Chapter 4

Sylvia’s POV

“Refuse him…” Alpha Marshall mindlinked with me. “Or I’ll visit Grace’s house tonight. Our little shadow has a pretty throat. Think how quiet the village would be by morning.”

My body went cold and then hot.

The King was still staring at me, waiting for me to answer him, waiting for me to go with him.

Besides the threat of Grace’s life hanging over my head, I also didn’t want to be someone else’s property. I didn’t want to remain in this pack either, though, or be Alpha Marshall’s plaything.

I would rather be a rogue than have to deal with these pervert men until the day I die.

I lifted my chin in defiance.

“No,” I heard myself say.

The word dropped like a stone into a well. The murmurs climbed the walls.

The king’s head tilted a fraction as he repeated, “No?”

I swallowed splinters as I nodded.

“I won’t go with you,” I said, louder because it was all I could do to keep myself from crumbling in front of my pack and the King. “But I’m also not staying here. I’d rather become a rogue than become property of a King or plaything of an Alpha.”

Marshall tensed, his anger palpable. My eyes flickered to Grace, who was staring at me with her mouth dropped open and her eyes wide. I knew she was confused.

I gave her a look that told her that I would tell her later, before I turned my attention back to the king.

“You are choosing to become a rogue?” The King asked, his brows raising slightly.

I nodded once.

“Yes,” I answered, my voice coming out stronger than I felt.

A ripple of satisfaction moved through the pack; the kind of sound people make when a problem volunteers to become the rogue's meal. Marshall’s mind brushed against mine again, smug and poisonous as he said, “Good girl.”

His words left me feeling hollow.

The King's gaze did not move from my face. He didn’t raise his voice or reach for me, but his eyes showed confusion.

“I will not drag you by the hair,” he said at last. “But the border eats what it’s given.”

“I know,” I said, my eyes remaining on his.

He looked like a man who wanted to argue with the shape of a cliff and was too intelligent to try. I kept my head held high and my eyes unwavering.

“Very well,” he said. “You leave at dusk, then. With food, a cloak, and whatever else you might need for survival.”

Alpha Marshall looked annoyed, but he didn’t argue. I’m sure he wanted to send me away with nothing but the clothes on my back… maybe not even that.

I would take everything that belonged to my mother and find a way to get that missing locket back. No matter how worthless they might seem to others… they were my treasures.

I, too, was confused as to why the King cared so much about my survival, but I pushed the thought away as he turned around and started to walk away, his men following after him. Perhaps it was just a whim on his part—but strangely, a wave of disappoint washed over me.

The square was quiet as everyone processed what had happened. I could feel the Alpha stewing beside me.

“You’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life,” Alpha Marshall murmured, low enough for nobody else to hear.

His words left an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. Without another word, I hurried home, back to the cottage that I grew up in with my mother. The cottage that healed so many.

I stepped inside, my eyes drifting around the small space, my heart breaking with each breath I took. The only thing I was going to miss about this pack was this place; my mother loved this cottage, even if it was smaller than most houses in this pack.

Her room was dark, and her bed remained unmade. Tears filled my eyes as I stared the place she used to lay.

Movement behind me jolted me out of my thoughts, and I turned to find Grace standing there.

“Grace…” I said softly.

She quickly wrapped me in her arms and hugged me tightly.

“Why did you refuse the king?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Something doesn't feel right… Remember how you told me some creeps have wolfless fever?" I couldn't bring myself to mention Alpha Marshall's threats to Grace. It would only terrify her.

Grace clapped a hand over her mouth. "You don't think—is that why we’ve never had a Luna Queen?"

Movement jolted our attention to the door, and my entire body froze. The King stood in the archway; his eyes fixed on my face. He was alone, without his men by his side as he entered the small cottage, his aura penetrating the air with so much force it nearly knocked me to the ground.

Grace immediately bowed, her face red, fearing that he had overheard our conversation.

“Give us a moment,” the King said, his eyes finding Grace.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she said hurriedly before lifting her gaze to me. She gave me a knowing look before she hurried out of the cottage.

“You think I’m a creep?” He asked, raising his brows.

My cheeks flushed red.

So, he had heard me after all.

“Do you make it a habit to eavesdrop?” I found myself asking.

“It wasn’t my intention,” he replied simply. “I am not a creep or a stalker. Your father was my friend; I came because I owe it to him and your mother to take care of you.”

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me,” I told him, an ugly laugh bubbling out of me. “And since when did my father care if I was cared for? He left. He asked for nothing. He left my mother to suffer alone. If a man like that was your friend, I don’t know what that makes you.”

“Obligated,” he said. “And late.”

It wasn’t an apology; it was a fact.

“Don’t wrap him in dignity he didn’t earn,” I said. “Don’t wrap yourself in it either, Your Majesty. You don’t know what it's like here.”

“I know enough. You should come with me.”

Something primal clawed inside me, urging me to go with him. But then I remembered my mother. She raised me alone, struggled her whole life… only to end up with pain.

How could I just trust a man so easily… and end up like her?

“You're a total stranger to me... I can’t,” I finally said. “With all due respect, I need to pack.”

Without another word, I turned and walked into my bedroom. I half expected him to follow me, but he didn’t. Instead, I heard the front door opening and then shutting, leaving me in complete silence.

I spent the next several hours packing. But I never found that locket held the tiny photo of us inside.

A reckless urge rose in me: I was almost tempted to demand it back from Alpha Marshall himself.

I heard the front door crashing open, making me jump. I rushed to my bedroom door to see who broke in, but my question was soon answered when Alpha Marshall barged into my room, his eyes blazing with fury.

“You little bitch,” he hissed. “You think you can just leave? Think again! You’ll be the pack whore until the day you fucking die or else your little friend Grace won’t live until tomorrow.”

He wrapped his hand around my neck, and he threw me onto the bed. Before I could grasp anything, he was on top of me, his hands roaming my body as he tried to take off my clothes. I kicked and fought him, but he was too strong.

Just as I heard the tear of my shirt, Alpha Marshall was yanked off my body, leaving me gasping for breath in a panicked state. I sat up quickly, my arms wrapping around myself, shocked to find that the King had returned, and he was furious.

The King tossed me his hood, still warm from his body and saturated with his calming scent.

"Don't be afraid," he said.

His voice left no room for doubt.

"You're under my protection now."