So Eager To Run Away?
1396 Words
"It's small." That was the King's first comment when Sabrina showed him the grave she had spent hours making last night. Sure, it wasn't perfect, but she had made it with a lot of love and determination. Hearing the dismissive tone Alaric used to regard her father's resting place made her bristle.
"I can have a better one made."
"No need." She would have preferred it if he stayed away from the grave—and if he kept his hands to himself too. Sometimes, Sabrina forgot that she was meant to be seducing this man. She was lost so deep in her hatred and gloom that the thought of getting close to anyone made her feel reluctant.
The Dragon's hand rested on her shoulder, his fingers playing with a strand of hair that fell over her shoulder blade. Alaric leaned forward and scented her, making her tense.
"You smell of mud and dirt."
Wow, what a lovely thing to say to a woman. It's not like the asshole smells like roses and sunshine either. He smells of iron, maybe smoke. It's not entirely unpleasant, but it's not nice either.
"I can't change my scent, Your Majesty."
"I'm aware. I sent Elisha out of the palace. Are you pleased?"
"I...didn't ask you to do that." This single action had made the other women hate her. If she had any chance of making allies with them, it had been completely tarnished. Sabrina didn’t know when she might need help from one of them, so she wasn’t very pleased with this development. God, she just wished the man wouldn't make things so complicated. And she wished she didn’t have to suck up to him either. "But I thank you for looking after me."
Alaric hummed, his hands nudging her so she was turning around to face him. His golden eyes peered down at her curiously. Sabrina's breath hitched as the Dragon leaned close and pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was gentle and devoid of any passion, but the King's tongue pried her lips open and tasted her mouth experimentally. The Luna tried not to whine in disgust at the invasion. She even leaned into his touch, her hand coming to wrap around him in a manner that might suggest she was into this.
This was what she needed—to get the man hooked. And if she had to kiss him or bed him to get what she wanted, Sabrina was willing to sacrifice that much.
The kiss lasted only a few minutes. When Alaric pulled back, a string of saliva connected their lips from the sloppy kiss. His tongue darted out to lick her lips, cutting off the slimy string.
"At least you taste better than you smell," he said with a slight curl of his lips.
Sabrina only stared at him in a daze, not knowing how to respond.
The Dragon placed a soft kiss on her forehead and pulled away from her. Before leaving, he said, "I will be going hunting this evening with my men. You will come."
With the way he phrased the sentence, it was clear Sabrina didn't have any say in the matter. If Alaric wanted her to come, then she could only obey.
"Yes."
With a grin that displayed his sharp canines, Alaric walked away. When she was certain the man was out of sight, Sabrina wiped her mouth with her sleeve, her expression twisting into one of disgust. Gross.
---
"I've never seen you act so intimate with another woman before."
Rosaline had come to see Alaric in his office. She knew what kind of workaholic he was, so she always ensured to bring him something to eat while he was working. She placed the food basket on the table and regarded the Dragon with curious eyes.
"She must be something special. I heard you brought her to the palace yourself."
"She's not that special," Alaric admitted. He frowned down at the stack of paperwork he needed to finish before the end of the day. How troublesome. "I just think she's interesting."
"Because she's a werewolf?"
"No, because she clearly doesn't like me but pretends to—for a reason I'm not certain about."
"Maybe she wants money or power. Which woman doesn't dream of being your chosen? It comes with a lot of material benefits."
"I doubt that's the case." If she wanted money, she would have tried harder in her seduction tactics. It wasn't just about warming his bed; the woman wanted something more. He wasn’t certain what it was, but Alaric hardly had time to worry about things like this. Still, it was rather interesting.
"Thank you for the food."
"It's alright. I heard you're going hunting. Can I come?"
"It's best you remain in the palace this time."
"Oh, you're bringing her along?"
"Are you jealous?"
"Of course not." She stuck out her tongue at him playfully.
The Dragon smiled fondly. "I've known you since we were children. I'm your main girl, aren't I?"
"Always."
"Eat something. I'll leave you to your work."
Alaric hummed in acknowledgment, and Rosaline took that as her cue to leave. When she stepped out of the study, the smile on her face dropped, and her eyes became gloomy.
---
The Dragon King usually went hunting once a month. It was his leisure period. Among those who accompanied Alaric on the trip were Sebastian and Allen. The group chatted cheerfully while waiting for the King's orders to set off.
Allen was the first to notice Sabrina's arrival. His face turned ashen, which alerted his captain.
"No f*****g way."
Sebastian's fists clenched at his sides. Seeing that woman made the healed wound on his face itch. He’d never forgotten about that Luna b***h for one second. Whenever he looked in the mirror, anger bubbled inside him, threatening to spill over. He had no means of exacting revenge, not when the King had claimed the b***h as his woman. But he somewhat hoped that when the King got tired of her and lost interest, Sebastian would get his hands on her.
It wasn’t rare for a woman to tag along on the trip, but it was always Rosaline who came along. None of them expected Sabrina to take her place this time. Sabrina wasn’t blind to the hateful glare she received from Sebastian and his goons, but she hardly cared. She gave the Dragon Captain a taunting look before walking over to the waiting King.
"Can you ride a horse?"
"No."
"Come up. Ride with me."
Sabrina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Who the hell wants to ride with you?
"I can run."
She started loosening the ribbons holding her dress in place. Gasps rose from the men as she slowly stripped off her clothes.
Alaric narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing?"
"Stripping."
"Right here? In front of my men?" His voice was calm, but she could hear the anger lingering in his words.
"I don't want them torn."
She got the last piece of the dress off, sighing in relief as the heavy fabric pooled at her feet. Now, she stood clad only in her innerwear: a pair of fitted shorts and a corset wrap tied snugly around her chest. The cool night air kissed her exposed skin, and for a moment, she closed her eyes, letting the forest's quiet hum soothe her restless mind.
A familiar warmth began to build deep within her chest, spreading outward in waves. Her breath quickened, her muscles tensed, and a faint shimmer rippled over her skin. She gritted her teeth, welcoming the change as it overtook her.
Her bones stretched and reshaped, a muted crackling sound breaking the silence. Her hands and feet lengthened into paws, nails sharpening into claws that dug into the earth beneath her. Soft white fur cascaded over her body like a flowing river, and her vision sharpened, her senses coming alive in an explosion of scents, sounds, and colors she couldn’t perceive in her human form.
Moments later, where a girl had stood, a magnificent white wolf now towered. The relief that passed through her at finally being able to phase like this filled her with eagerness. Without another glance at the shocked faces around her, she bolted forward, sprinting into the forest.
Alaric's only reaction was a raised brow. So eager to run away?
- Writer
