as I walked back to where I was sitting.

“But Ryker, what was that?” I looked up at Vance with a puzzled look.

“What was what?”

“That slave, why did you assign her to the royal palace? This is the very first time. Royal palace maids are only people from good backgrounds who have connections. Why did you assign her there?”

That girl. What was her name again?

“I don't know, Vance. I was just tired of the trial and said what came to my mind.” Vance squinted his eyes, giving me a suspicious look.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” I said.

“Now leave, I want to rest.” Vance pouted as he walked out.

I climbed onto my bed as I lay down. That slave girl, why did she intrigue me that much?

So much that I wanted to keep her close.

Why was my wolf so eager to see her? My wolf is an untamable beast, even I couldn't keep him under control.

How was this slave able to make my wolf wag his tail?

She was so brazen, she even met my eyes. Just who is this girl? And why am I so drawn to her? She's wolfless, she's practically insignificant.

But there's something about her, there's this aura around her, a very powerful aura that is even making my wolf almost want to submit.

I need to find out who she is.

Could she be my mate? How absurd, a slave as my mate? The moon goddess must be out of her mind.

I couldn't possibly make a slave my luna, I would be ridiculed.

My body jerked upward as I sat up straight. My hand ruffled my hair vigorously as I thought deeply. Even Scarlet never made my wolf react, not even with her touches. But why is this wolfless girl stirring up so many emotions?

And now I'm here thinking about her. You must be out of your mind, Ryker.

A gentle knock pulled me out of my thoughts. I grabbed my robe and wrapped it around myself since I was shirtless.

I walked slowly until I was in front of my door and pushed it open. It was Scarlet.

“Scarlet?” She entered without an invitation.

“I figured you wouldn't come, so I came instead.” I shook my head, trying to understand what was happening.

“Scarlet, what are you doing here? Haven't I told you not to come until I send for you?”

“I'm in heat, Alpha. You don't expect me to go out there and give myself to some lowly wolf, right? You haven't touched me… ever. Am I some decoration for you? Am I not appealing? Why are you not claiming me?” Scarlet was frustrated.

I am only trying to protect her, but she's being too stubborn. My wolf is a beast, if I try to claim anyone, it will take control and rip whoever it is into pieces. That is how bad my curse is.

My father was cursed by a witch because of his licentious ways, and the only way he could lift the curse was to transfer it to a relative. So he secretly transferred it to me because he couldn't stop cheating.

And now, I have to bear this stupid curse where I can't bed a woman because my wolf would turn into a feral beast.

I've been looking for a cure for years, but nothing. The more I stall, the harder it gets to tame my wolf.

And I need a luna, I can't be an Alpha without a luna.

I heard a faint knock.

“Ah, that's right. I asked them to bring us something to set the mood,” she said with a smile. Since I was closer to the door, I opened it.

It was the slave girl from earlier, holding a tray of wine. This was the first time I was seeing her up close.

My eyes travelled from her freckled nose to her pink lips…

What? Why am I even looking at her like that? Just as she walked past me, I got a whiff of her scent. My body immediately began to burn up, and my head spun a little.

I could feel my body getting covered in goosebumps.

Fuck!

Did her scent just put me in heat? How is that possible?