6. "The Queen, Me?"

Etizia’s POV

I let out a gasp as his hand yanked me down.

My cheek landed on the soft pillow, and my body jolted. My mind went blank for a moment. Fear crept in as I imagined the worst.

Alpha Nox is my mate. His scent captivated me, and my body craved him. But that's where it ended. I never imagined giving myself to someone I didn't love.

Yet, I'm just an Omega. What chance do I have against the Alpha's hold?

So, when Alpha Nox pulled me onto the bed and positioned himself on top of me, I resigned myself to my unfortunate destiny.

‘I just have to close my eyes and endure it all,’ I whispered before shutting my eyes.

But then…

"Since you made me wait, your punishment is to sleep beside me all night."

My husband's deep voice echoed in my ear.

As I opened my eyes, I noticed him shifting slightly away.

His face was so close to mine, and even behind the mask, I could see the intensity in his dark red eyes akin to a deep wine. The mask couldn't conceal his strong jawline, highlighting his ruggedly masculine features.

"How hellish it would be to sleep beside a man behind the many rumors? It would be torture to fall asleep while worrying about staying alive, right?" he whispered.

I felt the cold in my neck despite the lack of any breeze in the room.

My throat felt dry as I swallowed nervously.

"This is your punishment. So, good luck on falling asleep,” he added.

The bed jolted slightly, causing me to briefly panic before realizing it was just Nox shifting away from me. His hold on my wrist loosened and then vanished.

Alpha Nox turned around, revealing his broad back, sleek black hair, and the mask tied around his head.

"Is this really it?" I questioned myself, feeling utterly bewildered.

To my surprise, the punishment he spoke of was simply sleeping next to him.

My mind froze as the shock settled in. I never expected that he would only ask me to sleep beside him. Literally just sleep.

He referred to this as torture, and I couldn't help but agree.

It's true that it will be difficult to sleep next to a man who has the power to end my life at any moment.

However, compared to the rumors, this punishment seems too light.

When I think about it, it's kind of like being promised a dinosaur encounter but only finding a tiny lizard in the room. Not that I'm comparing Alpha Nox to a lizard or anything. Actually, up close, his face doesn't seem monstrous at all. It's quite the opposite.

'He's actually really handsome and masculine. I think.'

Shaking off those strange thoughts, I swiftly turned around and looked the other way.

"I must be out of my mind! How could I have thought he was attractive? I must be completely crazy," I said to myself as I felt my heart pounding.

I needed to prioritize my well-being over a momentary infatuation. After all, he is Alpha King Nox.

Even if he showed me some kindness on the first night, there's no guarantee he'll continue to be gentle in the days to come.

Tonight, I was fortunate enough to have my life saved.

However, tomorrow, I must figure out a way to escape from this situation.

Even though the possibility appears as minuscule as a speck of dust.

** **

The sun was shining brightly, but I was completely exhausted. It was pure agony to sleep beside him.

Not only was it his alluring smell that bothered me, but also the constant fear that gripped me every time he made a sound or moved.

The tension lingered throughout the night until my eyes grew heavy, and I finally drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up feeling sore all over.

"Ugh," I moaned as I lay in bed.

I had been in the same position for so long that my body had gone completely numb. I was too afraid to move, worried that I might catch a glimpse of his face peeking out from under the covers.

I propped myself up, clutching my aching waist, and scanned the room's expanse.

The spot next to me was vacant, indicating Nox had left while I was still asleep.

Rubbing my eyes and blinking repeatedly, I tried to shake off the drowsiness.

Gazing into the void, I pondered why Nox had refrained from touching me the previous night.

'Was he not in the mood?'

'Did he grow weary of waiting and decided to sleep instead?'

'Or perhaps he no longer finds me appealing?'

Glancing at my physique, I realized that, apart from my face, I was also confident about my body despite the scars from my abusive past with my family.

Well, for whatever reason Nox had, it gave me a chance to make it through another day. It would actually be a relief if he didn't find me attractive at all.

Agreeing with my own thoughts, I nodded in agreement. Just then, I heard the door open.

My heart sank for a moment, but it lifted when I saw the maid entering the room.

"Good morning, Luna," greeted the maid, Hany. "The Alpha King has left for some business. Would you like me to prepare your bath or bring you breakfast?"

My eyes widened at her words.

I had imagined that my life as the Luna of the Renoir Pack would be nothing but misery.

"It's so strange," I said.

"What do you mean?" the maid asked, curious for an explanation.

"Even though I'm now the Luna, I still have Omega blood. Why does everyone here treat me like I'm a Queen or something?"

With a nonchalant expression, the maid replied, "You are indeed the Queen of all Lunas, my Luna."

"Do you really think they can accept an Omega as their Queen?" I questioned.

"I'm not sure why you're thinking that way, Luna. But everyone here should treat you with the utmost respect. Not only because you're the Queen, but also because the Alpha King has ordered us to do so."

When I heard that, my mouth slightly dropped open.

"Could you please repeat that? I want to make sure I heard correctly," I insisted, eager to hear it again.

"Alpha Nox stated that anyone who mistreats you will face severe consequences. The Alpha King's authority extends to every wolf, and you are one of his decrees. Therefore, we will do everything in our power to serve you, our Luna."