King on the throne

Alpha Leo's Room – Ava's POV

I dipped the sponge back into the warm water, wringing it slowly as my fingers trembled. The tension in the room was suffocating—Leo's presence loomed over me even though he hadn't said a word in several minutes. He just watched me, with those cold, calculating eyes, like he was studying every movement, every reaction.

I gently pressed the sponge to his shoulder and began to clean him, careful not to meet his gaze. The feel of his warm, wet skin under my touch made my heart race—not out of desire, but out of fear, confusion… and something else I couldn't name. He was beautiful. Powerful. And utterly unreachable.

His muscles tensed under my touch as I moved the sponge across his chest, slow and cautious. Every scar on his body told a story—of war, of rage, of dominance. This wasn't just a man. He was an Alpha in every sense.

"Why are you shaking?" he asked suddenly, his voice low and unreadable.

I froze, the sponge hovering in midair.

"I-I'm not," I whispered, though my body betrayed me.

He caught my wrist before I could pull away, gripping it firmly but not harshly. "Yes, you are."

I finally dared to look up at him. His eyes weren't angry—they were searching. Almost confused. Like he was seeing something in me he didn't expect.

"I'm scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a breath. "You scare me, Leo. But worse… you hurt me."

His eyes narrowed just slightly. "You don't know what real pain is."

I blinked, stunned by the coldness of the words.

"But you will," he added darkly, letting go of my wrist. "Unless you stop looking at me like I'm supposed to love you."

A lump formed in my throat. "You're my mate. I don't expect love… but I deserve to be treated like one."

He looked away then, jaw tight, nostrils flaring. I continued washing him in silence, my heart breaking with every second that passed between us.

---

Alpha Leo's Room – Leo's POV

Her hands were soft. Gentle. Hesitant. She treated me like I was made of glass even though she knew I was anything but.

Her scent wrapped around me like a drug—sweet, earthy, warm. My wolf, Leon, was restless inside me, clawing to come forward, whispering thoughts I didn't want to hear.

She's ours. Look at her. She's beautiful. She's hurting. Let me fix it.

Shut up, I snapped mentally. She doesn't belong here. Not in this pack. Not in my world.

But even as I thought it, I knew I was lying. She did belong here. She belonged to me. But everything about her presence reminded me of my weakness, and I hated her for it.

I watched her carefully rinse my chest, her lashes wet with the tears she refused to let fall.

She was breaking. And part of me wanted to stop it.

The other part wanted to see how far she could bend before she finally shattered.

---

Rex's Room – Emma's POV

The bathroom was stifling, a thick cloud of steam swirling through the air as I scrubbed Rex's arm in silence. Every time my fingers touched his skin, I flinched, half-expecting him to lash out again. But he didn't.

He just watched me, smirking, lounging in the water like a king on a throne.

"You're doing better than I expected," he muttered. "I figured you'd be a stubborn little brat."

I clenched my jaw but said nothing. My cheek still throbbed from his slap, and the memory of it burned hotter than any bathwater could.

He tilted his head. "What? No witty comeback? No sharp tongue?"

"I'm just doing what you asked, Master," I muttered bitterly.

His eyes gleamed. "Say that again."

"…Master."

"Mmm," he leaned back with satisfaction. "Much better."

I dipped the sponge into the water again, trying to ignore the way his muscles rippled under the surface. He was undeniably attractive, and that infuriated me even more. How could someone so evil look so… perfect?

"You think I'm a monster," he said casually, like he was reading my thoughts.

I paused. "Yes."

He chuckled. "Good. Because I am."

His hand suddenly shot up, gripping my jaw and pulling me close until our faces were inches apart.

"But I'm your monster now. And you're mine. So you'd better learn to enjoy it."

I stared into his eyes, and for the first time… I saw something else. Not just cruelty. But pain. Fury. A deep, festering hatred—for the world, for himself, maybe even for me.

"Why do you hate me?" I whispered.

His smile disappeared. "Because you're the only thing in this world I didn't choose. And I hate being bound to something I didn't want."

He let go of me and leaned back again. "Now finish bathing me."

I turned away so he wouldn't see the tears slipping down my cheek as I obeyed.