FATED TO ALPHA HUNTER BY VENNEH LISAH

𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

The next few days were the same, with the king forcing me to go with him wherever he went. I had to follow him around like a lost puppy. I stared longingly out towards the forest through his office window at Zara and Percy. Percy had a bucket and a scrubbing brush in his hand, while Zara was talking to him and looked like she was about to hang out the washing. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass. Fresh air would be good, anything to get away from the king or guards, even if only for a few moments.

"I will take you outside later," the king said, and I peered over at him. He stared down at his laptop screen, not paying attention to me whatsoever.

For the most part, we ignored each other. However, I could see he was becoming bothered by it. It was almost as if he was picking fights with me when we talked, just to give him a reason to grab or touch me.

He never hurt me, but I don't believe that was his intention anyway. The bond drew him closer to me, and Dwight had admitted that was why the king drank the way he did - to fight off the urges for him to give in to the bond. Something I refused to do myself - give in to the bond.

I also refused to sleep in the same bed with him, even though I could hear him pacing because of it. It gave me a sick satisfaction that it disturbed him - like I was winning at something. Though it pained me to refuse him, I was becoming desensitized to the pain.

He couldn't complain about it because he said I couldn't leave the room, and technically I hadn't or even tried to. So he had no reason to force me into the bed with him or use the calling on me, though I saw the temptation to use it too clearly on his face.

I asked him, ''Can I call Rina?'' and he peered over the laptop screen towards where I was sitting. ''You tried earlier, but she didn't pick up. You can try again tonight, and if she doesn't answer, I will ask her to call you. But that's only if you behave and eat tonight,'' he added.

I turned my gaze away from him and glared out of the window. The thought of food made me feel sick; I had no appetite.

''Can I go and help Zara?'' I asked.

''No, I am busy,'' he growled. I chewed my lip, feeling bored. It seemed like all I ever did was sit around and wait for him to take me somewhere.

''Dwight can take me,'' I suggested. He sighed, sitting back in his chair and staring at me.

''Dwight and Gary are working. I can't pull them away from their duties just because you are bored, Ania,'' he said. A growl slipped out of me, and he folded his arms across his chest, arching an eyebrow at me before pressing his full lips into a line.

My eyes stared at them and I had to pull my gaze away from them, causing me to lick my lips. I noticed that the king did the same thing when he was debating with himself, not liking his train of thoughts. "Sorry, my king," I muttered.

"Better," he said and dropped his gaze back to the laptop screen. I stood up, and he watched me as I made my way to him, stopping next to his desk. He swiveled in his chair to face me directly, as if he thought I was about to make a run for the door. But then I noticed his computer screen.

The king noticed my gaze and glanced back at the beautiful women on the screen, and my heart sank. There were many tiny pictures of women displayed in different states of nudity, posing for the camera.

"It's not what you think," he murmured, and I looked at him. He reached for me, but I jerked my hand away. He had been sitting there the whole time, looking at other women while I sat across from him.

"Ania, come here," he snarled, leaning in and wrapping his fingers around my wrist. He pulled me onto his lap and locked his arm around my waist when I tried to get up, nipping my shoulder with his teeth. "I will show you, stop," he growled.

"I don't want to see your side pieces," I snapped at him. His arm around my waist tightened, and his growl turned menacing as he placed his teeth against the back of my neck.

"I don't have side pieces, only you. Now, stop it," he snapped before moving the mouse around and clicking on one. I growled. I couldn't help it until it clicked open, and the screen displayed a mutilated body. My stomach lurched, and I looked away, my heart thumping loudly in my ears, and my eyes widened in horror.

"Are you still jealous of a dead woman?" Arman asked as I turned away, unable to handle looking at the screen.

"I don't want to see it," I whispered as tears burned and stung my eyes at the thought of what she endured to look like that.

He clicked on another file and it was all horror. "Why are they all half-naked? Didn't they have better photos?" I asked, wiping a stray tear. I couldn't get the image out of my head. The way she was torn apart and the look of anguish in her dead eyes.

"Unfortunately, no. Their owners didn't take decent photos. They wouldn't sell," the king said.

"What wouldn't sell?" I asked.

"These women were rogue s*x slaves, Ania. We have been trying to find out where they were kept. We also believe the dead bodies of the children that have been showing up belong to these women. We just don't know why so many are suddenly popping up, almost as if someone is trying to discredit my rule," the king said, his voice filled with a growl.

He purred, and I relaxed against him as my heart, which had started going erratic, slowed down.

"Come on, I will take you back to the room," he said. I shook my head, and he pressed the sharp points of his teeth against my shoulder. I shuddered, but he seemed to do it merely to tell me he was still there, as if I had somehow forgotten he was holding me. I really wanted to go outside.

"I will see if Gary or Dwight will take you for a walk then, I have work to do. So I can't right now," he whispered into my hair. The King only took a few minutes mind-linking before he sighed, and I sat up.

"They're busy; I will get someone to grab a pillow and blanket. You can rest on the couch until I'm done," he said. I chewed my lip, suddenly embarrassed over my breakdown. I was meant to be avoiding the bond, not seeking it.

I looked longingly out the window, wanting to go outside. That room all of a sudden felt stuffy and closed in. "I won't run," I whispered before looking back at the King.

He was watching me, his chin rested on his hand thoughtfully. "Ania, I can't...." He started.

"How are you going to trust me if you don't let me earn it?" I asked, and he worried his lip between his teeth before pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I will check in with Zara every hour, I promise." I pleaded.

"Half an hour, if you are so much as a minute late. I will send the entire castle out to hunt you down," he warned, gripping my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze.

"If I let you go by yourself, will you sleep in the bed with me?" he asked, tilting my chin to the side and observing me closely. I guessed he was trying to see if I was trying to deceive him.

"Promise me. I need sleep, and I can't with you sleeping on the damn couch," he said, and I pulled away from him.

"I need an answer, Ania, or you don't go," he said. I sighed, but I really needed to get out of this room. Without him breathing down my neck, I needed to breathe for a few minutes. But most of all, I wanted to feel free, even if it was only momentarily, so I nodded and agreed to his request.

"Then you can go. I will come to find you when I am done," he said, and I got up off his lap. Moving toward the door, he spoke, "And Ania." I stopped and looked back at him.

"Check in with Zara," he warned.

"Yes, every half an hour," I finished for him, and he nodded before allowing me to leave. I quickly made my escape downstairs. Stepping outside, I took a deep breath of relief. Today was pretty warm, and the sun felt nice on my cold skin. Zara was hanging the last sheet on the clothesline, but Percy was nowhere to be found.

"Where did Percy go?" I asked, and she jumped, startled by my sudden presence. "Oh, my Queen, you frightened me," she said, clutching two pegs to her chest.

"Sorry, do you know where Percy is?" I asked.

"He's down at the cemetery. And where is the King?" She glanced around nervously. Everyone in the castle knew I was on lockdown and under strict guard, so she must have been worried to see me alone.

"He let me out, but I have to check in with you every half an hour," I growled.

"Right, well, Percy is busy. Although, I'm sure he would love the company. The little man tried to rope me into helping him," she chuckled. I nodded before making my way down to the graveyard.

It took me a few minutes to spot Percy, who was kneeling behind a large headstone. As I approached, he looked up and bared his neck to me.

"Ania, I mean, my Queen," he said. "Ania is fine," I told him, and he let out a breath.

"Can I help you with something?" he asked, and I shrugged, looking down at what he was doing. He was scrubbing and cleaning the headstones, removing the dead flowers.

"Would you like some help?" I asked, and he chewed his lip before peering over the headstone and glancing at the castle. "Are you allowed?" he whispered, and I peered back over at the castle.

"Yes, I don't see why not," I shrugged.

"Well, I'm nearly done with this row. You can grab another bucket and brush, and you'll also need a polishing rag," he said, showing me his tucked into his belt. Nodding, I turned and walked back toward the castle.

"In the laundry room, Ania," he called, and I nodded, going in search of the cleaning supplies.

After getting what I needed, I earned a few strange stares from those working in the laundry, but they said nothing or questioned me as I slipped back out with everything. Making my way back to Percy, he was in the next row and stood up, coming over to me. We cleaned the headstones before I sat down by the tree and started dozing off, exhausted.