Chapter 9

chapter 9

They must be aware that I am their Alpha's mate because they saw him bow down to me. I was too focused to warn my companion to slow down because of his long stride, which made it challenging to keep up with him.

My attention was drawn to the home in front of me, which appeared to be entirely constructed of glass. I let out a quiet gasp at the sight of it; there had to be more than five floors in total. The reason there was such a sizable crowd watching us made sense. My partner had the biggest pack ever known because he wasn't just an alpha; he was the alpha king. He dragged me behind him down a few hallways once we had entered. His pack widened their gazes at me as I watched them bow toward him. He stopped dead in his tracks, and I almost hit him. I saw him as he nodded to the two guards stationed at the threshold of a massive pair of wooden doors. Before opening the door for him, the guards bowed. I anticipated that he would drag me along, but he chose not to. I choked back the wailing moan I wanted to utter when his hand slipped from mine. He closed the doors behind him after beckoning me in with his eyes. He rolled his shoulders and exhaled in relaxation before moving around what appeared to be his office.

In an effort to learn more about my companion, my ravenous gaze was firmly fixed on everything around me. A gigantic TV was positioned in front of one wall, which also had a large sofa pushed up against it. Books lined another wall, and artwork covered a third. I was suddenly too fearful to face the final wall.

When I finally fixed my attention on my mate, he wasn't looking at me. As he took a seat behind his desk, his aura exuded power and command. As he brought his laptop in front of him and started typing, the muscles in his arm tensed. For a little while, his brows furrowed before he leaned back and clasped his hands.

"Take a seat." He muttered, turning his attention to me and keeping a close eye on me as I cautiously approached him. He shook his head at my selection as my fingers trembled around one of the chairs across from him. Until he motioned for me to come closer with the curl of his fingers, I scowled at him. I had vowed at this instant that he would be the end of me, even if I wasn't his sworn enemy or a witchblood wolf.

Every cell in my body was pleading with me to be close to him, even though I shouldn't have been falling for our mate link in this way. The safest I had ever felt in my life was when he cradled me in his arms. I approached him, and when I was close enough, he quickly grabbed my waist and dragged me over his lap. He put his powerful thighs under mine, and I gasped. He had his chest up against mine, and I could feel the base of his short breaths on my neck. I was stuck in his lap with no idea what to do, but as his arm curled around my tummy, my body went into a frenzy.

I watched him type on his laptop as I stood there transfixed. I was using one of those video calling programs when I suddenly felt like hiding. A recognizable face appeared on the screen before I had a chance to turn around in my mate's embrace. "Liam." My eyes widened in shock as my partner nodded. Although the alpha king who was controlling me didn't have to refer to the other alphas by name, there was a sense of ownership in the way he spoke his name, as if my prior alpha was beneath the authority he had over me. I could only imagine what was going through Alpha Knight's mind as he watched one of his lesser pack members in the arms of werewolf royalty because he was on the other side of the screen.

It was uncomfortable to witness. What the hell are you doing, Kylie? At his tone, my partner snarled, and I unintentionally leaned toward him. Since I was discovered in his pack territories, Alpha Knight has always taken good care of me, but in a brazen manner. "This is to inform you that she is no longer a member of your pack as a courtesy. Since she is now my mate and not your responsibility, you are no longer her alpha. As he declared them, his words were firm, and I was overcome with wrath. I attempted to move his arms away from me, but he wouldn't budge, not even giving me a chance to speak. Alpha Knight's eyes were struggling as he observed the fear on my face, and I could see it. He disregarded me as his hands encircled my writhing thighs.

"I haven't agreed to this," I protested. "Is there anything you'd like to object to?" When he had entirely abandoned asking me for my permission, he asked my old Alpha. There are no objections, but—" He cut him off before he could finish, slamming his laptop's screen. I was able to elbow him in the stomach, and he grunted. "You are being ridiculous, and your movements are only deepening my need for your touch." His words caused me to freeze, and he grinned. He massaged my thighs while I fought the voices in my head. He was treating me in a forceful manner, which I didn't enjoy, but at the same time, it showed me how well he could defend me.

"Did the thought of asking me what I wanted even pass through your head?" The words left my mouth quickly, and his contact grew less intense. He forced me to face him while twisting me in my grip. "And," he exhaled. "What is it that you want from me that is not the same as what I want from you?"

As I recognized the need and the beginnings of love in his words, my fury was restrained. I was unable to manage this at all. I was starting to feel dizzy. My heart wasn't working with me, and I'm not sure why. It might have been the shock, the lack of food in my system, or the silver that was still circulating in my blood. He raised an eyebrow as I remained silent.

"Kylie?"

The way he pronounced my name made me feel like liquid gold, despite his frown. I drew nearer to him and buried my face against his chest instead of responding to his query. I said, "I don't feel good," and his arms began to wrap around me. He must have realized I was dodging the subject because he groaned, but he chose not to press the issue. "You should get some rest; you will still be in my arms when you wake." My heart skipped a few beats as a result of his pledge. Knowing that he would have no pity for my life once he learned about my heritage, I felt bad for winning his quick love. I couldn't help but think that I needed to find a method to break this mate bond before we did something we couldn't undo, as I felt myself giving in to the darkness behind my closed eyes.

It would be disrespectful to the royal lineage for the Alpha King to mate with a witch blood wolf, and I was not willing to risk my life to do so. Although mates were holy, Alphas weren't above using their strength to either keep or get rid of them.