The morning sun painted the room with a warm glow, but the atmosphere within was anything but serene. Katherine, still reeling from the events of the previous night, found herself facing the wrath of Alpha Klaus. His cold, calculating eyes bore into her, and the air in the room felt thick with tension.
Alpha Klaus's voice cut through the silence, icy and merciless. "Explain yourself, Katherine."
Trembling, Katherine stuttered, "I-I don't know what you mean."
His gaze intensified, and he raised an eyebrow. "Don't play games with me. You will regret it."
"I-I don't know who it was," she stammered, avoiding eye contact.
Alpha Klaus, known for his ruthlessness, grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into his piercing eyes. "You dare lie to me, Katherine?"
"I'm not lying," she insisted, fear evident in her voice.
A dark chuckle escaped his lips. "I have ways of finding out the truth, and you won't like the consequences if you've been unfaithful."
Katherine's mind raced, realizing the gravity of the situation. "I swear, I don't know who it was."
Alpha Klaus released her, pacing the room with a predatory aura. "You're either incredibly foolish or incredibly cunning. But mark my words, Katherine, I will uncover the truth."
Attempting to divert attention, Katherine hesitated before saying, "I-I can't remember much. It's all a blur."
The room went silent, the tension escalating. Alpha Klaus's eyes narrowed, his expression turning lethal. "You expect me to believe that?"
"I-I was drugged or something. I don't know," she stammered.
Alpha Klaus's face contorted with rage, and he slammed his fist onto a nearby table. "You're trying my patience, Katherine."
In a desperate attempt to protect herself, Katherine continued her denials. "I-I swear, Alpha Klaus, I don't know who it was. It's all a haze."
Alpha Klaus's eyes flashed, and he leaned in, his voice a menacing whisper. "You're playing a dangerous game, Katherine. I suggest you start telling the truth before the consequences become unbearable."
For a moment, a heavy silence enveloped the room, punctuated by Alpha Klaus's intense stare fixed on Katherine, who shivered in fear, apprehensive that this might be her last day on earth.
"How bold of you," he scoffed, forcibly pulling her from her bed and delivering a harsh slap to her cheek. "You shameless whore!" His spit landed on her face, and she lowered her gaze, tears threatening to escape.
"Who was it? Answer me!" he barked, and she hesitated, contemplating whether to speak as Alpha Luciano posed a renewed threat to their pack.
"I... I can't remember," she stuttered, earning a scoff from him. He stepped back, nodding with a smirk.
Exiting her room, Katherine hastily donned a dress, cursing her lapse in judgement that led to someone other than Alpha Klaus entering her life intimately.
Soon, the door forcefully swung open, revealing Alpha Klaus and his guards.
"Take her away!" he ordered. Before Katherine could utter a word, she was brutally dragged out of her room.
"No, no, please…" she cried as the guards pushed her outside, drawing the attention of the pack members.
"What has that idiot done again?" Victoria rolled her eyes, emerging from her apartment.
Katherine knelt on the ground, panic setting in as pack members gathered. Tears streamed down her face, a level of humiliation and embarrassment she had never experienced before.
"Why have you lowered your gaze, afraid that people would judge you for sleeping with someone other than your mate?" he said, and people gasped.
"How evil! Bring the whip," he commanded, and the guards began whipping her relentlessly. Her body tore at each stroke.
"Ah!" She winced, falling to the ground, crying. "Please…"
"Who was it?" Alpha Klaus shouted, and she shook her head, indicating she had no idea. Revealing the truth would lead to her death and that of her family.
"I…I can't remember," she muttered, biting her lower lip as the pain consumed her. "Ahh!" She screamed loudly.
Alpha Klaus lifted her hands, and the guards stopped flogging. He walked to Katherine, kicked her stomach, making her wince in pain.
"Watch me execute your poor family, but if you say who dared to touch my little property, I might reconsider," he said, lifting her chin, maintaining a steady, evil eye contact.
"I don't remember… it was dark, and I couldn't see his face," she stammered.
"I don't buy that. You mean you opened your legs for someone who's not even me?" He scoffed and slapped her cheeks. "Don't sell such stupid lies to me." He went back, and the guards continued with Katherine.
"She's just so miserable," Rosy said, and Victoria chuckled.
"She should just leave already; she's a good-for-nothing maid. Can't stand her ugly face," she added, and they both giggled.
As the seconds passed, Katherine felt weak. Her eyes became heavy, lips bruised, and body trembling.
"Hand me that," Alpha Klaus took the whip from the guards and lashed it on her upper body. A loud scream tore from her mouth. "Who was it?" Again, he lashed it on her.
"I …I can't remember," she said, her voice low and broken.
"You can't remember, huh? Maybe when your poor parents' heads are rolling to the lake, you might recall," he dropped the whip and turned to the guards. "Go get them."
"No, no… it was—"
"It was who? Do not waste my time, Katherine!" He yelled, and she flinched.
Her heart raced wildly. Each passing second, she pondered what to say: confess it was Alpha Riccardo and still die, or say nothing and die alongside her poor family.
"It was…Alpha—"
"Alpha?" Victoria repeated, shocked.
"It was—"
"It is I," Alpha Luciano cut her off. Everyone turned jaw-dropped, eyes widened.
"Nonsense! Such things can't happen," Victoria stepped forward, and Alpha Luciano scoffed.
"Say, who?" He questioned, taking off his jacket and putting it on Katherine's back. "I was the one."
"I don't appreciate such jokes," Alpha Klaus charged.
"I never knew I was a man of jokes," Alpha Luciano responded. Looking at Katherine, his jaw thickened as he pulled her up, wrapping his hands around her waist.
"Have you lowered your dignity to the point of sleeping with someone else's mate?" Alpha Klaus looked him dead in the eye.
"Last I checked, you rejected her and chose your childhood crush over her," he replied, and Alpha Klaus rolled his eyes.
"Still, that doesn't give you the right to touch her! She's mine!!" He growled angrily.
"Well, she's mine now," he smirked and carried her up in a bridal style.
"Not an inch," Alpha Klaus said, and his guards moved closer to Alpha Luciano.
"Tell your guards to lay low or watch me make a firework out of your pack!" He gave a smooth threat.
Walking away, Alpha Klaus clenched his fist angrily. He couldn't dare start a fight as it would surely lead to his pack's demise.
"Drive!" Alpha Luciano said as he entered his car. Beta Damien nodded and drove off.
"Madness! Absolutely madness! How could he choose such a low creature!" Victoria shouted, stamping her feet on the ground angrily. "You couldn't stop him!? Are you that useless!" She fired.
"Shut up and head right inside!" He yelled, and she rolled her eyes at him before leaving.
"It's not a big deal, just relax," Rosy muttered, trying to hold Alpha Klaus's hand, but he glared at her, and she withdrew.
"Let me go!" She yelled, kicking her legs in the air as Alpha Luciano carried her into his room and threw her on the bed.
"Shut up!" He retorted, and she began tearing up.
"You humiliated me. How could you do such a thing to me? You knew I was mated to Alpha Klaus, but you went ahead to lay with me in his pack!" She shouted at him, and in the next minute, he pinned her onto the bed, his two hands holding hers in place, while he frowned.
"You're mine! Mine alone. This is what you get for playing with my goddamn mind, Kat!"
"It's not fair! I hate you! You're a murderer; you killed your two chosen mates!" She moved backward, and he scoffed.
"Believe what you want, I don't give a damn about it," he responded, and she looked away. "Contract marriage." He looked at her, and she opened her mouth, speechless.
"Huh?" She raised one of her eyebrows.
"I will help you pay off your debt, and in return, you birth me an heir to the throne," he stated, and she swallowed. She quickly calculated, and it dawned on her that she was greatly indebted.
"Fine," she simply said, and a smile curved on Alpha Luciano's lips.
"Perfect, tomorrow we are going to get married," he said, placing both hands on her shoulders. "Wifey."
Not used to such, a ball of tears rolled down her eyes.
"Are you going to kill me too, just like you did to the other two?" She swallowed, and Alpha Luciano nodded.
"Yes, and I will gladly eat your pale white skin, yummy." He licked her neck, and she froze, almost peeing on the bed.
"I need to freshen up." She gradually got down from the bed and looked around at the big luxurious room.
"Won't you ask your hubby to escort you?" He stood up, tucking his hands into his pocket.
"Hubby? In your wildest dream, leave! I wish to bath myself." She said, and he ran his hands through his hair with a smile.
"Of course, don't let your guards down; I might kill you tonight." He winked at her, and Katherine held her chest.
After he exited the room, she exhaled deeply, inspecting the cozy and well-appointed space. Before long, the room's lights flickered. She widened her eyes as the door slowly creaked open.
"Wifey!?" A dwarf wolf came into the room, and she fell on her butt. "I suddenly feel so horny."
"No, no!" She screamed, but the dwarf wolf approached, and she soon lost consciousness.
"Is she dead?" Removing the costume, the boy scoffed, observing Katherine helplessly on the floor. "Let's see if she survives the next trial." With a roll of his eyes, he departed with his costume.
ALPHA'S VILLA*
"What do you think?" Beta Damien asked, and Alpha Luciano chuckled slightly. "She's definitely running away tomorrow morning," he added.
"Who knows, let's watch out," Alpha Luciano said, as he lit his cigarette.
"Should I ask Edward to stop?" Beta Damien looked at him, and he shook his head.
"No, let him carry out his task. I wish to see if she stays throughout tomorrow."
"Hmmm. So what's your plan?" Beta Damien inquired, casting a sidelong glance at Alpha Luciano as they stood in the dimly lit room.
Alpha Luciano took a leisurely drag from his cigarette before responding, "My plan? Oh, you know, the usual. Marry her, make her life a living hell, and perhaps throw in a touch of chaos for good measure."
Beta Damien raised an eyebrow. "That sounds... charming."
"I aim to please," Alpha Luciano retorted with a smirk, releasing a puff of smoke into the air.
"But seriously, why go through all this trouble?" Beta Damien questioned, his curiosity evident.
Alpha Luciano chuckled darkly. "Why not? It amuses me. Besides, Alpha Klaus needs a reminder that crossing me comes with consequences."
"You're playing a dangerous game, Luciano," Beta Damien warned.
"Isn't that what makes it interesting?" Alpha Luciano replied, his tone indifferent. "Let's see how she handles the surprises I have in store."
Beta Damien took a thoughtful pause before asking, "What's the endgame here? Are you planning to keep her as a pawn in some twisted game?"
Alpha Luciano's eyes gleamed with a cold intensity. "Endgame? Perhaps a bit of amusement, a dash of revenge. But who knows? Maybe she'll surprise me and become more than just a pawn."
"Surprise you?" Beta Damien raised an eyebrow. "You sound unusually optimistic."
A sardonic smile played on Alpha Luciano's lips. "Optimism is for the weak. I'm merely acknowledging the unpredictability of life. People change, circumstances evolve. We'll see how she adapts to the little surprises along the way."
Beta Damien shook his head. "You're a complicated man, Luciano. I can't quite figure out whether you're a genius or just playing a dangerous game of chance."
Alpha Luciano chuckled. "Why limit myself to one when I can be both?"
As the conversation lingered in the air, they were interrupted by the distant sound of footsteps. Alpha Luciano extinguished his cigarette, his gaze shifting toward the door.
"Looks like our drama queen is about to make her grand exit," he remarked with a hint of sarcasm.