Chapter 5
Kiera was in her small corner of the servant quarters, her body sore from the day’s work. Every muscle ached, and her hands were rough from the tools she’d been forced to use. She tried to relax, but her mind kept replaying Darius’ actions in the field, and worse—Ryker’s cold, piercing eyes.
As the sun began to set, a knock came at her door. Kiera froze. She didn’t know who to expect, but her heart raced as she got up and opened it. One of the older maids stood there, her face blank and her voice steady.
“The Alpha requests your presence in his chambers,” she said simply.
Kiera’s stomach dropped. Her hands trembled as she nodded, too afraid to question it. She quickly washed up and tried to look presentable, though she doubted it would matter to him.
The walk to Ryker’s chambers felt like an eternity. The palace was quiet, with only a few servants moving about. When she finally reached his door, the guards outside stepped aside without a word, their expressions unreadable.
She took a deep breath and knocked softly.
“Enter,” came his deep, commanding voice.
Kiera pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside. The room was massive, lit by a roaring fire that cast shadows on the stone walls. The air smelled of cedar and something darker, something that made her pulse quicken.
Ryker was standing by the window, his back to her. He turned slowly when she entered, his eyes cold and unreadable.
“Kiera,” he said, his voice low but sharp. “Come closer.”
She obeyed, her steps hesitant. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stopped a few feet away from him.
“Tell me,” he began, his tone mocking. “Did you want that guard?”
Kiera’s eyes widened in shock. “No, Alpha. I didn’t—”
He cut her off with a raised hand. “Don’t lie to me.”
“I swear,” she said, her voice trembling. “I was just working, and he… he came to me. I didn’t do anything to encourage him.”
Ryker studied her for a long moment, his gaze intense and unreadable. Then he smirked, but there was no warmth in it.
“Take off your clothes,” he said.
Kiera’s breath caught. “What?”
“You heard me,” he said, his voice hardening. “Take them off. Now.”
Her hands shook as she reached for the ties of her dress. She hesitated, her fear holding her back.
“Don’t make me repeat myself,” Ryker warned, his tone dangerous.
Tears pricked her eyes as she untied the dress and let it fall to the floor. She stood there, exposed and vulnerable, her arms instinctively wrapping around herself.
“Crawl to the bed,” he commanded.
Kiera froze, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“On all fours,” he added, his voice like ice. “Crawl to the bed.”
Her body moved before her mind could protest. She dropped to her hands and knees, her skin burning with humiliation as she began to crawl. The stone floor was cold against her palms and knees, and every inch she moved felt like an eternity.
Ryker’s footsteps were slow and deliberate as he walked behind her. She could feel his presence, the weight of his gaze on her.
When she was halfway to the bed, he spoke again.
“Stop.”
She froze in place, her body trembling.
Without warning, his hand came down hard on her butt cheeks, the sound echoing through the room. She gasped, her body jolting forward from the force.
“That’s for letting another man think he could touch you,” Ryker said, his voice low and menacing.
Kiera’s cheeks burned, both from the sting of the slap and the shame of his words.
“Keep going,” he said.
She resumed crawling, her movements slow and hesitant. When she finally reached the bed, she stopped, unsure of what to do next.
“Get on the bed,” he ordered.
She climbed onto the soft mattress, her body stiff with fear. She sat on her knees, her arms still crossed over her chest.
Ryker moved to stand in front of her, his eyes raking over her. He tilted her chin up with a finger, forcing her to look at him.
“Do you know why you’re here?” he asked.
She shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. “No, Alpha.”
“You’re here because you need to understand something,” he said. “You belong to me. Not to him. Not to anyone else. Me.”
Kiera nodded, her eyes filling with tears. “I understand, Alpha.”
“That's a Good girl,” he said, his tone softening just slightly. “Because if I ever see another man look at you the way he did, there will be consequences. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Alpha,” she said quickly.
Ryker’s hand moved to her cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle. But his eyes remained cold, his power and control unmistakable.
“You’re mine, Kiera,” he said, his voice low and firm. “Never forget that.”
She nodded again, her body trembling under his gaze.
Ryker stepped back, his expression unreadable. “You may leave,” he said finally.
Kiera scrambled to gather her clothes and quickly dressed, her movements frantic. She didn’t dare look at him as she left the room, her heart racing and her mind spinning.
Kiera’s hands shook as she finished dressing, pulling the fabric tight around her. Her heart was still racing from what just happened. Her mind tried to process it all—Ryker’s coldness, the way he ordered her around, and how he slapped her. She didn’t know if she was scared or angry, but something inside her twisted.
She could still feel the heat of his gaze burning on her, making her skin crawl. The way he looked at her like she was nothing but an object, his property. She had no choice but to obey, but it didn’t make her feel any better.
As she walked toward the door, she kept her head down, not daring to look back at Ryker. Her body still trembled, but she didn’t let herself break down. Not here, not now.
When she stepped out into the hall, the weight of what just happened hung over her like a dark cloud. Her body ached, her mind was confused, and the fear of what he might do next gnawed at her.
Kiera told herself she had to stay strong. Whatever this was, she had to survive it. But deep down, she knew—she was at his mercy now, and there was no turning back.
You may also like
