Chapter 6 You will learn to submit
Rue tried to keep up with Thane's long strides as he pulled her along with him, yet her injured ankle prevented her, making her stumble.
He took her through several dim passages with lit torches which barely illuminated the way. It didn't even look like it was daylight.
Unable to bear the pain in her foot anymore, she spoke out. "Where are you taking me?"
Thane ignored her and descended down a long flight of stairs, pulling her roughly.
"You're hurting me. Let go!" She yelled again, and suddenly, he paused and turned around.
His hand shot out and wrapped around her throat, the second time that morning.
"Don't make me cut out your tongue, she-wolf." He snarled. "Your defiance is beginning to get on my nerves."
"You can't just treat me however you want and expect me to be silent." Rue shot back, straining to speak through the tight grip around her throat.
"You will learn to submit to me." Thane snapped. "If I have to whip you into submission, I'll do it. A concubine is expected to give respect and be silent!"
Rue glared back at him in confusion. "Concubine? What do you mean concubine? I'm not your concubine."
Thane arched a brow, and a strange gleam flashed across his ruby eyes. He released her throat and grabbed her arm.
"I'm going to say this once, so you better listen well. Your pack's Alpha could have chosen to kill you. A worthless omega has no purpose in the pack, and their fate is death. Yet he chose to sell you off..."
Rue felt her ears ring at his words. Worthless omega? Was that what Helsing told him? That she was an omega?
"As for you, you will join the women in my harem." Thane went on, his voice devoid of emotion. "You will obey without complaint. Submit without being defiant. The moment you show the slightest sign of rebellion, consider yourself dead. Do you understand me, she-wolf?"
Rue was speechless. She couldn't believe how suddenly her life had changed. From a powerful Alpha princess to a lowly slave, a concubine to the Lycan King.
"Fucking answer me!" Thane snarled furiously. "Do you understand?"
She looked away and lowered her eyes. "I understand."
He suddenly grabbed her jaw and lifted her head. "You address me as Alpha."
Rue gulped, swallowing the snarky remark that bubbled up her throat. If she wanted to remain alive in this strange Lycan kingdom, she had to obey. She had to do the one thing she hated–submitting.
"Yes, Alpha. I understand." She murmured.
Thane released her and continued down the stairs, but this time, he was gentle.
Rue followed silently, making up her mind. She would rather die than be his sex slave. It would be over her dead body.
As for Thane, his thoughts were erratic. He had never been so furious, and at the same time, intrigued by a woman, let alone a wolfless one. A common omega.
Rue intrigued him. With the few minutes he spent with her, back in the forest and a while ago, her sharp tongue and sassy attitude appealed to him in ways he couldn't understand.
Omegas weren't that bold. None of the women in his harem dared to raise their heads whenever they were in his presence. None of them dared to talk back at him, or show defiance.
Yet Rue had done just that, and instead of anger, his beast had been excited by it. It was that excitement that made him furious.
He hadn't forgotten about the strange light that emerged when they touched. He didn't want to read too much into it because no matter what, he would stop history from repeating itself.
He finally reached the end of the stairs and stopped before a door. But he didn't speak. His eyes fogged as he communicated with the mind link, and from behind the door, footsteps approached.
The door opened and a middle-aged woman stepped out. Her dark hair had grey edges, and tiny wrinkles curled around her eyelids.
"Alpha Thane." She greeted and curtseyed deeply. Then she raised her head, staring questioningly at Rue. "Is she...?"
"Take her." Thane said curtly, shoving Rue forward. "Tidy her up and send her to the harem."
"Yes, Alpha." The woman pulled Rue beside her and nodded. "Will I be sending her to your chambers tonight?"
"When I need her, I will send for her." Thane replied and started to turn away.
At that moment, his gaze met Rue's and time seemed to stop for a split second. A sort of connection passed through them and the air became charged with something feral and wild.
Then he turned away and stormed off.
Rue's eyes followed him until he disappeared up the stairs. She didn't know how long she stared longingly after him until the woman stepped before her and snapped her fingers.
"Do not stare so boldly at the Alpha. It is considered treachery and you could be punished for it."
"Punished for looking." Rue asked incredulously, turning her head away and wondering why she felt such a strong pull towards Thane. She should hate him.
"Yes." The woman nodded. "When in his presence, you keep your eyes averted."
She took Rue's hand and pulled her into the room before shutting the door.
"I'm Yolanda, keeper of the Alpha's consorts."
Rue snorted. "Consort? Is that what it's called now? A fancier name instead of sex slaves?"
Yolanda's expression changed instantly. She stepped forward, her tall frame towering over Rue's petite figure.
"You're one of the rebellious ones, aren't you?" She questioned rhetorically. "Many of the other girls in the harem were once like you. Sassy, smart tongued, defiant. But they were all broken down by the Alpha's wrath."
She slowly lifted her hand and stroked Rue's blonde curls. "One of them was an Alpha's daughter." She continued. "She bowed to no one, not even the Alpha. She claimed she could never be reduced to a concubine. Do you know what Alpha Thane did to her?"
Rue swallowed, a bit frightened at the strange gleam in Yolanda's eyes.
"What?"
"He killed her. Ripped her heart out without flinching. No one defies the Lycan King and lives to tell the tale. You're just an omega with no wolf. Alpha Thane will crush you with a single glance. So if I were you, I'd respect myself and learn how to submit."
She released Rue and stepped away, and her cheerful expression returned. "What's your name?"
"Rue."
"Do you understand what I just told you, Rue?"
Rue nodded slowly. "I understand."
Yolanda nodded once. "Good. Now come with me. You need a bath, and some food. Then I will take you to the harem."
Rue silently followed her, limping along. She appeared calm outwardly, yet her mind was racing within.
She could never let anyone find out she was an Alpha's daughter. If she valued her life, she would keep up with this pretense of being an omega.
When the time came, she would escape. She would leave this hell hole and the dangerous pull she was starting to feel towards Alpha Thane.