Page 3 of The Wolf King

He raises a fist to deal the death blow—pausing with it in mid-air as if savoring the kill.

The young one looks into my eyes rather than at the monster on top of him.

And I cannot bear it.

This is not right.

“Stop!” I jump to my feet.

The alpha stills. The crowd quiets. Sebastian looks at me, eyes narrowed, while a muscle tightens in my father’s jaw.

My heart is pounding in my chest.

Yet I do not sit back down.

“This is not sport.” I force my voice to sound steady, even though my knees are shaking. “This is murder.”

The air in the hall thickens. The crowd turn their anger, their bloodlust, from the Wolves to me. The alpha’s shoulders rise and fall, hard.

My breathing quickens. I shouldn’t have said anything. I am a woman. A statue. It is not my place.

Yet I do not sit down.

“Putting down an animal is hardly murder,” says Sebastian, a bite to his tone. “Or does my betrothed have a thing for beasts? Do you know that they take their women like dogs? I have heard that some women—”

“That’s enough.” My father’s command rumbles across the hall.

Sebastian dips his head to the king. “I did not mean to offend, Your Highness.”

“Aurora is tired. She will excuse herself and go to bed,” says my father.

I have disappointed him, and shame heats my cheeks.

But I don’t move.

Neither does the alpha. His arm is still raised, his gaze trained on his victim as he awaits the conclusion of our conversation. The boy’s wide eyes hold mine. Tears and blood stain his cheeks.

“Let him live.” My mouth is as dry as bone.

Sebastian is barely containing his rage. He clearly does not like to be challenged in front of his people. “What use is he to me alive, my love?”

“He is young. Fit. Put him to work in the stables.” I want to disappear, but I force myself to look at him, to smile. “A wedding gift to me, my lord.”

Sebastian appears to consider. He stands and takes my hands; his fingers are cold and curl around mine like a vice. I push down the disgust that is rising inside me at his touch. He smiles back.

“Very well, my love. A wedding gift.” He leans close, bringing his lips to my ear. “You know, if you have a fondness for these creatures, and wish to be taken like a common mutt, that can be arranged tomorrow night after the ceremony. Who knows, perhaps I will throw you into the kennels afterward. Perhaps I will even let this alpha have a go with you, seeing as you have denied him his kill.”

Every muscle in my body hardens as the monster I knew was lurking inside him makes his presence known to me.

He releases me and turns to his people.

“The fight is over,” he says, and the monster slips back beneath his skin. “A gift to my betrothed, who is as gentle-hearted as she is beautiful.”

The muscles in the alpha’s shoulders are knotted and hard. Hot, raw anger radiates from him. It’s as if the wolf inside him is furious that he doesn’t get to kill someone.

He drops his arm to his side.

I’m breathing fast. My dress is too tight and the air too hot.

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