Valerie’s POV
The rogues dragged through the forest for what felt like hours, their claws digging into my arms whenever I stumbled on the uneven ground. My designer heels had been abandoned sowhere in the first mile, leaving my feet bloody and torn by roots and stones. The silk dress that had cost more than most people made in a month was now little more than tattered rags clinging to my shivering fra.
But I was alive. That had to count for sothing.
The camp, when we finally reached it, was exactly what I’d expected from a pack of exiled criminals—a collection of ramshackle shelters built from salvaged materials, scattered around a central fire pit where sothing that might once have been an animal roasted on a makeshift spit. The sll of unwashed bodies and rotting at hung heavy in the air, making my stomach churn.
Dozens of yellow eyes watched our approach from the shadows. These weren’t the civilized wolves of proper pack society—these were predators in the truest sense, reduced to their most basic instincts by years of exile and violence. So still wore the remnants of human clothing, while others had abandoned pretense entirely, their bodies more beast than man.
At the center of it all, seated on what could generously be called a throne made from welded car parts and animal bones, sat the Alpha.
He was massive—easily the largest wolf I’d ever seen, with shoulders broad enough to snap a normal man in half. His dark hair was streaked with premature silver, and scars crisscrossed his chest and arms like a roadmap of violence. But it was his eyes that truly marked him as dangerous—not the flat yellow of his subordinates, but a deep amber that held an intelligence that was sohow more terrifying than re animal cunning.
When he smiled at my approach, revealing teeth filed to sharp points, my wolf whimpered and tried to retreat deeper into my consciousness.
"So," he rumbled, his voice carrying easily across the camp and causing conversations to die mid-sentence. "This is the little princess who claims to know the Alpha King’s secrets."
The scarred rogue who’d captured shoved forward, sending stumbling to my knees in the dirt before the throne. "Found her at the border, Boss. Says she’s got information about Nightshadow that might be useful.”
I struggled to my knees, acutely aware of how pathetic I must look—hair tangled, makeup sared, clothes torn and dirty. But I’d learned long ago that sotis appearing weak was the key to getting what you wanted from n.
"I know Damien Nightshadow," I said, letting my voice tremble just the right amount. "I know his weaknesses. I can help you."
The rogue king laughed, a sound like steel scraping stone. "Attachnts? The Alpha King cares for nothing but power."
"You’re wrong," I said, forcing myself to et those terrifying black eyes. "He has a mate now. A little oga bitch nad Seraphina Knight."
Sothing shifted in the rogue king’s expression. I saw interest flicker in those dead eyes, and my pulse quickened with hope.
Now I had his full attention. He leaned back on his throne, considering with the calculating look of a predator sizing up prey.
"And what exactly do you propose to do with this... information?"
This was it. My mont. I forced myself to stand despite the pain in my knees, and took a step closer to his throne. Several of the other rogues growled warningly, but their king held up a hand to stop them.
"I propose we help each other," I said, letting a sultry note creep into my voice despite my fear. "You want to bring down the Alpha King. I want revenge on the little bitch who ruined my life. We both have sothing the other needs."
He studied for a long mont, then suddenly stood. The sheer size of him was overwhelming—I barely ca up to his chest, and the raw power radiating from him made my wolf cower deep inside .
"You think you can bargain with , little princess?" he asked, circling slowly like a predator toying with wounded prey.
Before I could answer, his hand shot out and gripped my throat. Not hard enough to cut off my air, but firm enough to make my helplessness crystal clear.
"Let show you exactly where you stand in my territory."
What followed was the most humiliating hour of my life. He made kneel in the dirt while he and his pack jeered at my attempts to maintain dignity. Made beg for water like a common cur.
Finally, when the sun had nearly set and I was shaking with exhaustion and suppressed tears, he hauled to my feet.
"Strip," he commanded.
My blood turned to ice water. "What?"
"You heard . If you want to be part of my pack, you need to prove your loyalty. And your... usefulness."
I stared at him in horror. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to be the one in control, using my feminine wiles to manipulate him. But looking around at the circle of leering rogues, I realized how naive that plan had been.
Still, I had nowhere else to go. Damien would hunt down if I tried to hide in civilized territory. This hellish place was my only option.
With trembling fingers, I began to unbutton my torn blouse.
"Slower," the rogue king commanded, settling back on his throne with obvious anticipation. "And make it... entertaining."
It took every ounce of willpower I possessed to force my body to move seductively instead of collapsing in tears. But as I shed each piece of clothing, I reminded myself why I was doing this. Seraphina Knight had taken everything from —my status, my security, my future. If degrading myself was the price of revenge, so be it.
When I stood naked before him, he beckoned closer with one clawed finger.
"Now," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "show exactly how badly you want my protection."
I closed my eyes and did what I had to do.
Hours later, as I lay bruised and trembling in the corner of his den, he spoke again.
"You’ve got spirit, little princess. I like that in my won." He ran a possessive hand down my spine, making shudder. "Yes, I think you’ll do very well here."
"Does that an...?" I managed to whisper through split lips.
"It ans you’ve earned yourself a place in my pack. And if your information proves useful..." His smile revealed teeth filed to sharp points. "Well, every king needs a queen, doesn’t he? Even a rogue king."
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