Auctioned To The Alpha King

Rules

Alpha Nathan’s POV

I heard a loud thud at my door just after she closed it, and despite how much I wanted to ignore it, I just couldn’t. Forcing myself up on my feet, I walked over to the door, pushed it open, and wasn’t surprised to see her lying on the floor, unconscious. A frown spread across my face as I stared at her unconscious state.

The guards bowed to me as they waited for my order, but I didn’t move an inch or say a word; rather, I just kept staring at her body on the floor. Thoughts buzzed in my head—the thought of her not waking up; at least that would stop me from becoming a monster.

“Nathan, you should call for a physician or healers.” My wolf, who had been silent, finally spoke, his voice filled with concern, which was unlike him. My wolf was more brutal and heartless than me, so where was this sudden concern coming from?

“Take her back to the dungeon,” I said coldly, and the guards quickly nodded while one of them picked up her fragile, unconscious body and left with it.

“Nathan, that girl is passed out; at least send for a physician,” my wolf growled.

I gave deaf ears to his words and shut the door. Settling back on the couch, I picked up the glass of whiskey and took a sip, trying to ignore the fact that my prey was unconscious. I didn’t want to care about it; I didn’t want to care if she lived or died. After all, she was paying for her father’s crime, and even if she paid with her life, it would never be enough.

“Come on, Nathan! That lady might be in pain! You just brutally f****d her, and yet you can’t call for the maids to check on her! What kind of man have you become?” my wolf snapped angrily in my head, and that made me angrier.

“Stop acting like a saint, Nathaniel. When did you start caring for people?” I snapped back at him, and my wolf responded with an angry growl before shutting himself away from me.

“Better!” I sighed and emptied the glass into my mouth. Refilling the glass, I took another hard gulp as I struggled to ignore the fact that she might be in danger. I tried not to think about it or worry about it, but my thoughts constantly defied me. I was somehow worried in a way I couldn’t explain.

“No! I can’t let her die; that would be too soft a punishment for her,” I grumbled to myself before lifting myself up from the couch.

Leaving my room, I met a female servant who bowed fearfully and respectfully to me. I could see the way she trembled, her eyes lowered to the ground. To them, I was a monster. I mean, I don’t blame them—I beheaded my uncle and his wife right before them without an atom of remorse in me.

“What is your name?” I asked, my voice coming out harsh despite how hard I tried to make it soft.

The lady trembled with fear. “Cara, my lord,” she responded, her lips trembling.

“Cara,” I repeated, trying to store the name in my memory. I realized I knew nothing about the workers in the mansion, and I needed to work on that.

“Find a physician to attend to my slave. She is in the dungeon.”

The maid nodded, her form still trembling. “You can leave.”

She bowed and sprinted away.

I scoffed bitterly at her reaction and went back into my room. Settling back on the couch, I made a mind link with James, the head warrior and one of my allies who helped me take back my throne.

“James, assemble all the mansion staff. I want to speak with them,” I instructed James through the mind link.

“Roger that, Alpha,” he responded.

After ending the mind link, my gaze lingered on the desk, and I swallowed uncomfortably. Memories of her tear-streaked face and the way she’d pleaded for me to stop assaulted my mind. I slammed the half-empty glass onto the table, the whiskey spilling over my fingers.

Why was I feeling this way? Guilt. A foreign, unwelcome feeling crept up my spine, poisoning the satisfaction I should have felt. My prey had broken so easily, and yet her vulnerability wasn’t as satisfying as I thought it would be. I wondered about the amount of pain she must have felt being taken in such a manner.

“She deserves it,” I muttered to myself, trying to dismiss the uneasy knot tightening in my gut. “She is Just a tool to exact revenge. Nothing more.” But my wolf’s disapproval still echoed in my head, making it hard to focus.

I had no room for compassion. I had already lost too much, sacrificed too much. Becoming Alpha again meant securing my pack’s future, avenging my mother’s death, and making my enemies suffer. But as I tried to remind myself of that mission, I couldn’t shake off the image of her fragile and unconscious form.

Pushing those thoughts away, I stood up and walked over to the window, gazing at the dark forest that surrounded the mansion. Somewhere out there lay my mother’s corpse. She wasn’t even buried, but was thrown away for the vultures to feed on. The same fate awaited all who had a hand in her death.

Releasing a soft sigh, I closed my eyes, trying to remember the picture of my mother, but instead, it was the picture of Lisa that lingered in my head. Her father’s sins didn’t change the fact that she was fragile, broken, and, for some unfathomable reason, someone my wolf couldn’t stand to see hurt.

The door creaked open behind me, and James entered, bowing respectfully. “Alpha, I have gathered the mansion staff as you commanded. They await your instructions in the hall.”

I nodded, clenching my jaw to mask my irritation at how unsettled I felt. “Good. I’ll be there shortly.”

James glanced at the spilled whiskey but didn’t comment, his eyes trained on the floor. “Is there anything else you require, Alpha?”

“No,” I replied curtly, dismissing him with a wave of my hand. He exited without another word, closing the door behind him.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady myself, but the pounding of my heart and the tightness in my chest wouldn’t relent. This wasn’t who I was supposed to be. I was the monster they feared, the Alpha who took back his throne with blood and fire. Yet, one broken girl had somehow managed to stir the humanity I had buried long ago. I hadn’t even started with what I had in store for her, yet I was already feeling guilty.

Straightening my body, I composed myself, reminding myself of my purpose. I had to stay strong, ruthless, and cold.

The mansion's hallways felt colder, each echo of my footsteps resonating through the walls. This was once my home twenty years ago, but my uncle had changed all the interior designs so much that I could barely recognize it.

The mansion servants were lined up in the hall, their heads bowed and posture still, each of them anxiously awaiting my words. I could visibly see the fear for me in their eyes.

James stood beside me, his eyes scanning around for any threat.

I strode into the center of the room, and a tense silence fell. Every gaze remained fixed to the ground, no one daring to meet my eyes. Good. Respect. Fear. This was the foundation of my rule.

“Raise your heads,” I commanded, my voice echoing off the stone walls. Slowly, each staff member lifted their gaze, some still trembling. I surveyed them, taking note of the fear etched into their faces—the terror my presence gave them.

“I have summoned you all here,” I began, my tone cold and commanding, “because it’s time to set some things straight.”

Murmurs rippled through the group, but they quieted quickly under my withering glare. I took a step forward, folding my hands behind my back.

“I am aware that I have earned the reputation of a monster,” I continued, my voice like a blade cutting through the air. “And make no mistake—I will not hesitate to maintain that reputation to protect my pack and secure our future.”

Several staff members flinched, while others exchanged uneasy glances. I felt my wolf stirring inside, observing their reactions.

“However,” I said, my voice dropping lower, “that does not mean I will tolerate incompetence or cowardice within these walls. Our survival depends on unity and discipline, and those who work under this roof must be strong. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Alpha!” they chorused, though some voices trembled.

I shifted my gaze toward Cara, who stood near the back, still trembling from her encounter with me. I could see the fear in her eyes the moment she realized I was looking her way.

“Cara,” I called, and she stiffened, her face paling. “Step forward.”

The crowd parted as she moved hesitantly to the front, her hands shaking as she clasped them in front of her. I stared down at her, my expression unreadable.

“Cara,” I said, my voice softer yet still commanding, “I have given you an important task. Have you ensured a physician is seeing to the girl in the dungeon?”

Cara swallowed hard, her voice wavering. “Yes, my lord. The physician is attending to her now.”

I studied her for a moment before dismissing her. “Good. Return to your duties.”

Cara exhaled a breath of relief, bowed, and quickly retreated back into the crowd.

“Who is the mansion keeper?” I asked, and two middle-aged servants stepped forward. A man who should be in his forties and a lady who should be in her late forties.

“We are, Alpha.” They responded in unison, while I glanced at them with a stern look. “I believe you served my uncle, and I am supposed to sack you two and all the staffs, but I won’t do that. Rather, it’s an open floor; if you wish not to work anymore, step out!” I demanded, and soft whispering rose up from the crowd of workers, but no one stepped forward.

James leaned toward me and whispered, “If they could work under your uncle's brutal conditions and reign, then I believe they will want to work under you.”

I hummed and nodded before moving my attention back to them.

“Since no one wants to leave, then I will set my rules. There are just four: number one, don’t you dare betray me because if you do, I believe you know what I can do.” I warned, and they all nodded. “Two, what happens in this mansion stays in this mansion. If I find any gossip among you, that person’s tongue will be taken out of your mouth.” I threatened, and gasps filled the air. “Number three,” I continued, “every task assigned to you must be carried out with the utmost efficiency and loyalty. I do not tolerate laziness or incompetence. If you fail to meet my expectations, you will face consequences.”

The room was deathly silent, and the tension was suffocating. Some servants avoided looking at each other, too fearful of drawing attention. I could feel my wolf watching them as well, assessing their reactions. He was as brutal as I was, if not more.

“Number four,” I declared, taking a step forward, “your loyalty to me must be absolute. I am your Alpha, and I expect nothing less than complete devotion. Protect this mansion as if your lives depend on it—because they do.”

The staff nodded in unison, and the anxiety in the room was nearly suffocating. I surveyed the crowd one last time, letting my words sink in. It was necessary to establish my authority, but something about the fear in their eyes unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.

“How many staff do we have here?” I asked, moving my attention to the two people before me. “Twenty guards and ten maids,” They responded, and I hummed. I saw no need for so many guards; it seemed my uncle was scared of life. He had so many guards to protect him, yet I was able to secretly invade the mansion and get him.

“The guards will begin their training tomorrow; I see that they lack a lot of things. I’ll teach them myself,” I said, and all the guards bowed.

“You are dismissed,” I said coldly, and they scattered like leaves, eager to escape my presence.

James lingered behind, stepping forward once the others were gone. His expression was calm, yet there was a question in his eyes. “Alpha,” he said carefully, “is there more you wish to discuss?”

I considered him for a moment, the weight of everything pressing down on me. “No,” I replied, my voice firm. “But keep an eye on my slave. I want to know the moment she wakes up.”

James nodded. “As you wish, Alpha.”

I attempted to walk away, but James stopped me with his next words. “The dead bodies of your uncle and his wife have been thrown away,” James announced, and I nodded with satisfaction.

“Also, Alpha, what do we do with the dead body of Gamma Titus? His body is decaying, and he is still in the cell with the daughter,” James said, sounding worried.

I went silent for a moment as I contemplated before shaking my head. “Let him remain there; let the father and daughter spend more time together. Don’t you think so?” I smirked evilly before walking away.