The Alpha's love slave

CHAPTER SEVEN: STUBBORN!

One whole week. Without a word of protest from her. How was that even humanly possible? When Maera had picked the dungeons, Dastan had been so sure that she would change her mind. In one day.

After no news from her, he’d toned it down to stubbornness and had ordered himself not to loosen his resolve. His steps had paced the dungeons upper boundaries so many times only to retreat back. Especially during the nights when there was nobody to witness his foolishness.

However, after seven days of silence, he’d had his fill of her stubbornness, and had barged into the dungeons without any thought to propriety or decency. He found her smiling at one rat with whom she seemed to be in deep conversation.

Something primitive unfurled in his chest, and he must have made a sound because the rat scurried away from her hand, and she glared in his direction in surprise. Anger overwhelmed him. Why the hell was she surprised?!

“What are you doing?” he asked between gritted teeth. “What the hell are you doing?” he repeated in an incensed voice.

She blinked at him uncomprehending his irrational fury and he could hardly blame her. He was unable to understand the reason why he was so beyond himself. She had not protested once. No servant had come rushing to him about the princess’s needs. No one had been complaining about the fact that the princess had flung the water or food. Instead, she’d thanked the ones serving her like she was grateful for one meal per day!

How was that even possible? How could she mess up with his head despite being so invisible and accommodating? How the hell could she occupy his mind day and night like this? How??!!

“You tell me,” she replied calmly. “What am I doing?”

Something in her calm demeanor infuriated him beyond measure. It felt like she was having a great laugh at his expense. How dared she mock him when he was already so out of his mind with worry for her?

In one stride, he reached her side and his hand shot out to grab her hair. Everything changed then. Her bravado which was an act dissolved in a jiffy and her eyes popped our in sheer terror. She flinched so hard that it felt like he’d slapped her, but he slowed his hand to grab her hair in a gentle handful.

Petrification was seen in those dead golden specters, as she stood frozen for a long moment. Curious, Dastan allowed her the choice to step out from his grasp whenever she wanted but she remained still. He knew the exact moment she relaxed in his arms.

Her reaction stunned him, it almost felt like she was afraid of being beaten. That was not unthinkable because she was the daughter of an Alpha, right? What had caused so much terror in her eyes? She looked like a doe caught in limelight, waiting for some kind of punishment to befall her.

That vulnerability of hers made him want to shield her. A surge of his Alpha DNA splashed inside, and his heart jumped at the protective instincts which generated for that stubborn woman.

“You’re such a paradox,” he muttered in a weak voice. “How could you have survived down here for a week? Seven days, five hours and seventy seconds? How is that even possible?”

A small smile formed at the corner of her lips as if she was amused by his confusion. “You were counting the time?”

His heart rocketed at her nearness – she reeked of rats and staleness, her dirty state not appealing at all. Yet, Dastan found himself wanting to taste her. Even in that filthy state.

Her dress was plastered against her body, covered with dust. Her hair, which had been a magnificent mane the first day he’d met her was now gathered at the top of her head in a messy unkept bun. Her teeth looked yellow even in the dark, and her breath smelled so foul that he should have been wanting to puke his lunch.

Instead, the need to press his lips against hers, to plunge his tongue inside her mouth was so potent that he had to release her to ward off the temptation. What did that say about him?

He sighed wearily. Keeping Maera here was not a good idea. The faster Eden was brought back to the pack, the better it would be for everyone.

He frowned. Eden, his mate. He hadn’t thought about Eden in that regard ever since he’d met with her. Only Meir had been excited as any wolf would have been on discovering his mate, but Eden had left him unaffected for some reason.

What the hell are you saying? How can I accept anyone else other than our mate? Meir protested roughly, and Dastan had to ignore him to focus on the troublesome vixen in front of him.

“Listen, I’ll give you some free advice. We don’t make it a common practice to capture our enemies and make them our prisoners. This can end now, if only you will tell me where Xander has taken my mate.”

She crossed her arms across her chest in an amused gesture. “Really? What fate have you reserved Xander in that case? Please don’t tell me that you will spare his life once you discover him? I know how this Alpha thing works – there is nothing more important than showing off who is more powerful.”

He frowned at her challenging words – she was right. There was no way he could spare her brother’s life when the latter had so openly crossed him. Kidnapping another Alpha’s mate was an unpardonable crime as was kidnapping a sister. There was no going back, but he’d never thought Maera to be smart enough to know that outcome.

Despite himself, he found his lips stretching in a reciprocating answer. “So, you’re admitting to knowing where he is?”

Her grin deepened. “I am admitting to no such thing! All I’m saying is that you both took ‘Alpha’ decisions which are irreversible. It’s going to be difficult to go back. So, please don’t try to fool me. I know how those thing works.”

What a pity that she was his enemy’s daughter, she had enough chutzpah and wits to make a formidable opponent. In fact, Dastan was having a great time sparring with her. For the first time, it felt like he was speaking with his equal, and that was a feeling he’d gotten only with Eaton.

“Do you now?” he drawled silkily. “What do you propose then? How do we resolve this impasse?”

She shook her head in a slow and sad movement. “We can’t. I stay here until you find Xander on your own. I will never betray him. Never. He’s family.”

Out of nowhere, Dastan admired her indisputable loyalty towards her brother. There was no doubt in her mind that she wouldn’t tell on him. No matter how much suffering she was subjected to. He’d never seen a female so righteously loyal to him before. He didn’t have any immediate family left.

Both his parents had died in that unfortunate night when her father had attacked them. The reminder served as a dose of cold water splashed to his face. The reason why he didn’t have anyone close to him was because of her family. Her tyrant father was the one responsible for his misery, and now Xander Henderson was walking right into his father’s shoes.

That didn’t bode well for the future of their werewolf community, he’d been hoping that the younger generation of the Hendersons would be more amicable and pliable for a treaty. Jeremy Henderson had refused point black to accept any of his late father’s proposals or his latest ones. Dastan had been waiting for Xander to take the throne to speak with him alpha-to-alpha.

Since their two packs were close to each other, it would be a good thing for them to be unified against other enemies. What if vampires or Lycans decided to attack their packs? He would need to collude with other werewolves to defy them.

Now, Dastan wasn’t so sure it would be worth it. After Xander’s latest stunt, it would be difficult to overcome such a great dishonor and defiance. How could he resent Xander for having his sister’s staunchness?

For a brief moment, he wondered how it would feel to have someone like her on his side. Without any conditions. Defending his turf like he undeniably belonged to her. Envy scorched him and he gulped down the ugly emotion with great difficulty.

“You’re not staying down here,” he stated bluntly, wanting to punish her for her audacity. “You’re half dead right now. You won’t survive another day down here.”

He bet if she stood up she would crumble to her feet without any effort. He refused to have her death on his conscience but was taken aback by her next words.

“I thought that was the idea?”

He hissed in a sharp breath. She thought that he was trying to kill her to fulfill some kind of warped revenge? She couldn’t be more wrong. He had no mean streak in his body, the reason why he’d brought her here against her will was simply to avoid any mutiny within his pack. The men seemed to believe in the eye-for-an-eye theory. Besides, he could hardly sit back and allow for Xander Henderson to have his way with his mate.

Outrage filled him once again at the notion of sweet innocent Eden under the captivity of that brute. What if he’d touched her? Meir revolted at the mere thought, his fangs showing as he contemplated the genius idea of tearing Xander’s flesh piece by piece.

“No,” he replied curtly to her question. “You thought wrong. I don’t want to kill you. Neither do I want to avenge your brother’s actions.”

She c*cked an eyebrow to him, although her movements seemed to be getting sluggish. Fatigue was apparent by the puffiness under her eyes, and she was blinking more then necessary to keep her from slipping into a dark abyss.

“No? What do you intend to do with me then?” she asked slumberous, and Dastan’s instincts were on full alert as he sprang forward to grab her right before she hit her head to the floor.

“You are not staying here,” he ordered firmly. “I don’t want to kill you. But like I said earlier, there would be only those two choices for you. Either a slave or a s*x slave.”

Maera gasped even in her weakened state. “I’d rather die than give myself to you,” she protested feebly.

Self-loathing shot through him as he realized that her words hurt more than necessary. Was she that revolted at the idea of them having fun together? Did she prefer living a rat’s life than to share his bed? How insulting was that?

“Dying is not an option,” he asserted in a voice which brooked no argument as one hand remained at her back and the other traveled to the crook of her slim waist and he lifted her effortlessly in his arms. She felt so good in her arms, her curves fitted against his like she was tailor-made for him. “The dungeons will be closed for you from now on. I will send you to the servants’ headquarters and you will be treated as one. Until you decide to tell me what your brother is up to.”

Her eyelids were drooping, but he would show her no mercy. She was the reason why Xander had decided to take away his mate. Eden had nothing to do with the enmity and involving an innocent in their war was uncalled for.

“You will of course share my bed,” he informed knowing that it was the only thing which would make her want to betray her brother. But he allowed enough leeway to admit to himself that the only reason he was bedding her was because he wanted to get her out of his system.

If he took her once, maybe he would no longer feel so deeply drawn to her, and his resolve wouldn’t falter when the right time came.