Chapter 10 CHAPTER 010
Ari POV:
I was back to feeling suffocated but in a good way. Alpha Stone had taken me to what seemed to be a small room, decent, but still small. So much it looked like a prison cell.
It had a single overhead bulb in the middle that flickered, a single bed and a window so tiny it only allowed for air to pass through.
I groaned and Alpha Stone turned as if he knew what I was thinking.
"That's right. No more escaping."
How the hell did he know that? He made to go out but I spoke up immediately, my heart beating fast in anticipation. "Alpha?" He paused but didn't turn. "If they...if the people decided to kill me, would you be the one to do it?"
Alpha Stone tensed, his shoulders tensed. Then he turned and although his expression was cold, I could see reason behind those beautiful eyes.
"I can't do it. I can but I won't." There was something relieving about the way he said it. Perhaps, it was because I had this version of him in my head that I'd rather take to my grave. I wouldn't anything to change that.
"Okay."
He hesitated but finally said, "good night, Ari."
"Good night, Alpha."
Moments later, I laid on the bed, thinking about my life in general and how it may all end tomorrow. I didn't know when sleep whisked me away.
By morning, the sun had found its way through the small space on the wall. I knew it was over. All the suffering, the running and the few moments of serenity that Harry had offered me the day before would either end or I'd go back to picking up scraps again.
"Hey!" A guard banged on the door, his voice loud and booming. "It's time."
Thankfully, I was taken to a washroom that looked like a freaking palace with gold tubs and sweet fragrance. The maids there began to take off my clothes.
"I can bathe myself, thank you." I said, wrapping my arms around myself.
The maids glanced at one another but before they could speak, a male familiar voice interrupted.
"Dismiss!" They scurried out of the bathroom immediately and I turned to see Alpha Stone standing before me, in nothing but a towel tied loosely around his waist.
Just a little tug and he will be bare. As if he read my mind, he fucking took off his towel.
I screamed and turned around, covering my eyes.
I heard him scoff and footsteps padded my way. My heart began to race crazily as he got closer until he went past. Then the sound of water filled my ears and I knew he had entered the tub.
I opened my eyes and saw him leaning against the wall, arms spread out. He looked ethereal, like a god. I wanted to reach out and touch him to know if he was real but those killer eyes dared me too much.
"Get in!" He ordered, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Stop acting so chaste when we are mates. Get in here, Ari."
I began to approach the two feet deep waters but he tutted. "Without the clothes."
Was this some sort of humiliation ritual before the actual killing? I bit my lips and blinked away the tears as I began to untie the bathrobe.
I knew I had scars from the beatings or the harsh conditions of the street. And I wasn't sure if I was ready to see them, not to mention show someone.
But I did it anyways. He was the Alpha.
The robe fell and slowly, down my shoulders, arms, chest and I watched the way his eyes didn't tear away for once. In fact, he looked like he was mesmerised.
When the robe had fallen to my feet, and I was naked in front of him, I began to enter the water, hands covering my boobs.
He snorted as I did that and I knew if I could, I'd smack that smirk off his face. I got into the water and just like I expected, it was warm. I slowly got accustomed to the temperature and I was too worried about covering myself that I'd didn't know when Alpha Stone emerged behind me.
"Hi there." I squealed and turned to see he was too close to me.
There was nowhere else to move to as I was between the dang wall and his rigid body. If I backwards, the edge would cut into my skin but if I moved forwards, I wasn't sure I could handle what I'd feel.
I was staring up at him, lips parted, breath coming out in sharp bursts.
"Pl...please, Alpha."
Alpha Stone looked so attractive when he was done close. Too bad his attitude sucked and he took after the devil.
He grazed my cheek with his thumb, the touch tender.
"What makes you think I am going to kill you?"
His questions threw me off balance. So did the body contact as he stepped in closer. I wanted to back up but he grabbed my waist and pulled me to him.
My breasts crushed against his chest, my nipples grazing his skin. It was underwater but I knew he felt them harden.
Oh. My. God.
My eyes grew huge and wide but he smirked again. The same smirk that made him annoying and sexy at the same time.
"I love it when you look at me like that." He said and I couldn't tell if that was a compliment.
But I was pressed against him, his hand spread against my back and making me feel things I wasn't supposed to feel. I mean, this man would sign off my death warrant.
Yet, I didn't want to leave his embrace, if I could call it that.
I loved how my body responded to him and how despite his ruthlessness, he sometimes showed me tenderness.
"Do you really believe in your heart," he began to trail his hand up my stomach, making me hold my breath. Then he reached my chest and stabbed his index finger at the middle of my breasts. "That I'm going to allow anyone to lay a finger on you?"
Tears filled my eyes as I wanted to make sense of what he was saying.
"In a few minutes, my palace will be filled with people who want you dead," he leaned in closer as if trying to take in my scent, his nose buried in the crook of my neck. "Gone. They want me to agree to either killing you or sending you off."
I felt his tongue flicker over my sensitive spot before biting it gently. I shut my eyes and moaned before I could stop myself.
"Well, know this now, Ari, because I'm going to burn the world to the ground before anyone's allowed to touch a hair on your head," he drifted upwards, his lips grazing, kissing and nibbling on my skin while his large hand caressed every other part of my body.
"I'll cut off their limbs and feed it to them before they can get to you."
His voice lowered as he got to my chest, my collarbone and back to my ears, "including Harry Cook."
"Alpha." That came out as a moan and must have triggered him because he turned me around and slammed me against the wall, his body pressed against my back. Then I felt it. His hard, hot length against my ass.
I was worried he was going to do this before he sent me off. Mark me and render me useless so no one could be my mate again.
I didn't know if I was ready mentally but my body was craving for him so I leaned back against his length, eyes closed and spoke.
"As you wish, your Highness."