to die after doing the most ridiculous thing: coughing. Of all things, why

was overwhelming. But what did he mean by "mate"? What was that supposed to

g directly in front of me, making me feel like a tiny mouse trapped in the gaze

inch of me screaming to flee. In that moment, I wish

asy. "That is impossible, Alpha. She is

over me. Somehow, being Elijah's slave felt s

umbled like distant thunder. I jumped in my seat, clutching the chair's edge

t... understood?" His voice was fr

gered on me for a moment longer, as if sealing some unspoken fate, before he turned and walked back to his place at the

n. "What's going on?" I whispe

e. He kept his eyes fixed for

goblet high. "Our Alpha, our King, our Lord, The First of his kind, has conquered lands for us to thrive for centuries

he crowd. I stayed rooted in my seat, too afraid to move or draw more atte

e yet strangely resilient. She leaned close, whispering so softly I could barel

g up at her. Her short brown hair framed a kind, f

y flicker of gratitude.

away. "It's a good thing we're not allowed to eat arou

like I was a spectacle on display. We finally entered a large, bustling kitchen filled with humans. T

ver mimic. The girl closed the door behind us and sighed with reli

she asked, rai

ded. "Yes, t

wn eyes, chuckled. "Well, thi

" the young girl snapped. "She

Sophie muttered,

" the chubby woman scol

ing. "Here, dear. Drink this." She

soothing my dry throat. "Thank you

hout a word. "Sit down, swe

ver plates on the table. "How is it possible for

e's some sort of mi

ead in front of us. "I don't think the Alpha makes mistakes. Fate is

handed me a plate of bread and a b

to me, sighing as she took a bite of her bread. "These beasts have mates,

"I am not his soulmate. That's bullshit. I'd rathe

u could find a way to kill him. You'll

cape, dear. That's the only way you might survive." She was right. I wasn't foolish enough to think I could kill one of them, not when just being in their presence made my blood run c