“Alpha!” Talon greeted the man with respect.

The giant, gorgeous man acknowledged him with a simple nod, an aura radiating off of him that reeked of authority.

He looked towards Estrella, who immediately pulled out her report. “Alpha, Miss Rosasile is still quite weak, but with proper care, she should be much better in two weeks.”

His expression didn’t change, but he moved as she spoke.

He was coming towards me!

I had never seen such movement—graceful and swift, faster than any wolf I had ever encountered.

So fast that, in the blink of an eye, he was at my bedside.

The faint scent of musk surrounded me. The earthly aroma reminded me of the forest on a rainy day, and it replaced the smell of sterile chemicals in the ward. It was cold but almost psychedelic, just like him.

I couldn’t help but lower my head. Through the gap in my hair, I saw his black leather shoes stop right next to my bed, with the toe of the shoe aimed in my direction.

He had to be staring at me! I didn’t need to see to know that.

“Look up,” he commanded.

His voice was deep, very deep. It struck me and sent shivers through my whole body. Pausing for a moment, I put myself together.

The cold reflection from his metal cufflinks came into my view. His hand had already stretched toward my face. His fingers were long, neither bulky nor too slim—just perfect, and full of power.

What was I thinking? Rosalie, stop focusing on the wrong things!

Within a second, his hand clamped down on my chin, his fingers strong and hot, pressing hard—forcing my head up.

He was clearly not a patient man.

I could feel my face flush, and I was grateful that my long, loose hair was still half covering my face.

“Look at me,” he commanded again.

With slight hesitation, I lifted my eyes to look at him.

I didn’t dare refuse—no one dared to disobey his order.

The cold white light of the ward cast a soft glow around him, and I couldn’t help but think that he looked like a prince—royal and handsome.

There was a crease in between his well-defined, jet-black eyebrows. He was frowning, as if he was full of loathing for this world.

As he bent down, his piercing blue eyes locked onto me, like a falcon honing in on its prey. I was that prey, trembling, wondering whether the next second he would just swoop down and seize me, either take me straight up into the cloudy sky or throw me down on the craggy cliffs.

Trembling within his hands, I forgot how to breathe. The only sound I could hear was a rumbling caused by my blood rushing to my eardrums.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw his right arm moved. Almost instinctively, my body tensed and I half-flinched—I was expecting a slap to land on my face, as that was what my father would have done—but I stopped myself, because I still remembered his order to not close my eyes.

I wouldn’t disobey him. I just barely managed to keep my eyes open.

However, the slap never came.

Instead, his hand reached up brushing the hair away from my face. My hair tickled my cheeks, and I smelt the gentle scent of his musk again enveloping me like a cocoon.

I watched as his piercing blue orbs scanned over my own, as if he was memorizing every detail of my face.

When facing oppressive aura, those blue eyes had been like an angry sea, ready to devour lives at any time. But now, when he looked at me closely, the waves of anger faded, and

only then did I realize what a clear and beautiful pair of eyes he had.

I was lost in his gaze. All the fear and anxiety faded away—only the pure blue in his eyes was real.

It reminded me of the clear sky I had seen when I was all the way up on my swing in my backyard. I was seven at that time, and my mother’s laughter and my father’s non-deterrent reproaches rang out in the background. I remembered the scent of grass tinged with soil after the morning dew…

It was all gone. Long gone.

When I gazed into his eyes though… I saw my own reflection—a helpless girl, sitting on a hospital bed, wearing a white dress that was gifted by her mother as a symbol of happiness, being forced to look up at her new master who had bought her from her father.

I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t.

As his skin touched my own once again, I had to suppress the moan that wanted to escape from me. Never had I felt this feeling inside me.

Then, as if he was sure of something, he let go of my face, and took a step back before turning around and walking away.

As he pulled back, the scent of his musk left me and pulled me back from the memories I had been reliving.

“Alpha!”

This might be my only chance to ask him… Rosalie, I told myself, you have to ask him!

I gathered all my courage and asked the question that might cost me my life.

“Alpha, would you let me go once I work enough to pay back the money you gave my father?” I quickly stammered out. “I’ll work really hard as your maid, or any tasks you assign me… I can…”

I was so anxious that I was on my knees in the hospital bed, willing to chase after him out the door if I had too.

Thank goodness, though, he stopped and turned around, raising his eyebrow. He seemed to be processing what I said.

I didn’t need to look around to know that everyone was watching me like I lost my mind.

“Maid?” He repeated to himself.

He stared at me for a moment before crossing back. I felt the air shift between us before he sat down beside me.

The indention from his weight on the mattress made me unintentionally slide slightly closer to him, and the closeness of his body made my body tremble… in fear and desire.

It was so strange—as the distance between us shortened, I wanted to be closer to him.

I wanted him to stay!

My heart was racing, and my breath was coming faster. Fear, attraction, uncertainty, desire… All these emotions mixed together clouded my mind.

“Didn’t your father tell you?” he whispered. His voice was soothing, almost gentle.

However, gentle it might have sounded, though… my instinct told me that he wasn’t pleased.

“Tell me what?” I asked hesitantly, not sure if I wanted to hear what he was going to say.

There was a feeling deep in my gut telling me that something was wrong.

Little did I know that what he would say next would take my last hope and dream away.

“The only job you have here is to bear a child,” he replied.

I found both my body and my emotions freezing over.

He stared at me, his fingers brushing the hair off of my cheeks again, exposing my entire face to him.

“You will be a breeder… my breeder.”

Breeder. The word rolled through my mind, and I tried to comprehend it.

Now I understood his gaze – the one that seemed to want to remember all the details of me. It wasn’t out of desire or interest.

He was examining the goods he had just bought.

My father lied to me. I wasn’t sold as a maid. How naive I was to believe what he said?

A BREEDER!

What does being a breeder even mean? Carrying a child…? No… no…

No matter how difficult my life had become, no matter how desperate I was, I had always still prayed that one day I could find my mate. Someone would take me away, save me, and love me. This was my only and my last hope in this life.

And they took it away.

Why did they have to be so cruel to me?

“No.. please,” I begged, not sure of what else to say or do. “I can work hard. I will pay back all the money you gave him. Just, please… Anything but a breeder.”

The man sat there quietly, watching me. He didn’t say a word, but his gaze grew colder.

The narrowing of his eyes in that moment showed that he did not appreciate my outburst. I knew without a doubt that the powerful hand he had could clamp around my throat and kill me easily..

Every part of me knew the wise thing to do was to stop talking and back away from this dangerous creature, but I just had to do something. Anything to save my virtue.

“I just… I can’t… I have to save myself for my mate. Please…” I begged him.

I would work off any debt he wanted me to pay, but I couldn’t sell my body to him. It was sacred. It was the last hope I had after getting out of here.

The white light in the ward seemed to be blindingly bright and cold. I looked around the room with my heart racing; they were all standing there so quietly watching me.

No one seemed to hear my begging. No one moved or said anything.

How could I forget—these were not gentle souls around me. They were heartless Drogomors, and the only one they were loyal to was their Alpha.

Fear ran through me, and panic set in.

I couldn’t stay here. I had to get out, now!

Quickly I tried to move myself off the bed, my feet hitting the floor. I tried to run, but guards quickly grabbed hold of me, and a scream ripped through my throat I hadn’t heard in a long time.

“Noooo! Let me go!!”

The weak state I was in didn’t help me to escape. I was barely strong enough to stand, and because of that, my legs buckled beneath me, and I collapsed to the floor.

I couldn’t even save myself!

I couldn’t stop my tears that fell as I looked around the room, aimlessly hoping to find someone that would help me, even though I knew it was impossible.

A hand landed on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Vicky had walked up to me silently.

She tried to help me to stand up, but her eyes were looking ahead in the direction where the Alpha was.

She whispered, “She needs time, Alpha. She has already suffered too much today—any more stimulation will lead to a mental breakdown. Besides, you’ve seen her condition. Due to her long-term abuse, she physically can’t bear the burden of being a breeder right this moment…”

She did not dare to look at the alpha too long, her bright eyes lowered for a moment. She turned to the doctor as if she was seeking support.

Estrella sighed as she exchanged a look with Vicky. She stated professionally, “Alpha, please allow me to interrupt. There are still some tests I am waiting to come back….”

She lowered her voice even more, her eyes casting a glance towards me briefly as she spoke.

“However, from what I can see right now, Miss Rosalie is malnourished, sleep deprived, and suffering from extensive abuse.

Some of the internal wounds look old and repetitive. Therefore, please allow me some time to get her healthy enough to conceive.”

I widened my eyes. Conceive…

“Yeah, the bruises are everywhere….” Vicky added.

“In my professional opinion, Alpha… I believe Miss Rosalie needs some time to heal from her wounds. I would hate to see something happen to her or the child if she doesn’t heal properly.”

Vicky and Estrella’s words continued, but I could no longer hear them clearly.

Conceive… pregnant… child… All the words that were so foreign to me were now repeatedly reminding me what being a breeder meant.

No wonder they were willing to pay that much money—no wonder they chose me. The child destined to be the ne xt Alpha of the Drogomor pack needed to have the most powerful combination of bloodlines—ideally Alpha blood from both of his parents. But a breeder was just a tool—used once, and then thrown away. No Alphas would allow their beloved daughter to be treated that way… except my own father.

“Vicky, that’s enough!”

Talon’s sudden low, rebuke brought me back to my senses.

I looked up and saw that the Alpha, who had been expressionless, had furrowed his brow.

There was a condensed anger on his face.

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

Talon’s reprimand was not a reprimand at all, but a protection for Vicky before Ethan could punish her.

“Alpha…” I held onto the edge of the hospital bed and tried to drag my weakened legs to my feet. I couldn’t stand by and watch Vicky incur this man’s wrath because she was trying to defend me.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to pull myself together.

“Please, Alpha… I can pay my father’s debt. I swear, I will pay it off.”

My words managed to draw the man’s attention away from Vicky.

Now the devil looked at me.

His silence was terrifying, and the cold light in his eyes made me shiver. If my legs weren’t so sore and weak, I wouldn’t even be able to suppress the urge to run away.

No escape, Rosalie! I had to be strong! I had no way back!

Even though I had to brace myself on the edge of the bed to stand, even though his razor-sharp gaze made my heart palpitate, I gritted my teeth and straightened my back, using all my courage to look at him.

“Let me pay for my father’s debt…” My voice was weak, but my tone was firm. “I will work day and night, I will do the hardest things, whether it takes a year, two years, or even ten years. Please just tell me the amount of money…”

One second, two seconds…

He stared at me, his gaze like a searchlight see through me.

I felt sweat seeping out of my forehead, sliding along my cheeks, all the way to my neck. Cold and salty, it flowed over my open wounds, bringing bouts of stinging pain, like a torture. The cold white lights overhead turned into the burning sun of the desert, making me dizzy.

In the second before I almost fainted, I saw the Alpha slightly raise an eyebrow.

Even in such an oppressive atmosphere, I was still drawn in by his handsome appearance.

The moment he raised his eyebrow, my heart skipped a beat. But of course, he knew nothing about my feelings.

He just glanced at Talon and ordered simply, “Tell her.”

Talon immediately walked over.

“Miss Rosalie,” he said, “I’m afraid the amount isn’t something you could ever pay back. The debt your father accrued was five million total. Alpha Ethan had paid half…”

The number made my heart drop to the bottom of my chest.

“…If the debt is not be cleared in time, your father and your pack will be in danger. I heard the debtee isn’t quite… civilized.”

Talon’s polite tune continued. “As you see, it isn’t an amount you can pay back as a maid, Miss Rosalie. Plus, Alpha Ethan has no use for a maid.”

He was right. I could not pay back that kind of money by being a maid, or even doing any kind of ordinary work.

After Talon was done, Alpha Ethan stood up from my bed.

“Rosalie.” The way my name rolled off his lips sent shivers over my skin. He looked down and straightened his cuffs carelessly.

“You have two options. Be my breeder, or…”

He didn’t finish his words, and he didn’t need to.

Or… My father would be devoured alive by the barbarian creditors, my pack would be wiped out in retaliation, and hundreds of innocent people would be killed simply because I made a cowardly choice.

I took a deep breath.

If this was the only option, then let it be.

Before he pulled open the door and left, I heard him give his order to Estrella. “You have three weeks.”

So, that was the deadline I had been given.

I looked at his back as he left and asked, “What will happen to me after the baby is born?”

Alpha Ethan stopped but didn’t turn around.

After a short silence, he said in a quiet voice, “You will be set free.”