Gina’s POV
“Bring her forward. I need to see what I'm looking at.” His cold dark, husky voice sent vibrations through my body, and a large hand pushed me forward causing me to stumble before his feet.
I could see him clearly, and my breath caught in my throat. His ice-blue eyes are cold and calculating, yet holding a magnetic intensity that drew me in. I feel like he's staring right into the depths of my soul. I avoided my gaze, not allowing him to take my eye contact as defiance, but Raven was going crazy in my head.
In all the rumors they said about him, no one ever mentioned how handsome and charming he was. He is so handsome and dreamy.
He's all Alpha male, he has chestnut brown hair pulled into a man bun, and the scruff on his face is the same color. His jawline is so sharp it could slice through glass, and yeah I wouldn't mind kissing those perfect plump lips. His muscles were clearly straining against his silk shirt which had two buttons down and I could see a peek of his muscular chest and a scribe of an eagle tattoo on it.
I tried my best not to stare too hard, but I wanted to see more.
My gaze locked with his, and I could see his jaw clenched, and I looked away in fear. The beautiful cold Alpha King is my mate, and he didn't seem pleased about it.
He lifted his frame off the throne, towering over me with his tall, intimidating, and muscular frame.
I swallowed thickly as his Alpha aura overwhelmed me, and I looked down in submission as he stopped his steps in front of me.
“Look at me rogue, it is very rude to look at the floor in my presence.” He commanded, and I craned my neck up to meet his face scrunching in anger.
“What's your name?” He asked in a commanding tone, which echoed in the vast hall.
I swallowed hard, trying my best to find my voice, and I'm finding it hard to think when he is this close to me. ”My name is Gina, your majesty.” I finally whispered when I found my voice.
He leaned forward, studying me. “Gina, the rogue who dared to cross into my territory. Do you understand the severity of your actions?”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded, unable to speak.
For a second, I thought being his mate would change things. But I guess I'm wrong.
“Death is the customary punishment for trespassing,” he declared, his voice getting harsher and deadlier with the passing seconds. I stared unblinkingly into his ice-blue eyes.
“However, consider yourself lucky—I’m feeling merciful today.” He said with a cruel smile playing on his lips.
Relief washed over me, hope glimmering within me, only to be extinguished as he continued. “You will serve in my palace as a lowly servant. My personal servant. Consider it a chance at redemption. Fail, and the consequences will be severe.”
I almost fainted as the words sank in. He didn't want me as his mate but as his servant. Just like Harlin, he doesn't want me as his mate.
A laugh rang in as he stared at me, and it felt like he just read what was on my mind. Could mates read each other's minds?
“Oh little rogue, you didn't think I would take you as my mate, did you? You see, I'm supposed to take a bribe as my mate and Luna. But the Council elder wolves wouldn't let me crown the person I want to make my Queen and Luna. And right now, I'm not interested in that nonsense. But I think I've just found the solution to my problem.” He says in a deep cold voice.
I listened to him, confusion and pain filling me. He didn't want me. Weren't mates supposed to want each other? If he doesn't want me, why didn't he just reject me and set me free?
Tears stung behind my eyes, but I swallowed them.
“Your service would be different from that of the other servants. Your job would be to pretend as my Queen and Luna in public while fulfilling my needs in private. From now on, I OWN YOU!” He growled.
“I would do to you what I please. Go against me, and I will kill you like an animal.”
I stood there paralyzed by his words, the weight of his expectation crushing me.
I'm to act as a fake Luna? Instead of my mate to accept me and love me, he decided I would be a pawn under his mercy.
“You will wear the title of my Queen and Luna. You'll smile, wave and nod in public, but in private, you will be at my beck and call.”
His words sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't find the strength to respond. My dreams of being loved, cherished and protected by my mate all shattered within the blinking of an eye. For the second time in my life.
A tear rolled down my cheek as reality crashed into me.
My lips parted to speak when a voice interrupted us.
“Dagen,” The voice said, jerking my head in the direction of the voice. It came from a woman a little bit older than me. She is a stunning beauty with jet-black hair. She moved with a kind of elegance that suited her. Who was she?
She came to us, standing beside Dagen. Her eyes were upon me. She looked really calm and gentle, but there was a fire of rage flashing through her eyes, which faded so quickly. Her effortless smile reappeared, moving to Dagen.
“Dagen.” The way she called his name made my stomach churn.
“Who is she?” She asked him.
It made my inside curl up. Dagen’s eyes trailed from the woman, finding mine.
Dagen wrapped his hands around her waist. “A little rogue problem we encountered at the border this morning.”
A little rogue problem? Me his destined mate a little problem?
“Oh, I see,” she said in a condescending tone. I judged her too quickly, she was anything but calm and gentle. There was something about her that was deceptive.
“I'm Gina, his mate. And you are?” I asked, then immediately regretted it. Her eyes also widened in shock.
“Watch your words in my castle if you still want to keep your head. Nydia is your superior and my chosen mate. She is to be respected. You will become Queen and Luna as my mate should, but Nydia will take over your duties in the shadow. And you are to serve her as your Queen and Luna.”
His words Hurt me. If he had someone else, why didn't he just reject me as his mate? His words seem to gladden Nydia. She leaned into his arms, placing a kiss on his lips, right before me, his chosen mate.
Was this fate better than death? My life wouldn't be mine anymore. I would be their dummy. His sweet little fake Queen and Luna.
Tears began streaming down my eyes.
“And I don't owe you anything. You do whatever I ask when I ask you to. I hope all I've said so far has been clear to you?”
More tears continued to slide down my eyes, and I slowly nodded. I was trapped and doomed to live a life that wasn't one anymore.
The Alpha King chose me as his Queen and Luna, but at what cost?
Was it worth it when my life wouldn't be mine anymore?
“Or I should just reject you?” His voice thundered, cutting through my wandering thoughts, and snapping me back to reality.