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Chapter 5: The Proposition of the Rogue Alpha King

Lya’s P.O.V

When I open my eyes, I expect to hear the guards swearing because I'm still lying down. But no, I'm in a plain and spartan room. And I'm tied up! The door opens, and a tall, slender man enters. He has short chestnut hair and a gaunt face accentuated by dark green, piercing eyes. A satisfied and malicious smile stretches his thin lips when he sees me awake.

"Well, I didn't expect you to be awake already, my beauty," he says with a note of satisfaction in his voice.

"Who are you? And where am I?"

"I am King Alpha Rogue, Ethan. And you, my beauty, will help me take down the Lycan king."

"Why would I do that?"

The rogue approaches me to sit on the bed. He puts a hand under my chin to make me lift my head. His gaze leisurely surveys me.

"I know what the Lycan King did to you. You're his erasthai, but he rejected you for a Lycan woman. Instead, he offered you to be his mistress," he says confidently.

"That's true. But that's not enough reason for me to agree to help you. Besides, why would you want a human by your side?"

"Oh, please. The King didn't see it, but I'm not that stupid. The goddess never makes mistakes. I can sense that your scent is different. You're not human, are you?"

"And if I am, what then?" I say to challenge him.

"You and I, we're alike, you know. Nobody will want someone like you here. Nobody, except me," he asserts convincingly.

I shake my head with a sarcastic smile. He can say what he wants, I'm not fooled. Even though I haven't been here for very long, I know how rogue rebels operate. And it's violence, intimidation, domination, and torture.

"You'll have to do better if you want me to fall for it. The Lycan king is an idiot, I'll give you that. But I certainly won't help scum like you take power," I say firmly.

Ethan's gaze darkens, his hand moves from my chin to my neck, and he begins to strangle me. I have to fight against my survival instinct not to show fear and not to start struggling. That's what he's waiting for. But my composure makes him smile, and he eventually releases me.

"You've made your choice, my beauty. You could have saved yourself a lot of trouble and pain by agreeing to follow me willingly. Now, I'll take pleasure in breaking you. And you'll give me everything I want without resistance," he concludes maliciously.

I don't reply to him and just watch him leave the room. I wait for his footsteps to move far enough away before freeing myself with a wind spell that cuts my bonds. Whether it's the Lycan King or the Rogue King, they think I'm fragile enough to be manipulated. I find it rather annoying.

Due to his behavior towards me, I don't appreciate Soren, that's true. Nevertheless, it's better for him to be at the head of the government than the ruthless rogue. I massage my wrists. Since I'm here, I might as well make the most of it.

I decide to make myself invisible with a spell and cautiously leave the room, closing the door with infinite care. It takes me a long time, wandering and silently swearing in the maze of the strange rogue king's mansion before I finally manage to find his office.

I press my ear to the door to make sure the room is empty before entering. I head to the desk and struggle to contain a laugh when I see plans and projects spread out all over the surface of the furniture. This wolf is just like Soren. They don't doubt anything, especially not themselves.

I wish I could stay long enough to see his face when he realizes his desk has been cleaned of all his documents. I gather them up calmly before teleporting back home.

I sigh with relief as I find the cozy safety of my small apartment again. Between imprisonment by Soren and abduction by Ethan, it feels like an eternity has passed. I take a long shower before changing. Then I teleport to the Lycan King's office, where I'm almost certain to find him. Except I don't expect to find him cooing with his Lycan woman. I roll my eyes; they make me sick.

"I understand better why the kingdom is struggling to get rid of the rogue problem," I say in a mocking tone.

My appearance surprises the couple. And quickly, Soren's gaze darkens dangerously. But I'm not worried. It's time I made him understand that he was wrong to humiliate me as he did.

"After running away, you have the nerve to show yourself in front of me again?! Have you no shame, woman?" he growls.

"You're even more stupid than I thought," I retort, laughing.

"How dare you speak to me like that? Just because you're my erasthai doesn't mean I can't punish you for your behavior!"

The Lycan approaches me, but I materialize a spear and point it at his neck. So close that the sharp tip presses slightly without breaking his skin. The King's eyes widen in surprise. His gaze travels along the magnificent golden and intricately crafted spear I hold in my hands until it meets my cold gaze.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that I'm not human? Sorry, it must have slipped my mind. And for your information, mighty Lycan King, I didn't run away, I was abducted by the Rogue King, in YOUR dungeons, on YOUR territory. Lucky for you, I think it's better to have an idiot in power than scum. Before leaving the rogue's mansion, I allowed myself to steal his plans and projects."

I throw my folder at the astonished Lycan's feet. I struggle to hide the anger that his behavior inspires in me.

"It's up to you what you do with it. The rest is none of my concern. As for me, Lya Amadylia, I reject you, Soren Silygham, as a companion and king."

I watch the king collapse to the ground, clearly in great pain, his fingers digging into his chest to scratch mercilessly. With a gasping voice, he speaks again.

"I refuse your rejection," he hisses. "Lycans don't get second chances."

"Don't make me laugh. You've created your own second chance. Own up to your choices," I reply coldly.

"No," he insists.

"What?" Claire exclaims.

She seems shocked by Soren's behavior.

"As you wish. You've killed any feelings I might have had for you by humiliating me. Chase after me, and I'll have no mercy. Keep your Lycan and make her your queen."

"You little..."

But the Lycan woman, who still stands near Soren's desk, stops short when wooden spikes emerge from the furniture to threaten her.

"Witch..."

"No. But I can be worse if you continue to provoke me," I say menacingly.

"Lya...," Soren murmurs.

"Ah, now you're calling me by my name," I question him with irony.

I shake my free hand with annoyance. I've wasted enough time here.

"I've talked enough. Remember, all the documents I've given you are authentic, but the rest depends on you. As for me, I'm going to leave the Lycan kingdom."

With these final words, I teleport back to my apartment. It's really a shame to leave it. But I don't have a choice.

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