Chapter 3

Tara’S POV

My mind reeled. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic rhythm echoing the confusion in my soul. Was Ethan truly interested in me, or was this just another cruel game, another way to break me?

I met his eyes, searching for a hint of the truth, but all I saw was a dark hunger that sent shivers down my spine. I knew then that I was entering a dangerous game, one with consequences I could only guess at.

Ethan’s eyes glowed, taking a darker shade. Unconsciously, I purred. No, my wolf purred. I could feel myself getting moist between my legs from his mere touch. Could this be the reason Ethan gifted me a dress today, or did he remember my birthday?

Impossible! He hated everything about me; he always said he hated the fact I shared the same breath with him. A couple of hours ago, he almost killed me for rejecting him. Did it affect him that much that it changed his personality?

“So plump and soft…” he purred, his eyes eating up every curve of my breast. I swallowed the food in my mouth with tears forming in my eyes. I hadn’t eaten all day, but if my mate wanted me, I was willing to submit. It was a decision I was soon going to regret.

Ethan rose, towering over me like a great wall, my face opposite his broad chest, but his hands were still squeezing my breast. I squeezed my eyes shut, heart racing. My greatest fear was becoming a reality.

Ethan pinched my chin up to make me look into his eyes, but I was too scared to. “Open your eyes, look at me,” he commanded, and like a loyal fool, I complied.

He leaned In, his touch sending shivers down my spine. “I should just claim you now, shouldn’t I? So you never think of rejecting me again.” With that, he smashed his lips on mine, sucking and shoving in his tongue, his other hand possessively tightening around my neck.

I gasped, my breath stolen away. The saucer in my hand clattered to the floor, shattering into pieces, but Ethan didn’t break the kiss. The hot taste of his mouth mixed with his pheromones messed with my mind. My whole body was heating up; I couldn’t control myself as I clenched the fabric of Ethan’s evening wear.

The kiss grew hotter, and before I could comprehend what was happening, Ethan ripped the top part of my dress in half, revealing the soft curves of my breast. At that moment, he tore his lips from mine and trailed his lustful eyes down my chest. “Will making you a full woman be a sufficient birthday gift for you?” his voice a low growl, thick with hunger.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I bit my lower lip, cheeks burning red. Shame and humiliation battled within me as I found myself nodding. But I knew Ethan was not asking for my permission; lycan kings never did that. Ethan lifted his eyes from my chest and met my eyes, and for a moment, it flickered, but then he blinked it away. However, it started shifting between colors.

My brows creased in confusion; Ethan started reversing back, in the process pushing down the dishes, startling me. He began to shake his head while violently smacking himself. “Let go of my mind!”

Subconsciously, I stepped back but simultaneously, Ethan stopped attacking himself and looked at me; his emerald green eyes were blazing with fury.

The temperature In the room suddenly dropped to zero as realization struck me. All along, I had been interacting with Ethan’s wolf, not him. Oh no, I was in trouble. Immediately, I lifted my dress to take heed, but before I could, a hand roughly grabbed my arm.

“Where the fuck do you think you are going?” Ethan roared.

My pulse quickened. Images of what he would do to me flooded my head, and instinctively, I shielded my face afraid he would strike me, but instead, he shook me violently. “How dare you seduce me? You used your disgusting dragon pheromones to draw out my rut, didn’t you? Answer me!”

“I didn’t!” I cried, then I lowered my voice, afraid he would get angrier. “My only crime was not resisting…”

Ethan’s eyes widened, but he immediately hardened his gaze even after realizing that it was his wolf that caused it all. “You are pathetic,” he spat with disdain in his eyes. “Did you think your foolish tactics would work on me? Even if I were under a spell, I would break it before my flesh meets yours! You disgust me. I hate you.”

My lips quivered as heavy sobs racked my body. I didn’t know where I got the strength or courage from, but I broke my arm free from Ethan’s grip and ran out of his expansive chambers. Again, I forgot my cane, but I didn’t care. I bumped into a couple of guards on my way out because of the tears blurring my vision.

That night I cried my eyes out, and no matter how much Annla tried to cajole me into talking, I refused to tell her. I could only suffer along with all the heartaches, even though I hadn’t had anything to eat today, and my ribs were still healing from the beating I received at noon. I willingly gave myself to Ethan only to be rejected by him. I guess today, I also got my own fair taste of what rejection felt like. Touché.

A whole week passed before I saw Ethan again because he left the kingdom for one of his dictator expenditures. Of course, he returned victorious, and a whole lot of slaves were brought in. A portion of them would be sold within the kingdom, while the rest would be sold out. This time, the slaves were wolves. If they were human, they would all be sold since Ethan hated them.

I was in the kitchen helping out, as I usually do. When Ethan was away, I was rarely fed because I was everyone’s least favorite, so it was good that he was back even though I didn’t want to see him.

I wiped my hands on my dress as I prepared to enter the grand hall. There was a celebratory feast holding, which meant more leftovers for me. I entered the hall, pretentiously using my cane as a guide to the table, but when I reached, I paused. My heart skipped a beat as I saw another figure intimately seated by the king. It was a woman, a beta female that I knew like the weather. The woman who had been obsessing over Ethan for years… Why was she by his side?