Chapter 4

She stepped into the room quietly.

Thorne stood by the window, keeping his gaze fixed on the window glass, surveying the lands.

He felt her the moment she stepped in; the bond stirred. It wasn't subtle. No, it was violent, like a punch to the gut. His Lycan snarled awake, restless and growling.

Thorne turned...slowly.

And there she was.

Miserable and thin, hands trembling at her sides in fear, her head bowed so low her neck could break. She looked like she'd been dragged from the depths of hell. Yet the sight of her hit him so hard. That face, that scent, that pull.

Mate.

His wolf whispered it, but she didn't react.

Instead, she stood still, shaking. Not a single recognition. Almost like she didn't feel it. Didn't feel him.

Thorne's jaw clenched. "Come closer."

At this, she looked up, her hazel eyes wide with shock. She looked scared to her bones. For a second, Thorne wondered which of the rumors she'd heard about him. The girl gulped hard and stepped forward slowly, every step filled with dread.

What the hell is going on?

Wolves knew their mates. Always. That was nature. Unless... unless she wasn't—

"Are you a wolf?" he asked, his voice low and rough.

She blinked, startled. "Y-yes, your majesty."

Thorne stared at her impassively. If she was truly a wolf, then why couldn't she feel him? He looked at her from head to toe, her scent... there was no wolf. Nothing.

Thorne's eyebrows furrowed. Was she lying to him? "Are you lying to me?"

Her breath hitched. "N-no, Your Majesty."

Her voice was barely audible, but Thorne heard the truth—or the fear. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

She flinched, as if his presence alone burned.

Thorne stopped himself. His Lycan didn't like the fear in her eyes. It raged against it.

That wasn't how this was supposed to go. He called her to reject her, reject the bond the gods forced on him, but standing in front of him, she looked like she was waiting for her execution.

He studied her. The dark shadows under her eyes, the broken skin around her wrists, the bruises that hadn't yet faded.

No scent of a wolf.

No bond.

But his bond... gods, it was like a fresh wound. It clawed at him restlessly.

Was this another kind of curse? To be the only one suffering from the bond. How could he reject her when she felt nothing? Was this a one-sided mate bond?

Oh, the gods were truly cruel. They made sure he couldn't rip off the leash they had around his neck.

Thorne gritted his teeth.

His chest tightened. He wanted to shake her. To demand answers. But she was too fragile, her body barely holding together.

He couldn't look at her anymore.

Before he could speak again, the door creaked open.

He snapped his head towards the door. "I said no interruptions."

The person at the door paused, their eyes on him. "Forgive me, my king. I didn't think you were still in a meeting."

Thorne stepped back, looking back at Adina. "You may leave," he ordered, watching as she bowed then walked out as quickly as she could.

Elara stepped in. "I heard of what happened earlier. Since I wasn't around, I thought I'd come check on you. I'm sorry."

Thorne waved her off as he walked towards the alcohol cabinet and pulled a bottle of whiskey, pouring it into the cup.

Elara's eyes widened slightly. "Thorne..."

He glanced at her, brows arched. "What?"

Elara's gaze flickered from the bottle to his face. "You haven't had a drink in years."

Thorne didn't reply, he gulped the drink in a go and walked over to the table. "Your reports, Elara."

She sighed and passed a file to him. "It contains everything we were able to find. Leonard has also been removed from his position as pack alpha, and his brother has replaced him. We shouldn't have any news from them for now," she relayed.

Thorne nodded. "Good."

Elara sighed. "Thorne... you—If anything happened... especially with that girl. I can take care of it. You don't have to—"

"Elara," Thorne called, and she stopped.

"Nothing happened, so you don't have to do a thing."

Elara nodded, knowing that was all she was going to get from him. It didn't matter that she was the only one who shared a pain like his.

"Of course, My king. I'll take my leave now."

As Elara stepped out, Thorne leaned back against the chair, his thoughts running freely now. What did the gods want, pairing him with a wolfless woman? One he couldn't reject no matter how much he wanted to.

——————

Adina returned to the room, her legs still weak from the fear that had gripped her. She could still remember the King's gaze on her. She shuddered internally, something inside her stirring.

She barely noticed the other girls' gaze as she stepped into the room. They stared at her like hawks, perhaps they were confused the king didn't kill her.

Adina made her way to her cot, her hands still shaking. She had to prepare for the worst after what happened at the hall. She thought it would be her last time alive.

She blinked when she saw someone rushing towards her. It was another girl. The girl bent down, staring at Adina sharply. "You were with the king, weren't you?" She whispered.

"Is it true?" she asked quietly, "Is the king as cruel as they say? Did you take a look at him? Is he as ugly as they say? Do his claws come out of his hands?"

Adina stared at her blankly and eventually shook her head.

The girl frowned. "Really?" She huffed. "No help at all, huh?" She rolled her eyes. "Guess you're just another one of those girls." Her voice dropped in annoyance. "Figures."

After some seconds of waiting for Adina to speak, the girl crawled back to her cot.

Adina laid down, her body felt heavy. The ache in her heart made it impossible to sleep, yet she closed her eyes, hoping for some kind of escape.

~~

Adina found herself in an empty, vast land. There was nothing around, not even a bird. The sky was grey, the trees fruitless and dry.

She turned, brows furrowed. Where was she? How did she get here? What was this place?

Then she froze, her heart pounding hard in her chest. "Adina..." a voice called.

She turned around, confused. "Adina..." the voice called again, so soft she wouldn't have heard.

"Adina..."

~~

She jerked awake, drenched in sweat. What the hell was that dream? She looked around, her heart still pounding, only to find the other girls already dressing up for the day.

Adina jumped up, she had to get ready if she didn't want to be whipped.

An hour later, they had all gathered, listening to the rules and regulations. As she listened, she couldn't help but realize that even their animals had more rights than a slave here.

Soon after, they were dispatched to their various chores.

Adina didn't waste time before getting started on her tasks. The girls moved around silently as they began scrubbing endlessly.

Adina joined them, she worked quietly. The sleeves of her dress were soaked by the time she scrubbed the third batch of clothes. Her fingers were already raw.

But of course, the peace didn't last.

As she reached for another soaked garment, her hand slipped, and she quickly held onto the cloth, some of the water flew around.

A mistake.

Adina turned when she found the other girls frozen. Her eyes widened when she realized what she'd done.

The water from the cloth landed on someone.

She stood out like a sore thumb among the slaves. The woman was tall, dressed in a black expensive dress, her silver hair pinned elegantly. Her skin was pale, her eyes narrowed as they settled on Adina.

Adina's heart leaped. "I—I'm sorry, I didn't see—"

The woman raised a hand. "You didn't see me?"

Adina's eyes widened, she opened her mouth, ready to let out a trail of apologies but she's cut off by the sharp slap that lands on her cheek.

Adina stumbled backward, stunned.

"Am I that tiny, girl?" she sneered. "That you couldn't see me?"

Adina shook her head, "I—I didn't mean—"

"You didn't see me," the woman mocked, "How amusing. Or perhaps you're just blind as well as stupid." She looked at Adina from head to toe. "How dare you belittle me!"

She raised her hand again, ready to deliver another slap to Adina. But this time, she stopped another.

"Aunty Jocelyn. There's no need for that," Elara's voice came. The woman stepped closer, smiling as she pulled Jocelyn's hand down. "You don't have to terrorize the slaves."

Jocelyn huffed, pulling her hand from Elara's grasp. "How else would these peasants know their place if no one's there to teach them." She said, eyeing Adina with contempt.

Elara smiled, "Oh, aunty, you're always so... intense."

Jocelyn couldn't help her smile. "Oh, Elara," she purred. "You always are so noble. But did you know..." Her eyes slid back to Adina. "This is the one who caused that little stir yesterday. With Thorne."

Elara glanced at Adina. "A stir?" She said, shaking her head softly. "Great aunt, You make it sound like the girl declared war on the king."

Jocelyn frowned, "Don't call me that. I can very well be regarded as a twenty-something-year-old." She laughed, her gaze settling back on Adina.

"Besides, it doesn't matter what she declared. Whatever she did, it was enough to have Thorne shaken."

Adina's heart sank lower with every word. She hadn't done anything. Hadn't even spoken back. And still…..

Elara placed a hand gently on Jocelyn's arm, "You're reading too much into things."

Jocelyn hummed dismissively, "Well. Let's hope this one doesn't make more trouble. It would be such a shame if her little...mistake," she said, glancing down at the wet patch on her dress, "earned her a visit to the punishment block."

With that, she turned and walked away.

The moment she was gone, the tension reduced. A few of the girls began whispering, eyes darting to Adina.

Elara stayed a second longer, eyes on Adina.

"Be careful," she murmured low enough that only Adina could hear. "Aunt Jocelyn never forgets a face."

As Elara walked away, the girls began to murmur.

"Did she call her great aunt?" one whispered.

Adina blinked. That's right... the Elara woman had said great aunt. But... that couldn't be, right?

She glanced in the direction Jocelyn had disappeared. The woman had looked no older than her late thirties. She was striking and regal, with skin so flawless. No lines. No sign of age.

How could someone like that be anyone's great aunt? Let alone the king?