Chapter 7 Salmere Castle

VALERIE

I didn’t know what to say.

What was allowed when speaking to an Alpha? Was I to wait until he addressed me? Could I speak first?

Surely, I couldn’t just say something like, “Can I call you Alpha instead?” Could I?

After a moment of my silent deliberations, the Alpha seemed to give up on any chance of a reply. “Nevermind,” he said. Then he turned to the glaring man in the passenger seat. “That’s enough, Ralph. You can rest easily now. This journey has been tiresome enough.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant, but Ralph nodded his head and his unfriendly gaze finally lifted off of me. Truly, he couldn’t have thought I would try to hurt the Alpha. What was he, a damned guard dog?

Outside, the landmarks had finally begun to change. A greenness began to take over the earth—a color I hadn’t seen since my parents were still alive. I gaped at the vast forest of trees awaiting us, a slight excitement beating in my chest.

Calm down, I told myself. You’re still a slave. Your life is still