Chapter 20

Shemika woke up early, her heart fluttering with anticipation. She wondered if he would be upset if she showed up too early. She didn’t want to risk it.

So, she spent extra time arranging her curls into a sparkling braid and picking out the most beautiful outfit she could find. A soft lilac blouse that hung off her shoulders, with flowing sleeves, and a long skirt adorned with floral embroidery.

Despite spending hours primping and preening, she didn’t head straight to the holding cells. On her way, she was intercepted by a man she recognized as one of Lyosha’s messengers. He had a message for her.

Feeling a bit unsettled, she still made her way to Lyosha’s office. He was there, sitting at his desk, shuffling through papers.

He glanced at her briefly and motioned for her to sit across from him. He didn’t say anything for a while, just continued to sift through his mountain of paperwork.

Shemika found herself glancing at the clock, wondering if she would make it in time. She worried that Caturix might feel slighted, that he might think she didn’t care enough to see his workplace. But she did.

After what felt like an eternity, Lyosha finally put his papers aside and looked at her. “How have you been, Shemika?” His voice was gentle, but his eyes were not.

She took a deep breath. “Same, same, sir.” She kept her answer short. She didn’t know what he wanted, and she didn’t want to say too much.

“And how is Caturix?” he probed further.

She pursed her lips, thinking. “I’m not sure.”

“Because you don’t see him often?” He tilted his head, as if he already knew the answer.

She needed to tread carefully, but she also needed to answer his questions. “I have seen him semi recently. Not this morning, yet. Did you need me to relay a message to him?” She fluttered her eyelashes, trying to appear innocent.

He shook his head. “Shemika, I’m going to be direct with you. I let you into my pack, as an outsider.”

~Yeah, right.~ Because she was a woman. She nodded, encouraging him to continue.

“I expected things from you, of course. I never gave you a pack duty and have absolutely indulged your material appetite,” he started.

~Oh no~, she didn’t want him to continue, especially after her conversation with Nikandr.

“I find you exceptionally pretty to me, like a…china doll,” he said.

She forced her face to remain neutral. “I’m delighted that my face brings you joy.”

He raised a hand to silence her. “Not just your face. Everything. As any man would—should, but that’s not my point. As of all the luxuries I have given you, I expect you to reciprocate and if you wouldn’t like to, at least follow a few small rules,” he said.

~Rules~. She already had rules with Caturix. She didn’t want more rules, especially not from Lyosha.

“I…view you as my property, to be quite clear, and would prefer you not continue seeing Caturix,” he finished.

Her heart skipped a beat. “S-stop seeing Caturix?” she stuttered.

He nodded, seemingly satisfied with himself. “Yes, as for Nikandr, he is my chosen successor, so I see it fit that you may attend to him if your needs arise.”

She felt sick to her stomach. “And if I were…to continue seeing Caturix?” she asked cautiously.

He shrugged. “There’s no reason to discuss such things, as I know you’ll take this discussion to heart.” He laughed, as if he hadn’t just threatened her.

“Caturix is in the holding cells right now, working,” she said, her voice hollow.

He nodded. “Of course, it’s his job,” he replied dismissively.

“He invited me to see it and his work,” she said. “Do you mind if I still go, just to tell him that I can no longer see him?” she asked. It felt like her heart was breaking. She had been following him for weeks and Lyosha had never intervened before. Why did he wait until they’d had sex? Why couldn’t he have said it before she felt…before she…just before.

Lyosha returned to his papers, nodding absentmindedly. “Sure, sure, sweetheart. Just know, my men will be watching you diligently. Don’t disappoint me.”

Shemika stood up, her legs shaky. She felt like she was in a daze. It was as if someone had just told her that her entire family had died in a terrible accident. Somehow, she managed to make her way out to the hallway, where she felt like she was floating.

Everything was falling apart. She had come here excited to be pampered by the alpha. Where had her goals gone? She’d gotten sidetracked by Caturix. Why did she feel like she was losing a part of herself?

Shemika paused in the hallway, leaning her forehead against the wall for support. This was so stupid. She didn’t know anything about him. They didn’t have a relationship. He didn’t share information about himself easily.

She had always dreamed of an easy life by an alpha’s side. As long as it wasn’t Dancescu’s side. She would be spoiled for the rest of her life. She would never have to hunt for her own food or even have a pack duty, except to bear the alpha’s offspring.

Why didn’t that life appeal to her anymore?

Without realizing it, she found herself standing in front of the heavy metal door that led to Caturix. Her feet felt heavy, as if she was wearing cement blocks instead of her jeweled sandals. Why was she so scared to see him, scared to end their relationship. No, ~association~.

Shemika turned the handle, hoping the door was locked. It would give her until dinner to calm her nerves and pretend to be indifferent. Right now, she felt like she might burst into tears.

But the door opened immediately, and a gust of cold air swept a lock of her hair over her shoulder.

“Damn.”