Chapter 20
Juno’s POV
I knelt on the cold stone floor of Levenston Manor’s throne room, my knees aching from hours in this position. The silver chains bit into my wrists, constantly reminding me of my new status. A war tribute.
Hours ago, they’d locked me in a small room. No explanations. No food. Just silence and darkness as my mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. Now they’d brought us here–me, Scarlett, and Freya–forced to our knees with dozens of other
women.
I glanced around the massive throne room. The high ceiling was adorned with intricate carvings of wolves in various poses of dominance. Ornate pillars stretched upward, bearing the weight of the entire structure. Everywhere I looked, the Levenston family crest, a black wolf’s head with silver eyes, stared back at ime.
The room reeked of fear and submission. The other women–daughters and sisters of various Alphas from conquered territories- trembled visibly.
“Eyes down! All of your A muscular man with olive skin and black hair tied in a low ponytail barked the order. His deep gray eyes scanned the room with authority. From his scent and the way others deferred to him, I knew he must be the Beta.
“Listen carefully,” he continued, his voice firm but not cruel. “Alpha King Augustin will inspect all of you. You will be sorted into three categories: harem, service, or retained.”
My stomach twisted. Harem?
“Do not smile. Do not look into the Alpha King’s eyes. Such actions may result in immediate death.” The Beta’s voice remained emotionless. “Beauty means nothing to the Alpha King. If you are not a virgin, speak now. We don’t want anyone incorrectly assigned to the harem.”
I kept my face neutral despite the fury building inside me. Next to me, Scarlett shifted slightly. I caught her scent changing–a subtle sweetness that emerged whenever she found someone attractive. She was looking at the Beta with interest.
We waited in tense silence. Minutes stretched endlessly. Then I felt i–a powerful pressure descending on the room. The air grew heavy, almost impossible to breathe. An overwhelming Alpha presence flooded the space, crushing down on all of us with invisible weight.
The scent hit me next. A winter storm mixed with rich brandy and something wild, primal. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, both challenged and intrigued.
Heavy footsteps approached from behind. Slow. Deliberate. Commanding.
“These are the tributes?” The voice was deep, commanding, and strangely mesmerizing. It held both gentleness and steel in perfect balance. I couldn’t possibly describe it with mere words.
“Yes, Alpha King,” the Beta replied respectfully. “The women on the left are daughters of conquered Alphas. The center group includes sisters of various pack leaders. And these three,” he gestured toward us, “are the Lunas.”
The footsteps moved through the room. I heard the Alpha King’s voice as he passed each woman.
“Service.”
“Retained.”
Service.”
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Chapter 20
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We stared at each other for what felt like eternity. The air between of seemed to crackle with something I condén & name:
His lips parted slightly. One word emerged:
“Mine
Then he turned and walked away.
He didn’t even look at Scarlett or Freya. Didn’t continue his inspection. Just left.
As he turned, I caught a glimpse of a black wolf tattoo peeking above his collar, sprawling across his back. I watched it perfect form retreating, the way his shoulders filled out his jacket, the confident stride. I almost drooled.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“Mine? That wasn’t one of the categories the Beta had mentioned. Not harem, service, or retainesi, just… mine?
The other women were escorted out of the room, leaving only me, Scarlett, and Freya still kneeling. We exchanged confused glances.
The Bela returned with another man–the Gamma I’d seen earlier when we first arrived. They spoke in hushed tones, but my enhanced hearing caught every word.
“Alpha King Augustin personally requested the red–haired woman with the blue–green eyes, the Beta said.
“The defiant one?” The Gamma raised an eyebrow. “I heard she angered Delta Gibson on the journey here.”
The Beta shrugged. Apparently she volunteered as tribute. Her husband, Matthew of Pineridge Pack, wouldn’t surrender her. So she
offered herself
My chest tightened at the mention of Matthew. Not my husband anymore.
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Chapter 20
Never once did he say “harem. The women’s scents spiked with terror relief as he passed them.
The footsteps grew closer to me. I kept my head bowed, staring at th polished floor. Black leather boots appeared in my line of vision. Unnaturally large feet fe even a man.
Warm, strong fingers gripped my chin, tilting my face upward.
I looked directly into the Alpha King’s eyes.
Time stopped.
Deep gray eyes with flecks of silver met mine. They widened slightly at my defiance. Black hair with streaks of silver fell naturally around a face that could have been carved by master sculptors. A neatly trimmed beard framed defined lips. His jawline was sharp, his features perfectly proportioned.
He was breathtaking Not handsome in the conventional sense–handsome was too tame a word. He possessed a raw, magnetic power that made my beart race despite my determination to remain unmoved. Tall and powerfully–built, his body was a perfect balance of strength and grace. His olive skin showcased muscles that could only belong to a warrior who had fought countless battles.
His scent enveloped me completely now–ice and snow, expensive brandy, and that wild, untamed essence, that marked him as apex predator
I swallowed hard but maintained eye contact. If he wanted to punish me, so be it. I had nothing left to lose.
We stared at each other for what felt like eternity. The air between us seemed to crackle with something I couldn’t name.
His lips parted slightly. One word emerged:
“Mine.”
Then he turned and walked away.
He didn’t even look at Scarlett or Freya. Didn’t continue his inspection. Just left.
As he turned, I caught a glimpse of a black wolf tattoo peeking above his collar, sprawling across his back. I watched his perfect form retreating, the way his shoulders filled out his jacket, the confident stride. I almost drooled.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“Mine?” That wasn’t one of the categories the Beta had mentioned. Not harem, service, or retained. Just… mine?
The other women were escorted out of the room, leaving only me, Scarlett, and Freya still kneeling. We exchanged confused glances.
The Beta returned with another man–the Gamma I’d seen earlier when we first arrived. They spoke in hushed tones, but my enhanced hearing caught every word.
*Alpha King Augustin personally requested the red–haired woman with the blue–green eyes,” the Beta said.
“The defiant one?” The Gamma raised an eyebrow. “I heard she angered Delta Gibson on the journey here.”
The Beta shrugged. “Apparently she volunteered as tribute. Her husband, Matthew of Pineridge Pack, wouldn’t surrender her. So she offered herself.
My chest tightened at the mention of Matthew. Not my husband anymore.
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Chapter 20
TTI take the middle one, the Beta continued, gesturing to Scarlett, The last one is for you.
The Gamma nodded. I’d been watching her since they arrived..
I clenched my jaw, rage building inside me. They were discussing us like we were objects to be claimed and distributed. Furniture to be arranged.
“Who do they think we are?” Seraphine snarled inside me. “We are not things to be owned!”
No wonder Clifflands had no ruling Luna. Women could only lead where they were respected. And respect was clearly in short supply here.
This Alpha King had chosen wrong if he thought I would be an easy onquest. I had already lost everything–my position, my home, my dignity. Fate had taken it all from me.
From now on, I would make my own fate.
