Chapter 3
Illyra's Pov
I screamed so hard that my colleagues turned to me in shock. My entire body trembled violently as I dialed Malik's number over and over again with shaking fingers. Each time it went to voicemail, I screamed desperately into the phone.
"Please don't hurt my mother!" I sobbed, my voice cracking with raw emotion. "I'll f**k him if I have to, but please not my mother! Please!"
Tears streamed down my face in hot rivers, my mascara leaving black trails down my cheeks. My chest felt like it was being crushed under an invisible weight as I struggled to breathe. The cold phone screen pressed against my ear as I listened to the voicemail message again and again, praying for an answer.
I shoved the phone into my pocket and ran back to the VIP pool section, my heels slipping on the marble floor as I took the stairs two at a time. My heart pounded against my ribs like it was trying to escape my chest. When I reached the top, I scanned the area frantically, but Kaelen was nowhere to be found. Not even his men remained in the luxurious space.
"What have I done?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "What the hell have I done?"
I ran back downstairs to my colleagues who were still serving drinks at the bar. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I approached them, desperation evident in my eyes.
"Please," I begged, grabbing Sarah's arm. "I need Kaelen's room number. Please, it's important!"
They looked at me like I had completely lost my mind. Sarah yanked her arm away from me, her blue eyes filled with disgust.
"You've truly gone crazy," Jessica said, flipping her long brown hair over her shoulder. "And shameless too."
"This is not a brothel," Lucy added, her perfectly painted lips curled in disdain. "This is a professional setting. Know your place."
I felt something snap inside me. All the fear, anger, and desperation I had been holding back burst out at once.
"Shut the f**k up!" I screamed, my voice cutting through the music. "My life is on the line here! My mother's life is on the line!"
One of them, a tall redhead I hadn't met before suddenly growled. Her eyes flashed a brilliant gold, and I could see her canines extending as she pushed her wolf to the surface. Her face contorted with rage as she stepped toward me.
"I would kill you right here, right now if you don't get the hell out," she snarled, her voice deeper and more animal than human.
The others held her back, but their expressions were just as hostile.
"Lucy is gone because of you," Sarah hissed. "We were too stupid to notice that you're just a human in this City Pack." She looked me up and down with disgust, her nose wrinkled like she smelled something foul. "I wonder why the Alpha would allow that in the first place."
They held their colleague back, telling her to calm down.
"Humans live with us too," Jessica said with a cruel smile. "But they're slaves."
I shook my head, feeling completely powerless. Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks as I fell to my knees on the hard floor.
"I didn't want this life either," I cried, my voice breaking. "We weren't living fine, but he shouldn't have brought me to heaven just to send me back to hell again. I hate it so much."
My chest heaved with sobs as I knelt there, the weight of my situation crushing me. Suddenly, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Rendell standing there, his kind dark eyes filled with concern.
"Come on," he said softly, helping me to my feet. "You're causing a scene already. The visitors and customers are staring."
"I'd rather die than leave without seeing Kaelen," I said, my voice raw from crying.
Rendell studied my face for a moment, as if trying to decide something. Then he sighed and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small pen knife and pressed it into my palm.
"It's for protection," He whispered, his eyes was serious. "Kaelen is dangerous. Extremely dangerous to the core."
I clutched the knife tightly, feeling its weight in my hand. "His room number," I whispered desperately. "Please."
He hesitated, then leaned closer. "Room 16382. First floor in the VIP suite."
"Thank you," I breathed, squeezing his hand gratefully before turning and running toward the stairs.
My heart pounded as I reached the first floor. The door to Room 16382 was at the end of the corridor, guarded by two enormous men in black suits. Their muscular frames blocked the entire doorway, and their expressions were stoic and intimidating.
I approached them with determination, though inside I was trembling. They crossed their arms as I got closer, their imposing figures making me feel even smaller than I already was.
I cleared my throat. "Please let me through," I said, trying to sound confident despite my red, puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks.
"No one sees the Alpha without an appointment," one of them said, his voice deep and gravelly.
I took a deep breath. "Unless you want me to scream about what the King told me earlier, you'll let me pass." My voice shook slightly, but I held my ground. "Or you can follow me inside if you want."
They exchanged a glance, and I realized they recognized me from earlier. After a moment of hesitation, they stepped aside, allowing me to approach the door.
I stood there for a second, my hand hovering over the doorknob. I didn't want to knock as it seemed useless. What if he throws me out? I had called him an asshole earlier. How did I even dare to do that?
Before I could change my mind, I pushed the door open and entered.
The room was massive and luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. The air smelled of his cologne that intoxicating scent of sandalwood that made my knees weak.
And there he was, standing with his back to me. Water droplets still clung to his toned physique, running down the muscles of his back in small rivulets. His skin glistened in the soft light, looking like it had been carved from bronze. A towel hung low on his hips, revealing just enough to make my mouth go dry.
He was delicious and hot without saying a word. I couldn't speak either, my voice caught in my throat as I stared at him. All I could do was wait for the worst to happen. My eyes fixated on his neck where the necklace still hung the jade key to my life.
The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. Then his deep voice, sounding like a rumble from the sea, finally broke it.
"Why on earth did you waste my time?" he asked without turning around. His voice was low and dangerous. "Strip….Everything off."
I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "It's going to be fast," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll let him do what he want and... take the necklace and run."
So without another thought, I began to strip. My fingers trembled as I unbuttoned my shirt uniform, letting it fall to the floor. Next was my short skirt, which pooled around my ankles. I unhooked my bra, exposing my breasts to the cool air of the room. My n*****s hardened immediately, whether from the cold or something else, I wasn't sure.
Finally, I removed my panties, which were surprisingly half-soaked. How was that possible? He hadn't even looked at me yet, but my body was responding on its own. My p***y was twitching with anticipation, and I felt a mixture of shame and arousal wash over me.
I cleared my throat nervously. "I'm done," I announced, my voice small and uncertain.
Like a slow wave before my vision, he turned nonchalantly to face me. His expression changed from a blank, stoic face to raw shock and then to a lustful gaze that burned hotter than fire. His dark eyes widened as they traveled over my naked body, lingering on every curve.
"You?" His breath was strained as he came closer, staring intently at my breasts, my stomach, my p***y. The intensity of his gaze made me instinctively cover myself with my hands.
"Such a slut after all," he said, his voice husky. "Is this how you serve your clients? Acting all fierce and then being a slut later?"
He slapped my hands away from my p***y and replaced them with his own. His touch was electric on my skin, sending jolts of pleasure through me that I tried desperately to ignore.
"Is this what you wanted?" he asked, his fingers moving between my thighs and I almost thrashed from breathing too hard. "My c**k inside you after you made a fool out of me?"
I bit my lip hard to keep from moaning as his fingers brushed against my sensitive flesh. This wasn't supposed to feel good. This was supposed to be a sacrifice for my mother.
He cupped my breasts and pinched my n*****s between his fingers, sending sparks of pleasure-pain through my body. "Is this what you wanted but acted like a saint about?"
Suddenly, he withdrew from me completely. The loss of his touch left me feeling oddly disappointing and I stood there naked and confused as his expression hardened.
"Get out," he ordered, his voice cold and unyielding. "No one in their f*****g life has the guts to play with me."