Dress Test–1
Without waiting for my response, he seized my arm and pulled me from the room. The veiled queen made no move to stop him, her scarred face disappearing from view as we left.
Kaius’s grip on my arm remained bruising as he guided me back to our room. His anger was palpable, hanging in the air between us like a storm about to break. I braced myself for whatever was to com
Once inside, he released me abruptly and paced to the window, his ck rigid with tension.
“Why did you drag me out like-”
“Things went rough with your mother, right?” he interrupted
suddenly, turning to face me.
The question caught me off guard. How did he know? Had he been watching us somehow?
“She doesn’t like you very much,” I admitted, seeing no point in lies.
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “That’s understandable.” He studied me briefly, his expression shifting to something almost like approval. “You know, you did well today–with my father, I mean.”
I blinked in surprise. “I did?”
“Yes.” His eyes dropped to my modest green dress. “Though I didn’t miss the fact that you had again disobeyed me. You took off the clothes–was it because of your mother?”
“Yes…” I hesitated. “No. I couldn’t walk around looking like a whore
He moved closer, his unsettling grace making my pulse quicken. “You liked being well covered?”
“Yes,” I answered simply.
“Just like my mother, Ophelia?” His voice dropped dangerously.
I froze, suddenly understanding the connection he was making. My mind flashed to Ophelia’s veiled form, her scarred face, her broken spirit.
“How could you allow that to happen to her?” The words escaped before I could stop them, fueled by horror and righteous anger.
His expression hardened. “I would mind my business if I were you; there is a lot you don’t know.”
“But you are just like him–you are just like your father, aren’t you?” challenged, remembering Frost’s warning about Kaius being a control freak. “A control freak–that’s what you are.”
His eyes narrowed. “Frost told you that, I believe.”
Was he wrong?” I demanded.
Kaius moved with preternatural speed, closing the distance between us. His hand gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze I am my father’s son; what do you expect?”
The cold admission sent a chill through me. If he was truly his father’s son…
What other things did my mother tell you?” he asked, his voice deceptively soft.
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I swallowed hard. A lot she told me what to expect from men like you.
Something like amusement flickered in his eyes. “And does that change anything? I am more than sure that if time were taken back, you would still sign the contract, even with the knowledge of what would do to you.”
He was right, and we both knew it. For my mother’s freedom, I would have signed regardless. But that didn’t mean i would become like Ophelia.
“Unlike her, I wouldn’t let you treat me that way,” I said firmly.
Kaius’s hand slid from my chin to my throat, not squeezing but making the threat clear. “And what will you do? Fight me?”
My heart hammered against my ribs, but I refused to show fear. “I will not let anyone hurt me again.*
To my surprise, he released me, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, you won’t. I want to see you fight me; it’s fun to
watch.”
The casual cruelty of his words reminded me of who I was dealing with–a predator who enjoyed toying with his prey.
He stepped back, straightening the cuffs of his jacket. “Frost will be on his way; he will give you a quick tour around the pack house if you are interested; there will be a party at sundown; and there you will be introduced to all the pack members.”
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The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna
Dress Test–2
“You are leaving? I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“Surprise, right?‘ His smile turned knowing, “I would have loved to do just that–punish you.”
A chill ran through me. “But you won’t?”
“Your health comes first, you just had a miscarriage.” His clinical tone stripped the statement of any compassion. I’ll have to wait till I get a clearance from the healers.”
His measured patience frightened me more than any direct threat. He wasn’t sparing me out of kindness–just postponing the inevitable until my body could better withstand whatever he had planned.
“Are you going to pick out another revealing dress for me to wear to the
ty? I asked, testing the waters.
He smiled deceptively. “The blue dress was just another test. I never actually planned to control your wardrobe during your entire
stay.”
“I find that hard to believe,” I said before I could stop myself.
“Why?”
Courage–or perhaps foolishness–pushed me forward. “As the control freak you are, that wouldn’t be shocking news.
To my surprise, he didn’t seem angry. “I would have enjoyed it too, but I don’t think you will end up wearing anything I picked out
for you.”
“And about the test, I imagine I failed?” I ventured.
“Woefully so,” he confirmed with surprising lightness.
He stepped closer, his expression shifting subtly. “There had been a reason I wanted you in that dress, Elowen; let’s say I wanted my
father infuriated‘.”
“That wouldn’t be a good thing since I was hoping to leave a good impression,” I said, confused by this revelation.
“You don’t understand; my father has this strange way of thinking, one I don’t share with him; he believes fear is another means of
power.”
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “And you don’t think so?”
Something dark and complex passed over his features. “It’s different when you enforce such methods on family too. That’s what he made my mother understand, he wanted her to fear him, tremble in his presence and now she had lost her own voice, he keeps her wrapped up like some mummy. I don’t like that, so letting you wear something so provocative was challenging him in some way.”
This unexpected glimpse into his thoughts left me speechless. Was he actually criticizing his father’s treatment of Ophelia? It seemed impossible to reconcile with his earlier admission of being his “father’s son.”
“I thought… I… I’m sorry,” I said, genuinely contrite for the first time.
Kaius studied me with unnerving intensity. “Yet, Elowen, I am glad you fought me for what you
I thought that was against the rules,” I said, thoroughly confused now.
wanted.”
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“It is,” he confirmed, leaving the with more questions than answers.
A knock at the door saved me from having to respond. Frost entered his ice–blue gaze taking in the scene before him.
“How did it go?‘ he asked Kaius, his tone carefully formal.
Kaius waved a dismissive hand. “Just as I expected, the old man is getting crazier these days. Age hasn’t improved him.”
Frost turned to me, genuine curiosity in his eyes. “Did you manage to convince him, Luna? The Alpha King can be… difficult.*
Before I could answer, Kaius spoke. “She did good. Better than expected.”
The praise, though not directly addressed to me, sent an unwelcome warmth through me. Why should his approval matter?
“Everything had been set… just as you requested,” Frost said with a meaningful look. “All arrangements are in place.
Kaius nodded, satisfied. “I want you to give her a tour around this place, take her somewhere–anywhere. Keep her occupied.”
“I have to go to work,” he added, glancing at me briefly. “Pack business requires attention.”
With that, he strode from the room, leaving me alone with Frost.
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