CHAPTER 15: CHAPTER 15

I started running out of his office, my heart hammering like a drumline in a funeral parade. But then I heard her voice, his mother was reprimanding him and my legs froze beneath me like they suddenly remembered we had no place safe to go.

So instead of running for my life, I slid behind one of the thick redwood columns just outside his office and listened. Eavesdropping wasn’t just a sin anymore. It was survival.

"You’re a bloody idiot." The Lina’s words echoed like a slap.

"You ordered one of your men to rape a girl because she smiled at you? Is that the man I raised? Is that what you’ve become?"

Inside the room, I could almost feel the psycho Alpha’s fury rising like steam. But he didn’t yell. Not yet.

"Mother," he said through clenched teeth. "This is not your concern."

"Oh, it is. You are not a rogue. You are an Alpha. And I will not stand by while you tarnish this pack’s honor because you can’t handle a teenage girl smiling at you."

I stifled a snort. If I laughed, I’d give myself away. My hand flew to my mouth. The image of him fuming, probably grinding his teeth to powder while his mother roasted him alive with her words, was almost worth all the trauma.

And then I heard it his voice again, but this time not aloud. That eerie, slippery thing that lived in his thoughts. Like poison wrapped in silk.

"She always comes when I’m about to discipline someone. Always ruins the fun. She thinks she’s in control. She thinks her title gives her power over me. But I have already killed stronger wolves in my head."

What? He’s seriously cursing the Luna in his inner voice, What the hell.

"And the little omega hiding by the door..." his inner voice purred, and I stopped breathing, "does she really think I haven’t noticed her scent? She reeks of fear and shame. Pathetic little thing."

I slapped my hand tighter over my mouth. This psych knew I was hiding and eavesdropping on their conversation. But how?

"But she’s interesting. She defied me. That should have been her end and yet she lives. Because of Mother, No matter. She’ll pay for it later. And I’ll enjoy it." I will deal with her.

Oh God, that’s it. I didn’t know if I was going to faint, vomit, or spontaneously combust from terror. Inside, the Luna had apparently had enough.

"You need a mate, son. One with more brains than biceps. Maybe she would help you develop empathy," she snapped. "The way you rule through terror, through humiliation it’s going to be your downfall. Mark my words."

"You mean like Father’s downfall? . "Don’t compare me to that weak bastard, I hate him. He said in his inner voice.

"You can leave now mother. I have a meeting to attend.

I heard the Luna sigh, then her heels clicked toward the door. I shrank further behind the column, trying to blend in with the wood like some terrified lizard.

"You are on thin ice, boy," she said sharply. Don’t test me."

The moment the door slammed, silence returned like a wave. I peeked around the column, hoping and praying that he would be too distracted to notice me, I started sneaking out quietly but that was a very big big mistake. His cold eyes locked on me immediately. He looked at me like a wolf who’d just watched its prey try to play dead. No,

"Come back," he said. Not loud, but with a commanding tone.

I stood there like a statue, my mind screaming for my legs to do anything, but it seems the universe was against me today.

"Now."

The word cracked like a whip. So I walked each step and felt like walking into a live furnace. I crossed the threshold like I was walking into the execution chamber. He stood near the fire pit, his back turned toward me, hands clasped behind him.

"Stupid toad, you made my mother raise her voice at me, so it’s my turn to deal with you now. He said in his inner voice

"Alpha," I squeaked, trying not to sound like I was already peeing myself.

"I have changed my mind about your punishment," he said.

"Oh, thank you," I gasped in relief.

He turned around slowly, gray eyes gleaming.

"You are going to dress me."

"What?" I yelled.

"I said," he repeated, voice low and thick with amusement, "you’re going to dress me for the day. Pick my clothes. Iron them. Button them. Lace my boots."

"You—you want me to..."

"I want the little virgin omega who thought she could scream at her Alpha to learn her place," he said, voice darkening. "So go to the dressing chamber. Everything you need is there."

"Or would prefer I strangle you right now?"

"No, Alpha," I muttered and backed away, disappearing through a side door into what had to be the world’s most intimidating walk-in closet. Crazy psycho, I’m a doctor I have seen many naked men than I can count. I walked to his coldest..... which was more like a boutique row of black coats, silver-trimmed vests, velvet cloaks, leather boots arranged like weapons on display. I wanted to grab one of the swords hanging near the mirror and fight my way out, but I valued my life just a bit more than my pride.

I picked a deep gray shirt, black pants, and a long high-collared coat with silver embroidery. He looked like he was into dark vampire-prince chic anyway. Carrying them back out, I found him sitting in a chair near the fire, shirtless. The sexy psycho was shirtless and I was drooling because the universe hates me.

"Come here," he said simply, like I was an omega he’d had since birth.

I walked forward on autopilot. My hands trembled as I held out the shirtHe didn’t take it, instead he looked at me strangely.

"You will put it on me."

What!?

"Let her feel it. My skin. My breath. Let her fear crawl over her own courage." He said in his inner voice.

My fingers moved clumsily. I stepped behind him, trying to stay professional like the doctor I used to be. I slipped the shirt over his shoulders, careful not to touch more skin than necessary. But of course, I touched it. He was warm. Hard. Muscles like carved marble. It would have been attractive if I wasn’t certain this man had thought about strangling me in at least three different ways.

My hand accidentally brushed a scar on his back.He flinched.

"Stupid toad!!, how dare you touch that scar No one touches that scar. Not even me."

"What happened to you Alpha, I can’t treat you I asked softly. He turned his head just enough to see me over his shoulder.

"You speak again without permission, I’ll gag you."

I shut up. Instantly.

"I feel so calm and relaxed with her touch and it’s oddly refreshing." He said in his inner voice.

Once the shirt was buttoned, I kneeled to lace his boots. My hands were trembling so much I could barely loop the laces.

"She’s shaking, does she have any shaking disease? Or is she really sick like she had told Elizabeth?" Or maybe I should send her to the Pack doctor. He continued talking in his inner voice.

Shaking disease? I wanted to laugh but I controlled myself before any sound could come out of my mouth and he would then have a reason to cut out my tongue. Once I was done with his booth, I stood there waiting for another command. He started coming closer to me, I backed away slowly, my breath caught in my throat. What have I done again this time?"

"I did as you asked, Alpha." I said my voice sounded more like a whisper. He place his hands on the wall to prevent me from moving any further. The tension in the room tightened like a noose.

"You smell like wildflowers," he said aloud, his voice low and unexpected.

"Alpha?"

"Why did I say that out loud? Stupid toad. She smells like peace. I want to ruin it." He said in his inner voice

"A-Alpha can I go now?" I muttered.

He didn’t respond. Just stood there, studying me like I was a puzzle that refused to be solved, then he reached forward, slowly, he brushed a strand of hair away from my face.

I froze.

"Touching her is strange and comforting," she flinched. Good." "No it’s bad, but why is it bad?"

His inner thoughts were spiraling confused and unstable. I was pretty sure I was watching a madman war with his conscience in real-time. Then he stepped back and turned away.

"You may leave."

I didn’t wait for a second chance. I ran like the room was on fire. I locked the door behind me like it would prevent him from entering the room. Elara was hiding under some freshly folded sheets inside the room like terrified mice.her eyes still puffy from crying.