ALPHA ANDRAS'I'm sorry, Alpha Andras, but if we're not having sex, I'll have to call your bluff.'Even when the shock wears off, I find myself repeating Azalea's words in my brain, and a cold pit forms in my stomach because she's right. I despise the fact that she is correct. I hate it with every ounce of my being, but I don't show it to her. Instead, I concentrate on the fact that she had the nerve to say it to me, and I take a step towards her. She doesn't take a step back, which is surprising because the Azalea I know would have taken a step back or maybe cowered in fear at my actions. But she doesn't move an inch, and while I can see a flicker of terror over her face, her eyes quickly harden into defiance. There isn't a shred of surrender in her body - this isn't the Azalea of old. This lady in front of me is not the slave I purchased months ago. I take a deep breath and swallow. "What did you just say, Azalea?" I inquire coldly, still unsure whether I heard correctly.She do
After Alpha Andras had apologized to me, I heard him muttering things to himself about me but I couldn't make any meaning out of what he was saying so I proceeded to ask him about it.He didn't say anything. Was just staring at me with this look in her eyes. And when he moved closer to me, my brain thought of possible things he was going to do to me, literally everything except kissing me. The next thing I felt was his lips on mine, kissing me!I was too stunned to say or do anything. He kept kissing me and initially I was stiff and unyielding, could this be one of his tricks again? I thought to myself. But the more he kept kissing me and pulling me deeper into his body till I could feel the hardness and rhythmic movement of his chest on my breasts, I let go of all thoughts, opening up and giving in to the kiss.My wolf howled in approval, she'd been waiting for a day like this, so her howling wasn't so surprising to me. After what seems like forever, he finally breaks apart and I'm l
AZALEAThe morning light from the window touches my face, and my eyes open instantly. A dull ache throbs at the base of my head as I sit up, and a hand reaches up to rub the sleep from my eyes. When my fingers move away, and I look at my right palm, I notice a bite mark from—I blush hard quickly as memories of last night flood back into my mind like a roaring storm. When I’d barged into Alpha Andras’s bedchamber to request explanations for his crazy conduct, he’d shut me off halfway with a kiss. Then foreplay had followed, and he’d used his hands and mouth to work me into sexual bliss. The vigorous sex on his bed left my body hurting and tired. But in the best possible way. As I recall everything, humiliation fills my entire body. Despite the embarrassment, I feel triumphant and spread my arms wide."And good morning to you too, Azalea."A deep masculine voice startles me mid-stretch, and another realization sets in. I am still in Alpha Andras' bed! I slept in his room last night.P
ALPHA ANDRAS I'm in my office, head bent, trying to sort through some critical files with my beta, Donovan, when the door bursts open, and Jenna enters. "The council is—" Donovan stops talking halfway through when he notices her. His brow furrows, and he blinks a few times in surprise before remaining silent. He just bows respectfully and steps back from the desk. Looking up from the documents in my hands as she moves towards me, my wolf growls disapprovingly at the sight of her, and its irritation is even more apparent when she circles the desk and leans over to kiss my cheek. I'm perplexed by my wolf's aggressive attitude, but I don't press it. Instead, I try to quiet the beast down. It's been over a year since we married, and while my wolf has never reacted warmly to Jenna's presence - which I thought was unusual given that we're mates - it's never been this violent. And this is not just happening today.My wolf has been restless lately, snarling incessantly and snapping at une
JENNAI stand paralyzed, staring at my husband but seeing nothing. It's as if someone has taken over my body and deprived me of all ability to function. For a moment, I think I’ve misheard, and this is all a dream - one in which Andras is yelling at me because he is drunk - so I pinch myself hard. But, no, I am awake. This is not a dream, and everything happening is quite real. My mouth hangs open for a half second, and I have no idea what to say. But I quickly find my voice. "Andras, did you just threaten me?" No, no. He would not dare. I'm still in amazement, and what he just said is a joke. Right? My chest tightens as I look at him. Perhaps I might understand his thoughts and what is going on in his head. But his eyes are harsh. And so cold, as if they could cut through anything in its path. The expression on his face scares me. He's like an enraged wolf, waiting for his victim - me - to cower at his feet. It's not a look I ever thought I would see from my husband.It frightens
AZALEAIt's been three days since my last meeting with Alpha Andras, and now I'm standing in the servants' kitchen, completely unaware of the eyes staring at me as I make breakfast.Working in the kitchen is much more enjoyable than washing floors and dealing with piles of filthy laundry or picking weeds and farming constantly in the castle's enormous garden. At least here, I can see, talk, and gossip with Darla. Jenna is also not constantly around, and that is a bonus. The smell of spicy pork bacon frying in the skillet fills the air. It smells lovely, but it makes me a little nauseous. At first, I don't think much of it, and despite the discomfort, I continue chopping veggies. However, when Darla enters with a plate of cracked raw eggs, all hell breaks loose. The smell of the eggs, along with pork and some stray spices, makes me gag and cough uncontrollably. The knife falls from my hand into the bowl, and I hold my throat, desperately attempting to keep the vomit from flowing out.
ALPHA ANDRAS"Azalea is sick."When Jenna came to me with this news, it felt like an ice cube had dropped on my head. I didn't have time to think about what it might entail, so I dropped everything I was doing and followed her without hesitation. She had taken me down familiar hallways, and as we headed to the servants' quarters, I asked if she had summoned the Royal doctor, to which she gave a stiff nod. I also inquired if she had observed anything different about Azalea herself, and she responded with another stiff nod that signified neither yes nor no.Things were still strained between us after our last argument. It had rattled both of us, especially her, and created a barrier of mistrust between us. We hadn't communicated much since that day either. But I didn't want to dwell on such thoughts, so I concentrated on more vital concerns, and the closer we got to Azalea's room, the more nervous I became. My palms were sweaty, and my heart pounded violently against my chest. What c
AZALEAI have never been more grateful for an interruption in my life. And when a gasp escapes my lips at Alpha Andras's thunderous remarks, an inward sense of relief floods me.I'd been on edge since the Royal Doctor left and Jenna started laying out the pregnancy rules. Her comments about my weight hurt, but when she referred to the baby inside me as 'hers,' I clenched my fists. Hard. I shouldn't be envious or possessive of the child because it isn’t mine. I am only a surrogate. Regardless, it hurt, and the thought of being cast away once I gave birth, like every other breeder who served this wretched kingdom, made the knot in my stomach tighten even further. Then Alpha Andras's statement - more like a command - happened, and my heart skipped a beat. His voice echoed throughout the room, exuding a sense of authority unrivaled. "Let the girl breathe. It's too early for this." He continues with his gaze fixated on his wife. "Andras?"His look becomes serious as he asks calmly. "Do