To Tempt An Alpha King

Smack the s**t out of her...

RAYA

'Don't you just want to smack the s**t out of her sometimes?'

I nearly dropped the tray in my hand at the sound of my wolf's voice. My eyes instinctively darted to the other side of the room where Janna was yelling at one of the omegas who was styling her hair. My ears burning, I turned back to what I was doing.

"Cara," I whispered under my breath. "Don't say things like that." I knew that Janna could not read my mind, but it still bothered me. If she could hear the things my wolf said about her she would probably have me killed.

'Well, she can't. But you know I'm right. She's such a bitc—'

"What the f**k do you think you're doing standing and moping like an i***t?!" Janna suddenly shrieked, turning to me. "Make yourself useful and go get my dress!"

I nearly tripped over my own feet rushing to get out of the room. My back still burned from the hot water she had thrown at me this morning simply because I was a few minutes late bringing it to her. And the last thing I needed was another injury from her. At least for today. My body ached as I walked into the dressing room and retrieved the new dress from the hangar.

Transfixed by the beauty of the dress, I ran my fingers over the delicate red material. It was covered in beautiful glimmering stones, and a large bow tie at the back of the dress completed it. I knew I shouldn't be touching or even admiring the dress. But I had never held anything so exquisite, not to talk more of putting something like this on. All I ever owned were drab, faded dresses.

'I hope the stones crush her to death.'

I snorted at Cara's words, for the first time allowing myself to laugh openly. "Shh.." I warned. But I continued to laugh despite myself. Ever since I came to the age of discovering my wolf, Cara had been my only friend. She was basically the only one I ever spoke to. I told her everything. She comforted and cheered me up when I was feeling sad, and she was always there. We were one, but yet still completely different. I feared my mistress so much that I did not even have the courage to think bad thoughts of her because I felt that somehow she would find out. Cara on the other hand, was unfiltered with her thoughts. And of course, I agreed with everything she said because it was true. Sometimes I wished I could be more like Cara.

Trying to wipe the smile off my face, I hurried back to Janna's bedroom.

"What the hell took you so long?" She hissed, snatching the dress from me and handing it to the servants who began to pull it on her. I stood at the corner of the room, occasionally looking up to glance at Janna. Unfair as she was in her treatment of me, I could not deny the fact that she was beautiful. She had the kind of hair that I could only dream of; silky chestnut brown strands pulled up into a high bun and held in place with diamond-studded hair pins. Her makeup was also perfectly done. So were her nails. She was…perfect.

I swallowed hard, lowering my eyes before she caught me staring. After Janna was dressed and ready, it was my turn to get ready. Since she had only given me ten minutes, I raced like my life depended on it, picking out the best thing I owned. It wasn't much; a pale yellow sundress that I had found between my parents' old belongings. It would have to do.

I didn't have much information on what was going on today. But from the tidbits of gossip I had heard from the servants, the alpha king was throwing the ball to find his mate, and maidens with some special requirements were mandated to attend. I was to accompany Janna as her personal maid, so I needed to look half presentable at least. Also, the prospect of going to the palace was somewhat exciting. I had heard so many stories about it growing up. And I could only imagine how grand it would be.

I quickly dried my body with a towel and began to get dressed. Not sure what to do with my waist-length hair, I ended up putting it in a high bun and wrapping it tightly until all the stray hair was neatly tucked away. I pulled on a pair of old shoes and rushed out to meet Janna. Thankfully, she was too occupied with yelling at another servant to see me slip quietly behind her. After much fussing, we finally got into the limo.

"Move!" Janna yelled, shoving me roughly as I sat beside her. "Do you know how long it took me to get ready?! I can't have you ruining that with your awful stench."

My cheeks burned but I said nothing, muttering apologies as I clambered out of the limousine and waited for the next car. In this one, Lord Alvatore and his personal bodyguards were already seated. They all ignored me like I was invisible. But that was much better. Being seen came with trouble. I wriggled between two maids in the backseat and tried to make myself as small as possible.

After a long and uncomfortable thirty-minute drive, we arrived at the palace. I raced over to the limo to help Janna put her dress in place before she could complain. And slowly, we proceeded to go in.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight in front of me. The palace was nothing like I expected. It was a hundred times better. It looked like something out of a fairytale. I tried my best not to gape as I walked up the stairs, still clutching the train of my mistress's dress. I had thought the Alvatore mansion was luxurious, but this…I had no words for it. It was simply breathtaking. The building had a vintage and regal air to it, the enormous mahogany doors opening to a wide and spacious room. It was everything I imagined; large gold curtains draped over color stained cathedral-like windows, polished marble floors, exceedingly high ceilings and tons of gold chandeliers lined up across the wall.

Lots of guests were already in attendance, and I was momentarily ordered to leave while the Alvatores mingled with their acquaintances and friends.

Grateful for the dismissal, I walked to the end of the room where other servants were hunched up against the wall and waiting to be called on. As I stared at the large groups of young women talking and laughing, I wondered if I would have been one of them if my life had turned out differently. The thought was so absurd that it made me laugh.

I really needed to stop this wishful thinking. It was terrible for me, and all it would do was make me sad all over again. So I shook the thoughts away and waited.

About an hour later, soft music began to play, signaling the start of the ceremony. On command, the crowd parted; all the young women standing on one side of the hall, and the rest of the guests on the other.

"The ceremony begins now!" A loud voice suddenly announced. It was then I realized that servants were beginning to take their places behind their mistresses. I walked as fast as I could to the front, exhaling in relief, when I found Janna at the very beginning of the line. She shot me a death glare as I slipped in behind her and I responded by bowing my head.

And then it happened. I felt it before I saw him. That same feeling from the other day. And that scent. That breathtaking scent that had haunted my memory for days on end. My head snapped up at the same time, searching for the source. And then I saw the tall, intimidating hunk of a man. He was dressed in the day's white and rose gold theme, but even the flannels and velvet coat could not hide his rippling muscles.

I felt my mouth go dry. His thick, raven-black head of hair was perfectly gelled back save for a few tendrils falling into the icy blue orbs that were his eyes. I would be lying if I said I had ever seen any man more gorgeous.

"His majesty, the King. Alpha Valen!" A loud voice announced. The whole room was a flourish of bows and curtseys for a few moments. My eyes widened in realization. The gorgeous man had a crown balanced on his head. He was…the king?

That revelation took me by surprise as I was expecting a much older person. Curious, I risked another glance at him.

'Mate.'

I nearly staggered back, that overpowering scent hitting me once more. I could feel my heart pounding dangerously in my chest.

It can't be.

No, it's not possible.

'Mate,' my wolf repeated, her voice more persistent this time. I felt myself go cold all over and for a second, time had frozen.

The alpha king is my mate?