The Deal With The Alpha

Chapter 8: The Hidden Melody

Kilian's mother's contemptuous voice still echoed in my ears. “You are not his mate.” The words were a brand of shame, confirming that in this house of alphas and powerful wolves, I was nothing but the cheap, paid-for human.

The bathroom was larger than my entire apartment, with a deep, tiled shower stall and sleek fixtures. I cranked the hot water, letting the steam fill the air.

I stripped off my clothes, shedding the last remnants of my miserable day. Stepping under the blasting stream, I let the heat soak into my tense muscles. The tears I had fought off all day finally came, mixing silently with the running water. I cried for Richard, for my lost freedom, and for the suffocating loneliness of my new gilded prison.

Once the crying stopped, a familiar impulse rose in me, one that only ever surfaced when I was truly alone and safe. It was a habit I’d developed in the orphanage; singing had always been my silent escape. It was a secret, a small piece of my soul I had never shared. Only Richard knew I had a voice that went beyond simple humming.

I closed my eyes and let the notes flow, starting with a quiet, soulful melody. It was an old folk song, mournful and strong, about a woman trapped but dreaming of the sea. I sang louder, letting the rich acoustics of the marble bathroom amplify the sound. The words poured out, carrying all the suppressed grief and defiance I couldn’t show anyone.

Meanwhile, Kilian had been in his separate room, pondering over the event that just happened. The confrontation with his mother had been predictable, but Amber's wounded defiance still grated on his nerves.

He strode into Amber’s room, intending to deliver a curt command about proper attire and punctuality for dinner. He stopped dead just past the door. A sound hit him instantly, slicing through his focus and silencing the ruthlessness in his mind.

It was a voice. It is clear, deep, and absolutely captivating. It was coming from the bathroom. The melody wasn’t loud, yet it held an astonishing, raw emotional power that froze him mid-step. Every note resonated in his chest, pulling at a deep, forgotten chord inside him.

Kilian stood stock-still, his jaw tight. This was not the timid, desperate waitress he bought; this was something wild, beautiful, and utterly unexpected. He found himself moving closer, drawn like iron to a magnet, against every fiber of his Alpha control. He was forced to listen.

What he felt was more than a strange smell or a fleeting spark, it was a connection that bypassed his arrogance and went straight to his core. He had been convinced he could buy control over her, but this voice was threatening to dismantle his control entirely.

The song ended abruptly. The water shut off, and the immediate silence was deafening. Kilian instantly felt the terrifying pull snap back, replaced by his familiar, icy resolve. He hated that she could move him so easily. He quickly composed his face into a mask of cold impatience.

I grabbed a large, soft towel and wrapped it tightly around myself, tucking the edge securely above my breasts. I opened the heavy glass door, stepping out onto the warm, tiled floor, my skin tingling from the hot shower. The room was steamy, warm, and quiet.

I lifted my head and nearly dropped the towel in sheer terror.

Kilian Judge was standing by the door to my room, only a few feet away. His expression was a perfect, unreadable mask, but his blue eyes were intense, focused directly on me, the woman standing soaking wet, wrapped only in a towel. The air in the room thickened instantly.

“Alpha!” I gasped, my hand flying to my chest, a desperate shield against his predatory gaze. “What are you doing here? Get out!” The humiliation was searing, but the confusing flare of intense heat between us was undeniable.

Kilian didn't move. Instead of leaving, he took a slow, deliberate step toward me. “I came to tell you dinner is ready,” he said, his voice a low, rough command. His gaze lingered on the damp strands of my hair.

“You don’t just walk into a woman’s room, Alpha, especially when she’s dressing!” I spat out, furious. “I am your wife on paper, not your pet!”

A dangerous, predatory smile curved his lips, and he took another step, closing the distance between us until I had to tilt my chin up sharply to meet his eyes. My back hit the cold wall. “But you are exactly that, pet,” he murmured, his voice laced with a subtle, unnerving flirtation. “A very beautiful, very expensive acquisition.”

He lifted a hand, and for a terrifying second, I thought he was going to touch me. Instead, his fingers brushed a loose, wet strand of hair from my cheek. The contact was brief, but it sent that electric shock sizzling down my spine.

“That voice you hide,” he continued, his eyes locked on mine. “It’s intriguing. I don’t like being intrigued, Amber. It means I’ve missed a calculation.”

“I hide nothing. You just don’t look past the price tag,” I retorted, trying to hold his gaze, though my knees felt weak.

Kilian leaned in, his clean, ozone scent wrapping around me, the intensity making me tremble. “Perhaps not. But now that you’re here, I intend to uncover every little secret you possess.” He pulled back slightly, his expression shifting from predator to proprietor.

“Get dressed. Dinner is in twenty minutes.” He paused, looking pointedly at my towelled figure. “That peasant dress won’t do for a Judge.”

He then looked at me, his gaze calculating, as if measuring me with his eyes. “A maid will be bringing you some temporary nightwear. What is your dress size?”

I stammered, shocked by the question and his audacity. “Six. It’s a six.”

“Good.” Kilian turned and started walking toward the door.

“Drake will have a full, appropriate wardrobe delivered by tomorrow afternoon. I won’t have my wife looking like she just left a soup kitchen.”

He stopped at the door, his hand on the knob. His final look held that same mixture of cold authority and raw, unwanted interest. “Don’t be late, Amber. And save that voice for me. I’m starting to enjoy your unique form of payment.” He walked out, closing the door softly behind him.

I stood there, leaning against the cold wall, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm. He had been cruel, possessive, and arrogant, yet the terrifying intimacy of that had confused me more than any amount of cold disdain.