I gasped for air as the cold water soaked me.

"Piper!" I called, sitting up from the bed immediately.

"Get your lazy ass up from there!" Piper shouted at the top of her voice as she stoned me with the empty bucket in her hand.

"I'm sorry to announce to you, but your princess days are over now sweetie. You have to wake up early and join your colleagues in the kitchen." She barked.

This had been her anthem since the day my father died and I got demoted to a servant.

I stood up quickly as I  tried to cover the bruises from last nights beatings.

Last night was a mess. It happened to be one of those nights Piper was really mad and decided to pour out her anger on me. I barely slept because I was in serious pain from the brutal beatings she gave me. And because my wolf  couldn't heal on its own, I had to suffer the pain throughout the night, up until this morning.

Now she's screaming my name as if she doesn't know what she did last night.

"Join your mates quickly!" She barked, "The Alpha King would be here any moment from now, we can't let him meet us unprepared."

Without saying a word, I took my bath and joined the others.

While we were in the kitchen, I couldn't help but notice from the window the shameless behaviour that Piper and Jude were partaking in, in broad daylight.

It's been two days since he rejected me, why the heck do I still feel the pain of him with another woman? I thought it would automatically die with the mate bond that had been shattered.

The heat of the kitchen reminded me of where I was.

"The Alpha King has arrived!" I soon begin to hear some whispers from around.

The news made my heart heavy. He was the one.

The man that gave the order for my father to be killed. He was the one that refused to give my father a chance to be tried. It was all him.

Anger rose inside of me. But I stood quietly anyways, just trying to calm the pain in my chest.

The dishes were spread on the big dinning table, they were over thirty dishes to be precise. We spent majority of our day on the preparations and then we waited for Piper and her mother to approve the meals before we presented them on the dining table.

Finally, everything was set. I stood face down as the Alpha King walked in. None of the maids dared to lift their heads except they were asked to.

We formed a train, ten maids at the left side of the room and another ten at the right hand side. We were also given numbers by which we would be addressed.

The moment the Alpha King entered, the aura in the room change drastically. His aura was distinct and very different from that of every other person. It got to me even before he got to my front. Not to forget the coldness that came with this presence. It was almost as if the coldness of his heart enveloped the room.

He stopped.

Yes... Right in front of me.

The pounding of my heart could almost be heard in the whole room. 

Did he recognise that I was the daughter of the man he killed?

A lot of thoughts kept coming to my mind, but eventually, he moved on without saying a word.

Pheeew... I breathed out heavily in relief.

I almost died.

I barely knew what was happening because of course my head was down, but I remember vividly how this worked.

The Pack was headed by the Alpha King, but they were Betas assigned to head each region, more like a head of state. That was what my father was before his demise.

Towards the end of each year, the Alpha King goes around the regions, and a Royal feast is always held to welcome his arrival. The feast they said was a way for him to bond with the people. But I knew it was just a part of the pack's politics.

"Greetings everyone," Came the voice of Beta Gilbert, Piper's father. "Once again we are gathered to welcome the arrival of our Alpha, Alpha Reynolds."

"Your majesty, thank you once again for counting us worthy of your presence."

"I now declare the feast open." He said after giving quite a boring speech of how he appreciated the Alpha and a lot of other things I didn't quite register in my head.

That was where our work began. As everyone took the portion of food they wanted, we served the drinks according to their preference.

As I poured the drinks, I couldn't help but notice his heavy gaze on me.

The meal had barely even started when he said.  "You there!"

"18!" He specified.

My chest tightened.

"Why me?" I almost blurted out, but thankfully, nothing came out of my mouth.

My knees were weak as I made my way to meet him. "Yes your majesty..."

"Refill!" He didn't repeat himself, neither did he make his orders clear.

It was absolutely abnormal for him to give clear orders. It was left for you to use your brain. But at this moment, both his wine and water had barely been touched.

I decided to refill both, starting from the water. When I was done I shifted it closer to him. My hand was still on the glass when he grabbed both my hand and the cup.

I withdrew my hand so fast, one would think I had been shocked by electricity.

"Anything else, your majesty." I asked, ready to leave.

His eyes met mine and remained for longer than necessary. "Stay." He said softly, shocking everyone.

From time to time, he kept requesting my service. It seemed way too intentional to be normal.

The moment my eyes snapped up, it was met with the angry Piper. Her hands tightly wrapped around her fork. I swallowed hard and tried to quickly move a little from him.

He caught my arm. "Did I ask you to leave?"

By evening, I don't know how it got to the ears of people outside that room, but people were already talking about it. I didn't even know how to feel or what his actions meant, but I'm sure as hell not interested.

Immediately I rounded off from work, I hurried to my room to shower and get a good night sleep ahead of tomorrow. A good night sleep was almost impossible to ask for, but I still hoped.

"Louisa... Louisa..."

"Hmm..." I muttered, still feeling sleepy.

"Do you hear those sounds?" Mary said, fear evident in her voice as she looked towards the door.

 I tried to listen, but before my sleepy brain could make sense of anything, the door fell open.

"That one!" A man pointed.

Without any explanation, they bundled me up and forced me out of the room. They forced a clot into my mouth to stop me from alerting others with my screaming.

I kicked, fought... I did everything I could do to set myself free from them, but they wouldn't just let me go.

They soon began to slow down their movements. I looked around, I was dying to ask. Why did they bring me here? But the cloth in my mouth restricted me from saying a word.

I could sense an unwelcomed presence around. More like that of the rogues.

"Oh poor Louisa," Piper's familiar mocking voice cut through my thinking. "You must be thinking, what did you do that life is so cruel to you. Even I would have thought that if I were in your shoes." A devilish laugh followed her statement although nothing she said was funny.

I struggled against the restraints.

"How did you feel having the Alpha King stare at you like something interesting?" Piper sneered.

"Instead of letting him have you... I'll sell you to your new family."

Their disgusting smell intensified.

"All hail The Rogue Princess." Piper mocked with a loud cheer.

"Wakey wakey, sleepy head."

Something cold touched my cheek. Not water this time. It was a rough masculine finger.

The Rogues.

"Time to make money."

I tried to move. My body ached really badly.

I opened my eyes quickly, but the light almost blinded me, causing me to shut them almost as fast as I opened them.

This wasn't my room or any place I was familiar with.

I looked down and realised that there were chains on my legs.

My wrists were tied as well, the ropes were so thick and tight that they were even hurting my wrists.

A man with scars across his face crouched in front of me.

"She's awake," he announced.

His hands grabbed my arms and hauled me up. I cried out in pain. Every part of my body was aching, but no one was listening to my cries cause they obviously didn't care. They dragged me outside.

The sun was too bright outside; it looked like it could burn down a forest.

"Where are you taking me?" I cried, exhausted.

They pushed me forward without an answer.

 Soon, we arrived at a vast open spa, like a market. I could only see men there, dozens of them.

My stomach turned.

"Bring her here," the man at the centre shouted.

They tossed me roughly towards him, and he grabbed me by my hair.

"Gentlemen," he said loudly, spreading his arms. "We've got something special today."

The men cheered.

My chest tightened.

"This," he grabbed my chin and forced my face up, "is prime breeder material."

I shook my head hard. "No!"

He slapped me.

The sound echoed in the air. The tears I had been holding back suddenly began to fall without my permission.

"She's young," he continued as nothing happened. "Strong bloodline. Former Beta's daughter."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"She has no wolf," another man called out.

The bald man laughed. "Exactly. That's why I've brought you this sweet offer. She's easy to control, untouched by any man. And most importantly, no one would lift a finger if she dies."

I felt sick.

"She'll give you pups without fighting back," he said. "And if she does?" He shrugged. "Beat it out of her."

The men laughed once again, sounding like drunk fools.

The tears continued to roll down my face despite my efforts to hold them back.

"Let the bidding begin," the bald man announced.

"A hundred and fifty dollars."

My head snapped up. Really? Is that how worthless I am?

"Two hundred and fifty."

"Five Hundred."

I stared at the ground, too ashamed to look up.

"Five hundred dollars... going... going?" Any one

"One thousand dollars!"

The bald man grinned. "Ah. A serious buyer."

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Goddess... please.

"One thousand five hundred," another voice cut in.

The crowd turned.

The bald man's eyes gleamed. "One thousand five hundred dollars going once..."

"Two thousand dollars," another man barked.

"Going once... Going twice... Going thrice. Two thousand dollars? Going..."

The crowd kept silent. I wasn't worth more than $2,000 to them.

The bald man swallowed. "Sold!"

Just as I was drowning in my sorrows, I sensed a smell. That smell.

I looked up and noticed a new person, who was covered up in a way that one couldn't see his face.

The hooded man looked towards me. Those eyes. They looked too familiar, but my brain was too tired to process anything.

"I'll take her, name your price."

 The bearded man who bid the highest suddenly lost his smile.

"She's mine," the bearded Alpha snapped, throwing cash onto the platform. "If you wanted her, you should have come before the bid ended."

The hooded man turned to meet him.

"I'll double whatever you paid. No, Triple."

"She's already bought," the $2,000 man growled. "Back off."

For a moment, I thought they might kill each other right there.

Then the hooded man stepped back.

"Very well," he said quietly.

My heart sank.

The strong hands of my buyer grabbed me and pulled me off the platform. I stumbled and nearly fell.

He shoved me into the trunk of his Hilux like an item purchased.

The engine roared to life.

As the door slammed shut, I caught one last glimpse of the hooded man.

He was staring intensely, and he remained that way till I could no longer see him.

I curled into myself as much as the chains allowed.

This is it, Louisa. This is how you end.

The road was rough. Every bump caused me serious pain. I could hear my buyer and his guards discussing how long I'd last.

"One pup should be enough to send her to her grave." One said loud enough for me to hear.

I stared at the floor of the trunk in disgust.

The car suddenly came to a stop.

I didn't know what was going on inside there, but it sounded brutal. Their screaming and growls filled the air like they were being attacked.

"You!" I heard one of the men say, followed by the shocked gasps of others.

"Please don't kill me!" Another cried.

Can this day get any worse? I cried as I began to shiver where I was lying. The fact that I barely knew what was happening back there left me more on edge.

The vehicle shook with fear and the sound of unanswered pleas. The struggle between the men back there and whoever attacked them.

Tears flowed freely from my eyes. My breathing was very heavy as I struggled to roll out of the trunk. Maybe just find an escape. The chains and everything made it so hard for me.

"Goddess, please!" I cried.

Soon, the car came to a stop; the struggle had come to an end.

Still, there was no peace in my heart. I soon heard the sound of boots approaching from the back.

I closed my eyes like it could shield me from whatever was to come.

I heard the sound of the trunk opening before I felt someone pull me towards the edge.

"Please, I'm not one of them," I cried. "I beg you, don't kill me."

I finally opened my eyes when I noticed that he was losing the ropes on my hands.

It was the hooded guy from earlier.

 I sniffed back my tears, though my body was still shaking. "Who are you?" I asked.

He said nothing; instead, he went towards the front of the car. When he came back, he was with the key to the chains on my leg.

"Why are you so interested in me?"

He let down his hood.

I froze.

"Your majesty..." I muttered in shock.

I still couldn't believe my eyes, this can't be real.

"Your majesty?" I called once again as if calling it more would make it seize from being reality.

Why would Alpha Reynolds want to save me? The same man who reduced me to this condition by taking out my only shield.

"Why did you save me?" I asked.

He didn't reply,

"Why do you want me, your majesty? Why did you save me?" I was ready to continue piling my questions, but his deep voice interrupted me.

"Come with me!" He said, already making his way to lift me in his arms like a bride.

"I'm sorry your majesty, but I can't come with you." I sounded a bit too rude.

"You don't have a choice, Mate!" That word made my heart pound even louder.

I could feel the dread settling in the lower part of my stomach.

"That... That's not true." I managed to say, shaking my head. "You're not my mate."

"You'll realize soon enough." He said ever so plainly like he was talking to a child who had not yet understood the dynamics of adulthood.

"For now, it's safer if you come with me."

I snapped. "Safe? How is that?"

"You're the reason all of this is happening to me in the first place. You took my father away from me, my life. My everything. This is all your fault. I'd rather die than to go anywhere with you." I couldn't hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

All my tantrum seemed like child play to him, cause the next second, he pulled me into his hands once again.

"Let go of me!" I kicked, struggling with him as I hit his chest.

 He just held me firm, not willing to release me. I bit the closest place my teeth could find.

"Trust me, you don't want to get on my bad side."

My breathing fastened even more, I don't know what made me do that, but I was more surprised at what I said after.

"What would you do?"

"Kill me like you killed my father and them?" I said as we passed the car where the bodies lay.

He finally dropped me in the passenger seat of his car which was just at the front of the Hilux. Before he could turn and make his way to the driver seat, I fled the car, running barefoot across the major road.

I kept looking back to see if he was following, but surprisingly, he just stood in front of the car like a parent who was tired of stopping  their child from being naughty. Now they just allow you do whatever you want. But that was too easy to fall for.

Why was I bothered by the fact that he wasn't chasing me.

Instead of letting the thought cloud me, I face my front and increased my pace. I had no idea where I was going or if it was safe. I just needed anything to get away from him.

My chest burned as I ran. I was already tired for real. The road seemed unending with no corners to turn and just escape

 Stones began to pierce my feet, but even at that, I didn't stop. Fear pushed me forward harder than pain ever could.

The pain in my leg was becoming unbearable but I just couldn't afford to stop running.

I looked back once again, he was no longer in sight. Could he have given up?

My question soon got answered by the sound of the vehicle approaching me.

Once he got close enough, he said. "Get in!"

This time around, it wasn't a negotiation. It was an order.

Regardless of what it was, I ignored him and kept on walking.

"I'm done playing nice!"

 He stormed out of the car, I quickened my pace. "Get away from me," I said weakly.

But he caught me anyways and dumped me in the passenger seat.

I could feel the heavy thumping of my chest as he moved closer to buckle me in with the seatbelt.

 Why is my heart beating so fast?

His body was so close to mine that I could feel the heat of his body on mine. As he lifted his head, I froze at the closeness that had become too suffocating. It was as if the air had been sucked out and now I was left with just his cologne.

"You've tested my patience enough already, so just sit quietly there and don't do anything that you'll regret."

He locked the door with the key in his hands so I wouldn't run again. And then he

Unlocked it as he got to the other side and got in too. 

The ride was quiet and almost seemed unending but finally we got to the very big gates of the Alpha's palace. The most secured place in the pack.

The guards bowed and then rolled the gate open for us to go in. Once we parked, the doors were opened for us, gently reminding me of what my life used to be.

The Palace was a three storey building spread across a very vast space. Despite the fact that I had been here before, I was still wowed at the carefully carved regal werewolf designs of the palace.

In all my years of being, this should be the second time I'm finding myself here. The first time was when I visited with my father.

The guards and everyone around bowed as soon as we stepped out.

"Prepare a room for my guest." He said walking quickly into the house while I was left leaping behind him.

"Yes, your majesty." The replied with a bow.

As much as they tried to honour me as the Alpha's guest, I could see the looks on their faces as they scanned me from head to toe.

Everything about this place screamed wealth, the art collections, I recognised to be worth over millions.

"You can stay here for the time being." One of the maids led me to the very spacious living room.

This time, even before they could judge me, I judged myself. Because look how fine and shiny the whole place was. I felt like a dirt being spotted out by the chandeliers just above me.

 It didn't even take up to ten minutes later, they called me in and said that the room was ready.

The room was almost twice my room back in my Beta's daughter era. It was painted in white with flowery curtains going from up to down.

"Call me if you need anything." The maid said before leaving me, even though she sounded hesitant.

I took a little more time to stare at the place. It felt so undeserving.

Why did he bring me here cause I'm not falling for that mate bullshit?

There was a walk in wardrobe but nothing was in it yet, just robes and towels. That reminded me that I had to take my bath.

 The warm water rolled carefully down my back, alerting me of every place I had an unhealed bruise. They were a lot that I even lost count.

"Goddess!" I said softly as I let myself experience peace for the first time in a long time.

"Was it the rogues?" A voice said behind me.

My mind switched from peaceful to defensive. That aura.

 He stood there at the entrance of the washroom like it was a normal thing to walk in on someone naked.

 I covered  myself with my hands, "What the heck is wrong with you?"

"I asked you a question?" He said, ignoring my complaint.

"Did the rogues do that to you?" He asked, eyes roaming my body.

"No! Now get out!" I yelled.

I struggled to reach for the towel.

He didn't even move an inch, just kept watching me as I wrapped myself up.

"What do you want?" I asked in frustration.

Instead of giving me a reply, he took his phone, his eyes never leaving me. "Get the Pack doctor!"

I'm not sure it was up to five minutes later when I heard a knock on the door.  The doctor is here.

Throughout the time she was attending to me, his eyes never left my body. It was so uncomfortable knowing that he was watching me really closely.

Once the doctor was done attending to my wounds, the door went shut, leaving just the two of us once again.

For a moment, neither of us said anything. I just kept trying to avoid his gaze.

Then finally, "Being an Alpha mate requires a lot of things." He started. "And so I'm going to warn you just this once. Make sure you're not seen doing any of the things I'd be mentioning."

"First of all, I'm... not... Your... Mate."

"Number one," He stood up from the chair and began approaching me on the bed. "You don't leave this palace without my permission."

"Two."

"You don't come to me until I summon you."

"Three." As he continued, he kept coming closer.

"You're not allowed to be with other men. You belong solely to me."

"Four." There was no longer space between us and my chest was pounding really hard at the closeness.

"Whenever I want you, you come. No matter what time of the day it is."

"Understood?"

I didn't reply. My voice betrayed me. The heat rising in my body made it impossible for me to focus.

He lifted my chin, my eyes meeting his. "Understood?" He dragged the word this time.

Everything in me was screaming against this dangerous man, but the only words that managed to fall out of my mouth, "Yes, your majesty."

My body was stiff as hell even after he let go.

No Lou... You can't be craving him, he's your enemy.