Page 8 of The Alpha King's Mate

I fingered it until I found the metal contacts.

No. A shock collar.

“You cannot leave my compound without getting fried. Standard procedure for non-pack members,” he said casually as he capped his pen.

A life for a life.

“Is my father alive?”

“Yes. I’ll admit I was a little upset, so I took his hand and you to conclude matters.”

His hand. The foot hadn’t been enough.

I swung my feet to the floor, then held my head as a dizzy spell took over.

“Why me?”

“I needed a personal servant.”

Liar. He was the Alpha King. He had countless minions.

“Someone biddable,” he continued.“Broken in, like you.”

My hands trembled and I blinked against the burn of tears. I raised my head. The long coat was gone. The white shirt remained, sleeves rolled up. A skull, blades, and part of a wolf were inked along his forearms.

“Did I make you cry?” he taunted.

I met his gaze. It felt equal, in a bizarre way. The depth of black in his eyes was like mine.

“Is that what makes you happy? You don’t have anything better to do, being the Alpha King?” I asked, dismissing him as I smoothed my hands over my skirt.

Before he could answer, a door opened and a stunning, leggy woman walked in. She could have stepped out of one of those glossy magazines Deeana and Cora read.

“No. Give it to her,” he said, and that’s when I noticed the tray in her hands.

She changed course and placed the small tray on the coffee table before me. The warmth in her eyes cooled as she took in my ragged appearance and the collar.

“This is Ember. My housekeeper.”

I gave her a nod. She hesitated a beat before nodding back.

She turned to leave, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the grey skirt. She had the most perfect ass I’d ever seen. My gaze trailed down to her heels. She was probably close to a foot taller than me in those things.

I tore the foil off the plate and moaned.

A foot-long steak baguette with all the extras. Caramelised onions, cheese and—ugh. It was so good. I tore off another piece.

Oh, I could have five of these.

So good.

When had I last eaten meat?

I sighed, pausing a moment before I swallowed.

So many flavours. I licked my fingers and lifted the second piece.

Yes. Yes.