Chapter 7 I'm not special
Rue silently followed Yolanda to an outhouse where there were several bathrooms and toilets.
"The harem where the Alpha's consorts are kept has its own bathrooms." Yolanda explained as she handed Rue a towel and toothbrush. "I can't take you there because you're filthy, which is why you need a bath."
Her words stung Rue, but she swallowed her retort. She had to keep reminding herself to lay low if she wanted to get out of Eryndor alive.
As she stepped towards the bathroom, Yolanda stopped her. "What pack are you from?"
Rue froze, her eyes darting around like a deer caught in a car's headlights. She hadn't thought of an answer to that question.
"Um, the mountain pack." She stuttered, looking away as the lie left her mouth.
"Mhm." Yolanda hummed and scrutinized her. "You don't act like an omega. Has the Alpha bedded you?"
Rue was taken aback by the question. "What?"
Yolanda's eyes sharpened. "Don't act so innocent, girl. Alpha Thane brought you to me himself, something he has never done."
"What are you talking about?"
"When new maidens are brought in for the Alpha, he usually sends his guards, or his favourite, Katherine, to bring the girls to me. Yet he brought you himself. Which makes me wonder just how special you are."
Rue thought back to when she was in the forest with Thane. She had asked him the same question, why he came for her himself, instead of sending his guards.
And Thane had clearly told her she wasn't special.
"I'm not special." She said finally. "I'm sure he has his reasons for everything he does."
"I guess you're right." Yolanda murmured, her eyes roaming over Rue's figure. "You're very beautiful though. You might just overthrow Katherine and become the Alpha's favourite."
"Katherine?" Rue questioned.
"The green eyed beauty you must have seen in his chambers." Yolanda continued, her eyes twinkling as she shared the gossip. "She was brought here years ago, as a slave. Her beauty captivated the Alpha, and she has been his favourite since that moment. He hasn't taken another concubine, until you."
Yolanda paused and looked at her oddly, a strange smile on her face.
"I bet she feels threatened already with your presence. She would do anything to remain the Alpha's favourite, but it's only a matter of time before he dumps her. Your beauty is unmatched."
Rue didn't know how to respond to such a compliment. No one had ever told her she was beautiful, not even her late parents.
Instead, she asked the question that had been burning a hole within her.
"Why does the Alpha need concubines? Where is his mate?"
Yolanda's expression changed suddenly. She looked around in panic and pulled Rue closer.
"Never mention that word. Ever!" She snapped. "The word 'mate' is forbidden."
"Why?" Rue went on despite Yolanda's warning. "Did the Alpha really murder his own mate?"
Yolanda clamped her hand over Rue's mouth and dragged her into the bathroom. Her eyes were wide and filled with horror.
"If you value your life, never say those words out loud. Because if the Alpha finds out, you won't survive another night here, no matter how beautiful you are."
She shoved a jar of scented soap into Rue's hands and turned away.
"Wash yourself and change into the dress I set out for you. I need to take you to the harem before noon."
She turned and walked away, leaving Rue staring after her in confusion.
...
Thane could hardly concentrate fully in his meeting with the lycan council.
He couldn't get Rue out of his mind. What was that golden thread that connected their hands? Why did she smell so damn good?
He once thought no woman's beauty could compare to Katherine's. She had been his favourite for years now, and he hadn't thought of taking another woman.
Until Rue came into the picture.
Her beauty appealed greatly to him. He had never seen hair like hers before, as bright as the sun. Eyes as blue as the sky. Her figure was perfect, curvy and petite, just the way he liked his women.
A surge of lust slammed into him suddenly. He craved her badly, her scent, her taste.
"Alpha Thane?" The leader of the council, a dark haired shifter named Orion, called out.
Thane's eyes refocused and he glared at Orion.
"What?" He snarled.
"The council has come to a decision." Orion looked away, terrified of the fury in Thane's eyes.
"What decision? Who gave you the right to make a decision without me?" Thane snapped.
The other five council members lowered their heads as they felt the wave of rage coming off him.
Only Orion dared to speak as the leader of the council.
"We would never make a decision without you, Alpha." He said with a bow. "The decision in question is about you, and the matter of your... chosen mate."
Thane's hands slowly curled into fists. They had broken his one rule. His one rule to never mention the word 'mate'.
Not because he hated it, but because years ago, he had done something abominable, something he couldn't bear to think about. And it was that abominable thing that made the moon goddess place a curse on him.
"What did you say?" He growled.
Orion backed away, his entire form shaking with fright.
"I didn't mean to break your rule, Alpha." He rushed on to explain. "But it is for Eryndor's future. You need an heir, and in order to do that, you need a chosen mate. If anything were to happen to you, we won't be able to stop your half brother from claiming the throne."
"And we all know what a disaster that will be." Another of the council members, Jade, added. "He's a tyrant. He will reduce the kingdom to rubble."
"It's true, Alpha." The only female council, Cersei, added. "You know how much he covets the Alpha throne. You need an heir in order to..."
"ENOUGH!" Thane's voice boomed through the council temple, silencing all the members.
He rose, his face twisted in anger and disgust. Apart from hearing the word 'mate', another thing he hated to hear was the mention of his half brother, Drake.
He didn't want to dwell into memories of the past. Not today.
"It seems I have become too lenient with you all." He spoke softly, addressing the council, but his voice carried enough coldness and intensity. "Let this be the last time you peasants ever bring up the issue of a chosen mate, or my half brother. Break my law again and you'll die a slow, painful death."
He stormed out of the temple, fists clenched beside him. As he walked down the passage leading towards the main castle, he looked out and saw Rue.
He stopped, and that familiar surge of lust hit him. She had changed into a plain white dress, like the rest of his concubines.
She must have felt his stare because the next thing she did was look up, and their eyes met.
At that moment, Thane made up his mind to bed her that night. No matter what.