***

ing against my cheek with a strength that forced my head up. Blood r

s his stare. "We're not monsters. Just do your job, a

even known myself until now. I wanted the life that had b

't have imagined. And now? Now he has sold me off. Sold me

ree

ry part of me for the one I believed would be my true mate, the one I would meet under a full m

es before him. "I'll be anything else-a maid, a servant, I'll work for you my whole li

me with indifference, and it made me feel small, unworthy.

er owes," I added, my voice cracking.

tone sharp, biting. "You could work until your last br

of them might show some sign of compassion. But they all stood s

Xavier, clutching at his leg. "Please," I whispered, my

locking eyes with him for the briefest moment, and a chill ran through me

room stood open, just a few feet away. A gl

oor, a desperate attempt to escape. I didn't care where I wou

rowing me down with a force that knocked the breath

, my voice raw with panic.

"Did you really think you could ru

he could end my life right here and n

remained expressionless, unmoved. "Take her to my room," Alpha

hesitant, though his face remained unreadable. "The

ting my stomach into knots. What did they

o come together, forming a picture I didn't want to see. I wasn't chosen by chance. They

horrifying truth. My bloodline, unique and ancient, was valuable to them, something they wanted to exploit. They saw me as a breedin

I had dreamed of. I was nothing more than a tool to

ing figure cast a shadow over me. His ey

er's voice was firm, emotionless. "Ac

t his side, a warning. The message was clear: try to e

es. This was my reality now-bound to Alpha

." The Alpha's voice was cold as h

g in my eyes. "But what if I refuse?" My voice trem

me. But slowly, he turned, fixing me with a dark, intense stare

ciless as he knelt down, bringing his face close to mine, his gaze unyielding. I f

ne far from the others." His voice was barely a

sweat dotted my forehead. There was no escape from him, no

age I had left. I straightened, looking up to meet his gaze, refusing

sion softened ever so slightly, and he looked away, his voice a strange mixture of calm and cold

fading as he walked away, leaving me a