THE ALPHA KING'S LOOT

still burn

sts. Around me, the great hall of Silvermoon Pack lay in ruins-tapestries torn from walls, tables s

hey had fought until there

e were the

d Pack-the largest, most brutal pack in all the territories. Their Alpha was a monster whispered about in fear

King

thick muscles, scars visible on his exposed forearms. His hair was black as a moonless night, falling past his shoulders in waves. Bu

ke a wolf watchi

claim his pick of the spoils. Not just lands, not just gold, but flesh and blood. He m

their faces pale with terror. I saw mothers clutch their children closer. I s

ng beside me, his face

a," he whispered.

espite the terror clawing at my chest. "You fou

g, the weak. His expression was bored. Disinterested.

s eyes

eled over my face, my body, my bound hands. It was not a look of desire. Not yet. It was the apprai

kin like a physical force. I felt exposed, stripped bare before him and his

oice a low rumble that vibrated throug

st. "Kael, please... she is all I have le

I spare the greatest prize? To own the spirit of Silvermoon, t

rld st

I heard the victorious wolves cheer. But it all

, used as a living sign of his conquest. The Law was archaic, a reli

round my wrist. The metal was cold against my skin-colder than the stone floor beneath my bare f

his power. He was even larger up close, his presence a suffocating wave of pine a

e flecks of silver in his stormy eyes. Close enough th

ction of a second. The touch was electric, a jolt of pure, unwelcome

not

ile wi

his back on my weeping father and my b

one floor, and pain shot through my legs. But I didn't cry out.

wl. Not for him

. His eyes flickered with something-surprise? Int

. Then he walked, and I ha

lackwood Castle

oad. Three days of being stared at by his warriors, their eyes curious and cruel. T

sleep. I

ds dragged me away from him. I saw my mother's empty grave, marked by a stone I would never vi

astle, I was a ghost-hollow,

, rising from the mountains like a beast made of shadow. It w

eyes followed me-the new slave, the conquered princess, the latest trophy. I kept my chin h

t of heavy wooden door

arters,"

iture. A large bed dominated the center, draped in black velvet. A fire crackled in the hearth, castin

s bea

as a

st the doorframe. "I had it prepared for yo

stables," I said, my voice

s down my spine. "You will learn to appreciat

efusing to back away, even as my heart pounded against my ribs. He stopped

our clothes

I felt my face drain of color, felt my

I whis

es narrow

w. "You may have conquered my pack. You may have chain

began to prepare for death. But then, slowly, a smile spread across his face. It was not a kind

"I like that. It will make b

into my jaw. "You will learn, Elara. You will learn that

before he left, he paused and looked back over

escue. No one is coming for you. Your pack

nd closed the d

clicked i

ank to the floor. The tears I had been holding back for three days finally spi

pack. I wept for the life I had lo

, I made myse

ak. Not for him

ld su

it kil

n around me like a living thing. I lay on the cold stone

en-foo

tsteps grew louder, closer.

k click

His eyes glittered in the darkness, hungry and determined. He st

on your first night?" he asked, his voice a lo

way until my back hit the wall. He kept coming, a predator stalking his prey, un

r clothes," h

I whis

eek. His touch was rough, callo

g," he said. "I

brushed my ear. His breat

to my bed. I will keep you there until you learn

st. My hands trembled at my

intense, unreadable. He was so close that I could feel the

he said softly. It

" I

tor's smile. "Good. Fear makes you weak.

d over my face, my body, my trembling hands. Then he re

"I want to show

ose? For a hundred miles in every direction, everything belongs to me. The

else, you are special. You are the one who will bear my mark. Who will warm my

r bear your children. I will never w

g time, little wolf. I have patience. I have time.

His eyes burned with something-hunger

obey me. To serve me. To want me. And when you do-w

before he left, he paused and

ou belong to me. Body and

him. The lock clicked

rt racing. I had survived my first night as hi

rd him through the wall-his voice, low an

And I will break her if i