Emily was perplexed by the sudden pause in the conversation.

Lilac appeared to be in a bad mood because her cheerful and upbeat demeanor had utterly vanished.

And the only difference between Dillon and Millie is that Dillon is standing up straight as he always does, whereas Millie, who was previously calm and easygoing, has adopted more professionalism, standing as if she is waiting for a command.

Then Emily became aware of approaching footsteps. She pulled the blanket with her trembling hands, and for the first time, she was able to accomplish what her mind desired. She was slowly pulling it up when the door opened.

A tall man walked inside. He has fair skin and jet-black hair and towered over everyone. His jawline was defined and emphasized the masculine characteristics he possessed. She had never seen a man move quite like him, gracefully but with an unforgiving glint hidden behind his piercing blue eyes.

Even though he was across the room, the aura surrounding him demonstrated the immense power he possessed, and she was frightened of what she saw.

She had come into contact with dangerous men. Throughout her life, her stepbrother Cole and even her father have shown her distress... However, neither of them possessed the same level of intimidation as this man.

He shifted his gaze to her.

The way his blue eyes seemed to pierce into her very soul was something she couldn't help but notice.

She was startled when she felt a banging in her chest and she could hear the booming rhythm of her heart.

'How could someone be both dangerous and attractive at the same time?' she thought.

What was it about him that made her feel drawn to him?

The three with her earlier were all looking down at the ground with their necks turned slightly towards him, which is a common sign of submission among wolves.

In her experience, wolves only acted in this manner on one occasion, and that was when they were in front of their Alpha.

When the realization dawned on Emily, she felt a pang of fear.

How could she be unaware?

He must be the Alpha of Blue Moon!

… And this was confirmed when Dillon called him. "Alpha!" and greeted the man with respect.

It takes only a simple nod from the enormously attractive man to acknowledge Dillon, an aura of authority emanating from him that was far greater than Dillon's own.

He turned to face Millie, who had already pulled out her report.

"Alpha, Miss Emily remains quite frail, but she should improve significantly within a month with adequate treatment," she explained.

Emily frowned. 'Am I that weak? But I'm just fine when Dillon fetches me. I have bruises, but I get used to it,' she wondered.

However, she realizes Millie was right; remembering what she did earlier, her hands couldn't perform correctly.

The Alpha's expression remained unchanged when he learned the news from Millie. But he moved, and he's heading in her direction.

Emily was utterly taken aback. She had never encountered a wolf as exquisite and quick as this one. He moved so swiftly as lightning struck on the land. The next thing she knew, he was already standing at her bedside.

She was surrounded by the faint scent of a musky odor. The earthy aroma reminded her of being in the forest on a rainy day, and it took the place of the sterile chemical smell that pervaded the room. It was chilly, but it had a kaleidoscopic quality to it—defining him.

Emily couldn't stop herself from lowering her head.

The man’s black leather shoes had come to a halt right next to her bed, with the toe of the shoe pointing in her direction, which she had noticed through the gap in her hair.

She could feel his eyes piercing at her.

"Look at me." His voice was deep and resounded in her ears, sending shivers on her spines and tingling up to her head.

Suddenly, the icy reflection of his silver cufflinks came into her field of vision. By this time, his hand had already reached out toward her face. His fingers were lengthy and robust, drawn in a perfect size and shape.

Emily grits her teeth when she doesn't like the thoughts that are running through her head.

His warm fingers pressed hard on her chin, forcing her head up.

Indeed, the Alpha of Blue Moon was not a patient man.

Emily's face was flushing, and she was thankful her long, loose hair still covered her face.

"Don't ever make me repeat what I have said."

Emily had no choice. She then looked at him. When she met his gaze, she felt pushed into hell.

The ward's cold white light cast a soft glow around him and viewed him like a king, a royally handsome one.

A crease ran between his sculpted, jet-black brows. He frowned as if he despised this world.

His piercing blue eyes locked on hers as he bent down.

She trembled, wondering if he'd swoop down and seize her, either take her up into the dark forest or throw her down the ridge mountains. She forgot how to breathe in his hands.

The disturbing rhythm of her heart was the only sound she could hear.

She caught a glimpse of his right arm moving. Her body quivered, and she winced, expecting a slap on the face, as her father would have done before, but she ceased because she remembered his warning not to close her eyes.

She wouldn't rebel. She then barely kept her eyes open.

Seconds passed, but she didn't feel a heavy slap on her cheek. Instead, he reached up and brushed her hair away.

Her hair brushed against her cheeks, and she could smell his musky odor again, engulfing her in a nest of softness and comfort.

He scanned her face with his piercing blue orbs as if remembering every feature.

Those blue eyes were like high waves in the sea, ready to take and end lives at any time. She noticed how evident and magnificent his eyes were when he stared at her intently.

His gaze absorbed her. Suddenly, her depression and uncertainty dimmed, leaving only his pure and wonderful color in his eyes.

However, Emily saw her reflection in them. She was a defenseless girl sitting on a hospital bed, forced to look up at her new master.

She felt like crying, but she knew nothing would happen if she chose to.

Suddenly, she had to stifle a soft howl as his skin touched hers again. She had never felt this before—this foreign feeling.

Then, as if certain, he let go of her face, stepped back, and turned around.

He was a few steps away from her when she realized that she needed to know something.

"Hey!"

Emily was aware of her action. Calling out for the powerful Alpha just like that may lead to a punishment. However, she’s the girl who was used to it.

She needs to find something. She has to know something, and she will only get those answers from their Alpha.

There's no way that her father would trade her just like that. She understands about the money but there has to be a deeper reason. And she knows her role is to be her new master’s slave. She would serve him until he said so. But for how long?

“I-I’m sorry…” she whispered.

“A-Alpha.” It’s a little bit hard for her to say that title. Knowing the fact that she’s facing the most powerful and ruthless Alpha of all.

“As your new slave. I… I will do my best to serve you. Just let me go once you don’t need my service anymore.”

Emily did her best to catch his attention. However, he remained immobile. She couldn’t see his reaction because he never turned back. All she could see was his broad back.

She was on her knees in the hospital bed, willing to rush after him if necessary, demonstrating her fear of him.

It was an immense comfort when he turned around and raised an eyebrow at her. He appeared to be thinking about what she had said. She also doesn’t have to look around to see what everyone else is thinking. They may believe she is losing her mind, which is OK with her.

She’s too desperate to have answers and clarifications.

“A slave?” He pierced his eyes on her when he said that. In a swift move, he’s already near her, sitting on the side of the bed.

She unknowingly moved closer to him due to the sheer indentation left by his weight on the bed. Her body trembled in eagerness and anxiety as she came closer to him because of the proximity of his body.

Emily felt strange because, at this moment, she wanted to be closer to him. Her heart was thumping so fast, making her breathe rapidly.

Despair, interest, confusion, and yearning lingers inside her. And these emotions mingled and distorted her perception of the situation.

“Are you kidding me, woman?”

His deep, stern voice evaded Emily, making her tremble in fear.

“Who says I need a slave?” this time, his voice is gentle. Regardless of how delicate it may have appeared, her instincts told her he was not pleased.

Emily was baffled. She didn’t know what was going on. But seeing the Alpha’s reaction, it seems like she’s the only one who doesn’t see a thing.

‘Did my father hide something from me?’

All she knew was that his father loathes her and that he even traded her for money. She was their slave, so this could be the only reason why she’s here. Or she might be mistaken?

“Guess your father doesn’t even enlighten you about it?” He reached for her hair, covering half of her face, and brushed them off to the side.

Emily’s eyes widened; her heart thumped fast—it seemed like an electrifying shot jolted inside her the moment get contact with her.

He locked his gaze on her and said, “To clear things, your stay here is to carry a child of mine.”

“P-Pardon?”

Emily heard it clearly, before their distance together. However, she has to make sure. But her mind screams she doesn’t need to listen to it once again. It was clear enough that she had a new role.

A new role that she doesn’t expect.

Why?

Of all people, why does it has to be her?

To a girl like her—an Alpha daughter will only carry a child? Like every princess wanting a prince charming, Emily also wanted to bear a child only if she met her mate.

But for a person she doesn’t love nor is destined to be hers, claim her and make her carry his child? That would be a nightmare.

“N-No,” she gritted her teeth as she stared at the Alpha’s blue eyes, “I can’t be your breeder. There’s no way I will be your breeder!” she yelled.

The Alpha was unmoved, and his gaze grew colder. At that moment, he narrowed his eyes, expressing his displeasure.

She knew his mighty hand could easily sever her throat and kill her.

Every fiber of her knew that the best course of action would be to quit talking and pull back from this dangerous man, but she felt compelled to act—anything to keep her morals intact.

“I… I’m an alpha daughter, and mating is important to me. But will only give it all to my destiny. So, please…” she said, more of a beg. Even if Emily was sick of begging, she still tried it at this moment.

The blinding white light in the ward had been chilly and glaringly vibrant.

Emily roamed her gaze around the room, heart thumping rapidly, and saw that they were all standing there, not exerting any noise, afraid that he would slit their throat, watching her.

Despite the kindness they showed to her, they only took orders from their Alpha. They serve him with loyalty.

She has no one who will save her but herself. She couldn’t stay here any longer. She needs to get out!

‘You can do this, Emily,’ she thought as she took a deep breath and tried to move her body. She got off the bed, and the familiar coldness from the floor filled her feet.

She tried to run, but she just slumped on the cold floor.

The guards standing on the sides of the room stepped in and dragged her back to the bed.

Emily couldn’t let out a scream. She was sick of it. She didn’t speak for a moment and let them do their thing.

Her body is weak, and she cursed herself for making that reckless move.

‘What have they done to me?’ she thought.

Yesterday, she managed to step out of their packhouse, but when she woke up, she was lying in a hospital bed and couldn’t even move adequately.

Seeing Emily’s state, Lilac couldn’t help but walk closer to her amidst the cold gaze of their Alpha.

Lilac sat beside Emily and held her on her shoulder. She nodded as if she was calming her down. Afterward, she turned to face their Alpha, who was still sitting on the other side of the bed.

“You’ve seen her state, Alpha. She is currently unable to breed due to her long-term abuse.” Lilac drew a glance away from the Alpha, her bright eyes lowering. She turned to the doctor for help.

Millie sighed, looking at Lilac. “Alpha, please excuse me. I’m still waiting on some tests,” she lowered her voice, “However, from what I can see, Miss Emily is famished, exhausted, and abused severely. Some of the internal wounds appear worn. So please give me time to get her healthy. I’d hate to see her or the child suffer if she doesn’t fully heal.”

Lilac and Millie continue to defend Emily.

Emily was still confused and pain lingered inside her, physically and emotionally. Millie’s words are all true. However, she won’t let herself get even weaker. She needs to be strong. She’s an Alpha daughter, after all.

Maybe this was the moon goddess destined her to be. In that case, she will slowly accept it.

However, she had doubts about what she could do. A breeder? How can she possibly carry a child from the man she doesn’t love or her mate?

Emily couldn’t take herself to their conversations anymore, but she still heard their chattering when suddenly, she heard Dillon’s voice, silencing his sister.

Dillon’s derisive snort jolted Emily back to reality.

Emily looked up, and she saw how the Alpha furrowed his brows. She couldn’t help but question his devoid of emotion earlier.

His face was flushed with rage.

The atmosphere in the room had become tense like a storm was approaching.

Dillon’s rebuke was to protect his sister from Drake’s punishment.

“Alpha…” Emily whispered as sweet as chocolates, which led the ambiance into deafening silence. And she wasn’t expecting that she could draw his attention away from Lilac and Talon.

Now, he’s looking at her. His silence was terrifying, and the cold light in his eyes made her shiver.

At this moment, Emily knew that she would never escape, and she needed to be strong. Besides, she had already lost everything.

“I will stay and do whatever it takes. However, let me know the years of my stay and the money he makes by trading me,” she asked courageously. But her words do not point to being a breeder. It’s about her being a slave.

Alpha Drake just gazed at her, his eyes like a beam of light seeing right through her.

She blinked her eyes and felt a little bit dizzy. She saw how he arched his brows. His handsome appearance drew her in even in the terrible moment. Her heart jumped. But, of course, the Alpha was unaware of her feelings.

The Alpha just glanced at Dillon. “Tell her,” he commanded.

Dillon fixed his gaze on Emily. “I’m afraid your point will not going to happen, Miss Emily. Alpha Drake just saved your pack.”

Emily’s brows frowned. “W-What do you mean?”

“Your father has a large debt, and our Alpha gave him money, and it was your father’s will to give you. If your father can’t pay the person with whom he got a debt, your pack will be at stake. And Alpha Drake doesn’t need a slave.”

After Dillon was done, Alpha Drake stood up from her bed.

“Emily,” the way her name rolled off his lips sent shivers down her spine. He looked down and fixed his cuffs, “you have no choice. Not unless you want your pack to be gone for good,” he added. After that, he turned his back away from her and walked towards the door.

Emily spoke before he could step out of the room. “What will happen after the baby is born?”

Drake halted but never turned to face her. “Then, you’ll be set free. I will give you two weeks to prepare. Get healed.”

Set free?

A well-known ruthless Alpha king like him will set her free?

Emily has doubts about it. She can’t trust anyone even if she finds him attractive.

“Look after her, Lilac. I’ll follow him,” Dillon said before he exited the room.

When he left, the thick atmosphere loosened, and she could only see the bright smiles of Lilac and Millie.

“We will do our best to help you,” Lilac stated. “At the same time, you have to cooperate with us, okay?” she flashed a smile at Emily.

She pressed Emily’s hand and said, “you don’t have to be afraid. We’re not what you believe we are. Rumors about the Alpha might be true. However, you knew rumors will not always tell the exact truth,” she added.

Emily nodded.

“Alright, please get some food, Lilac for her, and I will run some tests on the lab,” Millie said.

Emily thought she couldn’t flash a smile after the encounter with their Alpha, but the two women with her kept the vibe back, and she somehow felt relaxed.

“T-Thank you,” her voice was gentle yet unlively.

Lilac and Millie looked at each other before meeting Emily’s gaze. “Our pleasure, Miss Emily.”

Emily shook her head. “You can call me Emily. After all, I am just a tool here.”

“Tool?!” Lilac and Millie said in unison.

“What made you think that you’re just a tool?! And what kind of tool?!” Lilac’s voice filled with a shade of anger and confusion.

Emily pressed her lips together and looked down. Silence filled in when suddenly she saw how a tear fell on her hand. She wiped it away and looked up at them again as Lilac was already standing up beside Millie.

“I will just be his bearer. A breeder. I will carry his child, and who knows what will happen to me once I delivered the baby? Knowing how ruthless he was… do you think he will really set me free?”

Emily saw how confusion lit Lilac’s eyes, and to Millie, she saw pity.

She let out a soft chuckle. “Don’t mind me. Don’t worry; I will not be a burden to the two of you, so as to Beta Dillon. I will do my best to cooperate and hope for a better result,” she assured.

-

AS the second in command, Dillon knew that Drake didn’t go with the plan. He was confused by what Drake said to Emily earlier.

Before he became the Beta, Dillon was Drake’s best friend. He pledged loyalty to him.

Dillon constantly witnesses what his Alpha has been through, and he is surprised by him, showing a slight emotion in front of a stranger.

He moved swifter to catch up with Drake, but the Alpha dashed swiftly towards the royal packhouse.

Dillon pushed the double doors and saw Drake walking up the stairs and stopped when he saw him.

Drake’s face was devoid of emotion, and in a blink of an eye, he swirled into the wind, and Dillon saw how his office door closed.

Dillon heaved a deep sigh and rushed towards Drake’s office.

“State your business, Beta,” Alpha Drake said, without darting a glance at Dillon soon as he stepped in.

“Alpha—”

“If you’re here to ask about my words, you already know the answer, Beta,” he said, wearing her cold voice. “The plan stays the same. Setting her free doesn’t mean not killing her.”

Dillon wasn’t really pointing out the Alpha’s plan to Emily. Yes, he needs clarification, but he could feel that something is bothering the Alpha.

“We’ve known each—”

“Focus on work, Dillon. I’m not acknowledging informality here. Go out and train recruits. Prepare our warriors for the battle,” he commanded. Still, his eyes were fixed on the newspaper that he was holding.

Dillon heaved a sigh. Guess he was mistaken about his sudden reaction earlier.

Drake will still be Drake. A ruthless alpha king.

Dillon exited the room and got back to the hospital on the other side of the royal packhouse to check for Emily once more before he ran errands at the training grounds and to the border.

-

“EMILY, don’t even think that Drake will kill you after you bear his child,” Lilac started while peeling some oranges.

“You don’t know. And he’s an alpha—not just an alpha but known as the most powerful of all.”

Lilac laughed and handed over the plate to her.

“Even the most powerful has its weakness. He must not have it right now, but who knows?” Lilac said, which led to Emily being confused.

“Drake, Dillon, and I were friends before he became our king. We supported him always. But if he will decide to kill you,” Lilac paused for a moment and met Emily’s eyes, “I don’t know if I let him do it.”

Emily smiled. “Don’t bother helping useless women like me. Don’t worry. I am used to being thrown out just like what my pack did.”

Lilac could feel Emily’s pain, making her hold her hand. “You have to learn how to fight for your right—” she didn’t finish her words when Dillon went in.

“What are you doing again, Lilac?” he asked as he walked towards Emily’s bed.

Lilac arched her brow. “Doing what? Can’t you see? I am helping her—”

“I heard you. If the Alpha hears about it—”

“What? He’ll kill me?”

“Lilac!” Dillon’s raging voice echoed in the four corners of the room. “How often do I have to remind you to stop defying orders.”

Lilac stood up and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I am not doing anything. Can’t you just leave us? Emily needs to take a rest.”

“And you think she’ll get one if you’re here?”

“Just get out, Dillon,” Lilac said, her voice seeming tired.

Emily bit her lower lip and looked up, meeting Dillon’s gaze. “I’m fine. And Lilac is a big help. I… I didn’t want to be alone, so I asked her to stay. I’m sorry.”

Dillon’s eyes brightened in sympathy. He then nodded. “If it’s your command then, I’ll depart—”

“Stop being formal, Dillon. It doesn’t suit you,” Lilac interrupted her brother, making Dillon shake his head.

“I’ll get going then,” he said and left.

Emily couldn’t feel but to get amazed.

“You don’t have to be rude to your brother,” she said, making Lilac arch her brow.

“And please don’t get intimidated by those males. We’re females and mostly the ones who are submitting ourselves to males, but hell, never! I won’t follow those rules. I am for who I am. So, I hope this enlightens you.”

Emily sighed. “I don’t know. Alpha Drake is…”

“Different?”

Emily bit her lower lip and nodded.

“Of course, he’s different. A ruthless king who’s hungry by blood and war, but I know there will be a time that his heart will soften, and if that will happen, I will really tease him to the bones and let him regret all what he—”

“You like him?”

Lilac’s eyes widened as she met Emily’s gaze. “Hell, No!”