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First Date

Logan

Was that tiny thing the female I had bought? She was on her knees, next to the windows. She had probably seen that beta leaving with the treasure I had given her. Well, I didn't care about that at all because I already had what I wanted. I approached her and grabbed her by the arm, easily lifting her small body. Her large mud-colored eyes were curious, attentively observing my face. I didn't see the familiar terror and desperation that others had when faced with my imposing Lycan form. That would be good, after all, a weak woman would already be bad, but weak and scared would be much worse to deal with and would annoy me. I sat her down and stood in front of her, Lian approached and handed her a small key, which she meticulously analyzed.

"This is the key to your room," I snarled, and she looked back at me with astonishment and admiration. She was truly a strange woman, standing there before me. "You will not be allowed to leave the castle, and even the areas within it have restrictions. Only appear in front of me when summoned. You have only one purpose, and you must fulfill it if you wish to stay alive." I turned my back and walked away, leaving Lian with the female to handle the details that held no interest to me.

Some maids were in the hallway cleaning, and when they saw me, they lowered their heads. Their small bodies trembled, and they didn't even dare to glance briefly in my direction. I enjoyed that, the scent of fear emanating from others, having their destinies under my feet. It was why I fought and killed so many enemies, but now I would have to engage in a battle that my strength alone couldn't win. I grabbed one of the maids by her hair, lifting her face towards me. She closed her eyes and wept.

"From this moment on, you will be responsible for that female. Prepare her for my visit tonight," I threw the maid aside and continued on my way. I didn't need a response; after all, it was a direct order from me, and the maid would be foolish not to obey.

For some unknown reason, I was even more irritated that morning, perhaps due to enduring the useless and weak beta's company for an extended time without the satisfaction of ripping out his eyes for having the audacity to gaze at me. I could have easily commanded his execution the instant he left my castle, but my curiosity to see the female surpassed what I had anticipated.

I won't say I was let down; she held a certain allure, yet she remained unmistakably frail and untrained. Had it not been for her scent, I might have believed her to be a mere human within that room. To compound matters, she was in her cycle, and I nearly took her right then and there, before everyone. Her wavy brown hair cascaded so voluminously that, even in my Lycan form, I could easily ensnare it around my wrists, asserting dominance. I was already slipping, squandering my time fixating on a woman designated merely to carry a child. There were still ample tasks to tend to, and she would be mine that night, without question.

Charlotte

A maid came into the room and said that the King had personally chosen her to take care of me. Her body was trembling, and she kept her eyes on the ground, never lifting her head. The man who had stayed in the room with me was named Lian, and he was the trusted Beta of the Alpha King, as they had fought together in the seizure of the throne.

"Miss Malory," I looked at Lian in confusion, as I had never been addressed in that manner before. "Understand that from this moment on, you belong to the Alpha King and must fulfill everything you are ordered to do. The king is not merciful towards those who do not obey him, and it won't be any different for you."

Lian nodded respectfully and left, whispering something to the maid as he passed by her. The woman trembled from head to toe and seemed to shrink even further. I didn't understand the dynamics in that place, and something warned me not to ask, or I might regret it.

I examined the dainty key once more, cradling it in my hands. It gleamed gold, adorned with minuscule flower-like designs and a red gem at its core, radiating like the sun. A room for me – I had never possessed a space of my own, let alone fathom the idea of a chamber within a castle gifted to me by the King. The notion that the Alpha King had taken my comfort into account warmed my heart. Pressing the key against my lips, I couldn't help but smile.

"Miss," the maid called out to me, her voice hoarse and trembling. "I will take you to your room so you can prepare for the night." I quickly got up and followed her out of the room.

As we walked through the corridor, I recalled what I had seen and heard about the Alpha King up until that moment. I doughty Alpha King didn't truly live up to the rumors surrounding him. Of course, he was an imposing and intimidating figure, his cold gaze could cut through the weak soul of a defeated adversary. But his tone of voice, though firm, also had a warmth to it. Even his gaze seemed curious about me, yet I never felt in danger in his presence.

"Excuse me," my voice was barely a whisper, but the maid seemed to hear me and turned around. "I'm sorry, but why am I here exactly?" The maid looked ahead again and seemed to contemplate whether she should answer me.

"I'm not exactly sure, I was simply sent to help you prepare for the night." Fear and resentment, something so familiar to me since my youth, were present in the voice of that she-wolf. She wasn't happy to be there with me, so I chose to remain silent once again.

We reached the opulent chamber, a far cry from the previous one. The furnishings were new, the curtains and linens pristine, with fresh flowers gracing crystal vases. A dainty nightgown lay on the bed. I pondered if the maid had led me astray, for the room's beauty seemed too much for me to deserve. The maid returned with a basin of flowers and towels. Guiding me to the adjacent bathroom, she aided in my cleansing. Assisting me into the nightgown, I noticed the fabric was so sheer it was almost see-through. As I turned to fetch a blanket, the door clicked shut. Alone and confined, I had no inkling of what awaited or how that night would alter everything for me.

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