Provoking The Alpha

Visenya gently placed the breakfast tray down on the table just outside Lucian's bedchamber and gave his door three swift knocks, expecting a response.

... Silence.

Undeterred, she knocked again, this time with a hint of urgency.

Still... no sign of movement from the other side of the door.

With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, she slowly turned the doorknob, allowing the door to creak open. Peeking inside, she saw Lucian still lost in deep slumber, and a touch of anxiety crept into her heart, knowing she would have to awaken a sleeping dragon.

"Master?" She called softly, her gentle tone falling on deaf ears.

He must be in a profound sleep, she surmised. Gathering her courage, she tiptoed closer, her gaze fixated on his peacefully sleeping face. It was the first time she had ever witnessed Lucian in such a vulnerable state, and she couldn't help but be captivated by the sight. His features appeared soft, relaxed, and devoid of the usual menace. If she hadn't known him personally, stumbling upon his sleeping visage for the first time, she would have found him undeniably beautiful.

A surge of memories flooded her mind, carrying her back to the first time their paths crossed. Lucian was a mere seven years old, while she was a young girl of five. In those innocent days, she had seen him as the epitome of beauty, until he revealed his true nature. Yet, despite his impertinence, an inexplicable desire to win his favor had always resided within her. It had remained a perplexing enigma that she never understood, until now.

"Stupid mate bond," she muttered, the words dripping with resentment. "Master?!" She called out louder this time, her tone laced with her lingering frustration.

He jolted awake, his eyes snapping open, momentarily blinded by the sunlight streaming in. As his vision adjusted, he locked eyes with her, and there it was: his familiar icy gaze.

"My apologies for waking you, Master," she began, her voice respectful. "I know you prefer an early start. I've prepared your breakfast right on time. Would you like to eat in here or in the dining room?"

He studied her for a moment, torn between his exhaustion and his satisfaction with her promptness. Though, he felt a lingering irritation from being roused so early, he didn't express his anger towards her. She had done her duty, and her obedience pleased him.

"Bring it in here," he replied, rising from the bed, stretching his weary muscles.

She retrieved the tray from outside the door, carefully placing it on the small table by the window. With a graceful pour, she filled a glass of water and prepared a cup of coffee, anticipating his arrival. As he walked past her, completely naked, heading towards the lavatory, he thoughtlessly left the door wide open, allowing the sound of his lengthy piss to echo through the room. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at his lack of decorum, silently remarking to herself, "Such a gentleman."

He finally emerged, wearing only his undershorts, and took his seat at the table. Visenya obediently knelt on the floor beside him, exactly where he expected her to be. Her stomach growled, and she cringed internally at how loud it echoed throughout the room. However, she composed herself outwardly, masking any signs of weakness or vulnerability.

From the corner of his eye, Lucian noticed this but tried not to give the matter too much attention. He had stopped insisting on a dog dish being placed in front of her days ago, yet he hadn't granted her permission to eat with the other slaves either. He knew that after months of refusing to conform to his way, she would never give in.

He assumed she must be finding sustenance through other means and decided that if she was going to be so stubborn, she could continue to figure things out on her own. However, he had noticed her weight loss and had heard her stomach growl on more occasions than he could count, and couldn't help but feel some type of way about it.

"I'm finished. Take it away," he ordered.

"Yes, Master," she replied.

Efficiently, she gathered everything back onto the tray and quietly left his bedchamber. Moving swiftly, she scurried down to the next floor, ensuring she remained unseen by anyone who wasn't currently in favor of her. With caution, she sneaked into her room, clutching the tray. Settling down on the floor, she prepared to indulge in her usual routine—eating Lucian's leftovers.

She couldn't help but commend herself; she had truly become an exceptional cook. Perhaps, it was her culinary skills, or perhaps it was simply her insatiable hunger that made everything taste so good. Regardless, she attributed her success solely to her own abilities. After all, there was rarely much left after Lucian had his fill. Dragons, renowned for their voracious appetites, were not to be taken lightly. While the rumors of dragons devouring humans may be dismissed as legends or myths, the truth remained that when a dragon's hunger struck, they would consume whatever sustenance they could find. And for her, his leftovers proved sufficient to sustain her. She had made a conscious decision to refrain from taking additional food from the humans, ensuring that they all had enough to eat. She knew she could endure far more than they ever could.

When she finished eating, she made her way back to the kitchen and caught sight of Grace walking towards her with a scornful look on her face. As always, Visenya opted to ignore her. But as she passed by, Grace extended her foot, causing Visenya to stumble, sending the entire tray of dishes crashing to the floor and shattering into countless pieces.

"Oh my, you really should watch where you're going," Grace taunted with a smug smile, then turned to walk away.

Visenya swiftly rose from the ground, her anger boiling over. She seized Grace by her ponytail, forcefully slamming her against the wall, and clenched her hand tightly around Grace's throat. "What the hell is your problem?!" Visenya seethed.

Grace stared at her in surprise, attempting to conceal any hint of fear. "I just don't understand why you get to personally cater to the Dragon Lord when he clearly loathes you. Why are you so lucky?"

Visenya could only laugh at the sheer absurdity of Grace's statement. "Lucky? You actually think I'm lucky?" She exclaimed incredulously. “I sleep on a cold, hard floor while you sleep on a cot with soft blankets. I'm forced to wear this sadistic collar while your neck is free from such torment. I go hungry while you're well-fed. I bear the brunt of his anger and frustration, while the rest of you go unnoticed around here! And if you're envious of other things, let me assure you, there's nothing remotely romantic, loving, or endearing about any of it! Is that what you want?! Because, believe me, I would willingly trade places with you in a heartbeat if given the chance!"

Grace's face softened, her heart touched by Visenya's words. In that moment, she realized the foolishness of her actions. The Dragon Lord's rejection had bruised her ego, as she had never faced such a refusal from any man before. It hadn't occurred to her just how difficult Visenya had it until now, and shame washed over her for her absurd behavior.

"I am deeply sorry, My Queen," Grace's voice trembled with sincerity. "You're absolutely right... you have been nothing but good to us all these years. Even now, you continue to show your compassion. You don't deserve any of this, and certainly didn't deserve my childish behavior. Please find it in your heart to forgive me."

Visenya's temper cooled slightly in the face of Grace's heartfelt apology, but her dominant Alpha wolf was not easily swayed when provoked. "Do not forget your place again. I am not like the rest of you," she asserted.

Grace nodded, a clear understanding settling over her. "I know. You are royalty."

Visenya's eyes transformed, glowing with a captivating reddish-orange hue as Delilah took control. "No, she means... she’s not human."

Grace trembled in fear as Visenya's wolf emerged, causing her to shrink back. Delilah released her grip on Grace's throat, her gaze shifting to the broken dishes and food splattered across the floor.

"Clean that shit up," Delilah commanded, her voice laced with authority, "and don't you ever mess with my Lycan again, or you'll be dealing with me." Delilah's words hung in the air, leaving no room for negotiation. "Is that understood?"

"Yes... I understand," Grace responded submissively, her voice barely above a whisper.

Delilah made her way to the kitchen, returning control to Visenya, while Grace remained frozen against the wall, her heart pounding in her chest. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Lucian observing Visenya's departure. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks as she wondered how much he had witnessed. Lucian briefly glanced at her, then gestured towards the mess on the floor, silently signaling for her to clean it up. Without a word, he left the castle, leaving Grace to her task.