Chapter 6
I turned my head and blinked at him. “Aren’t we already doing the ‘bedtime serving’?”
He let out another soft chuckle, that faint vanilla scent wafting around him. It didn’t even smell that
bitter anymore.
“Sleep,” he said gently.
I nodded, closed my eyes… then opened them again. “Alpha King.”
“Hm?”
“Can I move now?” I can’t sleep if I have to stay completely still.
“You can.” His voice carried a hint of laughter.
Relieved, I relaxed and turned on my side to face the Alpha King.
He had a high-bridged nose and lips curled in a faint smile.
So handsome.
“Alpha King,” I called again.
He didn’t answer with words-just let out a low “Mhm.”
“What’s your name?” I rolled over onto my back and stared at the ceiling. “Everyone just calls you Alpha King… but what’s your actual name?”
The Alpha King opened his eyes and joined me in gazing up at the dark, colorless ceiling.
That strong bitter scent hit me again, and I turned my head to look at him.
His lips parted. “Lucian.”
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I didn’t quite catch it. “Huh?”
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He turned his head too, and our eyes met-his gaze cold and sharp.
“My name is Lucian Théodoric Mercer.”
I patted his shoulder. “That’s a great name.”
He stared at me in silence. Then, after a long while, his hand gently brushed my cheek, and I felt a spark shoot through me.
He leaned in slowly-but I quickly pulled away.
Lucian’s expression froze for a moment.
After a pause, he drew his hand back and said flatly, “Tomorrow I’ll assign you a companion. She’ll
teach you.”
Huh?
True to his word, the next morning Lucian arranged for someone named Elliana to meet me.
Right after she introduced herself, a servant announced that Aubrey had arrived.
“I’ll begin your lessons tomorrow,” Elliana said with a slight bow. “For today, I’ll take my leave.”
The light fragrance she carried faded as she walked out… and was soon replaced by a foul, lingering
stench.
Aubrey entered with a group of people, brushing past Elliana on her way into my room.
Savanna had told me: Aubrey was the daughter of Alpha Jaxon of the Riverrun Pack, and niece of the
current Luna Queen.
Just two days before I entered the castle, she had become Lucian’s backup Luna-his breeder, too.
But how could Lucian have two Lunas?
“Had some free time today, so I thought I’d drop by, Lyra. Hope you don’t mind me hanging
around?” Aubrey glanced at the departing Elliana before settling herself onto the sofa.
The awful smell filled my nose, and instinctively I rose to leave.
My father always said-if someone smells bad, stay far, far away from them.
But before I could go, Aubrey grabbed my wrist.
“You’re ignoring me?” she snapped.
I was scared. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break free from her grip. “Please let me go,” I
begged.
.
“Who do you think you are, Lyra? Don’t think just because the Alpha King is showing you a bit of attention, you can act like I don’t exist.” She yanked my arm tighter, sneering coldly. “You really
think he likes you? You idiot. He’s just using you because of your father. And when your father’s no
longer useful, the first ones he’ll kill are you and your dear daddy.”
I glared at her and, without thinking, bit down hard on her wrist.
She yelped in pain and let go, and I quickly pulled away with Savanna, stepping back several paces.
“Don’t talk badly about the Alpha King!” I said firmly. “He would never hurt me or my father.”
“You bit me?!” Her fury erupted. She raised her hand to slap me.
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I ducked and pulled Savanna with me, dashing toward the door.
“You hurt me first! And you said bad things about the Alpha King-you deserved it!” I shouted over
my shoulder, turning to run-
–
Only to crash straight into Lucian.
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