Chapter 2

The moment Ruby said this, the way everyone looked at me changed.

It was just jealousy at first, but now there was real resentment.

It was as if I wasn't earning a salary, but stealing money right out of their pockets.

They genuinely seemed to believe I had used dirty tricks to hog this cushy job. They acted like it rightfully belonged to everyone.

I found it absolutely absurd.

To outsiders, the Alpha King had noble blood and a flawless physique. He was the ultimate Alpha that every desperate she-wolf in North America wanted to sleep with.

Being able to stay by his side every day, button his shirts, serve his meals, and receive luxury items was a dream come true for them.

But only I knew that this estate wasn't some romantic paradise.

It was a terrifying cage where you could be poisoned to death at any moment. There was absolutely no escape.

Xavier did have a perfect exterior. He had sharp features and thin lips. When he wasn't smiling, he looked like a cold statue radiating an intimidating aura.

But no one knew the monster hiding underneath.

One second he could be gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The next second, he could go into a violent rage just because I lowered my eyes and flinched away from him.

As for testing for poison, it certainly wasn't just tasting a few bites of gourmet food like these fools thought.

Xavier was an Alpha King who wielded massive power, and he stood in the way of too many enemies.

There were countless Rogues outside the borders who wanted him dead.

Even inside the pack, not everyone wanted him alive.

Over the years, I had tested his coffee, steak, and red wine countless times.

Once, highly concentrated liquid Wolfsbane was mixed into a glass of vintage red wine.

That was the most horrifying torture I had ever experienced. My internal organs felt like they had been splashed with acid. They were slowly burning and dissolving.

That night, I convulsed and nearly died from the pain.

As for this moonstone bracelet, I had just tested his food that day. My face was pale as paper when the poison took effect.

He showed a rare moment of pity. He took this moonstone out of a velvet box and clasped it onto my wrist.

He said, "Wear it. You aren't allowed to take it off."

So I had to wear it all the time. Not because I liked it, but because I was terrified that taking it off would cost me my life.

This massive salary and this moonstone were earned with my blood.

Yet they thought I should be grateful and share my money with them.

I didn't bother arguing. I just looked at Ruby calmly and said, "If you really want this job, feel free to replace me."

Ruby froze for a moment.

I ignored her, turning around and walking away.

I heard her raise her voice behind me. "What do you mean by that?"

"Are you mocking me?"

"Do you think I can't handle it?"

I didn't bother talking to her anymore. I silently wished her luck.

The sea breeze outside blew through the hallway, bringing a hint of an early autumn chill.

I clutched the envelope of cash in my hand. My heart was beating fast.

If she really went and took this job, that would be wonderful.

I was dying for someone to take my place and rescue me from this cage.

It wasn't that I hadn't begged the Elder Luna for mercy before. I once begged outside her villa for four straight hours.

I told her I couldn't take this torture anymore. I begged her to release me from the pack and let me leave.

The Elder Luna had originally relented, but somehow the news reached Xavier.

That night, he smashed half the bedroom.

When the guards dragged me back to the estate, he was sitting under a dim wall lamp. He looked like he was ready to murder someone.

He asked me, "You want to leave?"

I collapsed onto the carpet, pressing my back against the wall. I was too terrified to say a single word.

He walked up to me, grabbed my chin, and forced me to look up.

"Who do you want to leave with?"

"Tell me his name. I'll go tear his limbs off right now and put them in a box as a courtship gift for you. How does that sound?"

His Alpha aura pressed down on me like a wall. I trembled so much I couldn't breathe. I was shaking in fear.

Later, he ruthlessly tormented me. I couldn't get out of bed for three whole days, covered in bruises.

Afterward, he sat on the edge of the bed like nothing had happened. He personally applied healing salve to my wounds.

His fingertips were freezing. When he pressed on my bruises, the pain made tears slide down my face.

Yet he asked in a low voice, "Don't I treat you well?"

"Why do you always think about running away?"

Since then, I never dared to mention the word 'leave' again.

And no other Omega in the entire pack dared to take over my deadly job.

Now, a fool who didn't know any better had finally arrived. This was exactly what I wanted.

I was afraid Ruby was just all talk. However, I was also terrified she'd actually go make a fuss with the Elder Luna. That might alert Xavier, and he'd take it out on me again.

I walked anxiously the whole way. By the time I returned to the main house, the sky outside had completely darkened.

Xavier was sitting on the sofa in the living room. He was holding a document, but he hadn't turned a single page.

Hearing the door open, he slowly lifted his eyes to look at me.

His gaze locked onto me, making my skin prickle with fear. "Where did you go? Why are you just getting back?"