Chapter 55
***LUCY'S POV (25 YEARS AGO)***
I found myself being dragged away by the king, out of the kitchen. My heart was racing so fast I thought I was going to have a heart attack. A million thoughts ran through my mind—what was he going to do to me? What did he mean when he said my job in the kitchen was done? Did this mean he was going to end my life?
I was overthinking so much that I didn’t even notice we had entered a large office. I was surprised by how different and modern the room was compared to the other castle rooms I had seen so far. Bookshelves lined the walls, holding what looked like over a hundred books. A large oak desk sat in the middle of the room, accompanied by a sleek gray leather chair suited for a king. Behind it, a massive window overlooked a breathtaking view of lush green valleys and a sparkling river.
"I said sit," a deep voice commanded behind me, making me jump. I turned and spotted a plush couch with a polished coffee table in the center of the room. I was about to walk over and sit when the king grabbed my hand before I could move.
"Sit down," he repeated, his voice void of emotion.
I wasn’t supposed to look at him, but his words shocked me, and before I could stop myself, my gaze snapped up to his face. Was he seriously telling me to sit on the cold ceramic tiles?
"I beg your pardon?" I asked, still staring at his sharp, striking features.
"You heard me. I would hate to repeat myself," he said coldly. "You are a servant in this castle. You will sit where I tell you to sit, without question. Next time you break the rules, I will punish you... personally."
His words made me drop my gaze instantly. I had broken a rule by looking at him.
Slowly, I sank to the floor. To say I was furious would be the understatement of the century. My hands clenched into fists on my lap as I refused to look at him. How dare he make me sit on the floor like some worthless object? How dare he let me live just to treat me like this, after he and his kind had destroyed everyone I had ever loved?
I sensed him step closer, towering over me like the powerful predator he was.
"What is your name, slave?" he asked.
"Slave," I scoffed. "I thought I was a servant. Now I’m a slave. Great." The words slipped out before I even realized I had spoken them aloud.
I froze. Maybe he didn’t hear that.
Wishful thinking.
A low, warning growl rumbled from his chest, and before I could react, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked my head back.
"Say that again. I dare you," he snarled, now kneeling at my level.
I whimpered as pain shot through my scalp. "I—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for you to hear that!" I stammered, panic setting in.
His grip on my hair loosened, only for his fingers to suddenly wrap around my throat.
And that’s when we both froze.
An electric current surged between us, something unfamiliar and terrifying. My breath hitched as my skin burned from the strange, tingling sensation. My hands instinctively shot up to pry his off me, but the moment our skin made contact, the sensation intensified.
He growled, pulling me impossibly closer. His face dipped toward my neck, and he inhaled deeply, his breath hot against my skin.
"King... Alpha... what are you doing?" I stammered, my body frozen in place. His reaction, his intensity—it was all too much.
He purred in delight, and I could feel the vibrations from his chest. The sound sent a shiver down my spine.
My brain screamed at me to move, but my body refused to listen. I was trapped beneath him, his massive form hovering over mine. And then I saw them—his eyes.
They were pitch black.
Demonic.
Like something out of a nightmare.
A scream tore from my throat, and I shoved at him in blind panic. The electrifying sparks burned through me again, making me recoil, but I fought against him with everything I had.
It was like trying to push a brick wall.
His hands shot out, grabbing my wrists and pinning them above my head. His predator-black eyes bore into mine, and I felt like I was staring into the depths of my own personal hell.
"Your name," he demanded. "Now."
I shivered under his intense gaze. "Lucy," I blurted out, my voice barely above a whisper. All of this... just for a name? He had scared me half to death for a damn name?
"Lucy... Lucy... Lucy," he murmured, rolling the name over his tongue as if tasting it. His nose skimmed my neck again, and then—
His tongue flicked over my skin.
A strangled moan slipped from my lips before I could stop it.
My eyes went wide in horror.
I had no idea where that sound had come from, but the moment it escaped, his entire body tensed. His grip on me tightened, and I felt his excitement as he ground against me with a low, satisfied groan.
Panic surged through me.
I screamed, thrashing against him with renewed desperation.
And then—without thinking—
I slapped him.
Hard.
The sharp sound echoed in the office, and I braced myself for the consequences.
But they never came.
He stilled. Slowly, he pushed himself off me, his expression eerily calm.
Too calm.
I scrambled upright, my hands trembling as I adjusted my dress, which had ridden up during the struggle.
He sat on the couch, rubbing his jaw as if deep in thought. Then, as if snapping back to reality, his piercing gaze met mine.
"Forgive me for that," he said, exhaling slowly. "I got carried away and let my wolf take over. That was a mistake. I have no sexual interest in human slaves, mate or not."
I swallowed hard, my pulse still racing.
"I brought you here for one reason," he continued, more to himself than to me. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "My wolf is giving me a hard time. Whenever you're around, it drives him insane. If I were a normal wolf, it would be easier to block him out. But I’m a Lycan. My primal side cannot be suppressed or tamed. So, to satisfy my wolf, I need to keep you safe."
His silver eyes darkened with something unreadable.
"Hmm," he mused, tilting his head. "I might just have to lock you up."
My blood turned to ice.
"Lock me up? Please, don't lock me up again!" I begged, my voice laced with terror. I couldn’t go back to those dark dungeons. I would die down there.
He ignored my pleas, his expression distant, almost entranced.
The door opened, and a young man walked in.
"Take this girl to my room and lock her up," the king commanded. "Guard the door. Do not move until you see me come up there."
The young man gave a quick nod before grabbing my wrist.
I followed him in shock, my mind reeling.
The king wanted me locked in his room.
After what had just happened.
This was bad.
Really, really bad.
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