The Southern castle was nothing like I imagined it to be. It was much more beautiful, much more magnificent in a way only something ancient and regal could be. The pillars towered endlessly towards the high ceilings, the silver and gold lining on the stone walls made the chandeliers flicker like stars. It was a stunning building but for me it was nothing but a prison.

It was not just magnificent, it was also sacred and terrifying.

Because no matter how grand it looked, this was not a sanctuary.

This was my prison.

The chains clinked with every reluctant step I took, my raw wrists screamed in pain against the cruel metal that bound them. My ankles were shackled too, making it impossible to walk with dignity, not that I had much of it left. The guards weren’t gentle either, nor did they speak to me unless it was to spit an insult or yank me forward when I stumbled. My legs trembled beneath me, they were already weakened from days without rest or food.

I flinched again as one of them tugged harshly, dragging me up the last step and into the grand foyer of the Southern castle.

We had barely made it ten steps into the marbled hall when a group of women appeared, all dressed in matching uniforms. Their hair pulled back into severe buns, not a strand out of place. Their faces were blank, except for one, a woman with short golden brown hair and sharp cheekbones. She looked at me like I was vomit.

"Alpha Douglas of Moonlight Pack already told King Julian that we were bringing a criminal here to serve her sentence," one of the guards announced to the maids.

"You're right. King Julian informed us and ordered us to receive the criminal," the brown haired woman said with a cold and clipped tone.

"Good." The guard moved behind me and shoved me hard. I stumbled forward and crashed on my knees. The cold marble floor met my skin with a sharp thud. I cried out softly as my bound wrists hit the ground. The pain was sharp and I felt it all over my body.

"Good riddance, you filthy murderer," the guard spat before turning on his heel. The rest followed him and their boots echoed off the walls as the heavy doors shut behind them with a slam.

And then came silence.

"Raise her up," the brown-haired woman commanded.

Two maids obeyed immediately. They grabbed my arms harshly and their nails dug into my flesh as they yanked me to my feet. I could feel the disgust they felt for me without needing to hear it.

The brown haired woman took deliberate steps closer to me. Her breath fanned across my face, and the look in her eyes was ice cold, filled with hatred, disdain, disgust. Like I was nothing more than trash.

"I heard about what you did. You killed a council member."

My throat was dry, but I forced the words out anyway. "No. I didn't do it," I whispered, with a cracked and hoarse voice. "I was framed. I swear by the Moon Goddess, I did not kill Gareth. I know nothing about—"

The slap that landed on my face came without warning.

My head snapped violently to the side from the impact. My lip split open on impact and I tasted the metallic taste of blood on my tongue. A gasp escaped me before I could stop it, and I blinked through the tears that instantly welled up in my eyes.

"Shut the fuck up," she hissed. "I don't remember asking you to explain yourself. I don’t give a damn about what you have to say. You are evil enough to poison and kill a council member, an innocent man. You should’ve been put to death the moment you were caught."

“She looks so pathetic, one would think she was harmless,” another maid sneered, her voice laced with mockery. “I heard it was her own boyfriend who testified against her. Can you imagine that?”

“I’m so disgusted I could puke,” another added, “Do you know how vile you have to be for your own lover to hand you over? I want to wring her neck myself. Stupid evil bitch.”

Their words hit harder than the slap. Each insult felt like glass slicing through my skin. I stared at the marble beneath my feet, trying to hold back the sob that threatened to break free. I clenched my jaw, drawing blood from my bitten tongue just to keep quiet.

I was innocent.

"You thought your parents being the leaders of your pack would save you, didn’t you?" the brown haired woman spat. "Well, guess what? They sold you off like a freaking cow. They banished you from the pack by marrying you off to King Julian. But honestly? They should have slit your throat. You would have been better off. Because what is waiting for you in this castle will make you beg for death."

Tears slid down my cheeks this time.

“Aww, she’s crying. Poor little Alina,” the woman mocked. She leaned in again, and this time her voice turned low and chilling, “I want you all to beat the shit out of this murderer and make sure you break at least a bone or two.”

I barely had time to brace up before they lunged at me.

But as the maids moved an inch closer to carry out her order, she added with glee, "Wait. Strip her naked first. This is going to be so much fun."

I gasped and took a stumbling step back. Their hands reached for me with claws. My heart pounded in my ears.

No. No. Please no.

The maids lunged at me and I shut my eyes tightly, when suddenly I heard the sound of tearing flesh fill the room.

A sharp gasp replaced the cruel laughter from the women.

Slowly I opened my eyes, I hadn't realized I closed them.

The brown haired woman stood there, with her eyes wide with disbelief. Blood poured from her mouth as she looked down at the arm that stuck out from her chest from behind. Her lips trembled and a silent scream trapped in her throat before her body dropped lifelessly to the floor.

And that was when he came into view. A man I had never seen up close before but I recognised him instantly.

King Julian Pierce.

He was tall. Taller than I thought. His light brown hair was tousled in a way that looked effortlessly sinful. His jaw was sharp, his cheekbones were high, and his build was lean but strong. His arms were covered in black ink, tattoos that wrapped around his muscles and ran up his neck. Even beneath the deep V of his shirt, more tattoos teased from his chest.

But it was his eyes that truly held me in place.

His amber eyes were so beautiful, so captivating, so commanding and terrifying all at the same time.

King Julian Pierce, in two words, was terrifyingly attractive.

Your Highness!!" The other maids screamed in horror and fell to their knees with their faces down.

Their heads bowed so fast they looked like they would crack their skulls against the marble.

“What did I say about touching what is mine?” Julian’s booming voice echoed, it was low and thunderous.

Silence.

"Are you deaf?!" He barked this time.

One of the maids trembled, barely managing to squeak, “Y…You s-said not to t-touch anything that belongs to you.”

“P-please spare us, Your Highness!” another sobbed. “We didn’t mean to! Please!”

Julian’s eyes flicked toward her with such disgust that she whimpered and covered her head as if expecting death.

“She is mine.”

His voice dropped in volume, “She belongs to me. And if anyone lays even a finger on what belongs to me again…” His voice was filled with venom now. “I will rip out every organ in their body and feed it to them while they’re still screaming.”

He reached for me, his fingers closing around the chain that bound my wrists. With a sharp twist and an effortless pull, he snapped the metal like it was paper.

I stared at him, I was trembling but instead of being terrified as I should be, I was drawn in.

Then he looked at me. Really looked at me. Those amber eyes, sharp and unreadable, stared into mine as if they were baring into my soul.

I waited for him to yell. To slap me. To hurt me.

But instead, he turned to the maids.

“Get out,” he ordered coldly. “And if this happens again, you’ll join your friend on the floor.”

They scrambled up and fled like rats, dragging the dead woman’s body away without a word. The silence left in their wake was deafening.

Julian turned to me again.

“Take her to her room,” he said to someone I hadn’t even noticed, another maid who had been watching quietly.

Then Julian stepped closer and leaned down just a little, his voice was low enough that only I could hear.

“You belong to me now, Alina,” he said. “No one touches what’s mine.”