Zaya

"The Alpha sent me to get you ready for tonight."

That was the first thing the woman said when she entered my room. No greeting, no smile, no warmth, just those words, clipped and cold. From her appearance, I guessed she was some sort of housekeeper. Her dark gray uniform was neat but plain, her hair tightly pinned into a bun. She looked like she could have been in her late fifties, but with werewolf genes, age was a tricky thing to measure. She could've easily been older.

And still, the sight of her made my stomach churn.

I had known this moment would come eventually. I wasn't stupid. I'd been dreading it since the day they brought me here, but the reality of it closing in on me was almost unbearable. My chest tightened, my hands suddenly grew clammy, and I felt like I might throw up right there on the floor.

Earlier, they'd served me a meal fit for royalty-a steaming plate of roasted lamb, mashed sweet potatoes that melted like butter, and some strange vegetable side dish I couldn't even name. It was delicious, almost suspiciously so, but instead of comfort, it filled me with unease. It felt less like hospitality and more like I was being fattened up, prepared for slaughter.

The thought alone drained all the fire from me.

I was terrified.

Now, this woman was standing in front of me, saying the Alpha had sent her to "get me ready." Ready for what? Like I didn't already know. Like we were in some prehistoric era where women were simply dressed and delivered for breeding.

I pushed myself shakily to my feet. "What does that even mean?"

If she heard me, she chose to ignore me.

"So rude," I muttered under my breath.

"Please follow me, madam," she said, her expression was stiff, her eyes avoiding mine.

"Just Zaya will do," I corrected.

"Right this way, madam." She dismissed me again, pretending I hadn't said a thing.

I bit my tongue to stop myself from snapping back and followed her down the hall until we reached the bathroom. The air was already warm and scented with lavender. A steaming bath waited for me, bubbles clinging to the surface and candles lit along the counter.

"Please take off your clothes and step in, madam," she instructed.

I hesitated, my cheeks heating. Still, I obeyed. Slipping into the hot bath, I let out an involuntary moan. The heat seeped into my aching muscles, chasing away the tension in my body. When she began washing me, I nearly melted. I had never, in my life, been washed by another person. Her hands were gentle, moving with practiced care. When she massaged shampoo into my scalp, I swore her touch felt divine-like the Moon Goddess herself had sent her hands just for this.

If I was going to be treated like property, like a prize to be cleaned and polished, then I might as well enjoy the fleeting moments of comfort.

When she finished, she dried me carefully, wrapped me in a soft robe, and led me back to the vanity. She brushed my hair, curling it into soft waves, and then applied makeup with skilled precision. When I finally looked into the mirror, I gasped.

"Is... is this me?" My voice cracked with disbelief. The girl staring back was almost unrecognizable. My skin glowed, my eyes sparkled brighter, my lips looked fuller. I looked... beautiful. Truly beautiful.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I'd never seen myself like this before. Never felt like this before. But I blinked quickly, refusing to let the tears fall. I didn't want to ruin all her hard work.

"You look like a princess," the woman said softly. It was the most human thing she'd said to me since walking into the room.

I gave a small, sad smile. "It's too bad I'm dressed to be bred instead of for an actual wedding, isn't it?"

Her silence was deafening. She went back to her work without a word, but I caught the flicker of pity in her eyes. I hated it. Pity made everything worse.

Then she presented me with what she called "attire."

I gaped at the lingerie she laid out. White lace, delicate yet far too revealing. "You want me to wear that?"

"It is the Alpha's orders."

My stomach twisted with humiliation. Couldn't the arrogant bastard at least provide me with a dress? Something dignified? Instead, he wanted me paraded in scraps of lace, like I was meant to be some kind of offering.

Pervert.

With shaking hands, I picked up the lingerie. The material felt fragile, the straps thin and biting. When I finally put it on, the lace dug into my skin, the cups pushing my breasts upward in an almost mocking display of false innocence. White, the color of purity. The irony wasn't lost on me.

I turned to the mirror again, and the reflection staring back made my breath hitch. I looked like a stranger-a sultry vixen in delicate lace. Sexy, alluring. But it wasn't me. I wasn't her.

I crossed my arms, trying to cover myself, heat burning my cheeks. My heart thumped wildly. I wanted this day to be over. I wanted to disappear.

"The Beta will be here soon to take you to the Alpha," the woman announced.

"Wait," I said quickly. She turned, surprised, and I chewed my lip nervously. "What's your name?"

For a moment, I thought she would ignore me again. But then her eyes softened just slightly. "My name is Martha."

And then she was gone.

I began pacing the room, my nerves unraveling with every step. Would it matter if I told the Alpha this was my first time? Probably not. From everything I'd heard, Alpha Ryan was cruel. Ruthless. Unforgiving.

The door opened again, and I froze mid-step.

"I am Nathan, the Beta. I'll be taking you to the Alpha now."

He was tall, handsome in a rugged, boyish way. In another life, he would've been exactly my type. Someone I could've fallen for. Someone I could've loved. But not in this one. Love wasn't part of my story anymore.

"Lead the way," I whispered, forcing the words out past the lump in my throat.

He guided me down a long corridor in silence. My bare feet padded against the cold floor, my anxiety mounting with every step. When we finally stopped in front of a large door, he glanced at me.

"Good luck," he said simply, then turned and left.

My knees wobbled. My chest heaved.

"Please, Mother, be with me," I muttered under my breath, a prayer slipping from my lips before I could stop it.

I pushed open the door.

And gasped.

The room was decorated with candles and rose petals, the bed covered in crimson silk. It looked like a honeymoon suite, romantic and soft. But the atmosphere was heavy, suffocating

"This wasn't my idea," Alpha Ryan's voice cut through the silence. "If you think this is some kind of romantic gesture, don't. We're here to fuck, not to make love."

I spun to face him, trying so hard to control my anger which was already spiking through my fear. "Considering you bought me and kept me here against my will, Alpha, I think I'm well aware of that." Every word dripped with venom.

But then my eyes betrayed me. They swept over him before I could stop them.

He was standing there in nothing but black boxer briefs, his muscles carved to perfection, his skin golden under the candlelight. His body looked like it had been sculpted by the gods. And I hated it. Hated that even now, my body reacted, my cheeks heating, my breath hitching. It wasn't fair. How could someone so cruel look so devastatingly perfect?

"Stop staring at me and strip," he barked.

I glared. "What is wrong with you-"

Before I could finish, his hand wrapped around my throat. Not enough to choke, but enough to remind me of his strength. Enough to warn me.

"I don't like repeating myself," he growled.

My hands trembled as I undressed. One piece at a time, until I was bare before him. His eyes scanned me slowly, his expression unreadable. Goosebumps prickled across my skin under the weight of his gaze.

"Get on the bed."

I scrambled to obey, lying stiffly on the silk sheets. My heart hammered so loudly I swore he could hear it.

He climbed onto the bed, his body looming over mine, his weight pressing me deep into the mattress.

"I'm not here to make love to you," he said flatly. "Don't expect me to be gentle."

My throat went dry.

He positioned himself between my thighs, his hand gripping himself as he pressed against me. No tenderness, no care. Just cold, mechanical intent.

He pushed forward but stopped abruptly. His eyes flicked up to mine. "Are you a virgin?"

Shame burned through me as I nodded quickly.

His expression shifted. Anger. Fury. His eyes darkened to black, his fangs lengthening.

"Get out," he snapped.

My chest tightened. "Wait... but-"

"I said get the fuck out!" His voice thundered, shaking the room.

Terror exploded inside me.

I shoved him back with all the strength I had and fled.

Ryan

Damn that girl for making me feel things I swore I would never feel again.

She lingered in my mind, refusing to leave me alone. No matter how much I tried, her face, her voice, her body-every piece of her-had taken root inside me, and I couldn't rip it out.

Did I sense she was a virgin? Yes. And at first, I didn't care. All I wanted was someone who could carry my child, someone whose womb I could fill and watch bear my heir. That was all this was supposed to be. A transaction. A necessity.

But when the moment came, I couldn't do it.

If I really wanted to lie to myself, I could pretend it was Nathan's words echoing in my head, clouding my judgment. But deep down, I knew that wasn't the truth. The truth was far more terrifying.

I wanted to be gentle with her.

I wanted to kiss my way down her body, taste her sweetness, hear her soft moans spill from her lips as I pushed her into pleasure she'd never known. I wanted to worship her before I ever claimed her.

I wanted to make love to her.

The second that thought hit me, I panicked. Love wasn't supposed to be part of this. Not for me. Not ever again. And so, I snapped. I told her to leave, shouted at her like some monster just to protect myself from what I was really feeling.

It took everything in me to keep my wolf at bay, to stop the animal inside me from acting out the filthy fantasies running through my mind. The last time I had felt anything like this was with my mate, Franciscka. And even entertaining these thoughts now felt like betrayal.

I had sworn, the night she died, that no one else would ever hold my heart. That even if she was gone, I would keep her alive inside me. And now look at me-breaking that vow because of some girl I barely knew.

Once upon a time, I was happy.

I had just been crowned Alpha after my father's death. I had my mate, the love of my life. Franciscka and I were young and in love, dreaming of the future we would build together. She was pregnant with our son. Everything was perfect.

Until the rogues came.

They tore her apart in front of me, ripped her from limb to limb until there was nothing left but blood and silence. And all because I was ten minutes too late. Ten minutes. That failure cost me my mate, my child, my entire world.

Tell me, how do you move on from that?

And yet here I was, lusting after a woman I had bought. A woman who should mean nothing to me.

A growl of frustration escaped me as I finished in the bathroom, disgust and shame washing over me. Relief came, but never enough. Never enough to erase her from my thoughts.

I had been touching myself ever since I left her. My body was restless, my cock hard and aching with a hunger only she could satisfy. And tonight, in that lingerie... God, she was breathtaking. That black lace clung to her curves, offering me glimpses I wanted to devour. She was temptation itself.

And she was mine.

My hand twitched toward myself again, but then a sharp knock at my door yanked me back to reality. I cursed under my breath, quickly tucking myself back into my pants before opening the door.

Nathan stood there, eyes wide, expectant. Of course. If there was one thing about him, it was that nothing ever got past him. He was like a bloodhound for gossip. No surprise he was here barely half an hour after my... disaster.

"What happened?" he asked immediately, his voice brimming with curiosity.

I raked a frustrated hand through my hair and groaned. "I couldn't do it."

Nathan blinked. "Did anything happen?" His voice carried genuine concern, though I couldn't tell if it was for me or for her.

"She's a fucking virgin."

"And...?"

The confusion on his face nearly made me laugh. For anyone else, it wouldn't have mattered. For me? It shattered everything.

"You don't understand, Nathan. I looked at her and I didn't just want to fuck her. I wanted to make love to her. Do you get that? After everything... after Franciscka... I can't."

At my words, something softened in his expression. "But is it really so terrible, Alpha? To let yourself be happy again?"

A snarl escaped me before I could stop it. "I don't want to be happy with anyone who isn't Franciscka."

Nathan immediately lowered his gaze. "Forgive me. I overstepped."

I sighed, running my hands over my face. "I'm just... overwhelmed."

He hesitated, then said carefully, "But Alpha, you know why this is necessary. You need an heir."

The reminder hit me like a stone. My jaw tightened, and I nodded once. "I know."

My brother, Liam, was reason enough. A wild card. Bitter since the day our father chose me over him to inherit the title of Alpha. Bitter because I beat him at everything. Our father had seen the truth clearly-Liam was too unstable, too reckless to rule. But that didn't mean he had accepted it.

He never did.

I saw it in his eyes the day Franciscka died with our child. The spark of hope, the twisted satisfaction. He knew I was vulnerable then, that my throne wasn't as secure without an heir. And Liam? He's always waiting, always scheming, always looking for an opening to take what isn't his.

That's why I needed a child. My child. My blood to carry on the line. And I would get that child at any cost.

"I'll fuck her, Nathan. Just not today."

Nathan flushed at my blunt words. Years later and he still wasn't used to what he called my "crass vocabulary." I liked to think of it as colorful honesty.

"I should go," he muttered, still pink in the face.

I managed a faint smile. "Thank you for checking on me."

He nodded, started to leave, then paused at the doorway. "Alpha?"

"Yeah?"

"Just... try. Try to be happy. Franciscka is gone, and I know she was everything to you. But don't condemn yourself to misery for the rest of your life."

I swallowed hard, his words heavy in my chest. He meant well, but moving on? That was easier said than done. Loving someone new would feel like erasing Franciscka, like replacing her with nothing but shadows.

Still, I forced myself to nod. "I'll try."

He studied me for a moment, then gave a small smile. "Goodnight, Alpha."

"Goodnight."

When the door closed behind him, silence wrapped around me like chains. Sleep never came. All night, my mind replayed her face, her body, the sound of her breath when she looked at me with those wide, vulnerable eyes.

Zaya had invaded me.

And I hated that part of me didn't want her to leave.

Which is why, before the sun even rose, I left the house. I couldn't see her. Not yet.

Not when my heart and my wolf were this close to betraying everything I had promised to protect.

Liam

There's a saying that when the cat is away, the mice will play.

My brother Ryan must be the biggest fool alive to think he could leave me here, so close to his precious little purchase, and expect nothing to happen.

I hadn't even laid eyes on her yet, but I wanted her. Not because there was anything particularly special about the girl-no, this was about Ryan. Everything always was. I had spent my life watching him take what was supposed to be mine, and now it was my turn.

I was the older brother, yet everyone always thought he was better. Smarter. Stronger. Worthier. Our father crowned him Alpha, not me. Ryan inherited the company, the pack, the respect. And me? He painted me as unstable, as reckless, as a liability. A joke.

But here's the thing about me-I don't stay down. Not ever.

Ryan thought stripping me of power would kill my spirit. He thought wrong. I've been waiting, biding my time, planning the moment when I would take everything from him. Piece by piece.

It almost began with Franciscka, his perfect little mate. I hated her, always did. And yet, fate-or maybe the Moon Goddess herself-saved me the trouble. She's gone now, ripped apart with that unborn child she carried. Ryan likes to believe the baby was his, but I doubt it. He's always been too blind to see the truth staring him in the face.

Now, he's scrambling to secure his throne by buying himself a breeder. A woman meant to carry his heir.

Pathetic.

And the best part? Word had already reached me that he couldn't even touch her last night. My dear brother, the great Alpha Ryan, too weak to claim what he bought. How delicious would it be to take her first, to leave her marked and ruined before he ever gets the chance? That thought alone was enough to make me smile.

My twin will suffer, or I'll die trying.

The guards scurried like frightened mice when I walked past. Maids lowered their eyes, pressing themselves against the walls. Good. They should be afraid. I'm the future Alpha, whether Ryan likes it or not.

Her name was Zaya.

I stopped outside her room and narrowed my eyes at the guard standing watch. "Move."

He hesitated, trembling. Coward.

"If you tell Ryan I was here, I'll kill you," I warned, my voice low and sharp.

The guard bobbed his head so violently I thought it might snap off. That was enough for me.

I pushed open the door.

And there she was.

The most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.

Her eyes widened and she sat up on the bed drawing the comforters closer to herself. She looked scared, like a little deer.

Cute.

"Alpha Ryan what are you doing here?"

I smirked, in all my life looking like my stupid twin brother had never done anything good for me, except now, in this moment. I was grateful that I had the same face as him, even if I was slightly more handsome.

"We didn't get to do anything last night, so I think it is only fair that I collect what I paid for"

I said waling closer to her. I loved the fact that she knew she was trapped, there was no getting away from me.

"You are the one who sent me out what are you even saying-"

I cut her off with my lips on hers, savoring her sweet taste.

"I own you now little deer"

Even though she fought it, I could smell her arousal. She wanted this.

"You cannot do this to me" she said and I laughed

"Oh but I can... You. Are. Mine"

I said each word clearly so that she knew that her fate was already sealed, stamped and posted. I would have her.

I kissed her again trying to slip my tongue into her lips to taste more of her but she resisted. I couldn't have that.

I punched her nipples hard and twisted them

"Aaahhhh"

Once she shouted I took the opportunity to slip my tongue into her mouth tasting every inch of her sweet mouth. This was not just a kiss. This was possession in its truest form.

She tried to resist at first but in the end, she could not deny what her body wanted.

"You taste so good little deer" I murmured against her lips.

My hands slipped down her body and one of my fingers began massaging her entrance. She tried to move away but I held her in place.

"You will not deny me of what is mine!" I growled and slid a finger inside her.

She was so tight around my fingers suffocating them.

"Oh my god"

"Not god little lamb just your Alpha"

"You are not my Alpha" she spat and I added two more fingers, roughly fingering my entrance with my three fingers.

Her moans were loud, unabashed. I was eating it.

"What did you say?"

Three was no reply just her soft moans.

"Call me your Alpha"

When she didn't say anything I stopped.

Zaya let out a whimper and tried moving her hips to get some kind of friction but I held her waist with my other hand.

"You know what to do"

"Make me feel good Alpha" she said and I smirked wickedly

"Fucking beg me"

"Please finger me Alpha...I want to feel good"

I almost combust in my trousers like a fucking teenager, my length was throbbing painfully, hard and angry but this was not the time, I would make her crave me, seek me out, beg me to destroy her and only then would I fuck her.

This would have to do for now.

"Good girl"

I enjoyed how her pupils dilated at those words.

I resumed fingering her pussy and she kept rocking her hips against my fingers harder, faster.

I reached down and pinched her clit and she let out a loud scream her juiced flowing.

I get her lay down quiet in a pool of her own juices.

She was exhausted, she was satisfied.

I stood up and adjusted my hardness.

"Do not talk about this ever again"

She looked confused. I would explain it to you little lamb, but not right now. All will fall into place in due time.

Before she could say anything I was at the door.

I called Martha

"Yes master"

She was trembling. She could not even look me in the eye.

"You will tell Zaya that the Alpha King has a mental illness, and she should never repeat anything he does to her in the day in the night time. Understood"

"Yes master" she nodded

"And if you breathe a word of this to the Alpha, I would end you daughter"

I heard her gasp but did not bother to turn back.

I did not care for her. I did not care for a lot of things really.

But as for Zaya,

Let the games begin.

She shook her head, whispering, "You're not my Alpha."

That stung, but it also amused me. She still thought she had a choice. I straightened, pulling back just enough to let her breathe, and smiled a cold, dangerous smile. "We'll see about that."

Her body betrayed her fear, but her silence gave me all I needed. She wouldn't defy me for long.

This wasn't just about breaking her. This was about Ryan. About watching his world crumble when he realized his precious breeder wasn't his to claim anymore.