Chapter 18 You've been warned

Chapter 18 You've been warned
Rue tensed up suddenly. She started to stand up when Thane grabbed her arm and pulled her down.

"Sit." His voice came out calm, but there was an underlying hint of annoyance, like someone on the verge of exploding.

She remained seated, focusing her entire attention on her plate while Thane wiped his mouth with a napkin and turned on Katherine.

"Did I send for you?" He asked. His voice had gone hard, completely cold with no trace of warmth.

Katherine stuttered under the coldness of his gaze. "I... I always have breakfast with you, Alpha..."

"Did I send for you?" Thane repeated, this time louder.

Katherine's hands curled into fists as she lowered her head. "No, Alpha."

"What have I told you about barging in like that?"

Katherine scratched the back of her head as she thought of the best way to answer.

"You said you didn't like it." She said finally.

Thane nodded once. "Good." Then his eyes fogged as he used the mind link.

\[Henry, get in here.\]

\[Yes, Alpha.\] Henry's response came instantly, almost like he had been waiting.

Seconds later, he walked into the dining area with two guards behind him. The moment Katherine saw him, she instantly knew what was coming.

"Henry, take Katherine to the dungeons." Thane muttered. "Keep her there for a week. You know how to punish her."

Henry sneered as he turned to Katherine.

"As you wish, Alpha." He said, then snapped his fingers.

Immediately, the two guards grabbed her and dragged her away. She didn't bother begging. She knew Thane hated it.

After she was gone, the silence that followed felt awkward to Rue. As much as she hated Katherine, she didn't want her to be tortured.

"You didn't have to do that." She ventured out softly.

Thane took his time chewing and swallowing before he answered her.

"Do what?"

"Punish her." Rue said. "I know your guards are going to torture her. You don't have to do that because of me."

"I didn't do it because of you." Thane replied shortly. "She knew the rules, yet she deliberately broke them. The same fate will befall you if you continue to defy me."

He said it so casually, like he was discussing the weather with her.

Rue didn't know how to respond, so she remained silent. Her appetite was gone. She just had to force herself to continue eating.

Beside her, Thane watched her silently. He noticed how she chewed with her mouth completely closed, and it amused him.

His gaze lowered down her body, past her slender shoulders to her waist, to the gentle curve of her spine and hips.

She was breathtaking, he admitted to himself. But if he wanted to bed her like he planned, he needed her to stop fighting him. He needed her to loosen up.

"Last night," he began. "I didn't mean to lock you in that cage. You crossed a line."

Rue lowered her fork and straightened as he began to talk.

"I know you've heard rumours about me." He continued. "And while some of them are true, a few are merely lies. When I bought you, I didn't intend for you to be a slave, so don't make me treat you like one."

Rue swallowed and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry." She murmured.

"What are you sorry for?"

She shot him a quick glance and looked away. She had already made up her mind on what to do. Pretend to submit to him so she would be off his radar.

"For disrespecting you." She said finally. "I never meant to, but you gave me no choice. You were cruel to me. You hurt me."

"I was only cruel because you were blatantly disrespectful." Thane murmured. "But now that you apologized, all is forgiven. We can start on a new page, can't we?"

Rue nodded slowly. "Yes, we can. And thank you again, for the lovely breakfast and the dress."

Thane flashed her a charming smile and her gaze caught the dimple in the corner of his cheek.

She looked away quickly to hide the blush staining her cheeks. Why did he look so goddamn handsome? As much as she didn't like him, she couldn't deny the fact that Thane looked like he was sculpted by gods.

Breakfast went smoothly, and it was more than she expected. She even enjoyed it, if she would let herself admit it.

"Walk with me, Rue." He said, rising up slowly. "I want to know more about you."

Feeling cornered, Rue nodded and rose. A soft gasp escaped her when he suddenly took her hand and held it in his.

She followed beside him, her heart beating wildly. Fortunately, he didn't take the path that would lead them into the busy part of Eryndor.

He took another one, and it led into the courtyard behind the castle. He didn't release her hand though, much to her surprise.

"Tell me something, Rue." He began. "Are all omegas in your pack treated like royalty?"

Rue frowned and looked up at him. "I don't understand."

"The night I came for you, the dress you wore was made from the finest silk. I know this, because it is the same silk you're wearing now."

Rue looked down at her gown, then back at him, wondering where he was going with this.

"That silk is only worn by the wealthy." Thane continued. "Maybe the Luna of an Alpha, or the daughter of an Alpha. Certainly not by an omega who is the lowest member of the pack, and who was sold to me."

Rue finally understood what he was asking, and she racked her brain for an answer.

"I, uh..." She stuttered badly. "I used to be friends with the princess of the pack. She gave me the dress, and since it was a celebration night, I decided to wear it."

"Is that so?" Thane murmured. "Why didn't the princess stop you from getting sold?"

"We're not friends anymore." Rue blurted before she could stop herself. "I guess she realized I wasn't in her status."

It felt weird to lie, but she had to.

"Well, that's unfortunate." Thane said. "You mentioned your surname was Lowell, which is the same as the Alpha family name. Maybe she felt threatened."

"Yeah. Maybe." Rue agreed, while she prayed fervently in her heart that he wouldn't suspect a thing. The coincidences were too much.

He turned into the garden and finally released her hand. She watched him lean down and pluck out a rose.

He broke off the thorny stem and to her surprise, tucked the petal into her blonde curls.

"Thank you." She said softly.

"I want you to understand something, Rue." He said. "I asked you to join me for breakfast to compensate for how I treated you badly. Don't read meaning into it."

She looked up sharply at him. "What?"

"Also, the strange thing that occurred when we touched," he went on, referring to the golden threat of light. "Don't mention it to anyone. Ever. You've been warned."

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving her staring after him in confusion.