5. The Idol's Private Prey

Seeing the commotion, Drex spontaneously cursed. He was furious at the fan's lack of manners and scolded her right then and there. He gently helped me up and, with a sharp glare, turned back to the rude woman.

"Learn to be a lady; only then can you be my fan again!" he snapped before walking away.

The woman stood frozen, clearly shocked that her idol had just rebuked her. She looked devastated. I followed Drex—after all, it was my job as his assistant—but I was becoming more convinced that he wasn't an evil Lycan. We entered his private suite, a secure room prepared specifically for D.E., away from prying eyes.

Before I could even finish admiring his kindness, he stopped and whirled around to face me.

"What did you say earlier during the interview?" he demanded.

"Nothing."

"Don't lie. I clearly heard you call me a dog! How incredibly impolite, Elea!"

"That's because you insulted my voice!"

"Your voice is the absolute worst. What, did you expect a standing ovation? Hmph! I'm hungry now. Prepare my food!"

"Food? What kind of food?" I asked, a bit worried.

"A heart. Find me a fresh heart!" he replied.

"Oh, no! I already told you, I'm not killing anyone for your dinner!"

"How about just a hand? Humans don't die just because I eat one of their hands," he teased.

"Nope! I am not cutting off anyone's hand!" I retorted.

Drex looked at me in surprise, then walked over with a predatory grin.

"You look healthy... and quite fresh. Maybe it’s better if I just bake you or eat you raw right now," he said viciously.

"I’ll scream! I’ll scream so loud! There are plenty of people here!" I warned.

"They're my people. They know my habits," he explained, stepping closer.

That cold, handsome face stared down at me with a sharp gaze. I knew he was a Lycan, but somehow, I felt fearless. Besides, he was D.E., the idol I adored.

"Don't eat me. I haven't showered yet today," I blurted out.

"I doubt that. I can smell your shampoo from here. You're actually quite clean today," he replied, starting to sniff the air around me.

I backed away as Drex pressed forward. I knew he was dangerous; his grin was starting to actually freak me out.

"If you come any closer, I’ll scream!"

In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of me, pinning me down. He was so fast I didn't even see him move.

"Every staff member outside is one of mine, and they already know my habit of preying on young women!" he whispered, licking his rosy lips.

I got goosebumps. This strange, beautiful creature's eyes began to shift from green to a brilliant, glowing yellow. His ears twitched, and a long tail flicked behind him.

"You called me a dog, huh? Let’s see what I am now!" he snapped, bringing his face inches from mine.

"You are... very handsome," I said spontaneously, staring at him.

"Huh?" Drex recoiled, noticing my flushed face.

"Don't tell me you actually like this!" he surmised, looking bewildered.

I covered my mouth. My feelings were apparently written all over my face.

"I’m about to eat you! Why aren't you scared or struggling? Why are your cheeks turning red instead?" He found my reaction completely unexpected.

"I knew you wouldn't eat me," I replied confidently.

"I'm going to eat you! I'll devour your flesh and crush your bones, you pervert!" he muttered, sounding annoyed.

"Go ahead then!"

Feeling belittled, Drex lunged at me, pinning me against the wall. His face was so close I could feel his angry breath. Stupidly, I just got more flustered. He started nipping at my ear, but it didn't hurt; it felt more like a kitten playing.

"You smell so good," I whispered, caught up in the scent of his cologne.

I was losing it! I was actually trying to seduce a Lycan. This was Drex Ethan, the perfect guy I'd been madly in love with. My logic was completely out the window.

Hearing me, Drex backed away. He realized I was genuinely unafraid of him, and he looked almost... awkward.

"Aren't you going to eat me now?" I asked.

"You made me lose my appetite! You pervert!" he shouted, moving to a chair on the far side of the room.

"Drex, here’s the meal you ordered!" Flo announced, arriving with a bag of chicken and a soda.

I stared in surprise. It was crispy fried chicken with cheese and barbecue sauce. Soda? Lycans drink soda? Apparently so. Drex began eating voraciously, glancing at me with lingering annoyance.

"He eats... chicken?" I asked Flo.

"What did you expect?"

"He keeps telling me he's going to eat me," I whispered.

"Haha, he loves his pranks. But it looks like he’s actually annoyed with you this time," Flo guessed.

"So Lycans don't eat humans?"

"No. Usually, they’re more civilized and well-mannered than most humans," Flo explained.

"Wow... what a cute puppy," I muttered, watching Drex.

"Slave! I heard that! I need you to wash all my stage clothes today, and I want everything dry and tidy by tomorrow!" he shouted.

"Fine, my grumpy Lord! I’ll do it. But can I have a piece of that chicken?" I asked, looking at the mountain of food.

"No! It's mine!"

"So stingy! I can't even come here tomorrow; I have a part-time job because I need money to eat! My Master won't even share one piece of chicken!" I grumbled to Flo.

"Flo, pay her her salary!" Drex barked. "And Lea! You’d better show up tomorrow, slave!"

Hearing the word "salary," I immediately beamed.

"I'm heading home then," I said.

"Come here!" Drex called.

I walked closer, confused.

"Where do you think you're going, slave? You're mine, so from today on, you stay at my place!"

"Wait, what?"

"Drex, don't overdo it," Flo warned. "If a reporter sees her going into your apartment, the gossip will be unstoppable."

"You can just chop her into five pieces and put her in a suitcase so the press won't find out," Drex replied with a dark grin.

"You're crazy! I'm going home. I'll be at work tomorrow, so stop teasing me! You're so annoying!" I yelled, finally making my exit.

Flo sat watching Drex eat. "Do you actually like that girl, Drex?"

"Don't be ridiculous! She's a pervert!"

"You weren't serious about her staying at your apartment, were you?"

"I was dead serious."

"Huh? Is it already time for you to mate?" Flo asked.

"Mind your own business! I'm an Alpha; I’m free to choose whoever I want for my pack! She's not my type anyway! Besides... she's human," he insisted.

"I see. But is it even possible for a Lycan to marry a human?"

"It's impossible. She’d die; her body wouldn't be strong enough to handle it."

"Poor girl, then."

"I’m just playing with her, Flo! Don't overthink it!"

***

A notification on my phone confirmed a large deposit into my account. I could hardly believe the amount—Flo paid incredibly well. It turns out being a slave to a Lycan is quite lucrative.

I jumped for joy. My life just got a lot easier! I decided to be more professional. Laundry? That’s a piece of cake compared to the hard work I’ve done my whole life.

I finished washing the stage clothes and dried them. I’d iron them in the morning, and everything would be ready on time. It was late, and I was ready for bed.

Ring! An unknown number was calling.

"Hello?"

"Slave! Open your window!" a familiar voice barked.

"Drex? Is that you?"

"Yes! I'm outside! Open the window, now!"

I opened my fifth-floor window and gasped. He was sitting casually on the roof tiles.

"What are you doing up there? Are you insane?" I hissed.

Hup! He jumped effortlessly onto my balcony and stepped inside.

"This is the fifth floor! How can you jump like that?"

"Make yourself at home," he said, walking straight into my room.

"Hey, you freak! Why are you here?"

"I do what I want! You're my slave; what’s yours is mine! So your house is my house now. But man, this place is tiny!" he said, looking around.

"Hey, it's neat and clean!" I replied defensively.

"Wow, you already washed my clothes. Diligent slave! Well done," he noted.

"It’s late, Drex! I’m tired. Go back to your own place and let me rest!" I tried to shoo him away.

"I can't sleep. I want you to pet my fur," he said, shifting into a massive black wolf.

"Kyaa!" I shrieked, still not used to the sudden transformation.

"Keep it down! Now, pet me. I'm sleepy," the wolf grumbled, curling up on my bed.

"Jeez, you are such a handful!" I grumbled.

Having no other choice, I sat and stroked the soft black fur. He let out a satisfied grunt and slowly shifted back into human form as he drifted off.

Good grief. A handsome man was sleeping in my bed. Elea, wake up! He's a Lycan. Handsome, but a monster!

I watched him sleep for a while before moving to the floor. I grabbed a pillow and curled up on the carpet. I was so exhausted that I didn't even care that I was sharing a room with a Lycan.

I woke up the next morning feeling strangely warm. The thick carpet usually helped, but today felt different. The floor felt... softer. I opened my eyes and realized the ceiling was different. Where was I?

I reached out to touch my "rug," only to find it was black and moving. I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and realized I was stroking the long tail of a Lycan sitting beside me.

"Finally awake?" he asked.

"Huh? Where am I? What... what did you do?"

"This is my apartment. I carried you here last night. I couldn't sleep comfortably in that shoebox of yours," he replied.

"How dare you!"

"From today on, you live here, slave," he said with a smirk.