Snow’s P.O.V

His hand tangled into my hair this time and he yanked it tight. “I wasn’t asking, Snow.” 

Trapped beneath his towering frame, I trembled, searching his face with wide eyes. He looked angry and that rage in his gaze felt too familiar–like the other Alphas who hurt me and took just because they could. 

My stomach knotted in fear and it overrode very rational thought. If I didn’t satisfy the Alpha, he might hurt me badly. I had a baby in my stomach. I couldn’t let him beat me to death. 

So holding his gaze, I dropped to my knees and my hands reached for his belt, fumbling with the buckle. If I submitted and gave him my mouth for him to fuck it, maybe he wouldn’t hurt me. That always worked with the other Alphas. 

But the King’s body went rigid. 

A sharp curse tore from his lips, and he caught my wrists, yanking my hands away. “Stop!” His voice cracked like a whip. 

I went still, blood pounding in my ears. 

“I can smell your fucking terror, Snow!”He bit out, eyes blazing with irritation. “Why the fuck are you trying to suck my cock? Do you think I’m going to hurt you if you don’t? Listen to me, I will hurt you, but not like this. You will want it and beg me for more.” 

His words sank in slowly and my breath hitched. I looked up at him in disbelief. Never? I asked with my eyes. 

His gaze softened and the hard lines of his face eased just a fraction. He reached for me again, but not in anger. Strong, calloused hands lifted me effortlessly, cradling me against his broad chest. 

The scent of leather and pine surrounded me, grounding me as he carried me to the massive bed. 

The mattress dipped as he laid me down gently, the cool sheets brushing my heated skin. His movements were controlled as if afraid to spook me. I watched him warily, my heart still racing. 

Then he loomed over me with an unreadable expression. “I’d thought you were too scared to talk to me,” he murmured, eyes narrowing. “Didn’t know you were just…dumb.” 

Dumb. 

The word stung and my body reacted before my mind could catch up. I shot my hand out, smacking his thigh in a reflexive burst of anger. 

The impact felt like slapping a stone wall. His thigh was solid muscle, thick and powerful beneath the soft fabric of his trousers. I barely registered the intense heat radiating from his body before freezing in horror. 

What had I just done? 

I braced for his wrath, trembling as I pulled my hand back. But instead of anger, he chuckled–a rumbling sound that vibrated through his chest. 

His brows arched and amusement danced in his stormy eyes. 

“Did you just hit me, Kitten?” 

Heat flooded my cheeks and I frantically shook my head. My fingers curled against the sheets before I lifted them, spelling out a single word in the air. 

M.U.T.E 

His amusement faded into something more serious and he stared at me long and hard as if scrutinizing me. Then slowly, he nodded. “Not dumb then. I will call you mute.” his voice was quiet, but the acknowledgement made my throat seize. 

A small geniune smile tugged at my lips and i felt like the cold part of my soul were warming. I was still terrified of the huge Lycan King, but he…seemed different to me. I started to sit up, intent on leaving the bed, but his hand shot out, gently but firmly stopping me. 

“What are you doing?” he asked 

I blinked up at him in confusion before glancing toward the fire place. My eyes lit up as I spotted a piece of charcoal. 

Crawling to the edge of the bed, I grabbed it and quickly sketched a crude drawing on the stone wall beside the bed. It was a stick figure lying on the floor beside a huge bed. 

I pointed at myself, then at the stick figure on the floor. 

Omegas weren’t allowed to sleep in the same bed as Alphas. It was forbidden. 

He studied the drawing, then me. For a moment, silence stretched between us and I held my breath in wonder. He was the first person to ever let me communicate with him. Most people in my pack refused to understand my signing and they weren’t patient enough to let me draw. He was…very patient. 

The King soon let out a dry chuckle. “This is my room and your pack is my territory. I make the laws here so you’ll sleep where I say.” 

I blinked again, processing his words and then a ghost of a smile tugged at my lips and I nodded. 

The lamp clicked off, plunging the room into a soothing darknes. I felt the mattress shift as he settled beside me. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close. I gasped when my back hit his chest. His body was like a furnace and warmth seeped into every inch of me as his scent surrounded me. 

He pressed a soft kiss to the mating mark on my neck. I tensed up, unsure of his intentions. No man…or anyone has ever been this gentle with me. It was…scary, like unchartered waters. With the violence, I knew what to expect. But this– 

“Relax, kitten. I would never hurt you.” He muttered thickly against my ears and I trembled. One of his hands drifted up and I felt his thumb brush over my lips gently before it pushed against it with more pressure. 

Understanding the unspoken words, I opened my lips and he pushed his finger into my mouth and I began sucking on it gently. His cock hardened against my backside but he didn’t make any move at all. 

With his thumb in my mouth and a low hum of arousal dancing through me, one word pulsed through my veins, mixing with my blood. 

Safe. 

Safe. 

Safe. 

Then the darkness swallowed me. 

When I woke up, my wall of heat was gone. The panic that seized me robbed me of the rest of my sleep and I jerked up, looking for him. Please be here. Please don’t leave me here. Please, I begged. 

But when my eyes adjusted to the dim room, I froze. Ten pairs of eyes stared at me from every corner. 

I swallowed hard, recognizing them instantly as my pack warriors who had sexually harassed me. 

My throat closed up and I crawled backwards on the bed, tears stinging my eyes. 

What’s going on? Why were they here? Has the Lycan King left me and now Liam would punish me for losing my virginity? Even if we didn’t have sex last night, everyone would assume we did because I slept in his room last night. 

My heart thundered in my chest as my mind spiraled. 

I thought I might faint when I felt another presence. 

Liam. 

My brother stood stiffly near the door, his jaw tight with obvious irritation. he had never been too good at masking his anger. 

“She’s awake now, Your Majesty?” he said coldly? “May we commence?” 

Commence what? My stomach churned and I parted my lips but no words came. No no no. 

Then I noticed the King too. He was near the window across the room and his broad shoulders blocked out any source of light there. His head turned slightly as if he was only half listening. He didn’t even look at me but that didn’t stop me. 

My thoughts reached for him, begging. What’s happening? What are they going to do to me? 

But he only uttered three words. “Yes, you may.” 

What?