Bloodbound to the Beastly King

"Alpha Radek?"

The figure stood behind the shadow, unmoving. It was only by the silhouette of the broad shoulders, the arrogant stance, that Adina knew it had to be him.

Her heart beat faster.

Slowly, he stepped out of the shadow, a crooked grin on his face. "Ah…finally, we're alone."

Adina didn't respond. She didn't have to. The air that she'd once admired and felt relaxed in suddenly turned hot. Uncomfortable.

"What… what do you mean?" she asked carefully, swallowing hard. "The festival is going on. Do you need anything? I can get it if that's—"

The man tsked. "Oh, don't be coy. It doesn't suit you." He stepped forward, and her heart dropped.

"Alpha."

"I told you, didn't I? There will be time to unravel you." He paused. "I've been so curious about you, and now…I get to have you."

She inched backward instinctively, only to feel the cold press of the balcony rail behind her. Trapped.

God, no.

He stopped a few steps away from her and tilted his head, his eyes dragging over her like she was something he could buy or worse, something already his. Adina shuddered in disgust as his eyes trailed her body shamelessly. "I've always wondered what the king and Lord Levi see in you. You're not… extraordinary."

"I mean, yeah. Looking at you doesn't hurt the eye, but watching those two men vying for your attention." He paused, shaking his head. "I figured there had to be something more to you. Right?" He asked, grinning.

Adina shook her head, she was already seated hard. "No one is vying for my attention. I'm merely a maid, my lord. A slave." She rushed out.

The man chuckled. "Oh dear, you don't even see it. You might be a maid, a slave, but they see something in you. Something I want to see."

Before she could react, he closed the distance and grabbed her waist hard. His slimy breath skimmed her cheek as he leaned in, the stench of wine and rot curling her stomach.

"Tell me," he murmured. "None of them has ever touched you, right?"

Adina jerked her head away. "Let me go."

But he didn't. His grip tightened. One hand sliding dangerously up her side as he inhaled her scent like some deranged beast. "Gods, you smell—fuck—you smell like caramel and heat and something else." He leaned back, eyes dazed like he was drunk. "What are you?"

"Stop it!" she cried, twisting in his grasp. She shoved hard, but he only laughed, holding her in place like she weighed nothing.

He dipped in closer, sniffing her like a dog. Suddenly he froze. His nose brushed the side of her neck. His breath hitched.

He laughed, lowly and disbelieving. "Oh… oh now that explains everything," Radek murmured, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. "You've been marked."

Adina's blood froze.

Radek grinned wickedly. His eyes locked on the faint mark on her neck, just barely visible in the light. "So the mighty Thorne gave in, huh? Interesting. I didn't think he had it in him."

Her face ran pale, sweat trickling down her back.

"What a beautiful mistake. He marked a slave."

Something snapped inside her, and she shoved him again, harder this time, finally breaking his grip. She stumbled back, breath ragged. "Don't you dare speak about him," she hissed. "And don't touch me again."

Radek straightened, his face falling into something colder. "You don't give commands, girl. You're nothing! Nothing but a lowly slave."

He lunged for her again, about to grab her arm.

He doesn't get too… he misses, and this time, she slapped him. Hard.

The sound echoed through the air, shocking even her.

Radek reeled back a step, stunned. His cheek reddening fast.

"You fucking bitch!" He snarled.

Adina didn't wait. She turned on her heel and ran—ran for her life. She ran into the study, her breath catching in her throat.

She didn't make it far.

He grabbed her mid-run, and she screamed as he pinned her against the wall.

"Let me go!" Adina yelled, pushing his chest.

"I don't give a shit if the king marked you," Radek growled, spit flying. "He's not here now. I'm an alpha. I take what I want."

Adina shut her eyes tightly, choking back a sob as she whispered a desperate prayer. Please. Please, someone…

"Radek!"

The voice rang out like a crack, and everything stopped.

Radek froze mid-motion, and slowly turned his head toward the door.

Standing there was Luna Veronica, eyes wide as she took in the scene. It was disgusting.

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked.

Adina trembled, tears brimming in her eyes, her knees weak, but she held on to the wall for support.

Radek stepped back finally, flustered. "Ah, Love, She—she misunderstood—I was just—"

Veronica's face grew red with anger, and she raised her hand and slapped him hard, harder than Adina had slapped him. Radek actually stumbled.

"You absolute idiot," she hissed. "Do you realize what you've just done? After the stunt you pulled with that debauched excuse of a festival—you now try to touch her? the king's personal maid?"

"VERIONICA!" Radek snarled, his Alpha ego unable to take it that two women just slapped him.

"Shut up!" Veronica snarled.

His chest heaved heavily. "She's just a slave."

"A slave or not! She belongs to the king. Are you trying to get us all killed?" She said, panting hard.

The Luna turned to her, and everything about her changed, her voice softened, her eyes dropped.

She walked closer, holding Adina's hand in hers. "Are you alright?" she asked gently, "I'm so sorry. I… I didn't know he would act like this. I-" she choked on a sob.

"I'm cursed with a mate like him. Please—I'm sorry." She sobbed. "Please- I take responsibility for everything he did. I-I'll compensate you if you want, but please, don't tell the king. Please, he'll burn our pack to ash. I beg of you." Her fingers trembled as she gripped Adina's. Her eyes were red, her mascara lightly smudged, like she'd cried once already.

"L-Luna?" Adina croaked out, and the woman fell to her knees.

"Please. Don't tell the king. He'll ruin us. My children are young. They can't be without a father. Please, don't."

Adina blinked, what was going on?

"Luna, please get up." Adina urged, helping her stand.

The Luna wiped her tears. "Will you—"

"Will she what?" Thorne's deep voice had all of them freezing. Radek, who had stood arrogantly like he didn't care, straightened up, fear coming off him in waves.

Thorne stood by the door, eyes flickering over each of them. He'd been searching for Adina when he felt the bond closing in around his neck, pulling him here.

"What's going on here?"

Adina's breath caught in her throat. Radek went stiff. Veronica turned slowly.

Thorne's eyes landed on Adina first.

Her hair was disheveled. Her dress wrinkled. She was trembling, barely holding it together. And there were fingermarks—reddening on her wrist.

His gaze snapped to Radek, and the entire room shifted. Everything in him froze.

And then… it exploded.

Without a word, Thorne's hand shot forward. He gripped Radek by the throat and slammed him against the nearest wall.

The impact shook the shelves. Veronica shrieked loudly. Dust fell from the ceiling.

Radek gasped, legs kicking as Thorne's arm flexed, lifting him off the ground with terrifying ease.

"You touched her?" Thorne's voice was low, guttural—not entirely human. His Lycan clawed and snarled inside him, wanting blood.

"I asked a question," he growled.

Veronica ran, tears in her eyes. "He didn't! He did nothing, Your Majesty. A misunderstanding. Adina got lost, and Radek tried to help."

Thorne's gaze returned to Adina. "Is that true?" He asked, but he could smell it all. The fear, the guilt, the tension. His Lycan clawed at him from the inside, but he held on longer…

Adina's throat bobbed. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

Veronica turned, eyes pleading with Adina to stay on track. To lie.

Adina finally looked up. Her eyes met Thorne's. Something flashed in her eyes, but it was gone just as quickly.

She opened her mouth. "I lost my way. That's all."

Thorne didn't speak for a long time. His fists clenched. His eyes stayed on her like he was trying to read the truth from her skin. He knew she was lying.

Finally, he released Radek.

Radek fell to the floor, coughing and gasping, hands at his neck.

Thorne stared at Adina, unblinking. Then he said. "We're leaving."

Adina nodded quickly. She stepped toward him, and he placed a firm hand on the small of her back.

As they reached the door, Thorne glanced back over his shoulder. His voice was colder than ever.

"I'll remember this night, Alpha Radek."