Trapped With The Alpha King

“Lock her up!”

“No!” Althea’s voice cracked. Her legs buckled as two bulky guards dragged her down the hallway. “Please… don’t do this!”

Her hands scraped against the stone floor, nails breaking as she fought to hold on to anything. But she was too weak. Too small. They yanked her like she weighed nothing.

“Luna Meena! Please, I beg you!” Althea cried out toward the woman standing behind the guards. “Don’t leave me down there! I’ll do anything. I’ll stay out of your way. Just don’t lock me in that place!”

But Luna Meena didn’t flinch. Her face was stone. She turned away. The heavy dungeon door slammed shut behind Althea.

She collapsed to the floor, biting her lip hard as tears streamed down her face. She crawled into a corner, pulled her knees to her chest, and whispered to herself through trembling lips, “Everything will be alright, Althea.”

But even she didn’t believe it.

It wasn’t the first time she had been locked in the dungeon. But this time… it felt different.

This time, her father had committed treason against the crown. While the rest of her family fled for their lives, she had been left behind.

Locked away. Alone. As if she weren’t one of them. As if they had already decided she was as good as dead.

She didn’t know how long she’d been in that cell. Minutes? Hours? Days?

The cold seeped into her bones. Her stomach twisted, empty and cramping. The floor was damp. Rats scurried nearby.. Somewhere, a man coughed… long, wet, and dying. Her thin dress offered no warmth at all.

The silence that followed was worse.

“I don’t want to die…” she whispered.

Her breath came in short, panicked gasps. She tried to stay calm, but her body shook, and the tears wouldn’t stop.

Then…

A loud creak echoed through the dungeon as the door opened.

Althea flinched. She didn’t look up at first. But when she did, two royal guards towered over her, faces blank, eyes cold.

One grabbed her by the arm.

“W-Where are you taking me?!” she cried.

They didn’t answer. But the golden werewolf crest on their chests said enough.

The South had fallen. Her father’s pack was gone. Her home… taken. Her father… a traitor. And now… She was being taken to die.

But when they dragged her into the grand hall, what she saw made her blood run cold.

Everyone was there. Her family. Her father’s mistresses. Her siblings. Even the servants.

All on their knees. Heads bowed.

Waiting.

Then… a scream. THUD.

Her half-brother’s body crashed beside her, a pool of blood spreading like ink across the marble floor. Althea choked back a scream.

A familiar man stepped forward, face blank, blade dripping. He wiped the sword on her brother’s sleeve without a second glance.

“Anyone else care to beg for mercy?” he asked, calm as if talking about the weather.

No one moved. No one breathed. Then his gaze landed on her. He wasn’t just a guard. His silver-trimmed armor and the force of his presence made that clear. He was, in no doubt, one of the Alpha King’s most trusted warriors. Gamma Simon.

“That one’s human,” he said, eyeing Althea. “No need for silver.” A guard reached to shackle her anyway.

“Move, traitor-blood,” the guard snapped, shoving her forward.

Althea stumbled. Her eyes lifted, just for a second, and met the guard’s gaze.

His sick thought hit her like a slap. ‘She’s the most beautiful of Alpha Cain’s daughters. Killing her would be a waste… I will love to make her mine. I wonder how she tastes when I-’

She quickly looked away, her stomach twisting.

She hated this curse… this ability to hear people’s thoughts through eye contact. It had saved her life more than once. But some truths were too disgusting to bear.

“You know the law,” Gamma Simon said coldly. “Alpha Cain committed treason. His bloodline must pay.”

He looked around at the kneeling pack members inside the hall.

“If the rest of the pack bends the knee, they might be spared. But the traitor’s family…” he let the silence drag, “…their fate belongs to the Alpha King.”

Everyone knew what that meant. The Alpha King was ruthless.

Just then…

“The Alpha King approaches.”

Silence fell like a hammer. Althea’s head snapped up. And there he was. Gavriel Kingsley. The Alpha King.

He stepped into the hall like a storm wrapped in skin. Tall. Broad. Sharp eyes that didn’t miss a thing. He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. Everyone felt his power the moment he entered.

Althea’s breath caught. Her eyes met his, just for a moment-

Nothing. She heard nothing.

Her gift, the one that always worked, failed.

‘Why can’t I read him?’ she thought, heart pounding. She quickly looked down.

“They are all here, Alpha King,” Gamma Simon reported. “Except for Alpha Cain, his son Rett, and his Beta Lucio.”

Still, Gavriel said nothing. He walked slowly, cold eyes scanning each face. Each trembling child. Each sobbing woman. Then he stopped in front of Luna Meena.

The woman quickly bowed her head, hitting the floor.

“Please, Alpha King!” Luna Meena cried. “We didn’t know anything about Alpha Cain’s betrayal. Please, have mercy! We’ll do anything! Spare us!”

Silence.

Then his voice, deep and cold: “Will you die to save them?”

Gasps. Stillness. Luna Meena’s face went pale.

“The punishment for treason is death to the traitor’s bloodline,” Gavriel said. “But I will grant mercy. If one of you takes responsibility.”

He stared at Luna Meena. “One life for the rest. Yours.”

Luna Meena hesitated. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Althea didn’t need to hear her thoughts to know what she was thinking. But she did anyway.

‘Why should I die? I’m the Luna. Noble. Important. That weak girl should be the one. Let her die!’

Then the words left Luna Meena’s mouth, sharp and full of venom.

“Take her!” she screamed, pointing at Althea. “Take her life instead! She was Cain’s favorite! The reason he lost his mind! Kill her and end this!”

Althea stood frozen as all eyes turned to her.

“Alpha Cain will be devastated if she dies!” Luna Meena suddenly shouted, her voice cracking with desperation. “Even if he’s in hiding, killing his favorite daughter will break him! She’s nothing, just a weak human born from a slave! No one will raise another rebellion for her death. But Alpha Cain? He’ll suffer. He cherishes that bastard more than anyone!”

Luna Meena’s eyes burned with hatred as she spoke, but her trembling body betrayed her fear of the king who stood just a few feet away.

Luna Meena was right, her death wouldn’t spark another rebellion. She was a nobody, born to a slave, unlike Luna Meena, who came from noble blood. Althea was just one of many daughters of the Alpha of the Southwest Territory of the Werewolf Realm, easily discarded, easily forgotten.

Althea barely had time to react before she felt small hands grab her skirt. Her younger half-siblings, the twins, Liah and Seth, were clutching her sides like terrified pups.

“Big sister…” Liah whispered, her voice shaking. “Are we all going to die?”

Althea’s chest tightened. The children… they didn’t deserve this. They were innocent. They had no part in their father's rebellion. Her older half-brothers? Yes, they had cheered their father’s ambition, encouraged the treason. But these two? They only wanted to live.

Forcing a small smile through the lump in her throat, she knelt and gently held the twins.

“Don’t worry,” she whispered. “You two will live.” Then she winked at them.

Her heart was pounding as she turned to face the Alpha King. He stood there, motionless, unreadable. His cold gaze pinned her in place, making it hard to breathe. Every step he took closer felt like a tightening chain around her lungs.

Then, finally, he stopped in front of her. “Will you die for them?” he asked, voice low, deadly calm. One brow arched, challenging.

Althea’s breath caught. Her gaze subconsciously swept the hall.

‘Just sacrifice yourself! You’re nothing compared to our lives! You’re a disgrace to this family!’

‘You should die and save us! You’re pathetic, and your life has no meaning! What are you looking at? Just say yes!’

Those were the thoughts of some she hated. Others she pitied remained crying. They were the servants who had no choice but to follow what the Luna and the other mistresses told them to do, just to make her life insufferable.

Was she truly willing to sacrifice herself for them? Is this how my pathetic life will really end? she wryly thought.

Then her eyes darted to her little siblings. To the friends… and the few pack members who had always been kind to her. They were the ones she cared for. The ones she loved.

"Answer me." Gavriel commanded, his voice cold as winter.

Althea didn’t flinch. “If my death means their lives, then yes,” she firmly said. “Take me.”

And the room exploded. Gasps. Screams. Cries of protest. Someone dropped to their knees, sobbing.

“You choose death?” he asked, voice low and level.

Her throat tightened, but she met his stare. She swallowed. “I choose life… for them.” She turned her head slightly, just enough to see Liah and Seth weeping behind her, Seth shaking, barely able to breathe.

“If death buys their lives to live, I’ll pay it.”

Something flickered in King Gavriel’s eyes, gone too fast to name.

“No! You can’t take her life!”

Tristan’s voice suddenly cracked through the grand hall like thunder as he broke free from the guards. Blood smeared his chin as his knees hit the floor and bowed his head to the alpha king.

He was one of her closest friends, and although Tristan never spoke of his feelings, Althea knew he loved her, far more than just a friend.

“Please, not her. Take me instead!” Tristan pleaded. “Don’t let her do this! I’ll take her place!”

More voices rose.

“She’s innocent!”

“She saved my daughter! Please have mercy on Lady Althea!”

“Take me, not her!”

Dozens dropped to their knees.

“Please, Alpha King! She doesn’t deserve this!”

Althea bit her lower lip, fighting back the tears that welled in her eyes. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She never thought she’d feel this overwhelmed, especially standing so close to the brink of death.

The guards faltered. Even the high-ranking warriors looked shaken. Then…

“SILENCE!”

Luna Meena’s voice cracked through the chaos, sharp and panicked.

“Stop this nonsense before he kills us all!” she barked, eyes blazing. “She volunteered. Let her die and be done with it!”

No one moved.

“We’ll all die if you keep challenging him!” Meena snarled. “Let her die a noble death and save what’s left of us!”

King Gavriel raised his hand. Silence fell like a guillotine.

He looked at Althea, eyes unreadable. His voice, when it came, was cold steel. “She’ll live.”

Everyone gasped. Even the guards looked stunned.

“What?!” Luna Meena snapped. “Why?!”

King Gavriel didn’t glance at Luna Meena’s way. His gaze stayed on Althea. “She gave herself to me. I accepted.”

Althea’s heart stopped. Not death. Not freedom. Ownership.

His voice barely above a whisper, but it cut through the room. “She is mine now.”

“As a slave?!” Meena spat.

Gavriel’s eyes flicked toward her, dark as midnight. “As my breeder.”

A beat of silence.

Then gasps. Horror. Disbelief.

Althea didn’t react. Couldn’t. Her body was ice. But her mind screamed.

A breeder?

But they were safe right? He wouldn’t kill them and that was all that mattered.

“What about us?!” Luna Meera demanded, desperate now. “You said her life would save the rest of us, what about the rest of us, my king?!”

Gavriel’s eyes, dull and uncaring, landed on her as he spoke, “As Cain’s Luna… and his lawful wife… You’ll die so his pack members and the rest of his family will be saved.”

Luna Meena staggered back as if struck.

“You can’t,” she rasped. “You can’t mean that…”

Gavriel didn’t blink. “Take her.”

Meena’s face twisted… rage, fear, and disbelief all blended as she screamed, clawing at the guards when they seized her arms.

“You liar! You tyrant! You said-”

Her shrieks faded into the distance as they dragged her out, leaving silence in the grand hall.

Meanwhile, Althea didn’t move. She couldn’t. Her body trembled beneath the weight of what had just happened.

Looking intently at Althea, the Alpha King remarked, “You were ready to die for them, but now you will live… for me.”

Althea bit her lower lip, fighting back the tears that welled in her eyes. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She never thought she’d feel this overwhelmed, especially standing so close to the brink of death.

Her eyes accidentally locked with the king’s. In that brief moment, something inside her twisted. His gaze was cold, unreadable, like he was already weighing her life, deciding her worth.

This man… he looked at her like she was nothing. Like she was property.

And that made her blood boil.

She had spent her entire life yearning to be free, and now? Now she was nothing but his breeder?

It felt worse than death.

“Take her back to her chamber,” he commanded as he turned his back on her.

Althea didn’t resist when they came for her. She kept her eyes lowered.

‘If only I could read the Alpha King’s mind,’ she thought bitterly. That would’ve made everything easier, she’d know exactly what he intended for her. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t read his thoughts.

‘Why can’t I read his mind?’ she wondered, frustrated. It had never happened before.

“Please, let me go with her! I’m Melva, her personal servant!” Melva suddenly cried out, trying to reach her.

Gavriel’s eyes narrowed. After a pause, he said, “Let her.”

His gaze flicked back to Althea. “You know what will happen if you try anything foolish.”

His voice was calm, but it carried an edge that warned of consequences. Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away.

Althea stared after him. She had heard the rumors that the Alpha King was a cold-hearted, merciless tyrant, incapable of love or empathy.

And now, after meeting him face-to-face, it seemed every word was true.

The guards escorted them back to her chambers, and Melva hurried to tend to her wounds. But barely a moment had passed when the door slammed open again. A guard stepped in and said, “The Alpha King wants her bathed, cleaned, and prepared for him. Have her ready. Now.”

Inside Althea’s chamber, Melva continued sobbing until Althea gently took her hands and squeezed them gently.

“Stop crying, Melva,” she said softly. “It’s already a blessing that we’re alive. I’m alive, and so are the people I care about.”

“That’s true, but still… to be a breeder without a proper title?” Melva sniffled, her voice trembling. “My lady, you’re too frail. You won’t be able to keep up with the Alpha King. He’s a Lycan, his stamina is far beyond that of ordinary werewolves. And you… you’re a hybrid without a wolf. You’re more human than anything else.”

Althea understood what she meant, but there wasn’t exactly a choice left to her now. She offered Melva a faint smile. “Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

Melva wiped her tears quickly and nodded. “Yes… yes, we must think positively. Maybe this could turn out well. We both know the Alpha King refused to take a queen, right? Who knows? You might end up becoming his queen. You just need to do well and win his favor!”

Althea looked away, doubt tightening in her chest. She didn’t believe that… couldn’t.

She was the daughter of a traitor. Her father was the Alpha King’s sworn enemy. Gavriel hadn’t taken her in out of kindness or interest. He’d claimed her as a breeder, nothing more. A cruel reminder that her only worth in his eyes was to warm his bed and bear his children whenever he pleased.

“Something still doesn’t make sense. Why would he want you as a breeder?” Melva asked, her brows drawn tight in confusion. “It would’ve made more sense if he just took you as a slave or… a sex slave. But a breeder?”

Althea gave her a wry smile and shrugged. “It’s to disgrace my father. A breeder is basically a sex slave, just dressed up with a more acceptable term.”

“Yes, but it also means you’ve been chosen to bear the royal bloodline,” Melva pointed out, eyes narrowing. “We’re talking about King Gavriel here! He’s never taken a mistress at all. The man hates having women around him. So why you? Why make you his breeder?”

Althea watched her friend’s expression twist in thought until, suddenly, Melva gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth.

“No way! Could it be that you’re-?”

Althea’s brow furrowed. “What?”

“His fated mate,” Melva whispered, eyes wide in disbelief.

Althea scoffed lightly and shook her head. “There’s no way to confirm that, Melva. I don’t feel the mate bond. I’m more human than a werewolf. My senses are dull, I can’t heal on my own…”

But Althea had no idea why she possessed the strange ability to read minds just by looking into someone’s eyes. Her mother was said to be nothing more than a pure human slave, with no hint of wolf blood.

Melva’s eyes suddenly lit up with realization. “That could be it! You’re probably his fated mate, and he felt the bond! This… this could be heaven’s mercy!” she said, breathless with hope. “The Alpha King would never let just anyone carry his offspring. He’s too proud, too cold. But if you’re his fated mate, My Lady… you can use this. This bond, if I’m right, could be your only protection. Your only power.”

Althea shook her head, brushing her fingers against her temple. “I don’t know, Melva. Even if I am his fated mate… would that matter to him? He made it clear, I’m just a breeder to him. Nothing more.”

Melva gently took her hand. “Then you need to make him see you. Not as a breeder. Not as the traitor’s daughter. But as his mate.”

Althea let out a bitter laugh. “That sounds like a fantasy.”

“Maybe,” Melva said, giving her a sad smile, “but it’s the only one we have. And I’d rather hold onto a sliver of hope than nothing at all.”

Althea sighed, torn between fear and the tiniest spark of something else, something like defiance. Maybe Melva was right. Maybe this wasn’t the end… yet.

She straightened, her voice steadier than before. “Then help me get ready, Melva. If I’m going to face him tonight, I want to look like anything but defeated.”

Melva nodded, wiping her eyes and rolling up her sleeves. “That’s the spirit, My Lady. Let’s make him regret ever calling you just a breeder.”

Melva quickly helped Althea bathe and dress her in one of her finest gowns. By the time Melva finished brushing out her long, wavy auburn hair, the door swung open.

“The Alpha King wants you now,” came a woman’s voice.

Althea turned at the sound of footsteps and saw a stunning woman standing in the doorway. Her shoulder-length blonde hair framed a striking face, but her sharp gaze swept over Althea from head to toe with open disdain.

The fitted black and silver uniform clung to her form like armor, and the gleaming insignia over her chest marked her clearly as one of the Alpha King’s elite royal warriors.

The woman didn’t bother hiding her glare. Her presence was commanding, confident, cold, and clearly not pleased to see Althea.

‘This bitch. What does she have that made Gavriel let her into his bed? She’s just a weak hybrid. Sure, she’s pretty, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s not even a full-blooded wolf. I need to find a way to get rid of her. And fast.’

Althea’s stomach twisted upon reading her thoughts, and her heart pounded against her ribs. The woman’s lips curved into a smile, polite but fake.

“I am Cara Richmond, one of the Alpha King’s royal warriors. Allow me to escort you to His Majesty,” she said smoothly.

Althea furrowed her brow. If she wasn’t mistaken, this woman, Cara, was the daughter of Alpha Ruel of Southeast Territory.

‘Great. And this woman’s already plotting to get rid of me,’ Althea thought wearily, her shoulders tensing as she forced herself to remain composed under Cara’s fake smile.

Then, turning to Melva, Cara added, “You’re coming too. The entire pack is gathering to swear loyalty to Alpha King.”

Althea exchanged a glance with Melva, whose expression had gone pale with worry. Still, she nodded and fell in step behind her. They followed Cara through the stone halls of the fortress. The corridors were eerily quiet, yet the air was filled with tension.

They soon reached the large ceremonial hall. The massive double doors opened, revealing rows of werewolves and pack members already gathered. All eyes turned to her the moment she stepped in, and whispers rippled through the crowd like wildfire, both from her pack and the Alpha King’s men. The stares burned her skin.

“She’ll be the Alpha King’s breeder? Why take her as a breeder?”

“That’s Alpha Cain’s favorite daughter?”

“She’s more human, isn’t she? I heard she doesn’t have a wolf.”

“But look at her… she’s beautiful…”

“She’s the reason the Alpha King spared us… We owe her our lives.”

Althea kept her head high, even as her knees threatened to buckle beneath her. At the far end of the hall stood Alpha King Gavriel with his cold demeanour.

“Bring her forward,” Gavriel commanded.

The crowd parted like a tide as Althea was led toward him. Her hands were no longer shackled, but she still felt as if there were a heavy weight of chains dragging behind her.

She stood in front of the Alpha King while the pack members assembled behind her. The once-proud banner of her father had already been taken down, replaced by the fierce crimson emblem of the Alpha King.

Gavriel’s deep voice echoed through the gathering. “From this day forward,” he began, “Shadowthorn Pack is no more. This land, this territory, and all of you now belong to Bloodrise Pack.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd at the announcement. Althea kept her face neutral, even as unease stirred in her chest.

Bloodrise Pack. That name alone carried weight. It was the ruling pack, the Alpha King’s own. The royal family’s seat of power… feared and revered across all the Werewolf Realm.

Now, her former home no longer belonged to Shadowthorn. It had become part of something much larger, a reminder of who held the power now.

“You will swear your loyalty to me,” he continued. “In return, I will give you protection, purpose, and power but defiance will not be tolerated.”

Silence fell.

Then, slowly, the crowd began to kneel, one after another, heads bowed in silent surrender.

Althea followed suit, sinking to her knees.

This was it. Her father’s legacy, once a proud Alpha, once the leader of Shadowthorn, was now nothing but dust in the wind. A memory. A fallen pack. A traitor’s mark etched into history.

“We swear loyalty to Alpha King Gavriel, and we now belong to the Bloodrise Pack,” they chanted in unison, their voices echoing across the clearing like a solemn oath carved into stone.

“Althea Grayson.” Gavriel’s voice was steady, cold.

Althea kept her head bowed, heart thudding.

“Raise your head and look at me,” he commanded.

She obeyed, lifting her gaze to meet his. For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes… pride? Satisfaction? Pity? She couldn’t tell. None of it mattered.

Frustration bubbled inside her. ‘Why can’t I read him?’ He was the only one whose mind remained shut to her gift.

“From this day forward, you belong to me. But your fate will depend on how well you serve me… and how loyal your heart remains.”

She swallowed hard, forcing her trembling voice to respond. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Then the Alpha King soon dismissed the pack members. Althea stood to leave as well, but his voice stopped her.

“Come with me.”

Biting her lower lip, she followed him in silence as he led her to her father’s hidden chamber. The air grew heavier with each step. Once inside, the door shut behind them with a dull thud. Gavriel turned to face her with an icy stare sharp as a blade.

“So,” he said, voice like frost, “where do you think your father is hiding?”

A lump rose in her throat. She didn’t know her father’s plans directly since he had never trusted her that much. But she knew anyway. Her gift let her read what others kept buried in their minds after all.

And what she saw in her father’s thoughts had chilled her more than anything: he truly believed he could take the throne. That he didn’t need a backup plan. No escape route for his family. No thought for the consequences.

Althea took a slow breath as she stepped back while he walked closer to her until her back pressed against the cold stone wall of her father’s secret chamber. Gavriel stood just a few feet away, his gaze never leaving her.

“I asked you a question,” Gavriel grunted. “Where is your father hiding?”

“I... I’m not sure," Althea lied, cursing her voice for trembling.

His eyes narrowed as he moved closer, closing the gap gradually with slow, deliberate steps. She gulped nervously when he halted just inches away, close enough to feel his breath against her cheek.

“What a terrible liar,” he murmured.

Her lips parted, but no words came out. His scent of dark cedar, smoke, and something uniquely his was intoxicating and overwhelming. Her heart thundered in her chest, and she clenched her fists at her sides, trying to resist the strange, magnetic pull he had on her.

He reached up, and she instinctively flinched. But instead of hitting, he softly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb skimming her cheek's soft skin. She inhaled sharply as her skin tingled from his touch. His fingers stayed a moment longer, causing a shiver to run down her spine.

"You feel it, don’t you?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but it rumbled through her like thunder.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she whispered, even as her heart hammered in her chest. ‘Is he referring to the mate pull? Could Melva be correct? But how could she feel it if she was wolfless?’

His gaze dropped to her lips, and for a moment, she was certain he was about to kiss her… but he didn’t. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, so she looked away.

Then, without warning, he grabbed her chin and forced her to look back at his intense and consuming stare.

"But it doesn’t matter," he said coldly, pulling away. "Your father’s sins are yours to pay."

Althea’s knees went weak, but she forced herself to stand tall. "I’m not him," she weakly defended.

She loved her father, but she didn’t always agree with his actions. She attempted to intervene and reason with him, but it was hopeless. Once Alpha Cain fixed his gaze on something, no one could sway him. His ambition was overwhelming, driven by greed, as he pursued the throne. He aimed to crown himself Alpha King of the entire Werewolf Realm, regardless of the price.

"No," Gavriel said, his voice low. "But his blood runs in your veins."

"He leaned back slightly, his gaze flicking to her lips again before drifting away. Althea let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding."

"You were his most cherished daughter. He’ll come for you, especially once word spreads that you’ve become my breeder." His tone was lazy, almost mocking, as he moved toward his father’s old chair and comfortably sat into it.

"Serve me a drink," he ordered, eyes narrowing on her like a predator studying its prey.

Althea moved, her fingers trembling as she reached for one of her father's bottles. She poured the dark wine into a gold-rimmed goblet and approached him.

Her face was unreadable, but her eyes locked with his. She tried again to read his mind, to touch even the edge of a thought. But as always, there was nothing but a blank wall.

"You’re the first who doesn’t flinch when looking me in the eyes," Gavriel said, voice low and sharp like the draw of a blade. "Why is that?"

Althea held his stare, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath.

"Why should I flinch?" she asked softly, but firmly.

Gavriel leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He didn’t blink. "Because everyone does," he murmured. "Fear. Power. Take your pick."

She swallowed hard but didn’t look away. "Maybe I’m just too used to being afraid."

It wasn’t a lie. Fear had been her shadow all her life, haunting her, clinging like a second skin. She had seen the darkest corners of people’s minds, the cruel truths hidden behind polished smiles and noble names.

His eyes narrowed. "Or maybe you’re just too reckless."

"Or maybe..." she whispered, her voice trembling but unyielding, "I know what monsters look like. And you’re not the worst one I’ve seen."

It was true. She had looked into the minds of those worse than him. But with him, there was only silence. Maybe that’s what made him different. Maybe that’s why he didn’t frighten her the same way.

Yes, he was dangerous. Yes, he could crush her without lifting a finger. But there was something else beneath the fear, something she didn’t dare name yet.

Gavriel rose slowly, towering over her. "Careful, little wolf," he murmured, his voice barely above a growl. "You might make me curious."

Althea’s heart thundered in her chest, but she didn’t back away. Maybe curiosity was better than hatred? Maybe it was the only card she had left to play.

“Curious?” Althea scoffed. “I thought you already made up your mind about me. A traitor’s daughter. Your breeder. That’s all I am to you, right?”

The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but she needed to say them… needed to hear him say something more. Deep down, she wanted him to confirm if she was his fated mate, and whether he accepted it or not.

But this was Gavriel Kingsley… the Alpha King. The man who ruled without question, who refused a Luna, who never bowed to anyone.

His eyes flashed dangerously. “Don’t push me. You won’t like how I push back.”

“You think I’m scared?” she snapped, her voice sharp, cutting through the heavy air between them. “You already own my life, remember? What more can you take?”

At the deafening silence that followed, she realized too late she’d crossed a line.

She should’ve stayed quiet, meek and small like she used to. That was how she survived for so long. Play harmless. Stay out of sight. Read minds to avoid danger before it touched her.

But now… she couldn’t read the Alpha King. And maybe that was why she was unravelling. Why was she daring to fight back?

His eyes were still on her like he was debating whether to silence her or devour her whole.

King Gavriel didn’t answer. Instead, he moved.

Before Althea could react, he grabbed her arm, not roughly, but firmly. She gasped, but the sound stuck in her throat as he lifted her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.

“Wha-! Put me down!” she shouted, pounding her fists against his back. “You barbarian! Where do you think you’re taking me?!”

He didn’t say a word. His steps were unhurried and measured, like he had all the time in the world. As if her struggling meant absolutely nothing.

“Alpha King Gavriel!” she snapped, twisting in his hold. “You can’t just carry people off like sacks of grain!”

He didn’t stop until they reached her bedchamber. The doors creaked open and slammed shut behind him. Only then did he drop her onto the plush bed without a word. Althea let out a small yelp as she bounced, quickly scrambling upright. Her hair was a mess, and her chest rose and fell with each shaky breath.

“You-!”

Gavriel’s eyes darkened as he stepped closer to the bed. Althea stayed frozen, her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.

“Strip,” he said, just like that. No hesitation, no softness… only a command wrapped in velvet steel.