Gambled to the Rival Alpha

Chapter 10-Morning light and Soft Traps

Morning rays spilled into the room, bathing my face with warmness. I stirred beneath the soft duvet, expecting the throb of the severed bond to tear through my chest the moment I woke up.

Instead, there was only a dull ache. Dr. Elena’s tincture had done its job, but as I sat up, my mind instantly cleared, remembering where I was.

Bloodmoon territory. In Diego’s private estate.

I glanced to my left. On the bedside table sat a silver tray holding a fresh glass of water, a small glass vial labeled 'Elena – Take at Dawn', and a folded note. I reached out, unfolding the heavy cardstock to read the words;

'Your silver dress was beyond repair, mi reina. Wear what is in the wardrobe. Breakfast is served downstairs at eight. Don't be late. I dislike cold coffee and late guests.

— D.'

I stared at the dark handwriting, my mouth forming a tight line.

"Mi reina," I scoffed, tossing the card back onto the nightstand with an eye roll. "Arrogant beast."

I swung my legs over the side of the mattress and walked over to the adjacent dressing room. Opening the doors, I expected to find formal military tunics or plain civilian clothes forced upon a captive.

However, the wardrobe was lined with exquisite clothes made almost precisely to my size. Rich emerald sweaters, silk blouses, dark trousers, and at the far end, an array of riding boots.

"Well, well, well." My eyebrow curved in impression.

The big jerk had curated a whole wardrobe.

I chose a fitted dark-green knit sweater and black trousers, pulling my long red hair into a loose, neat braid over one shoulder. Then I stepped out of the room.

As I reached the top of the grand staircase, the scents of coffee, crisp bacon, and freshly baked pastries drifted up from the main level and caressed my nose.

Diego was sitting at the end of a long dining table in a sunlit breakfast alcove. He wore a gray shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, casually reading through a stack of leather-bound territory reports while holding a steaming porcelain cup.

"You're four minutes late, Ophelia." He didn't look up as my boots clicked softly against the floor. "I believe you read the cardstock earlier."

I held back the urge to roll my eyes again, choosing to bite the inside of my cheek.

"I was busy marveling at your excessive wardrobe choices," I retorted, taking a seat across from him at the far end of the table. "Though I suppose an Alpha who gambles for land and women can afford to buy out a tailor."

Diego slowly lowered his report and his eyes locked onto mine. For a moment, they seemed blank. Then that devious glint reflected and the left side of his lips curled upwards.

"The green suits you." His gaze lazily scanned down to my sweater and back up to my face. "It brings out the fire in your hair. Much better than that suffocating Silver Crest blue."

Narrowing my eyes, I poured myself a cup of dark coffee from the silver carafe between us. "Is this how you treat all your captive trophies? Feed them pastries and compliment their sweater colors?"

Diego set his coffee cup down and leaned back, lacing his fingers together.

"You're not a captive, chica." The playful glint in his eyes switched into something intense. "The doors to this estate are unlocked. The perimeter guards have orders to let you walk the inner grounds as you please."

My hand hovered over the sugar bowl and my head tilted to the side. "You're letting me walk freely? After everything that happened last night?"

"If you wish to walk off into the forests, go ahead." He shrugged casually . "But outside these borders, your former pack considers you a disgrace, Silas is a broken pup, and the neighboring packs would love nothing more than to capture a Scarlet female for political leverage."

I swallowed a heavy lump that formed in my throat, which he noticed and his lips twitched for a second.

"Here, under my roof, you're protected."

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "You stay because it's the safest place in the realm. And because deep down, mi pequeña pelirroja, you want to see what happens next."

Nyx shifted in my mind, her tail wagging once in agreement.

'Will you control yourself!' I mentally snapped at her.

'Easy for you to say,' she rebutted. 'Like a certain part of your body isn't twitching right now, you hypocritical snoot.'

'Keep mouthing off and I guarantee you won't be summoned for the next twenty years!'

'Hilarious. I've heard better jokes from Silas's wolf. And that's saying something.'

Ignoring her, I took a slow sip of my coffee, holding Diego's gaze over the rim of the cup, refusing to let him see the flutter in my pulse. His subtle smile made me wonder if he could hear the debacle between myself and the infuriating canine within me.

"What happens next," I set the cup down, "is that you tell me what you actually plan to do with Silver Crest’s northern timber lands."

Diego’s smile ignited into a full laughter that vibrated through the quiet room.

'Gosh, his laughter is infectious,' Nyx barked softly in glee.

'I swear to the moon goddess-' I reached into my subconscious to unleash a tirade on her.

'Alright, alright,' she surrendered swiftly. 'I'll stop. Calm down, will you?'

I returned my attention to Diego, whose laughter had died down.

"Sharp girl." He grinned as he folded the reports and put them into a leather document. "Finish your breakfast. Today, you learn how Bloodmoon really operates."