King?!
Managing to raise my exhausted eyelids, I blink once. My vision fails and blurs all at once.
Awake! Awake, stay awake, stay awake.
Shaking my head, I manage to blink and keep my eyes open.
Gamma Kevin throws me to the ground harshly. He scrambles to his knees in front of me, trembling in pure horror in a puddle of my innocent blood.
“King Harvey.” Gamma Kevin’s voice shakes with his body. “I know I am in the wrong, please forgive me!”
In his bone-chilling fear, Gamma Kevin has reverted to his human form. He pants in fear. All that bravado is long gone.
A massive figure stands in front of him. I only see the endless muscular expanse of his back. The telltale sign of his dusty red cloak adorned with black fur makes me freeze. He wears a silk black suit underneath to match.
Slowly, the figure bends down and with practiced elegance grabs Gamma Kevin by the front of his shirt. He had picked up Gamma Kevin as if he weighed nothing.
“I have not authorized any acts of violence.” The figure speaks with defined authority, yet somehow remains elegant in his delivery.
He is King Harvey!
I hurt a werewolf in front of the illusive Alpha King, this is a death sentence!
My heart leaps up into my throat.
King Harvey’s voice is low and deep, utterly calm and hypnotic.
All the wolves shrink backwards, with bowed heads. No one looks at Gamma Kevin, who struggles to breathe out of fear. Blood from my knife continues to drip down his face.
King Harvey turns his head to stare directly at me, gazing into my eyes. He throws the werewolf in his hand casually, and Gamma Kevin collides with the marble wall with a shaking thud.
This power is beyond my wildest dreams.
Next, he steps forward to me. Everyone stops breathing at once.
“Oh, she will be killed!” A woman says from the sidelines and I wince.
Cold fear clogs my heart and stops me from breathing all together. I shut my eyes and do everything to breathe but find myself gasping twice.
My heart palpitates as I finally muster to lift my head at him.
A heart of ice, cruelty, and steel, that is his synonym.
Desperately I try to scramble backwards, but my wound stops me. Pathetically, all I can do is watch as he gets closer and closer to me. He gazes down at me coldly.
A pang of despair shatters my heart, will I be killed?
His red cape’s touching my blood. Massive, calloused overly warm hands cup my face. I stare into his gentle brown eyes and find myself mystified by his masculine face. A stone jaw and high cheekbones.
My ears ring as my mouth dries, I begin to shake. The stinging flesh on my back sticks to my dress painfully.
Just a moment before I pass out, King Harvey hugs me against the fear in everyone’s eyes.
He whispers in my ear. “Didn’t expect that I would find my mate here…”
Mate?!
I close my eyes to my fears.
One Night Later…
Awaking to hushed voice, I almost toss myself out of bed.
“Have you heard? King Harvey has brought this wounded human woman back with him yesterday! What a waste of resources! And we must tend to her! It is rumored she is his mate! Can you imagine?”
“What?” An older woman’s voice asks in shock. She clears her voice then continues in a motherly tone, “How is a human… If King Harvey was to have a mate, perhaps a human would understand his kindness best. Yet, the King has never approached any woman, human or werewolf? Why now? Is it his heat?”
“Doris, how can the King’s mate be a human being?” The young maid spits disdainfully. “A lowly weak human being!”
Doris sighs helplessly. “He never discusses that! We just believe he recycles energy, that is why he is so powerful! He is always in control of his emotions and power. Heats can’t be recycled. His wolf must be driving him.”
I take a deep breath and allow myself to see my surroundings. I am in a massive silk covered canopy princess bed. The silk that surrounds me is the exact shade of King Harvey’s velvet cloak. I know that because there is a little heart-shaped lamp with the same shade on, on the circular table to my right.
The room is accented by crème and gold pieces, perhaps a wolf head? On the corners of the walls.
Where am I? Where is Sally? Is she okay? How is my sister?
I feel stronger than when King Harvey carried me away.
Taking a deep breath, I stop myself from shaking, the sharp unabating pain in my back is an ugly reminder I almost died yesterday.
“Human, are you awake?” A maid calls from behind the oak door that is open ajar. A soft yellow light comes from behind it.
As I attempt to adjust my sitting position because of the fiery pain, the feeling of being ripped open kills me.
Gasping and hissing in pain, I stop myself from yelling by biting into my fist. Pulling my teeth away from my hand at the taste of blood, I leave a string of blood on the sheets. I frown.
“Human!? What are you doing? You like to make messes?! Here!” The young maid splashes a cold pitcher of water in my face.
The cold shock of water drenches my wounds and I swallow a scream.
“Enough! Leave the child alone!!” The older maid rushes into the room with a first aid kit and gives me a kind smile.
“THIS IS KING HARVEY’S MATE!?” The first younger maid yells and then stares at me with wide eyes.
Mate?!
I begin to hyperventilate at the thought. Her shock makes this all real. Maybe I should not be here. What choice do I have? I need to get home to my sister.
“As far as I know, yes!” The older maid says in a serious but low voice. “Now, go clean! I must tend to her!”
“Heal.” The young maid commands icily.
The old maid shoos her away then makes me lie on my stomach.
“I will stitch you your back, human.” The old maid promises sweetly.
“Thank you…” I whisper, not sure what else to say.
The old maid rubs my back with alcohol, and I hiss as hot tears running down my face.
How am I, his mate? Impossible!
The young maid looked at me with malicious eyes. She looked like she wanted to tear me into countless pieces, and I couldn't help shaking.
I can't stay here! My sister is still waiting for me at home!
Just as I was planning how to escape, the young maid's voice sounded again.
“As King Harvey’s mate, on the night of the full moon, in three days, you must have sex with him.” The young maid’s voice appears out of the blue. Her voice is cold.
I am frozen.
Elena’s POVUnable to sleep more than 40 minutes I awake to my pounding heart.King Harvey will take my virginity in three days. I have never even had a boyfriend!According to every rumor I have heard, King Harvey is ruthless and cold. How could I feel comfortable to just let him… give him my virginity?Exhaling heavily, I try to calm my thundering heart and empty stomach. Lying down, I force myself to breathe through my mouth and try to remember breathing exercises.Nothing comes to mind.I can just picture my sister crying over the phone to my dad, wondering where I am.Between the threat of my virginity being taken from me and worrying over my sister, I know I must escape. When I try to get up out of bed, it feels as if my skin peels off my back.“Damn it.” I whisper to myself and grimace at the disgusting feeling.Literally sewn back together like a doll.I place my hand on my back carefully and feel a patch of bandages. Warm, harsh, yet dry. That is a slight relief.One final br
King Harvey carries me back to the castle. He says nothing and I know his stone face is proof that I insulted him by running away.The moonlight softly highlights his sharp high cheekbones and stone jaw. A soft smattering of stubble dances across his face. His brown eyes glow a soft gold.His brown hair is well combed and clean, short, and contained.The rumors of his ugly appearance must have had to do with his cold heart.King Harvey is rather handsome and if he wasn’t a werewolf, maybe… I’d like to have a relationship with him.The truth stands, he could kill me in a glance with the hand he is using to hold his wine glass.All of this is because of the mess Gamma Kevin put me in yesterday.I have been reduced to nothing but a living, breathing tool to relieve his heat.I didn’t expect my escape to be thwarted by King Harvey himself. Nor did I expect him to take me so lightly into his private chambers.The white walls are pristine, but the immense queen-sized bed covered by red velv
“Your wounds will not heal quickly, human.” King Harvey frowns as he stops ripping my dress. He takes ointment and helps me apply it to my wounds. “Your wound is already glued to your clothes. You must remove it, or it will be inflamed.”“Thank you.” I whisper.My heart skips a beat and kills all the pain I feel.King Harvey remains silent, but I can feel his dissatisfaction. His voice leaks it.I know why he is unhappy. My stomach turns.I will not be able to have sex with him in three days to relieve him of his agony. Will I be killed by the others for my lack of use?If I die, my sister will be left alone, and no one will take care of her. Dad would sell her in a heartbeat for a shiny case of whiskey.“King Harvey,” I breathe through my pain uneasily. “I will be fine to help you, I will do anything, please let me go, please. I must take care of my sister…”Turning to face King Harvey, I allow tears of pain to roll down my face. Not the physical discomfort I feel but of a broken hea
Elena’s POVI awake to the morning sun, gently caressing my face.What day is it? And where am I?A look around the room shows me I am in the same room I had passed out in. Feeling my forehead, I feel no fever. My body no longer aches.I slept all day.Counting on my fingers, I conclude that tomorrow night is the night of the full moon. Time is short again and my heart begins to beat irregularly.Am I ready to be mated with? In two days, there is no way I can escape.“Human. There is a visitor for you.” Another maid appears to the right of me, and even though her tone is cold, it is not malicious like the last two maids.She is new to me with soft brown hair and a very gentle voice.Did King Harvey speak to her? Did he threaten everyone here?“She is just some lowly human… nothing…” She mutters as she walks out of the room.I sigh, placing my face in my hands.I shake it off with one deep breath, deciding to focus on the fact that if I wasn’t needed, as the only human here, King Harve
Elena’s POVKing Harvey nods at my words but says nothing.My heart freezes. Unable to breathe, I shut my eyes. To say I am surprised is an understatement, my knees are weak and almost buckle.King Harvey takes a long look at me then silently opens the door to my room, ushers me in and closes it. Throwing myself on my bed, I find myself unable to cry. I bury my face in my pillows and have no courage to scream.King Harvey is aloof. Why would he care what a weak human pleads of him.I close my eyes against the fear surging through my body. I am going to be sick if I keep replaying my morning over in my head. I take a sip of the lukewarm water left for me at my bedside.My stomach lurches at the water slipping down my throat and I rush off to the bathroom to puke.What a beautiful mate I will make…King Harvey’s POVWalking into my red study, I pull out my cellphone. The cellphone weighs nothing in my hand and for a moment I stare at it. What an odd piece of technology. I know I don’t n
Elena’s POV At least, at least I can beg him to keep my sister safe. No matter what happens to me here. I nod to myself; my mind is made up. I am taken to King Harvey’s room by the pale maid. She has only given me a crème thin nightgown and lace underwear. I can’t help but blush, the feeling of the underwear against my skin is odd. I am not completely covered, but it feels sensual. I stand by his massive red bed and wait, unsure of what to think or how to feel. I draw in one slow cold breath to calm myself but still shiver in fear. Time passes slowly, as if by dripping water droplets. Finally, the door opens and King Harvey walks in mutely. I close my eyes against his presence, fear climbing up into my throat and sealing it shut. “Open your eyes and look at me.” King Harvey commands me as he picks me up as if I am his bride. The heat from his body brings me slight comfort. Yet, his hot breath in my ear makes my heartbeat faster. He gingerly places me on the bed and I inch
Elena’s POV Clear as my fear, I still feel King Harvey as he finishes. He exhales heavily, dropping his face into my neck. Freezing entirely in his grasp, he brushes his nose with my bare shoulder, then presses his face there. I shiver, and still feel the need to be with him and satisfy him. My fear kills that. Along with his long fangs that just barely kiss my bare shoulder. The slightest feeling of being bitten burns on my left shoulder but I stay quiet. The soft sting of breaking skin and blood follows, but I ignore it. I don’t want to think about what has happened. Slowly, he detaches himself from me and walks off to the bathroom. Exhaustion blankets me. The stress of worrying about this for three days, my life, my sister’s life, my dad, and my wound. We didn’t have sex because of my back, but once it heals, I am all his. The thought both thrills and paralyzes me with terror. When King Harvey returns, he wears dark shorts and a black tank top. He gingerly rolls me on my st
Elena’s POVBeta guides me through the opulent castle with a steady step quickly. He remains quiet, more concentrated on our footsteps than explaining anything else to me. With an arm wrapped around my shoulders, he maneuvers me around as if I am a broken doll.My stomach churns but there is nothing I can do about this.He takes me to a massive double door with a carving of a golden wolf’s head split down the middle of it. I swallow, unaware of what is behind that door.This whole area is new to me, red plush carpet and shining white marble walls.“Are you ready, human?”I look up to him slowly. “For what?”A proud smile flourishes across his face as he moves to open the doors.The doors open to a round white tiled room, surrounded by books. There is a massive solid oak desk and a red velvet chair behind that.King Harvey stands at his oak desk and in a flash, he is in front of me. He offers me a hand. I take it, unsure of what else, what to do and why.The warmth of his hand envelope