Chapter 5 They said you were wolfless
The sound of running water roused Rue awake.
She sat up abruptly and a wave of dizziness hit her. Wincing softly, she rubbed her temple and shook her head. Getting up so fast was a bad idea.
When the dizziness lessened, she opened her eyes and scrutinized her surroundings.
She was in a bedroom, an enormous one. High ceilings, elegant chandeliers, dark curtains. The room screamed of luxury.
The bed was a custom-made king-sized bed, large enough to fit ten persons. A warm blanket had been draped over her.
Where the hell was she?
Just then, she heard the soft whoosh of running water and turned towards the door in the corner of the room. That had to be the bathroom, and someone was in there.
Memories of the previous night started to surface. The betrayal of her uncle. Her escape from the Lycan King. Her broken ankle.
She gasped and looked down at her foot. A thick bandage had been wrapped around her ankle, and the pain was gone. Her dress had been changed too, to a pair of shorts and a shirt.
Did he do it?
She looked towards the door again and realized he was probably the one in there, having a bath.
She turned to the entrance of the room, a thought forming in her mind. This could be her only chance to escape. Who knew what the Lycan King planned to do to her?
She had heard the rumours about him. What if he killed her?
She had to escape.
She gently swung her feet over the bed and got up. Now that her bruised ankle was lowered, it hurt. But she gritted her teeth and limped towards the door.
Suddenly the water stopped. She froze, slowly turning around. The door to the bathroom remained shut, and every second counted.
She spun around and hurried towards the door, intent on escaping no matter what. She was so close. Just a few more steps. Then...
Something moved past her suddenly, a flash of blurry figure, with inhumane speed. She gasped in shock, and in the process, she missed her step.
Her hands flayed as she fell backwards, searching frantically for something to hold. Before she hit the ground, a pair of strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist.
She looked up into a pair of ruby eyes. It was him. Alpha Thane. And he looked pissed.
"Still trying to escape?" He mocked, his deep voice hard and cold.
Rue came back to her senses instantly and pushed out of his arms. She landed on her ass and scooted away, her gaze wary.
Thane stood there watching her. He was shirtless, with a pair of black pants hanging from his hips. He was barefoot, and his torso dropped with water from the shower.
His hair was wet too, and those damn curls awakened something within her.
"You're finally awake." He muttered and took a step towards her.
But she jumped to her feet and held her fists out in a fighting stance.
"Stay away from me you... you... perv!" She snapped.
Thane cocked his head to the side and scrutinized her. Her colour was back, which was a good thing. The bruise in the corner of her face was slowly fading off, and her ankle looked much better.
But that was the least of her concern.
"Perv?" He repeated.
"Who changed my clothes?" Rue hissed.
"Why is that of any importance?"
"Who changed my clothes?" She asked again, this time louder.
Thane's expression darkened. The ruby orbs of his eyes changed to a deeper shade, and Rue backed away in fright.
"Watch your tone, she-wolf." He growled. "You will address me with respect."
"Just tell me it wasn't you who changed my clothes." She said, much calmer this time.
"And if it was?" He challenged.
It was on the tip of Rue's tongue to lash out at him. But she reminded herself that this was the Lycan King. He could end her life with the snap of his fingers. She had to thread carefully.
"You had no right."
Thane chuckled suddenly, much to her surprise.
"I can assure you, whatever you have beneath those clothes is not enough to entice me. I've bedded more beautiful women than you can possibly imagine."
His mocking tone angered Rue. She realized he was making fun of her.
"Fucking bastard." She muttered under her breath.
But Thane heard it clearly. He moved across the room suddenly, grabbing her and shoving her against the wall before she could protest.
She cried out as her back slammed into the wall. When she looked up, she met Thane's furious blood-red gaze.
"I will warn you for the last time, she-wolf." He growled. "Dare to defy me again, and you'll find your head ripped off your neck."
Rue knew he would carry out his warning. The stories about Alpha Thane Lockwood were brutal and true. He killed with ease, and whoever crossed him met a cruel death, whether man or woman.
If she wanted to take back her pack from her uncle, she had to be smart. And extremely careful.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
Thane didn't release her immediately. He glared at her for a while longer. One hand remained around her throat while his other hand curled around her jaw and turned her face to the side.
Before he could stop himself, he leaned close and sniffed her neck
Rue gasped, shocked at the mad rush of tingles that went through her body. It seemed a hidden part of her had come alive, right under his touch.
"They said you were wolfless." He murmured, almost as if he was in a trance. "Yet why do you smell so damn good?"
Rue was afraid to move. She couldn't even bring herself to speak. Thane looked like he was spellbound, staring intently at her and sniffing her scent like his life depended on it.
Suddenly a ring of golden light appeared from thin air. It wrapped around her throat and curled around Thane's hand, and for a moment, they stared into each other's eyes in silence.
The door to the room opened abruptly, breaking the spell.
Thane snapped back to the present and whipped his head around, glaring at the intruder.
But his gaze softened when he saw Katherine, his mistress. He released Rue and held his hand out to her.
"My love." He murmured.
Katherine smiled and rushed into his arms, laughing softly.
Rue stood there, her chest heaving softly, her body still tingling from Thane's touch.
She watched as he kissed the woman who just walked in, and for some strange reason, she felt a tightening in her chest.
Katherine embraced Thane warmly, but her serpent green eyes landed on Rue in a hostile glare. She had heard the rumours about the white-haired maiden Thane brought the previous night.
She didn't want to believe it, because she was his last mistress, and his favourite. But seeing Rue in his arms seconds ago, she realized her position as the Lycan King's favorite was being threatened.
However, when Thane released her, the hostile look disappeared, replaced with a bright smile.
"My sweet Alpha." She smiled. "I missed you last night."
"I had something more important to do." Thane replied softly. He tried to keep his eyes on her, but his gaze kept straying over to Rue. The pull he felt towards her seconds ago was clouding his mind.
"Who is she?" Katherine's voice broke into his thoughts. "Your new slave? You're not planning to replace me, are you?"
"Of course not." Thane gave her a reassuring smile and kissed her cheek. "Wait here for me."
Katherine smiled, watching as Thane grabbed Rue's arm and pulled her out of the room. The moment they left, her smile dropped and a murderous expression took over her face.
She already saw Rue as a threat to her position and all her plans. Alpha Thane was hers. Eryndor was hers.
And she would destroy whoever stood in her way. Starting from Rue.