FATED TO ALPHA HUNTER BY VENNEH LISAH

𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

I didn't want to punish her, but she had lied to me once again, and I saw no other choice. I knew something was going on between her and Janet, and Janet would have to answer for her actions. Dwight had informed me that he had learned something from a guard, but he refused to discuss it in front of Ania for fear of provoking me.

As I held her, I couldn't help but feel a sense of conflict. I found her behavior when she was drunk to be alluring, but I knew I couldn't allow her to remain in a constant state of intoxication. I unfastened her bra and removed it, feeling her nipples harden against my chest.

Tracing my fingers down her back, I noticed the scars that marred her skin. She whimpered and stirred, but I called out her name, enjoying the way she melted into my embrace and nuzzled against my neck. As the car pulled over to refuel, Dwight and Gary climbed in, taking seats across from me.

Both of them noticed her state of undress, so they turned their gazes to the window while Dwight rummaged through the storage under his seat and pulled out a thin throw blanket. He handed it to me, and I quickly draped it over her to cover her bare back. "You can turn now," I told them, and they both turned to face me.

"We may need to take an alternate route; I don't like the forest. There are too many hiding places for an ambush," Dwight said.

"It will be an extra half-day's drive," I told him.

"I'm sorry, Arman, but it is not a risk I am willing to take," he said. I peeked down at Ania in my arms, and I noticed out of the corner of my eye that he did too.

"You're right. Whatever is safer," I told him, and he nodded, letting out a breath of relief. I wouldn't risk her life over half a day.

"Have you found out more about Rina's history, her last name, or anything about her?" I asked, turning my attention to Gary.

"No, but I reached out to the matron back there. She said she would dig up her files, and I could go see her next week to collect them," Gary replied.

"I'll come with you," I told him, and he nodded.

"Seems like she was curious as to why we were asking about Ania," Gary said.

"What did you tell her?" I asked.

"Nothing too revealing, of course. I simply stated that I needed Rina's files too and that we were curious about the trustworthiness of both Ania and Rina, given that they were new servants in our castle," he replied. I nodded in agreement; Gary was always quick on his feet when faced with unexpected questions, which was why I had chosen him as my third-in-command.

As I traced my fingertips down Ania's spine under the blanket, feeling the ridges of her vertebrae and the scars on her skin, I couldn't help but notice how underweight she was. The scars lining her back bothered me just as much, and I suddenly felt guilty for potentially contributing to her illness. I knew I would have to make it up to her.

I then turned to Gary and asked, "Did the matron mention anything else that could be relevant to the case?"

Gary shook his head and said, "No, she was too scared to say much. But I did get the sense that she knows more than she's letting on. We'll have to keep a close eye on her."

I nodded in agreement and suggested, "Let's focus on gathering more information about the pack and its members. Hopefully, we'll be able to piece together what happened to Lucy's mate and why she treated Ania so harshly."

I asked, ''Gary was assigned to look into it, so why did you speak to her, Dwight?''

"Same reason as you, my king. I am curious about Rina; the same way you got a sense of déjà vu and familiarity with Ania. It's the same way I am feeling about Rina, your majesty. Could she be my mate?" I stared blankly at him before looking down at Ania. This was complicated.

"Well, is she?" I asked him back with a chuckle. "I believe so, my king. I am certain she is, though my wolf didn't growl 'mate' when we met," he told us, and we simultaneously shrugged our shoulders. Silence crept upon us, and I broke it by saying,

"I understand your intentions, Dwight, but we have to follow protocol. Gary is in charge of the investigation, and we can't interfere," I said with a sigh.

Dwight looked away guiltily before answering, "I couldn't help it. She just seemed so vulnerable and scared. I wanted to help her. She could be my mate."

Dwight nodded, appearing contrite. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again." He looked down at his feet before looking up at me ,his face beaming,

"And now, my king, you have your weakness - something or someone who can bring you to your knees." He looked at Ania, and I chuckled. "You do know that I have the blood of the alpha kings in me. No person can outmatch me, man or woman." I flexed my abilities.

"She is your weakness, your majesty?" Dwight said with a smirk, and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Don't tell me it wouldn't break you if she suddenly left," Dwight challenged, and I growled at his words. She would never leave me; I wouldn't allow it. I would chain her to me if needed.

"I have proven my point - physically, she is no match, but that does not mean she cannot break you in other ways," Dwight laughed.

"She wouldn't, I wouldn't allow it," I snapped back.

"But she could," he said, and I nodded once, tugging her closer and burying my face in her neck. Dwight chuckled, and Gary snorted, trying to hold in his laughter.

"Shut up, both of you," I snapped at them. I knew they found my obsession with the girl amusing.

"Don't get your panties in a knot now that you've realized she holds all the power," Gary said.

"I am still the King," I told him.

"And she is your Queen," Gary nodded to her, and I smiled. Yes, she would one day be my Queen if she would have me, I thought before stopping myself and realizing my own line of thought. If she would have me... 'IF?' I looked at Dwight, and he had a knowing look on his face. He could read me too well sometimes.

"I'm still the King," I told them, and Dwight smirked.

"So you keep saying, my King," Gary said.

"My word is law," I boasted.

"For now, you get a woman and she becomes the law," Gary teased.

"I could always keep her as my servant," I told them, but Dwight folded his arms across his chest with an incredulous look on his face.

"I didn't say I would," I told him.

"I know you won't," he said.

"Unless, of course, she did something bad," Gary added. Dwight and I both glared at him.

"Why would you say that? What bad bone does the girl have in her body?" Dwight asked.

"I was just saying," Gary said with a shrug.

"It would have to be something horrendous, and even then, I'm not sure," I admitted. I don't think anything could stop me from loving Ania or wanting her. She could try to kill me, and I would probably ask her to forgive me. I chuckled at the thought.

"Anything funny, my king?" Gary asked.

"Not really." I replied.

"I just can't wait until she realizes I am her mate," I told them before leaning my head back and closing my eyes.

We arrived at the hotel well after midnight, and I arranged for us to leave no later than 6 AM. I couldn't wait for Ania to meet my friend, but I also couldn't wait to be alone with her.

As I carried her inside the small hotel, I covered her with a blanket, and my men surrounded me, obscuring her from the view of any other people. I made my way to our suite, and Dwight stepped ahead of me to search the room before allowing me to enter. When I heard the door click shut, I placed her on the bed before climbing on it myself.

She stirred as I dropped the blanket, allowing her to wake. Her beautiful eyes fluttered open dazedly, and I devoured her lips before she had a chance to speak.

Her skin heated beneath my palm as I gripped her breast, rubbing my thumb over her nipple before plucking at it. My lips traveled down her neck and I desperately wanted to mark her.

"My king!" she blurted.

I growled at her, and she trembled beneath me. Anger coursed through me, but I stifled it, reminding myself that she had just woken up and wasn't clear-headed enough to remember. Her hands shook against my chest, and I could feel her breath on my neck.

"I didn't mean to startle you. Are you hungry?" I asked her, but she shook her head. However, her stomach betrayed her as it protested.

"I will give you one chance to correct that answer, Ania," I told her, pulling back to look down at her. She averted her gaze to my chest, and I sighed, brushing her cheek gently with my hand.

"I haven't hurt you, and I won't hurt you. There's no need to fear me," I reassured her in a hiss. I noticed her dry and cracked lips as she licked them.

"Are you hungry?" I asked. She nodded, and I gave her a quick kiss before reaching for the phone to order room service. I sensed movement behind me and realized Ania was shifting on the bed.

As I waited on hold, I walked over to the small fridge and retrieved a bottle of water. Returning to the girl, I handed her the water, and she gratefully placed it beside her while squirming in her spot.

𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

I had no memory of the rest of the trip, arriving at the hotel, or being placed on the bed. As I watched, the king spoke on the phone. I was busting to pee and wondered where the servants' bathroom was when the king walked over to the bar fridge and then came towards me, handing me a cold bottle of water. I placed it beside me, but its coldness made the urge to pee ten times worse. The king observed me for a moment before speaking to someone on the phone. He then hung up and put the phone on the bedside table.

"What's wrong?" he asked, turning back to face me.

"Do you have a servants' bathroom? I really need to pee," I said. His eyebrows rose, and he pointed to the bathroom behind him.

"The bathroom is right there. Why would you want to use the servants' bathroom?" he asked.

"Because Zara said that's what the servants use," I explained.

"Ania, you are not my servant," he said. I squirmed, feeling a desperate urge to relieve myself. Why was it that the sight of a bathroom always made the need to pee more urgent?

"Go ahead, I will bring you some towels so you can shower. We can talk about it later," he said, motioning towards the bathroom. I hurried off, shutting the door behind me to use the toilet. After washing my hands, I turned to leave but the door opened, and King Arman stepped into the bathroom, blocking my way.

"Where are you going?" he asked, looking down at me. He was holding towels in his hands.

"I'm heading out so you can shower," I told him, trying to step around him. He moved to block me.

"Do you want to shower with me?" he asked, stepping so close that I had to crane my neck to look up at him. He stared back at me.

"You don't have to, but you can if you want to," he said.

"Do you want me to?" I asked him, before looking over my shoulder at the gigantic shower.

"Or we could have a bath?" He chuckled, and my face heated up as I remembered the last time I bathed with him.

"The shower is fine," I blurted out, and his brows furrowed. Oh no, I must have upset him.

"I didn't mean to upset you," I said foolishly. He cocked an eyebrow at me.

"Why would you think you upset me?" he asked. Why does he ask so many questions?

"Are you upset?" I asked, and he laughed. My eyes widened. Did I say something funny? I don't understand why he's laughing; what did I miss?

"No, I am not upset. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Ania. That's why I asked," he explained.

"You don't have to shower with me unless you want to. The choice is yours," the King said.

I was surprised by the offer, since I didn't think I had any choices as a rogue. I waited to see what he expected me to say, but I wanted to explore my options.

"I'll take a shower after you," I told him, feeling a bit hesitant to refuse him. I waited for his reaction, but he just shrugged.

"That's fine. I'll be quick. Dinner will be served soon," he replied before stepping aside to let me pass.

As I rushed out, I expected him to shut the door, but he left it open. I could hear the shower starting as I looked around the room. Deciding to help, I started to prepare his clothes for him by rummaging through the two suitcases on the floor. However, when I opened the first one, I found it filled with women's garments. I looked back at the door before shaking my head, closing it, and opening the other suitcase. I took out his pajama pants and placed them on his bed before finding him some socks.

After finishing, I zipped up my bag and sat on the edge of the bed, looking around the room before glancing at the bathroom door. He hadn't commanded me to join him, but the desire to be near him lingered. I wasn't sure if it was nerves or genuine attraction.

Everything about this man thrilled and excited me, but also scared me. It felt unnatural for someone like me to be so affected and almost obsessed with their master. But the urge to be close to him persisted, even though the thought terrified me.

One question remained: was he really my master? He had given me a choice, and denying him only made me want him more.

I hadn't realized, with the anxiety of him ordering me around, how much I longed for him to do so just so I could be within his presence. It made no sense, I thought to myself.

"Ania, are you okay?" the King asked, and my head snapped up to see him standing before me in all his naked glory, water trickling down his body.