Coming out of the shock of his proposition, "You don't mean that," I said in denial.

"Unfortunately, I do," he continued.

"I'm in need of a wife to keep the pressure of mating off my back, "he clarified.

"What about a mate, because I know every werewolf has one."

"I still haven't met her, and honestly, the whole mate thing doesn't interest me; it's just pointless," he said dismissively.

"You don't believe in love," I asked.

"Do you?" he shot back, and I was at a loss for words.

"I haven't experienced it personally, but I truly believe that having someone by your side forever is a beautiful thing."

"More like a cage," he scoffed.

"But I have no feelings for you whatsoever."

"I'm aware of that, you're only going to pretend," he remarked with an exaggerated eye roll.

"I'm not going to do it," I said finally. It's a deceitful act, I won't succumb, no matter how powerful or attractive he was, which he definitely was. I thought, almost drooling, Get your act together, Reena!

He scoffed and crossed his arms, saying, "It's not as if you have a choice."

"What do you mean?"

"It's either you agree to my proposition, or I will mete out the punishment given to spies, which you definitely are."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me," he dared me, as his eyes sparked with a fiery red.

Fear seized me and i distanced myself from him. The memory of his actions toward that wolf in the woods sent a chill down my spine.

"So, what's it going to be?" he asked, rising from the table.

In a moment of desperation, I asked, "What if I happen to meet my mate someday?"

With a chuckle, he confidently remarked, "Oh, you won't!"

"You can't predict that."

"Oh I can,"

Something in his eyes unsettles me. Suddenly, my eyes widened. Oh no, don't tell me...

"Yes, I am aware that you're human," he declared.

"Do you read minds?" I asked in astonishment.

He laughed, "What do you think?"

There's no escaping this monster. Is there a limit to his abilities? "When did you find out?"

"The moment I saw you, others may not pick up on your scent amidst the elixir, but you seem to overlook that I'm not merely an alpha; as a lycan, my senses are far more acute."

I questioned him, a hint of anger in my voice, "If you knew all of this back then, why did you make me walk such a long journey?" It frustrated me to think he had been toying with me all this while.

"I was curious to test how tenacious you could be in concealing your identity. Your efforts were impressive, which makes you a perfect candidate for this job," he finished.

He approached the window and peered outside. However, I persisted, "What if..."

The door opened and a woman walked in.

"My king," she greeted with a bow.

He acknowledged her with a nod, then turned to me and said, "Reena, this is Joy. She'll help you get dressed. Follow her instructions, and we will continue this conversation later." With that, he departed.

Immediately we kicked off; she was such a chatterbox, trying to know what was between the king and I.

She certainly worked her magic on me; I barely recognized myself before we set off in a stylish limousine.

Sitting beside the king in the back seat, I wondered how this would work. I didn't even know anything about him, including his name.

"How do you propose we could pull this off? Everyone will definitely know I'm human," I asked, starting the conversation.

No they won't, you'll continue using the xixa leave till then.

On another note, I viewed this as a significant chance to break free from servitude, even if he has his own ulterior motives. I really don't have any other options.

Oh, I'm so done. I can't help but wonder what's in store for me. I kept quiet during the entire trip while he focused on his computer.

We arrived at a grand mansion that was nothing short of magnificent. We were welcomed by everyone.

"Your majesty! My king!" They all greeted him, some expressing their reverence by kissing the ring he wore on his hand.

I saw the respect they show him and couldn't help but question how this is possible, given his ruthlessness.

All of them regarded me with curious eyes, but I brushed them off and followed the king inside.

Inside, a lot more came to greet him, and I stood aside, watching him interacte with his people. Suddenly, the moment was disrupted.

Ashton? Ashton! The piercing sound caused me to turn towards the exit

And the owner of this voice was a strikingly gorgeous and voluptuous brunette.

She ran to the king and wrapped her arms around him in a full embrace with all her packages.

Seeing this, I felt it was inappropriate, yet everyone else seemed fine with it.

"I missed you, my Lycan king," the brunette was saying.

"Really, I've only been gone for two days," he replied with a smile.

"But it felt like ages," she expressed affectionately to him. He untangled her hands from his neck while keeping her near.

Her gaze landed on me, and the intensity of her look was lethal; I mean, I don't even know her.

"BETA, please escort her upstairs so she can rest; it has been quite a hectic day," the king instructed his beta.

I don't want to back down; I need to understand her issue. I thought about saying no, but the king's intense gaze compelled me to comply.

As I ascended the stairs to my room, I was consumed by fury. Sitting on the bed, I seethed, convinced she must be his mistress; that's why he was down there while I remained up here.

Soon after, he came into the room and stood beside the door.

"That took a while," I said sarcastically.y

"What's that supposed to mean?" he questioned, frowning slightly.

"I assumed you had trouble finding someone willing to role-play as your mate, yet she appeared ready to go to any lengths for you."

He arched an eyebrow. "You mean Linda? She's definitely open to it, but I prefer to avoid any complications later," he said with a faint smile.

"What complications?"

She's the kind of person who becomes overly attached and doesn't let go easily.

How do you know that

Caused I've dated her, I gasped

"Also, she would probably claw my eyes out if I call it quits, whereas you can't," he remarked.

"How fortunate she is that you value her emotions more than you value mine," she said almost angrily.

"Are you jealous?" he asked suspiciously.

"Wha... what?" I faltered, caught off guard by the abrupt question.

"You heard me."

With a scoff, I replied, "I'm not. I have no feelings whatsoever for you, and you can't make me love you."

"Love doesn't matter to me; achieving pleasure is what truly counts." He paused and said boldly, "And I'm confident I can make your body sing."

Sing? I didn't get it at first, but oh... sing. "You can't," I said dismissively.

"Really?" Then he started advancing towards me like a predator after its prey.

"What are you doing?" I nervously asked, taking a step back.

"Oh, to prove you wrong, of course," his gaze fixed on me.

"No! stop right there!" I cried out wanting to get away, but he kept coming at me.

When my back hit the wall, I attempted to break free, but he held me in place, preventing my escape.

Clasping both of my hands with one of his, he pinned them above my head against the wall.

He leaned in close and whispered, "what were you saying again?"

The warmth of his breath against my cheek sent shivers down my spine, and his captivating eyes had me spellbound.

I felt helpless and exposed in this position. "Please let me go," I pleaded, because my body was about to betray me.

"Where did all that bravado go?" he teased, nudging his leg in between mine with a sly grin.

Oh my God! His hand grazed my nipple just a bit, and it felt like an electric jolt coursing through me.

For god's sake, I hope he doesn't do that again. "Please," I whispered breathlessly.

"Please, what exactly?" he asked teasingly, his eyes fixed on me. "Please stop or please more."

"You can't do this, you have no right," I accused, on the verge of losing myself to his sexual onslaught.

"Oh, but I truly do, you're my property and I can treat you however I please, he declared with a smirk." I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to suppress the emotions stirred by his words and his hand.

But with the slow ascent of his leg between mine, I felt my concentration slipping away like sand through my fingers, caught between bliss and panic.

Oh dear God! Would I survive this? My thoughts ran wildly until the warm pressure of his thigh finally pressed against my core.

Completely lost now, pleasure erupting in my head like fireworks, leaving my underwear so drenched.

I could feel the tension crackling in the air, the undeniable chemistry that has been there since we've met.

With a deep breath, he leaned closer, his warm breath caressing my ear as he murmured, "I can smell the enchanting scent of your femininity."

With that seductive voice and the turmoil in my body, I couldn't hold it back anymore.

I tried to squeeze my legs together, but he stopped me and then began to rub his thigh against my core.

"Oh God," I moaned, teetering on the edge of release and longing to let go.

But suddenly, he pulled back his leg. No! My body screamed. He released my hands, and as I looked up, I saw a mischievous glint in his eyes.

At that moment, I was struck by the sudden awareness of my wanton behavior.

We both glanced at his pants and noticed the damp spot on his thigh; I couldn't help but gasp in mortification.

With a scoff, he remarked, "How utterly shameless, you are quite a little wh*re," delivering the words with a sardonic tone.

"I am nothing of the sort," I replied hesitantly because of what just happened. Trying to steady my breath now and adjusting my clothes.

"Well, this is a clear indication," he pointed to the damp spot. "And don't forget that I have the ability to make your body tremble," he said triumphantly.

I find myself pondering how he can be so indifferent to what just happened; it's as if it doesn't faze him at all.

"Get ready for dinner," he said suddenly, his voice low and commanding. "We're gonna have guests and i want to introduce you to them."

I blinked, the moment shattered like glass. "Dinner? Guests?" I echoed, confusion swirling in my mind. "You can't just-"

But he was already striding out of the room, leaving me breathless and frustrated.

"You're walking away? What dinner are you talking about?" I asked for clarification.

He turned folding his arms and replied, "You might call it a family dinner, this evening. So make sure to dress appropriately. I'll introduce you as my fiancée."

"Is that all?" I inquired.

"What more is there?" he asked with exasperation.

"Aren't you going to fill me in on your background, or do I have to hear it from someone else? Like I found out your name was Ashton from your ex," I said with disdain.

He turned his red glowing eyes sharply at me; immediately, I cowered.

"Your attitude needs to be worked on; I'm the king here, and respect is non-negotiable! Do I make myself clear?" he stated, in a low growl.

I only nodded.

"You don't have to answer anything; I will give them the story."

"What if they don't believe us?" I asked.

"Then, that's their problem," he said with a shrug.

But did he really know me before all this happened? I couldn't help but wonder.

"Did you consider my background before making this decision?" I voiced.

"Humans are irrelevant subjects; I don't waste my time on them." He talks as if I'm not human, what a jerk!

"So what happens to me at the end of all this?" I dared to pose the question.

"If the plan is successful, I might grant you your freedom," he answered.

"And if I fail?"

"You won't!"

"How can you be so sure?"

"That's because you will make it work, even if it kills you," he said with a fierce growl, which made me flinch and pull back. With a quick turn, he marched away.

As he left, I quickly composed myself, going to the wardrobe and throwing on a dress that hugged my curves just right, hoping to regain some semblance of control.

I can't afford for Linda to see me in such disarray; this might all be pretend, but I'm not letting any b*tch ride me.

When it was time, i went to the mirror. Making sure I looked good, I made my way downstairs.

When I arrived at the dining room, the atmosphere was charged. Ashton sat at the head of the table, his presence dominating the space.

He wore a meticulously tailored suit that accentuated his masculinity; his hair was impeccably styled, and, in truth, every aspect of his appearance tonight left me utterly captivated.

As he raised his gaze and our eyes met, my heart somersaulted in my chest.

What is happening to me? I asked myself. Stay strong, Reena; you just have to get through tonight.

As I walked in, all eyes turned to me, and I felt a rush of heat creep up my neck. They are all werewolves; I pray they don't figure out I'm human.

Linda was positioned to the king's left after Cauldron, and he gestured for me to take a seat on his right.

I noticed the unpleasant alteration in Linda's expression.

"Everyone," he announced without wasting a moment, his voice booming, "This is Reena, my chosen mate."

The room fell silent, and I felt the weight of their gazes.

My heart sank as I caught sight of Linda, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger.

She shot me a glare that could have burned a hole through steel.

"What... what are you saying, Ashton?" Linda asked, her voice dripping with venom. "She? You can't be serious!"

But the Lycan king didn't flinch. "I am very serious," he replied to her, his tone leaving no room for argument. "She is mine."

Linda's expression contorted with rage as she rose, her chair scraping against the floor.

"This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed, "She hasn't even been tested to see if she's strong enough to be a lunar or to be able to bear children."

I gasped in surprise, they test for that as well?

"No one is testing her; I have chosen her, and so shall it be," he said with finality.

Furious at his persistence, Linda picked up her things and stormed out of the room, leaving a trail of tension in her wake.

I sat there, caught between disbelief and a strange sense of triumph.

The king turned to me, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. 'There, done right, now we proceed.' Okay, he was definitely using a mind link.

I opened my mouth to protest, but the words caught in my throat. Maybe I didn't want to admit it, but there was a part of me that felt a thrill at being claimed so publicly.

The lycan had a way of turning everything upside down, and despite my best efforts to resist, I found myself drawn deeper into his world.

As the dinner continued, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

The Lycan had made his claim, and now I was tangled in a web of desire, jealousy, and something that felt like a threat. I braced myself; to gain my freedom, I had to be brave.

"I heard that the king has chosen a bride," a voice spoke from the doorway, and I immediately turned.