Chapter 3

Silence stretched between us.

And while majority people get uncomfortable by it, I lived by it. Peace is not something which is received, it’s earned, especially on the title that I sit on. And I ravish it.

The burning liquid sips down my throat and I look at the woman in front of me.

Her clothes came off before that cheshire smile on her lips.

Bowing to show off her cleavage at an agonising slow pace, she slips down that skirt of hers to have it pool near her heel clad feet. Next comes her top, leaving her just in her inner wears.

My eyes travel her frame from top to bottom.

Toned, curves at right places, assets too big to be natural.

She was perfect.

For the purpose why she was here.

And that smile on her lips on watching me watch her told me, she knew it. She knew it too well.

“ May I?”

Her blue eyes ask for permission to come closer and I lay my head back on the headrest to nod. Closing my eyes. My fingers tap on the armrest, a habit I have failed to loose.

I felt it before I saw her.

Her on top of me. Sitting on my one widespread lap. I open my eyes from under my lashes to see her looking down. Staring there. Panic flares her features.

“ What happened?”

I ask and she tries to cover it with a smile. Sweet. Too sweet.

“You're not going to make this easy for me, are you, Your Majesty?"

"You don't seem impressed."

A faint smirk tugged at my lips.

"What?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Never faced a challenge before?"

"Or have you simply never met a real man?"

Her surprise lasted only a heartbeat before she recovered.

"The latter."

Her smile returned.

"I've never met a real man."

She tilted her head slightly.

"But seeing you..."

"I understand why they call you the Cold-Hearted King."

She searched my expression.

"You really are heartless."

"A beautiful woman stands before you, yet you don't even pretend to be interested."

A pause.

"Or perhaps..."

She smiled knowingly.

"You're saving yourself for someone else."

Every muscle in my body stilled.

She noticed.

I could tell by the satisfaction in her eyes.

"The woman you've searched for these last seven years."

"The one you've sent search parties across every kingdom to find."

Her palms move up audaciously to wrap around my neck from behind. She places herself on my lap to straddle me. Her breasts push against my chest, her lips lean in to whisper in my ear.

“ Maybe you should give up on finding your mate and chose someone else your highness. Any woman would die to be touched by you.”

Her hot breath fans my lips to trail up to my ear.

“ What if….”

Her lips hover close.

“ Your mate is not that good as you think?”

“ What if she is ugly?”

“ What if she doesn’t want to be found and is happy without you.”

“ What if she has already opened her legs for someone else-“

She doesn’t get to complete.

Red flashes through my eyes. Blood coils in my veins. Before I know, my hand wraps around her neck. I get up and slam. The force sent her crashing backward against the heavy desk.

Her body gets pinned under me. The force sent her crashing backward against the heavy desk.

The room fell deathly silent.

"She will be found."

My voice was low.

Controlled.

Far more dangerous than if I'd shouted.

"I don't care if I have to search every kingdom."

"Every mountain."

"Every corner of this world."

“ I don’t care if I have to drag her out of her fucking grave.”

"My mate..."

I tightened my grip just enough for her to understand.

"...will come to me."

For the first time since entering my office...

Her confidence wavered.

I stepped back.

"Damn it..."

Dammit. What’s wrong with me. One careless remark about my mate...

And she'd almost succeeded in provoking me.

Leaving her sprawled on my table with her arousal visible, body calling.

I turn my back on her to rake my hand through my hair.

Stupid.

I thought she will be scared, that she will get the clue. But she was too foolish. And her next words confirmed it.

“ Then she will be lucky. But until then…. You can make someone else lucky.”

She raises a suggestive eyebrow. The smell of her arousal floods the room and I shake my head to move back from her.

I almost felt like throwing up at her words and smell.

I can feel Anthros, my wolf pacing in my mind.

Dammit. She ruined my evening . It was a wrong call to go easy on her.

You give them water and they fucking want a feast.

People mistake mercy for weakness far too often.

"Leave."

My voice returned to its usual calm.

"You no longer have to obey your Alpha's orders."

She blinked in confusion.

"But... why?"

"What do you mean?"

I slipped my hands into my pockets and turned toward the rain-soaked window.

"I'll ensure your safety."

"You can live independently from now on."

"No one will harm you."

Silence stretches.

Minutes pass and then I feel it, her body getting down from the table. Her approaching me.

“ You are mistaken. Alpha Kevin didn’t ask anything of me. I really like you-“

I didn’t waste a second. I turn around and grab the knife in her hand, the one she was going to kill me with. I slam her against the wall and slice.

I cut her throat with a doctors precision.

One clean motion.

Precise.

Controlled.

Enough to end her life swiftly.

Enough to spare unnecessary suffering.

Her beautiful blue eyes widened in disbelief as life drains out of them.

As the strength left her body, I leaned closer to whisper back in her ear.

"I only offer mercy once, sweetheart."

"You should have accepted it while it lasted."

Her body slowly slid down the rain-speckled window, leaving a crimson trail behind.

Without so much as another glance at her body, I walked toward the door.

It opened before I reached it.

Kale stood waiting outside.

He looked past me. One glance at the floor told him everything.

"No interrogation?"

I adjust the cuff of my sleeve. Feeling to have a cold shower.

"They always tell the same lies."

I didn’t wait for his reply, I walk past not before ordering .

"Have someone clean the mess."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I wasn't inhuman.

Nor was I merciless.

I always gave my victims one chance.

Just one.

What they chose to do with it...

Was entirely up to them.

As I made my way toward my chambers, her words continued to echo through my mind.

What if she doesn't want to be found? What if she is really happy with someone else?

What if she is ugly.

No. It’s nothing. My mate will be worth it. She must be waiting for me.

She will be like no other woman I have ever met.

She will be so fucking beautiful that these bitches would die of envy from here.

Just wait and watch.

I just know.

A slow smile touched my lips.

Until then little mate…. Until then.