Enslaved to the King of all Lycans

2—Her Fate

~Claire~

The drive to Alpha Orion's kingdom lasted more than five hours. Morning settles in, the sky brightening as I keep my focus there. I'm at the far end of the backseat, pinning my body against the frame of the door as though I would disappear into it.

There are many things I learnt the hard way in the slave academy, and a few of the most important parts weren't just learnt through lashes against my back. These people don't only use physical pain against you. They break you from the inside, mentally. And they are perfect at it.

A slave must not look her superiors, Lycans, in the eyes. A slave must not sit in the same spot with her superiors; neither are we to talk. I've broken these rules, and it targets my mind to challenge Alpha Orion's motive. So far, he hasn't growled me.

"Alpha Orion, we've arrived." The driver says as he comes down to open the door for him.

Alpha Orion is one of the Lycan King's five Alphas. Each of them rules a continent, and I believe that Alpha Orion rules this continent, Northern Crescent, while the Lycan King rules over every being, including the entire five continents.

The door opens for me, and I hurry down, quickly bowing and apologising to the Lycan driver. He ignores me and turns to Alpha Orion. "Where would you like me to take her to, sire?"

"Don't worry. She follows me." He takes one look at me, and I know instantly to trail after him.

Approaching the massive building, my sight steals a piece. The architectural design is fabulous and exquisite, judging from the trees, asphalt ground, flowerbeds, gardens, fountains, and the material of the wall.

We pass through many doors, giving me access to the splendid portrait works and elegant furniture. Eventually, we stop in front of a room. Alpha Orion opens it and beckons me to enter. Without hesitation, I ramble in.

"What do you think of this room?" My eyes roll from left to right. Is he talking to me? It can't be. I'm not supposed to talk, or I could be punished.

"I asked you a question. I believe it requires a simple answer, doesn't it?" He tilts his head as he narrows his oceanic blue eyes at me. I gasp when my eyes meet his, hastily dropping my head.

Oh, s**t! The room is fabulous. I've never seen such elegance before. The arrangements of the furniture, including their textures blows my mind, and then there's the king-sized bed that sits below a window which overlooks a section of the forest. It's enchanting.

A young lady enters the room, and Alpha Orion diverts his attention to her. "Abigael, do me a favour and change Claire's clothes to something nice. I want her to look presentable. Make sure she sleeps and has a warm bath too." He speaks words that I can't believe.

He glances at me one more time before he aims to exit, and I voice out unexpectedly. "Why are you doing this? If you want to kill me, just do it already." No, I didn't just say that aloud.

A smirk creeps up his face. "Finally, there was the girl I met earlier." Goosebumps crawl over my skin at his thoughts inside my head. "Calm down. You don't want my pet to know I'm talking to you through a mind link, or she'll get jealous, and then she won't be so nice to you." His lips don't move an inch. He isn't even looking at me.

He continues. "To answer your question, I don't plan to kill you. Instead, I want to give you a purpose, an opportunity the world has been waiting for. Perhaps the big change will start through you. Perhaps you will survive the hardship." I can't make sense of anything he's saying.

He stops there to add, this time, not through a mind link. "And get the chefs to prepare a nice meal for her."

"Yes, Alpha Orion." Abigael replies him.

Finally, he disappears behind the door frame.

~King Salvatore~

"Stop trying to invade my mind. How impatient you are." Cries Orion, as soon as he steps into my study room. Stomping to the table, I drop the glass cup in my hand, almost spilling the alcohol, and point a finger at him.

"Where the f**k have you been?"

He clears his throat, adjusting the collar of his shirt. Leave it to Orion to be a sick wanker who has the balls to maintain eye contact while my wolf is on the edge. "Doing what you didn't have the confidence to do, brother."

I'm taken aback; my brows meet. "What?" But he didn't reply. I know that silence. He hasn't done anything I'd like, has he? "No, you didn't." In a second, I'm standing in front of him, gritting my fangs at him.

"I did what you couldn't do." Replying that way only confirms my assumption.

"Where is she?" My voice is tight. The beast inside me is evident. "I'm your king. I order you."

"And I'm your brother."

"I rule over you. Don't test my patience, Orion."

He maintains his gaze, daring me even more. "I believe I'm meant to advise you. You're not thinking. Your father wishes to dethrone you. He's raising an army against you, and while you think because you rule over all Lycans, you have all the power, you are mistaken. It only takes a flaw for these minions to leave your back. You need an heir."

I hate that he speaks the truth. That only reels my anger to the horizon. "I waited years for my mate. It can't be a f*****g slave that's been deprived of any honour."

"Your hate. Your poor reasoning. Her profile indicates to me that she is the perfect candidate."

I furrow my brows. "I'll choose from one of mother's elegant candidates. I need a strong mate to rule next to me. No Lycan will even follow such a queen." I can't even imagine it. Contrastingly, the thought didn't irritate me as I gestured it to be.

"If you wanted to do that, you would have. By the way, you're running out of time. Claire might just be the solution." And now he calls the slave by her name?

"Where the f**k did the sadistic devil I knew you to be gone to?" Finally, Orion breaks his eye contact.

He whispers. "The girl is in a room close to yours. Guess the rest of the puzzle." As he walks over to the study table to pick up my drink, I head out.

There was no stress in finding Claire. In fact, her scent was so potent I didn't realise I'd mastered it from the auditioning.

The air tightens as soon as I'm inside the room. I see Orion's pet brushing Claire's hair, and I growl at her, my voice vibrating with a strong bass. "Get the f**k out," she dares not wait another second in the room.

Claire hurries to stand up, clenching the towel wrapping around her body as if it'll save her if I decide to pounce on her. Each step of mine is aimed to circle her until I finally stop in front of her.

"Look into my eyes." She hesitates but does as she's instructed. I could swear I almost softened my expression for those innocent green eyes of hers.

Twitching my jaw and digging my nails into my palms, I finally push my wolf below the surface and speak with spite. "You're nothing to me, understood? I will never claim you as my Luna, nor will I mark you as my mate. You will remain nothing but a pet to me, and if you ever wrong me, I'll make sure to punish you like I would every other slave. The only reason you're still alive is because I need an heir. That might just be your only purpose, the only string pulling you from drifting to the afterlife." I pause to swallow a heavy lump in my throat. My insides never ache, but there's suddenly a nauseous feeling arising. "Do you understand me?"

Like the perfect slave she is, feared by me, she replies. "Yes, King Salvatore. I understand."