Scarlett~

I stared at the mountain of food in front of me, untouched, delicious-looking, and infuriating. I had never had the privilege to taste anything like this—and yet, I couldn’t even think about eating. My hands trembled with anger. How dare this Alpha bring me here like some prized pet? How dare he kidnap me and bring me here? I thought I had run away, I thought I could escape from all of this but if wishes were horses beggars might ride.

It didn't help that this Alpha didn't have a mundane bone in him even if he tried. Why couldn’t he act humane for even a second? Did he think we were living in the eighteen hundreds? Who acted like this in this day and age?

“Please, Madame, the Alpha instructed us to make sure you eat everything,” An Omega said nervously beside me.

He must be delusional. He really thought I was going to put that food in my mouth. Unless he forced the food into my mouth himself, I would never eat it.

“Tell the Alpha I’m not eating anything until I see—”

I stopped mid-sentence, my words caught in my throat. The figure I’d been dreading appeared, and suddenly my rehearsed defiance evaporated. My pulse spiked, and I couldn’t even remember what I was going to say.

The Omega nearly fell over, as a single glance from him sent her scurrying out of the room.

I looked up at him, trying to gather myself. “I want to go back home,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. Thanks to my stupid nerves.

“Slept well?” His deep baritone echoed in the room, and I ignored him. I clenched my fists under the table, restraining the urge to show him my teeth, the wolf in me raging to sink them into that infuriatingly handsome face.

I hated how attractive he was—it made me loathe myself even more. How could someone so beastly, look so beautiful at the same time? How did I even end up in this position?

“You know it’s considered treason to ignore an Alpha’s question, my sweet mouse,” he said, sliding into the chair across from me. His scent hit me, rich and intoxicating, making my stomach tighten.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm the storm in my chest. I couldn’t forget that this man wasn’t just anyone. He was Alpha Kian. He could kill people, and no one would question him. Not a soul. No one would even dare.

“I… I didn’t mean to do that,” I whispered, my voice trembling despite my best efforts.

“Does that mean you didn’t also mean to defy my order by rejecting the food I sent you? Or is my sweet mouse waiting to be fed by me? Ah, it seems you’re quite the naughty type. I like that.”

I muttered “psycho” under my breath, fully aware he had heard me.

Then he leaned forward, picking up a morsel of food with his lips and moving it toward my lips. My heart froze.

“What— what are you doing?” I demanded, panic rising in my chest. My lips were centimeters away from his.

“Feeding you. Now, open up.”

Wait—this meant a kiss. I didn’t want a kiss. How had this escalated so fast? “I can eat by myself.” I stuttered.

“You had the opportunity but you didn't, now open up.” He pressed closer, forcing his lips against mine. I panicked and bit him. Hard. The metallic tang of his blood filled my senses. Serves him right. I hated how I’d almost enjoyed it?

He cackled, a sound that made me jump in my seat. Was he going to hurt me?

I steadied my voice, trying to sound calm. “Please… let me go home.”

His gaze softened slightly, but his expression stayed stern. “What if I said no? What would you do? Run away?” His eyes bored into mine, intense, dangerous. My breath hitched, my wolf quivering at the challenge.

I didn’t answer. I would have run if I could, but he would catch me. Still… It was tempting to try.

“Don’t skip meals again, or I’ll punish the Omegas serving you. You don’t want their blood on your hands, do you?”

Blood? My stomach turned. He’d really do it, wouldn’t he? How sick was this Alpha?

“Why are you doing this to me? Is it normal for an Alpha to behave like this? This is kidnapping,” I said, my voice shaking as I stared at him, searching his expression for any hint of mercy.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” One side of his lips quirked into a smile, terrifying in its calmness.

“I don’t understand why I caught your attention. There are countless other girls willing to fall at your feet, girls with reputations, girls you could… have. Why me? Why frustrate my life? I have no feelings for you.”

He didn’t flinch. “Those girls don’t hold my heart, my sweet. They are not of my taste. And what use is it being an Alpha if I can’t have who I want—my mate?”

I shook my head frantically. “But I love someone else! I can’t… I can’t ever love you. If it's the mate bond you are worried about, I could reject you and we would both go our separate ways.”

The table screeched as he stood, towering over me. His eyes darkened, and a surge of something—jealousy? possessiveness?—rippled through him.

He leaned closer, and I was forced to look up at him, my fiery amber eyes locking with his. “I see you’re trying to make me jealous. And you know what? It’s making me want you over and over again. Don’t worry… soon enough, you’ll feel the same. I just need to make sure you forget everything about the twerp you claim to love and I know just the right method to use.”

I swallowed hard, my heart hammering in my chest. How in the moon goddess’s name could this Alpha twist my words into something that entertained him?

I had caught the eyes of a bipolar Alpha.