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Preparation

Logan

Lian kept pestering me, talking nonstop about the price I had paid for the female and other irrelevant nonsense. If he weren't my beta, I would have eliminated him long ago, but his abilities far outshined those of other soldiers. I couldn't afford to squander them.

"With all due respect, my lord, but paying so much for a malnourished and weak female like this, I cannot comprehend. Our wolf pack has highly skilled she-wolves, more than capable of holding the position of your Luna." I slammed my hand on the table with such force that it broke into two pieces, immediately silencing Lian.

"I don't recall asking for your consent about my decisions, beta." Lian took a step back and lowered his head. "I hope this won't happen again."

Unlike other wolves around me, Lian didn't show fear in front of me, but rather respect. Yet, the scent never lies, and I could sense, radiating from every cell of his body, an overwhelming fear of dying by my hands.

"Go and fetch the maid I assigned to the female," Lian nods and leaves, returning with the maid trailing behind him. "Did she ask you anything or say anything about her stepfather?" The maid trembled and kept her eyes on the ground, a wise stance on her part, but her prolonged silence was irritating me. "SPEAK!" The maid jumps back in surprise.

"She... she showed interest in my lord, but..." the woman was stammering, and my patience was quickly wearing thin. "She didn't question the fact that she stayed when her companions left, and she didn't seem distressed about the situation."

Once again, that female had piqued my curiosity about her. When I entered that room, I did so intending to intimidate the woman I had purchased, seeing her crying and trembling before me, begging for freedom after being abandoned. But I saw none of that; she just stood there, observing me with curiosity and attentiveness. We would see how long that would last once she realized she had been bought by me solely to bear my heir.

"Is she ready?" Once again, the maid trembled, for she knew exactly what I was referring to.

"Yes, my lord. I was just about to fetch her meal to take to the room." I signaled for the woman to leave, and once the door closed, Lian stepped forward in my direction.

"My lord, do you intend to visit her tonight? Perhaps letting her adapt to the current situation would be reasonable." His tone of voice was filled with concern for that female, and it irritated me. She belonged to me, and I would not tolerate another male coveting her.

I stood from my chair and walked towards Lian, who backed against the wall. My hand closed around his fragile human neck. Not even in his lupine form, bathed in the moon's blessing, would he be able to scratch my face. Lian held onto my wrist, struggling against my strength to try and breathe.

"I've warned you once before, do not question my decisions, Beta." I threw his body to the other side of the room and left for my quarters. I needed to calm myself before going to see that female.

Charlotte

I was sitting on the bed, unsure of what to do in that enormous room when the same woman from earlier entered with a food tray. I had never seen so much meat before; I had always eaten carcasses or small prey that my mother could hunt for us. I stared at that large tray, not knowing where to start. I had never seen utensils and glasses before, and the maid seemed to notice my discomfort and stepped back, removing the sheets from the bed. I gathered all the courage I could muster to speak up.

"I apologize," she focused on me, though still seemed uninterested, "I don't completely grasp why I'm here or how I could be valuable to the Alpha King."

The maid looked at me for a moment, her eyes conveying a mixture of pity and resignation. She took a deep breath before responding, seeming to carefully choose her words.

"Miss, I understand that this might be perplexing and unsettling for you, but the Alpha King's decisions are purposeful. He determines who is valuable and who isn't. As for your role, I can't say for sure, but I do know that the Alpha King has specific intentions for bringing you here."

The maid's voice was gentle, but there was a hint of sadness in her words. It seemed like she, too, was struggling to make sense of the situation I found myself in. She continued to tidy up the bed while I ate in silence. I tried to imagine what reasons could justify my staying behind while everyone else returned to our pack. A tightness in my chest emerged at that moment, the longing for my mother suddenly growing stronger. If she were here, I knew she would guide me through this unknown path.

"For now," the maid stood before me, picking up the tray. "I recommend you follow the instructions you receive. The Alpha King is unforgiving, and it's best not to challenge or oppose him." She sighed once more. "Keep in mind, never challenge the King." My body shivered as I remembered the repercussions of my incorrect response to my stepfather. "You come across as a kind and fragile young lady. Simply refrain from questioning the ruler and follow his commands without hesitation, and you'll be alright."

It seemed that the life I had until that moment and the one that awaited me from then on wouldn't be so different. My stepfather strongly disliked me, and my mother couldn't do much to help while I was growing up, as she owed obedience and gratitude to him for taking us in. I should feel thankful to the Alpha King for providing me with so much and letting me stay in this beautiful room, but I feel curious, wanting to learn more about the wolf who will become my life partner. I closed my eyes and pleaded to Luna for a sign, something that would show me that I would finally have a peaceful and happy life. All I had known in my eighteen years was fear, and all I had ever wished for was a little peace. I needed to think of a way to stay alive, whether inside or outside the castle. My stepfather had already abandoned me, not even looking back when he left. I didn't know if my mother was also a part of it or if she knew that I would be left behind or not, but I couldn't go back and ask her either. I was on my own now, abandoned by my wolf pack, with an uncertain future ahead of me.

The door swung open, and the Alpha King entered in his powerful Lycan form, his torso bare and covered in thick gray and white fur. His presence felt overpowering, his chilly stare examining every part of my body, a reminder that I was clad only in a delicate white nightgown. At that moment, I had no idea what was about to happen and how that night would be transformative in my life.

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