|| ASENA'S POV||
His voice startled us both.
I looked up and saw King Caspian gawking at me. His dagger-like, bloodthirsty eyes crawled over my body, lingering far too long, judging my closeness to Dimitri—and there was something darker lurking in his gaze. My instincts screamed at me. I subconsciously stepped back, glaring at him with undisguised hatred. I wanted to speak, to defend myself, but no proper syllables came out because this time… he wasn’t wrong.
Yes.
I came to the gathering because of my pack.
For my father.
For my family.
I felt Dimitri stiffen beside me. He bowed immediately, fear rippling through him.
“Your Majesty!”
Caspian didn’t spare him a second glance before striding toward us. He stopped right in front of me, his smirk slow and cruel as his eyes dragged over me from head to toe.
“Oh! Look at you,” he mocked. “You look better in servant clothes, Alpha Asena Blackwood. Why don’t you become a servant for a lifetime?”
Something inside me snapped.
My wolf roared, breaking free from its cage, and the words tore out of my throat without restraint.
“Asena Blackwood is born to become a queen—not a servant in your house.”
His smile widened, dripping with mockery.
“But look at you! In the end, you’re the poor servant of Caspian.”
My teeth clenched so hard they ached. My eyes burned with rage. My wolf screamed for dominance for challenge but I forced myself to hold back. Challenging an Alpha King wasn’t just rebellion. It was annihilation. Victory meant a crown. Failure meant the death of my entire pack.
Caspian turned his gaze to Dimitri, whose head was bowed low.
“So, Alpha Dimitri,” he said slowly, “you want to risk your entire pack for this useless servant?”
My heart dropped.
I understood instantly. This wasn’t just a threat—it was a sentence. Guilt clawed at my chest as I looked at Dimitri. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke, his voice tight.
“I… I don’t dare, Your Majesty.”
Caspian scoffed.
“Good. I don’t like it when someone meddles with what belongs to me.”
“I don’t belong to you!” I snapped.
My anger surged violently. He had ruined my only chance to help my pack—and now he dared to claim ownership over me?
Caspian’s expression darkened. Without another word especially not in front of Dimitri he seized my wrist and dragged me away.
“You. Come with me.”
---
Every warrior in the hallway watched as I was dragged like an animal through the corridors. Shame burned my skin, but I kept my head high. When we reached his bedroom, Caspian shoved me forward. I hit the ground hard, a gasp escaping my lips—but I didn’t cry. I wasn’t delicate. I refused to be.
He slammed the door shut behind us and turned on me with a killing glare.
“How dare you join the gathering and speak to those Alphas?”
I pushed myself up, my jaw tightening.
“I was speaking for my pack.”
He laughed cold and sharp. In two strides, he was in front of me, gripping my chin and forcing my face up. His growl thundered through the room.
“You have no pack here. Don’t forget—you are my servant now, not an Alpha. Everything you do is under my command. No one disobeys me in my palace. Not even you. Understand?”
Pain radiated through my jaw as his grip tightened. My teeth felt like they might crack—but I refused to beg.
“Just for two months,” I spat.
That devilish smirk returned.
“Maybe I’ll spare your pack if you start respecting me as your king.”
My wolf surged forward, reclaiming its pride.
“I bow to no one.”
His forehead creased as if he was about to strike when a voice interrupted from behind.
“Your Majesty! There’s an emergency.”
It was Agnes.
Caspian released me like I was nothing, leaving me sprawled on the floor.
“Enter.”
Agnes stepped inside, her eyes flickering to me before she masked her expression.
“Your Majesty, something strange was found in the room where this servant was staying.”
I shut my eyes, dread curling in my stomach. I already knew.
Agnes continued, smugness lacing her tone.
“The servant was found unconscious. She has a scar behind her head—clearly struck by someone powerful.”
Her eyes met mine, triumph flashing briefly in her smirk.
Caspian’s fury exploded.
“What?!”
His glare pinned me instantly. Before he could speak, Agnes cut in sweetly,
“Allow me to put her in the dungeon, my king.”
The dungeon of Redhowl Vale—a place of screams and broken souls.
“No,” Caspian thundered. “The dungeon isn’t enough. She will pay every single day. Get out. Everyone.”
Agnes hesitated, confused, before leaving with the others.
Only then did Caspian turn back to me.
His wolf unleashed itself.
He yanked me up by the chin.
“Did you hurt my pack member? Answer me, Asena Blackwood!”
“—It wasn’t much,” I whispered. “She’ll recover—”
Pain exploded across my face.
I crashed onto the bed, my cheek burning. Before I could move, his weight pressed me down. Panic surged through me.
“Let go! Let go—!”
My protests turned frantic until he locked my wrists above my head, his voice a lethal growl.
“Another move, and I’ll show you how I break your virgin cunt.”
I froze.
My wolf—traitorous—stilled beneath him, heat coiling low in my stomach.
No.
This wasn’t happening.
His voice dropped, dark and absolute.
“Even as a servant, you keep challenging me. You’ve left me no choice.”
His eyes burned into mine.
“From this moment on… You are my mistress.”