Chapter 5 Wolves and Whores

Kaelen stood in silence within his visiting chambers....the only place he ever allowed the Omegas and Betas he shared a bed with to enter.

His real quarters, the ones he once shared with his mate, were sacred. Off-limits. Even he barely entered them anymore.

He kept his back turned as the heavy doors were shoved open from the outside.

A thud. Then silence.

Serena stumbled in, catching herself before she hit the polished floor. She blinked rapidly and adjusted her glasses, it is something she does whenever she is nervous.

Kaelen turned slowly.

She was... beautiful. He didn't want to notice, but it crept in anyway. Caramel-toned skin, soft golden-brown hair that curled a little at the ends. Fragile. But she seemed defiant. She doesn't belong here....at all.

Serena's throat tightened as she took in the room. It was huge. Cold. And at its centre sat a massive bed, dark sheets draped neatly across it.

Her eyes darted to the towering man in front of her.

"Was this it?"

"Does he want to rape me?"

She turned quickly, but the doors had already shut behind her.

"They said you...." she started to speak, her voice trembling.

"I want to kill you," Kaelen interrupted flatly. "Snap your throat in half."

His silver eyes flared with deadly rage. Power thrummed through the room like a living thing.

Serena flinched, her foot shifting back instinctively.

"But I can't"

Her pulse thudded in her ears.

"I'm not a werewolf," she said through clenched teeth. "I don't accept this bond. It's a mistake. And for all I know, you all could just be humans with freaky cosplay skills."

Kaelen's head tilted slowly.

And then, in one horrifying snap, he shifted.

His bones cracked. Skin tore. Black fur rippled across his body.

A beast stood in his place-taller, monstrous, silver-eyed. A nightmare.

Serena screamed and pressed herself against the wall. But she couldn't even faint. Her body refused to let her. If she lost consciousness, she might wake up with half a leg.

Kaelen's wolf huffed, then stepped back. With effort, he shifted again, returning to his human form. He reached for a robe, tying it around himself like nothing had happened.

"The reason you're standing before me," he said finally, his voice calm again, "is simple. I'll give you time. I don't care who you are. I could've claimed you already, but here in Selvayra, we don't force. Still... Don't mistake that for freedom. You're not leaving this place until you've birthed my pups."

Serena's jaw dropped. She gawked at him like he'd grown a second head.

"I'll do no such thing! You can go fuck yourself!"

Kaelen narrowed his eyes. He didn't understand the phrase exactly. But the venom in her voice was enough.

In a blink, he crossed the room.

Serena gasped as his hand wrapped around her throat, slamming her against the wall. Her feet barely touched the floor.

"I'm letting that slide," he growled, voice low and deadly. "Only because you're new. The others will teach you how to behave."

His breath fanned against her face. Her chest rose and fell in rapid bursts.

Then, as suddenly as he'd grabbed her, he tossed her aside like she weighed nothing.

He snapped his fingers.

Guards came.

They dragged her out.

As Serena was hauled away, she glimpsed a tall, stunning girl stepping into the King's chamber with a smirk of superiority. Dressed like a queen. The door shut behind her with a final, echoing boom.

Serena's legs barely worked. Her mind spun. But one thought held strong:

She had to grab what she could, then escape.

And fast.

***********

(Serena's chamber)

The Next Day

A loud clack echoed as the door creaked open.

Serena flinched awake, eyes squinting at the sudden light spilling into the room. Her hands immediately gripped the blanket as a defense...just in case someone was coming to drag her off again.

But instead of a brute, a tall, elegant woman walked in.

She had long, silky black hair that cascaded like a waterfall down her back, and piercing blue eyes. Her scent filled the space before her: soft, flowery. It reminded Serena of lilies... and rain.

"Get up," the woman said, her tone sharp and unwavering.

Serena blinked, startled. "Excuse me?"

"Today, you will learn the rules of the castle and the traditions of Selvayra." She simply stated.

There was no room for argument in her voice. The woman didn't bother repeating herself, nor did she even look at Serena properly. She turned halfway, already heading toward the door.

Serena let out a slow breath. "Okay..."

The woman glanced back slightly, her voice softer now. "Have your bath and meet us. The maids will assist you."

She leaves and the door shuts quietly behind her.

**********

(Consorts Hall)

Serena stepped into the hall, her steps slow, unsure. The space was wide, elegant, with a long dining table stretched out at the far end. Velvet curtains draped the high windows, letting in soft morning light. Around the table sat several girls, all dressed like royalty. Their dresses shimmered. Their hair....perfect. Their scents hit her all at once.....some sweet, others too strong.

But they all had one thing in common.

They were wolves.

From the far end of the table, the same girl who had entered her room earlier approached. Her long black hair flowed as she walked, and her bright blue eyes were sharp as ever.

"Human," the girl said coolly.

"Serena," she corrected without hesitation.

A few heads turned. Whispers. Glares. She could feel them sizing her up, like she was a thief caught red-handed. Like she stole something important.

"I'm Lirvana. You crashed into me the other day. Took my place."

Serena blinked, confused. "Place?"

"As the Alpha king's mate."

Serena's face twisted in disbelief. "Please, I don't even want this. You can have him."

Lirvana scoffed. "Too late. The moon has already chosen. You're bonded to him. So better start acting right."

She pulled out a book and opened it like it was scripture.

"Rule one," she began, her voice sharp. "Do not talk back to the Alpha King."

"Rule two: Only speak when spoken to."

"Rule three: Talk less."

"Rule four: Never deny the King access to your body."

Serena's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

Lirvana ignored her.

"Rule five: Always keep yourself clean. Bathe regularly."

Serena raised her hand. "Yeah, no. I'm not doing this. I'm going back to my world. I don't need your shitty rules."

Lirvana narrowed her eyes. "What is 'shitty'?"

>" Oh. Right. They probably didn't understand human slang."

"I mean your rules are stupid."

Lirvana clenched her fists but didn't say anything. She continued.

"Rule six: Never raise your voice at the Head Consort."

"And who is that?" Serena asked, arms crossed.

"I am," Lirvana replied, her smile sharp. "Watch your tongue."

"Rule seven: Meals are to be taken in this hall. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

She flipped to the next page.

"Rule eight..." Her voice dropped. "You're human. You don't need to know this one."

She shut the book with a snap. "Follow the rules, and you'll be fine and after breakfast, we will move to the traditions."

Serena crossed her arms. "So let me get this straight... you're all 'consortants,' but the job is to keep the king entertained in bed?. Just say you're the king's Sluts or prostitutes and stop sugar-coating it."

The silence hit hard. Chairs creaked. Forks froze mid-air.

Lirvana's hands balled into fists, "We're not prostitutes." she finally said through gritted teeth. "Watch your mouth, human."

"Serena," she corrected again, her tone cold.

Then she leaned forward. "And let's get something clear. You all sleep with him, right? And yet, none of you are bonded to him. I am. So who gave you the right to treat me like one of you?"

Gasps spread like wildfire.

Lirvana looked like she could snap her neck in two. But she didn't. She just stepped back and forced a smile.

"Let's eat," she said stiffly.

Serena took a seat, she expected raw meat or something equally disturbing, but the food was well-prepared....fresh bread, vegetables, and perfectly cooked meat.

She ate slowly, ignoring the hateful stares burning into her skin, though her stomach sank a little, they were all werewolves after all.

She sighed in acceptance, "Let them stare. She wasn't here to rub their Alpha's dick. She had real things to do." The discomfort was getting unbearable.

She stood up ready to leave, but Lirvana stopped her with a sharp glance.

Lirvana raised a brow. "You only leave when everyone is done eating and when I say so."

Serena turned halfway toward her. "Spare me the bullshit," she muttered and walked out.

Her hands trembled slightly but no one would notice.

She panicked a bit .... what if they all attacked her?.

Lirvana sat there, boiling, her appetite gone. She stood abruptly and stormed off to her chambers.

Behind her, the rest stayed rooted in place, whispering, gossiping, fuming.

None of them said it aloud, but they all hated her.

The human who stole their Alpha King.

While some were just glad it wasn't Lirvana.

***********

(Lirvana's Chamber)

Lirvana paced her chambers, anger simmering just beneath her skin.

"How dare she," she hissed, fists clenched.

She sat down, seething in silence, her mind racing with thoughts of revenge....ways to humble that insolent human girl.

But then, out of nowhere, pain exploded in her head.

She gasped, clutching her temples as the pressure intensified.

Lirvana...

The voice was faint, echoing through the walls of her mind. Her breath hitched.

Lirvana...

It came again, louder this time....haunting and unfamiliar.

She couldn't tell if it was real or imagined, but it felt ....powerful.

Free me... Find the Moonmark.