THE ALPHA'S DESIRE

CHAPTER SIX

Leanna

My dream was a bit different that night. Unlike the recurrent nightmare of getting rejected by my former mate, Trion, I saw myself getting accepted by another. I couldn't see his face but with him, I felt safe.

"I will protect you, Leanna Schuler. I promise." Those were the words that floated in my memories as I woke up.

I was now laying on a small bed in an unfamiliar room that was neither the hospital ward or my dorm. It was quite empty with only a dresser standing across from the bed and a metal chair in front of it. A rack of plain black dresses that looked identical was placed behind the dresser mirror. A bedside cabinet stood beside the bed. It looked part prison and part guestroom. I couldn't tell which it was.

But before I could conclude, the door flung open and a robust woman dressed in a black gown like the ones stacked in the rack entered. Her face was so fat and squishy that she looked like a tired walrus. I could barely see what her eyes looked like underneath the bushy and furrowed brows but I knew they were anything but happy.

"You're awake. Good! Because you have a lot to do."

I did a double take, my brows furrowing. "Sorry, I don't quite get you. Who are you? Where am I?"

The woman rested a hand on her hips, glaring at me like my question sounded bizarre.

"To answer your questions, my name is Emma. You are in the Moonblood pack. And you're going to be waiting our to-be Luna of the pack, Princess Phoebe Ray."

It took a whole minute for me to digest, process and accept those words. I scoffed, staring into space as if staring hard enough would snap me back into a reality where I was back to facing hell in the hands of my bullies in Webb College.

I'd spent two weeks in the college and it felt like forever. It had to feel like that especially when the students made it their daily goal to humiliate me, beat me up and remind me that I wasn't in their league. And I had no choice than to suck it up, hide the scars with makeup and attend classes. I couldn't fight back and nothing hurts more knowing that if I raised a finger, I'd be kicked out and all my dreams would be tossed down the drain.

No. Something else hurt worse. The fact that my best friend was a part of those bullies and she had treated me like they did without a single remorse in her eyes.

Now, I was going to be a maid to her just because...

"What? This is crazy and against my rights. I am not bound to this pack in any way."

Emma folded her arms. "Really? You think so?" She went to the cabinet, pulled out a sheet from the drawer and slapped it on the bed. "That's your Alpha's signature approving of your being here as Princess Phoebe's maid."

She took out another paper. "Here's the signature of Alpha Enzo and Alpha Kale agreeing to partner in trade and labour. So," she returned the papers and turned towards me fully. "Get dressed and prepare to work. If your mouth can move that fast to ask questions, you sure can work. The Alpha wants to see you in five minutes."

Alpha Kale? The one who saved me from Phoebe was getting married to her and had asked for me to serve my bully. Was this a twisted joke or some test? I couldn't tell. Either ways, I still refused to believe the man who had carried me and had made me feel safe was throwing me into further humiliation like a dog.

I swallowed hard as I managed to scrub my body, put on the black knee length gown that reached the neck and stepped outside. My hair was still wet so I let it fall over my shoulders.

The stairs were large and long, making me wonder when it would end. Soon after, I arrived at the landing. Where the royals would be eating, I presumed.

I saw a line of girls dressed like me standing with silver trays on their hands. They had identical looks, identical dresses, hairstyles and mannerisms. I felt out of place yet again. Until I heard my name.

"Leanna Schuler?" I looked up at where the voice came from. "In my office now. And use the elevator."

Where was that? Emma muttered something about me making her job harder and then dragged me by the arm like a ragdoll towards the elevator. We rode in silence till I heard a ding and I stepped out into a large room that seemed like a study and an office.

I took in the large mahogany desk, the scent of sandalwood and smoke filling the air. The office was masculine, dominant, controlled, and almost intimidating with floor to ceiling bookshelves lining the walls.

And then I saw Alpha Kale.

He was seated behind the desk, suit jacket off, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing muscular, veined forearms. His eyes locked with mine, glowing faintly gold which I believe meant his wolf wasn’t far beneath the surface.

I lowered my gaze instinctively, heart racing. Something about his presence did things to me. It wasn't fear as much as I tried to convince myself it was. The way he looked at me made me feel things I didn’t want to admit out loud.

"You disobeyed direct orders," he said, voice low and gravelly, like it was scraping against heat. "You were told to report the moment you woke up."

I blinked. "I—didn’t know—"

"Silence."

My mouth snapped shut. He rose slowly, circling the desk. The closer he got, the heavier the air became. His scent, masculine and suffocating, wrapped around me like silk and shackles. My heart began to race as I fixed my gaze on the floor.

"Do you know what happens to little she-wolves who defy their Alpha’s orders?" he whispered, now standing right in front of me.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t even look up into his eyes for fear of what it would confirm about how I feel.

His fingers caught a lock of my damp hair, twirling it lazily.

"I asked you a question, Leanna," he said, fingers slowly caressing my scalp.

His other hand suddenly wrapped around my throat, not tight, just firm enough to make my knees wobble.

"I discipline them," he growled.

And then he yanked me into him, his lips just inches from mine, his eyes wild with conflict, desire and something darker. I wanted to tear my eyes away from his but I couldn't. They were pulling me in.

'Then why haven’t you yet?' my wolf whispered.

He pulled back just a fraction, his breath shallow.

"I should stay away from you," Kale muttered. "But Moon Goddess help me… I’m going to ruin you."