Chapter 4

By the time my shift ended, I was completely exhausted. My body ached, my mind was a mess, and all I wanted was to crawl into bed and forget this entire day ever happened.

Elena had offered to let me stay at her place tonight. "You look stressed," she'd said. "We can eat junk food and watch movies."

But I'd said no. I was tired, and her apartment was on the other side of town. I just wanted to go home.

Now, walking through the dark streets alone, I was seriously regretting that decision.

The streetlights flickered as I walked, casting weird shadows on the walls. Most of the shops were closed, their windows dark. The only sounds were my footsteps and the distant hum of traffic from the main road.

And something else.

Footsteps behind me.

I told myself I was being paranoid. This was a decent neighborhood. People walked here all the time. But when I sped up, the footsteps sped up too. When I slowed down, they slowed down.

My heart started pounding. I glanced over my shoulder but couldn't see anyone in the shadows.

"You're being stupid," I whispered to myself. "There's nobody there."

But I walked faster anyway.

The footsteps got closer.

Panic shot through me like ice. I started running, my bag bouncing against my hip, my breath coming in short gasps. 

Why didn't I stay with Elena? Why didn't I ask Isaac to walk me home? Why was I so stupid?

My apartment building came into view and I practically sobbed with relief. 

I fumbled with my keys, my hands shaking so bad I almost dropped them. The footsteps were right behind me now.

I got the door open, threw myself inside, and slammed it shut. The lock clicked into place and I stood there, pressing my back against the door, my heart beating so fast I thought it might explode.

At last, I was safe.

I stayed there for a full minute, just breathing, waiting for my heart to slow down. Nothing happened. No one knocked. No one tried to break in.

"See?" I said out loud. "Nobody was even following you. You're just paranoid and tired."

I finally pushed away from the door and turned around.

My window was open.

The curtains were flapping in the breeze, and I knew - I absolutely knew, that I'd closed and locked that window before I left for work this morning. I always did.

I gasped and spun back toward the door, ready to run.

Something hard hit the back of my head.

Pain exploded through my skull. The world tilted sideways, and then everything went black.

……

The first thing I noticed was the ceiling.

It was gorgeous. Like, ridiculously gorgeous. 

Gold designs swirled across white plaster, catching the light from a massive chandelier. The kind of ceiling that probably cost more than I'd make in my entire life.

My head throbbed. I tried to sit up and the whole room spun.

Where was I?

I heard papers shuffling. Someone was in the room with me.

The smell hit me next, cedar and smoke. That familiar, dangerous scent that made my stomach twist.

No. No no no.

I forced myself to sit up, ignoring how dizzy it made me. I was lying on a huge bed with silk sheets. 

The room around me was massive, filled with expensive furniture and artwork. Everything screamed wealth and power.

And sitting behind a giant desk across the room, calmly reading through papers like he hadn't just kidnapped me, was Asher.

The Alpha King didn't even look up.

"Why am I here?" My voice came out shaky. "Did you... did you kidnap me?"

He kept reading. Like I hadn't even spoken.

"Your Majesty!" I yelled, and I didn't care if it got me killed. "Why on earth am I here!?"

That got his attention. He looked up slowly, those mismatched eyes finding mine. He didn't look concerned. His face was completely blank.

"You'll be assigned as my personal maid," he said, his voice flat and emotionless.

My heart dropped into my stomach. "I didn't agree to this."

His lips curved into a smirk that made my blood run cold. "You don't need to agree. You breathe because I allow it."

The words hit me like a slap. He was right. He could kill me right now and nobody would question it. Nobody would even care. I was just a human, and he was the Alpha King.

But I was also angry.

"Why me?" The question burst out before I could stop it. "There are hundreds of servants in this palace. Thousands of humans in the city. Why did you drag me here?"

Asher leaned back in his chair, studying me with a look that mixed disgust and something else I couldn't figure out. Something dark and hungry that made my skin crawl.

"Because I like watching you squirm," he said simply.

I wanted to scream. To cry. To throw something at his stupid perfect face.

Instead, I stood up on shaky legs and lifted my chin. "I want to go home."

"No."

"You can't just keep me here! I have a life. I have friends. I have-"

"You have nothing that matters,” he interrupted. "Your life is mine now. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be."

Terror mixed with rage in my chest.

 I knew this was suicide. I knew arguing with him would probably get me killed. But I couldn't just give up. 

"Please," I said, hating how my voice shook. "Let me go home. I won't tell anyone about this. I'll pretend it never happened. Just... please."

He stood up slowly, and my body screamed at me to run, but I forced myself to stay still.

"Guards," he called out.

The doors burst open and two massive wolves in uniform stepped inside. They were huge, with scars and cold eyes that had seen too much violence.

"No," I whispered, backing up. "No, wait-"

"Take her to the holding cells," Asher ordered. "One day locked up will teach her about submission."

"What? No!" I tried to run, but one of the guards grabbed my arm. His grip was like iron. "Let me go! You can't do this!"

I fought as hard as I could. I kicked and screamed and tried to pull away, but it was useless. They were too strong.

"Please!" I was crying now, tears streaming down my face. "Please, I'll do whatever you want! Just don't lock me up!"

Asher walked over to me slowly. The guards held me still as he approached.

He grabbed my face roughly, his fingers digging into my cheeks. I tried to pull away but couldn't move.

And then he kissed me.

It wasn't gentle. His lips bruised mine angrily, like he was trying to teach me a lesson.

I hated myself for how my body responded. For how I melted against him for just a second before my brain caught up and started screaming at me to fight.

He pulled back and smirked at my expression. He knew exactly what he'd done to me.

"Take her away," he said to the guards.

"No! Wait!" I struggled harder, my voice breaking. "I didn't even get to say goodbye! My friends will worry! They'll-"

"They'll forget about you," Asher said coldly. "Everyone does eventually."

The guards dragged me toward the door. I screamed until my throat was raw. I begged. I cried. But Asher just stood there watching with those cold, mismatched eyes.

The last thing I saw before they pulled me into the hallway was him turning back to his desk, like nothing had happened. 

I was doomed.

Elena would be waiting for me at work tomorrow. She'd wonder where I was. Maybe she'd try to find me. But how could she? 

Nobody questioned the Alpha King. Nobody challenged his authority.

I was completely alone.

The guards dragged me down endless hallways, down stone stairs, deeper and deeper into the palace. And with every step, my hope died a little more.

This was my life now. Property of the Alpha King.

And there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.