Chapter 31 THIRTY ONE

Chapter 31 THIRTY ONE
ILYANA’S POV

Any minute from now, my heart was going to explode out of my chest. I was nervous, anxious, jumpy—every single thing I could think of all at once. I paced around the room, repeating the plan over and over in my head. Tina would get the alpha king. I’d welcome him, take him to the small dinner table we prepared, make sure he eats, and then fully seduce him and take charge of the room. I was dressed in a flimsy seduction piece, a robe tied tight around me. It was similar to what Lucienne wore the last time I saw her.

Atasha’s words rang in my head, “Men are like children, dumb, stupid. Show them that you can put them to work, and they’ll bow immediately.”

But how true was that? Would the alpha king really fall for this?

All my life, I’d been rejected by all my mates. Maybe it wasn’t even their fault. Maybe it was mine. I had thought being silent, taking everything, not fighting back was the right thing to do—but maybe I needed to do more. I had to take back what was mine, lay my claim, and not let anyone—not even the alpha king, not Selene, not Lucienne—take anything from me.

I was no omega anymore.
I am the alpha king’s mate. And beyond that, I am my own person— Ilyana Crest.

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as a knock came—his knock.

“Ilyana, can I enter?”

“Of course.”

The door opened, and he stepped in, halting at the entrance as he took in the entire room. A crease formed between his brows before his eyes met mine.

“What’s happening?”

I could hear my heartbeat, louder than anything else in the room. “W…why don’t you sit down?” I stuttered nervously. “Ha…have you had dinner?”

He closed the door behind him and stepped in fully, his gaze still sweeping the room. “No. Have you?”

“Not really. But there’s something. We can eat together,” I said quickly, moving toward the table.

I took my seat, and he joined me, pulling the cover off the plate. My hands shook as I picked up the spoon, and we started eating in silence. Atasha had said to talk through it, to set the mood—and I was sure I wasn’t setting anything at all.

“Do you want anything to drink?” I asked, finally managing to meet his eyes since we started eating.

There was a faint smile on his lips. “Wine.”

I picked up his glass and placed it in front of me, glancing around the table—but there was no wine. My eyes scanned the room until I spotted it at the far end, beside the long sofa.

“I’ll go get it.”

I stood up too quickly, not noticing the glass at the edge until I brushed past it. It fell, shattering against the ground.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” I apologized quickly, bending down to pick it up, only for his hand to catch mine. I hadn’t even heard him stand.

“Don’t do that. Leave it. I’ll ask a maid to clean it up.”

“I can—”

“Leave it.” His voice turned firm, final.

I stilled, then slowly stood up.

“I’ll get the drink,” he said.

He walked toward the sofa, poured into two new glasses, then came back to me.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said, handing one to me.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I bowed my head slightly as I took the glass from him. Elara purred inside me, basking in the attention.

“Thank you.”

“Your heart is beating fast,” he continued, his voice dropping deeper now. His eyes narrowed slightly on me. “Are you scared?”

My heart pounded harder.

Yes. I was scared. Scared to do what Atasha taught me. Terrified I wouldn’t be able to make him fall in love with me.

“No…” I replied softly. “I’m not.”

I had just taken a sip of the drink when he spoke again.

“Take your clothes off.”

Something dropped deep into my stomach, sinking into the farthest pit. My eyes snapped up to his, and I finally saw it—the desire I hadn’t noticed before, already darkening his gaze.

I swallowed, my mind racing in every direction.

Atasha’s words echoed again. Take charge of the room.

My heart pounded heavily as I forced the words out, “W…why…don’t you take it off me?”

Something shifted on his face instantly. His jaw clenched, his eyes darkening further, thick with need.

“What did you just say, Ilyana?”

I swallowed, gathering what little courage I had left. “I asked you to take it off me,” I repeated.

He stepped closer, the distance between us reduced to barely nothing as he whispered and I whispered back,

“Did Atasha set you up for this?”

I shrugged, trying to hold onto the confidence. “No. Maybe I just want you to do it this time.”

A low, dark sound slipped from his throat, something between a growl and a warning, and it sent heat flooding through my entire body.

“You’re toying with fire, Ilyana.”

I licked my lips, the air around us suddenly too thick, too warm. “And maybe I like to be burned sometimes.”

His fingers tipped my jaw upward, pulling me closer, his face inches from mine.

“Where was this Ilyana the night before? Or yesterday?”

I had no answer. No words. I had always been shy—too meek, too careful, always respectful, always holding back.

But not anymore.

Everyone crossed my boundaries and walked away untouched. I had been insulted, abused, mocked—and no one ever paid for it. So why was I the one still following rules that never protected me?

If the moon goddess decided to mate me to alphas… then I would take it. I would own it.

I was the cursed mate of alphas.
And now, I would take pride in it.

“Take my clothes off,” I said, my voice steadier now, “and I’ll show you the new Ilyana.”

Shock flickered across his face before something darker took over, his expression sharpening, turning dangerous. His gaze dragged over me, filled with pure, unfiltered need.

My wolf howled inside me, restless, desperate for him.

I watched his throat move as he swallowed.

“Ilyana…” His voice dropped, rough and low, his hand sliding along my jaw.

I could smell him—feel the tension, the pull, the heat.

“Take it off,” I whispered, my voice softer now, but heavier, “and let me show you.”

His eyes burned into mine, silent for a moment—

Then he moved.

His lips crashed against mine, hard and sudden, and everything inside me snapped loose at once.