Chapter 10:
Makenna’s POV
Bryan appeared content. He adjusted his trousers with casual nonchalance, as though he had finally decided to show me a shred of mercy. Leaning in slightly, his gaze swept over me—half-praise, half-threat. “Good,” he said, his words laced with warnings. “You did well this time. But don’t even think about running. I’ll be back for you.”
With that, he turned and walked away. It wasn’t until his footsteps faded that I snapped back to reality. I wiped my face, stealing away to my room, hoping no one had seen me.
The darkness of the night was a blessing. At least no one noticed the state of my torn clothes.
I slipped into my room, feeling utterly wretched. As soon as the door closed behind me, my legs gave out. I crumpled to the floor, hands covering my face as tears streamed down, my mind a blank void.
Bryan was a monster. There was no other word for it. To him, we were just toys, to be used and discarded at his whim. This time, he let me go, but what about next time? Would he kill me when he grew tired of the game?
The terror clawed at my chest, nearly choking me. The palace was more dangerous than I had ever imagined. If it weren’t for Frank, I wouldn’t be in this nightmare.
Yes! Frank was to blame for all of this.
A surge of hatred flared in my eyes. His cold, heartless words echoed in my mind. I couldn’t let myself fall apart. I wouldn’t give in. Even if the path ahead was fraught with danger, I clung to the hope that as long as I lived, I had a chance. One day, I’d get my revenge on the family that had abandoned me.
That thought brought me a semblance of calm. After cleaning up, I crawled into bed and quickly fell asleep. Who knew what awaited me the next day? I needed to be rested, ready to face whatever came my way.
The morning came too soon. I rose early, heading to the main hall where King Leonardo Reeves had summoned us. He wanted to inspect his sons’ slaves.
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When we arrived, Leonardo was already seated on his throne, his presence dominating the hall. He said nothing, but the tension was palpable.
The three princes stood beside him, each handsome and imposing in their own way. The women couldn’t take their eyes off them, even though they just stood there, silent and still.
I turned my gaze away, only to lock eyes with Kristina, the arrogant woman who never missed a chance to sneer at me. Her face was a mask of disdain and resentment.
Startled, I quickly looked down, hoping to avoid any further trouble.
Just then, the servants motioned for us to bow to the king.
After we all paid our respects, Leonardo’s eyes roamed over us. “Are these the ones you’ve chosen?” he asked, his voice cool as the morning dew.
Hayley, standing by his side, answered quickly, “Yes, Your Majesty. These women have been selected with great care. They are all exceptional in both appearance and form, meeting your high standards.”
“Are they?” Leonardo’s chin lifted slightly as he commanded, “Raise your heads.”
Nervously, I joined the others in lifting my gaze to the king. This was my first time seeing him so closely. Despite his age, he had a certain charisma, a commanding presence that made it easy to see why he was the top leader. His features were sharp, his demeanor more formidable because of his status. It was clear he was a man to be respected—and feared.
No wonder he ruled our pack.
“Not bad,” he said with a slight nod, as if passing judgment on livestock. “I hope they will be of some use.”
Hayley’s smile widened. “Please don’t worry, Your Majesty. These women will surely bear strong offspring for the princes.”
Leonardo responded with a grunt of acknowledgment before addressing us again. “Do you know why you’re here?”
We exchanged uncertain glances, none of us daring to speak. I bowed my head even lower.
“You know, the Lycan wolves are powerful but prone to violent outbursts. If we don’t have a way to channel that energy, we can become unpredictable. Your job is to help the princes control their urges and to bear them strong, healthy children.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing, “To ensure that happens, you’ll undergo a month of training. Of course, there will be rewards. Any woman who bears a prince’s child will receive ten million gold coins.”
His words rippled through the room like a stone thrown into still water, stirring excitement among the other women. Their eyes lit up, and hushed whispers filled the air.
“Ten million gold coins! That’s a fortune!”
“I’ve never seen so much money in my life.”
“If I had that, I’d never worry about anything again.”
I was just as surprised by the promise of such a lavish reward. The rumors about the Lycan clan seemed true—they struggled to have children.
And then it hit me—the training.
Rumor had it that the Lycan royal family faced difficulties with childbirth and that if the she-wolf wasn’t strong enough, she could die along with the baby before even giving birth. The training was meant to strengthen us, to reduce the death toll.
The thought made me shiver. Even if a woman received the ten million gold coins, she might not live long enough to spend it.
Besides, I couldn’t help but glance up at the golden-haired prince, Bryan. He was the oldest, the most brutal, and the most volatile. As long as I remained in this palace, life would be hanging by a thread.
Ten million gold coins meant nothing if I was dead.
Then and there, I vowed to find a way to survive.
While my mind raced, Leonardo introduced the three princes to us, his words a reminder of our place. “You must serve the princes well. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” we all answered, our voices louder, more united this time.
His gaze shifted to Kristina, and he added, “This is Kristina Harrison, the Beta’s daughter. She’ll be the queen of the next king. If any of you think you can take her place, you’d better think twice. Am I clear?”
Kristina’s chin lifted even higher, her disdainful gaze sweeping over us like we were insects beneath her feet.
The women around me paled, likely remembering the events of yesterday. I felt a chill through me as I lowered my head. “Yes, Your Majesty,” we all murmured.
Leonardo seemed satisfied and waved his hand dismissively. “Very well. You may leave. Hayley will take care of the arrangements.”
It seemed the ordeal was finally over. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and prepared to follow the others out. But then Kristina’s voice cut through the air like a knife.
“Wait!”
Everyone froze, turning to look at her.
My heart plummeted. A sense of dread settled over me.
Kristina’s cold eyes locked onto me. “That woman,” she spat, pointing at me with a hatred that made my blood run cold. “She’s morally corrupt. Her wolf’s scent is barely there. She’s not fit to be a prince’s slave. Her face should be scarred, and she should be thrown out to live as a rogue.”
