10

Lunaria Zenthra takes a cautious step backward, the weight of the General's presence pressing against her like an unbearable force. Just how far has this male pushed her down the path of insanity? One step—just one step—and she can feel the precarious edge of her composure begin to crumble. The thought of bending at the waist and gripping her ankles, as the rules dictate for "Rides," sends a wave of panic coursing through her veins. That position is a mating position, a submission she is not prepared to offer.

As she steels herself, she watches in horror as his massive hands come into view. They are enormous, veiny, and the color of blood—red as if still stained from the battles he's fought, from the enemies he has conquered. Her heart races as those hands reach for the ties of his breeches, and her instincts kick in. In an act of sheer desperation, Lunaria Zenthra slams her legs together, trying to shield herself from the implications of his movements.

"I'm not an Entertainer!" she blurts out, the words tumbling from her lips before she can think better of them.

His hands freeze mid-motion, an unusual reaction that sends a jolt of both relief and confusion through her. The General, a figure she has heard spoken of in hushed tones filled with reverence and fear, is not known for hesitating. From the stories that swirl around the camp, he strides like a king—poised, calculative, and steadfast. Hesitation is a trait for followers, not for alphas.

"What are you saying, human?" he replies, his voice low and menacing, laced with an edge that could cut through steel.

In that moment, Lunaria Zenthra feels the gravity of her words hanging in the air between them, charged with the unspoken tension of dominance and defiance. She realizes that her response has not only defied his expectations but has also shifted the dynamic of their encounter. As she stands there, breathless and on the brink of panic, she weighs her next words carefully, knowing that how she navigates this moment could alter her fate in a world where power is everything.