FATED TO ALPHA HUNTER BY VENNEH LISAH

𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

King Arman exited the car and left with his beta, and a new person climbed into the car, taking the king's place. He folded his arms and stared at us the entire time, not saying a word.

I wondered if he had been ordered not to speak to us. The silence was deafening, and he kept his aura low, as if trying not to scare us. His eyes followed our every move. Rina nervously picked at her fingers, her head down and her eyes glued to her lap.

The drive lasted for hours. We left in the afternoon and I watched as the night passed and morning arrived. It was hours of silence, except for the sound of the tires on the road and the roar of the engine, before finally coming to a stop. We had stopped a few times for fuel, and the beta even offered us food, but my stomach was in knots and I touched nothing. Rina tried to eat, but even she had lost her appetite. Rina eventually passed out again, exhausted from the events leading up to this.

Rina had fallen asleep beside me, her head resting on my shoulder. I reached over and shook her gently, unable to sleep due to the fear of what might happen next. My mind was filled with different scenarios, all of which led to our demise.

My back was hurting from sitting up straight for so long, and the wounds on it reopened as I moved to wake Rina, causing blood to trickle down my back. The man sitting across from us leaned forward and sniffed the air slightly. After hours of profound silence, he spoke for the first time.

"Which one of you is injured and covered in herbs?" We both shook our heads, and his jaw clenched before he spoke again.

"Don't lie to me," the man growled. "Clearly, the king wants you both for some reason. So answer me, or I will call him over and ask permission to strip you to find out."

Before we could respond, the door suddenly opened, saving us from having to answer. The beta looked into the limo, and the man stepped out, motioning for us to follow him.

Rina slid across the seat to the open door and climbed out first before grabbing my arm to help me out. The bending movement sliced through my back, and I gritted my teeth, blinking back tears. Rina squeezed my fingers gently in reassurance, and I smiled, giving hers a squeeze back. When I looked up, I saw the King standing next to his beta, whispering to the man that sat in the car with us.

"Thank you, Gary. I'll handle it," King Arman told him. Rina and I looked at each other, fear in both our eyes at what he meant by those words.

"Follow me," King Arman ordered, walking around the limo. We followed him before stopping on the cobblestone road. We were at his castle, an actual sandstone castle that looked like it belonged in a fairytale, not real life.

The place was breathtaking, and both of us stood frozen in shock. Vines were wrapped around the high stone walls, adorned with purple and pink blossoming flowers, while the gardens surrounding the castle were in pristine condition, with not a weed in sight. A tall wrought iron fence encircled the castle's perimeter, hidden by equally tall hedges, and a large water fountain stood in the middle of the cobblestone road next to where the cars lined up on the circular driveway.

We knew that the king would reside in a castle, but seeing it was an entirely different experience, and the place was truly exquisite.

"Why have we come here?" Rina whispered nervously, knowing that rogues were not allowed in castles.

"I said to follow," the King said, and we both realized he had stopped and was waiting for us. He looked at us impatiently, and his beta touched my back, urging us along. I hissed, my back arching away from his touch as pain rippled over me.

Rina gripped my arm, knowing that crying out would get us whipped again. I sucked in a breath, willing the tears not to fall so we wouldn't be beaten for them. Swallowing down my pain, I started walking, though the king didn't turn when we approached him. His gaze was stern as he stared at me, his jaw clenched and his hands balled into fists. Rina's hand trembled in mine. Maybe if I begged, he would spare her for my stupidity.

He suddenly turned and continued walking, while we stumbled to keep up with his long strides. A man in uniform rushed to open the heavy wooden double doors. The king moved so quickly that we didn't even have a chance to look where we were going as we tried to keep up with him. Rina's grip tightened when I started to slow down. The pain of moving made everything ache. We stopped at a set of stairs, and the king moved down a corridor that ran alongside them. Finally, we came to a huge bustling kitchen filled with workers.

"Zara," the king called out. Everyone stopped and bared their necks to the king. One woman looked up before nodding and walking over, wiping her hands on a tea towel. She was an older woman, maybe in her fifties, with a warm smile and soft features. She wore a maid's uniform with an apron tied around her waist.

"My king," she acknowledged before looking us over.

"I have two new girls for you to train, and they need uniforms," he told her.

"Right away, my king. Come with me, girls," the woman said, giving us both a friendly smile as she motioned for us to follow her.

Rina and I quickly followed her, and she led us through the kitchen and down yet another corridor. Turning a corner, we found ourselves in a laundry room where rows of uniforms lined the shelves. The woman looked us up and down before handing each of us a grey button-up dress with short sleeves and aprons that had pockets in the front. The material was thick yet soft.

"What are your names?" she asked before the King suddenly walked in, causing her to divert her attention to him.

"My king, is there something you require?" she asked, clearly taken aback by his presence. He shook his head and leaned on a nearby counter. Zara waited, hoping he would leave, but he remained there. Zara turned back to us, clapped her hands, making us jump, and looked away from the imposing king who was watching us.

"Girls, I asked for your names," Zara repeated herself.

"My name is Ania, ma'am," I told her in a rush.

"Rina, ma'am," Rina answered softly, bowing her head.

"Very good, now quickly change through that door," she said, pointing behind us. We looked over our shoulders when the king spoke.

"Not you. You will change from here," he said. Rina and I looked at each other nervously. Zara also looked at the king, horrified.

"My king?" she called out.

"Rina, please go to the room and get changed. Ania, please remain here," he said, and my heart started pounding in my chest at his words.

Zara looked uncertain as she glanced between the king and me before turning to me and giving a sympathetic smile.

"Rina, please go get changed, dear," she said, and I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. My cheeks flushed under his gaze, horrified that he might be expecting me to strip in front of him.

"Forgive me, your highness, but may I ask why you have requested her to change in front of you?" Zara asked.

"She lied to my Gamma, now change," he ordered. I looked at Zara, and she nodded, telling me to do what he had asked and motioned for me to remove my clothes. My fingers trembled as I tried to undo the buttons.

"Please, sir," I murmured.

"Quiet, remove them," he said, leaving no room for argument when a male servant walked in.

"Out!" the king bellowed at the man, who rushed off before Zara walked over and shut the door, so no one else would walk in. She stood in front of it like she was keeping guard.

"Do I need to come over and undress you?" he snapped, clearly running out of patience. I shook my head, quickly poking the buttons through the holes. I tried to turn away to shield myself. My bra was so thin that it was almost see-through, and my breathing was heavy as panic set in.

"This is taking too long," the king snapped. Before I knew it, he was behind me, yanking off my blouse. I shrieked and covered myself with my hands. I heard the king inhale sharply before growling low and deep in the back of his throat. The rough sound sent goosebumps up my skin, and I swayed unsteadily. Zara looked like she was about to faint, either from the shock of the king's actions or her concern for me, and she stepped forward.

"Sir, I can do that," she said, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me as the king's fingers stopped running down my back. I was aware of the scarred skin on my back and the bandage wrapped around my torso and lower back where new wounds lay.

As his fingers brushed over the markings that couldn't be completely covered by the bandages, which were too high up my back, I felt mortified. Rina had done her best to wrap them tightly around my body, but they pushed up my breasts, making me feel exposed.

"Please turn around," he said, his voice softer. I shook my head, feeling embarrassed about the situation I was in. I had never been naked in front of anyone since Hunter and Lucy whipped me. The idea of a man seeing me sickened me, let alone the king.

His hands fell on my shaking shoulders. "Please turn around, Ania," he said, turning me slowly. I clenched my eyes shut, not wanting to see any disgust on his face. His hand cupped my cheek, wiping away a stray tear. I cursed myself for letting it fall, knowing that tears were punished severely.

"Now put your arms down," he instructed.

"Please, Sir, my bra is see-through; you will see me," I whispered, still refusing to open my eyes.

"Use your hands; I just need your arms out of the way," he said, and I nodded, cupping my breasts with my hands.

I felt him fiddling with the bandage before he started unwrapping it. My entire body trembled when I heard the door to the room Rina was in open up, and she gasped. My eyes flew open at the noise when she rushed forward, dropped to her knees, and started begging for me at his feet. The king stopped looking down at her like he thought she was absurd.

"Please, she didn't mean it. She will be good. It just startled her; I will take her punishment, just leave her be. Please, I beg you," Rina pleaded.

"What are you talking about? Who is punishing whom?" He snapped at her. She looked at me, and so did the king. His face was so close my breath became lodged in my throat. His eyes watched me, framed with thick, dark lashes, his stubble creating shadows across his face, and his lips full. My face heated, forcing me to look away; he was gorgeous.

"What is she talking about?" he demanded, using his alpha aura just enough for it not to cause me pain.

"She said she would take the punishment, but it's fine, Rina. You didn't do anything wrong," I told her, and she shook her head.

"Why would I punish her?" he asked Rina.

"Because she cried out. She didn't mean it, I swear. We know not to make noise; she didn't know the beta was going to touch her back. Please," Rina begged.

"Zara, can you please explain what they are talking about?" the king asked, pinching the bridge of his nose and squeezing his eyes shut.

Zara said, looking at us, "I think they are referring to being punished for showing emotion due to pain." Rina nodded in agreement.

The king blinked as if he were confused. I turned to Rina, equally puzzled by his question.

He began peeling off the bandages, and they fell away. He then asked me to turn around. I did as he requested and waited for the expected lashings. Zara gasped, while Rina whimpered and her fingers brushed against my ankle as a reminder that she was there with me.

"Who inflicted this injury upon you?" the king demanded.

"Luna Lucy," we both said in unison.

"She whipped you?" he asked, his voice sounding appalled and laced with anger.

"Yes," Rina murmured.

"How many times?" King Arman demanded.

"I only received three lashes, but Ania received thirty-six for our misconduct," she explained.

"You must have done something terrible to deserve such punishment." We both nodded, dropping our heads guiltily.

"So, what was your offense?" he asked.

"I forgot to dust three windowsills, and Ania took half of my punishment. We shared the sweeping, but Ania took all the blame, so she got three for each room. To tell the truth, there simply wasn't time. We had to meet Oliver; otherwise, we would have completed the chores properly and promptly," Rina explained further.

"She whipped you over dust and unswept floors?" he growled. The noise was so frightening that we both jumped. Rina and I flinched away from the pure anger rushing off him, his aura erupting.

"Please get me some medicine and find some pain relief, Zara," he said, placing his hand on my ribs. The warmth of his touch sent tingles across my skin. I didn't move, fearing the consequences of a king touching a lowly rogue like me.

"Of course, sir," Zara replied, hurrying out the door.

"Is your back like this?" he asked Rina.

"No, sir, mine didn't break the skin. She was whipped with a thin chain," she whispered.

"Will you please get up? Why are you at my feet?" he asked her, and she quickly rose, placing her hands behind her back and standing ramrod straight.

"Go sit over there," he told her, waving her away. She hesitated but did as she was told.

Zara came back with fresh bandages, some ointment, and a drink that strongly smelled of herbs.

"Sir, I can do this. I'm sure you don't need to tend to a servant," Zara said confidently.

"If I need help, I'll ask. Just hand me the ointment. Ania, drink that; it will help," he instructed. Zara passed the ointment to him and the glass to me. I sipped it, and despite its horrid smell, I could taste mint in it. It was supposed to take away the awful taste. His fingers were warm as he rubbed the ointment into the cuts. They stung, but his touch's tingling sensation was soothing, and I felt my back going numb.

"Stay still for me," he said as he started to wrap the bandages around me quickly, his eyes looking me up and down. I felt like I was on display. He suddenly stepped closer, his lips parting before he shook his head and took two steps away.

"Have either of you eaten?" he asked, and we both shook our heads. He nodded, and Zara spoke.

"I will organize lunch for them. Where do you want to assign them, my king?" she asked, while I quickly pulled on the maid uniform and started buttoning it. The king stepped forward, and I flinched, but he only helped to button it up, his finger replacing mine. Zara watched, just as shocked as I was that he would help a servant dress.

After he finished buttoning up the uniform, I removed my peasant skirt from underneath it and balled up my clothes in my arms. Zara came over and took them from me, tossing them in the bin.

"Ania will become my personal servant. She is to serve only me and remain in my quarters. Find somewhere close by for her friend Rina," he said.

"Sir, what about your current servant?" Zara asked.

"Send her elsewhere. I want Ania as my personal servant. There will be hell to pay if I find anyone else in my quarters besides Ania. Ania only and no one else. As for Rina, maybe you could see if Beta Dwight needs a servant. That way, she will be close if Ania needs her. We should keep them both close while they settle in," he said before turning on his heel and walking out.

We all watched as he left, and Zara shook her head a couple of times, muttering to herself:

"That was the strangest interaction I have seen between the king and a servant."

She then turned to look at us, appearing bewildered.