Alpha King’s Wolfless Mate by Scarlett Higgins

Chapter 7 Every day was the same. I woke up in the bedroom I’d chosen, with the green comforter, alone. The same sound always woke me, the front door closing. It was the only sign that Blake even came to the house. He’d shut the door loud enough to shake the entire, slouching house. I felt like he did that just to tell me he was leaving. Sometimes, I’d catch a glimpse of him at night when he got home but we hardly exchanged more than pleasantries Ever since I had refused to bow down in front of him, it was like he was avoiding me.. Charles still expected me to learn the harp. I wasn’t making much progress but at least Charles was someone to talk to and helped me pass the time. I’d already explored every room in the house and Charles and I had started cleaning it up. He seemed happy to have an extra pair of hands willing to help out and restore the house to some kind of glory. “What does Blake do when he leaves here?” I asked Charles as he stood on the lopsided porch, washing the windows. “He has a lot of work to do,” Charles said, shrugging. I ran the sponge over the dusty window pane and followed it with a squeegee. It was so shiny underneath, that I could see my own reflection. “Work for what?” I asked. I dipped the sponge in a soapy bucket and started scrubbing the window frame, finding bright, white paint underneath. “Master Blake doesn’t tell me everything.” Charles said absently. With a sigh, I dropped the sponge into the bucket. Suds splashed over and made speckles on the porch. The house was still lopsided and creaky but with some care and attention, the curtains and furniture were looking nicer and the air didn’t smell musty and stale. The walls and molding weren’t dusty anymore and a lot of the stains and marks around the house had been polished away. “What is the matter, Lady Nora?” Charles asked when I crossed my arms and leaned my head against the freshly watched exterior. “I want to get out of here for a while,” I groaned. “I’ve been trapped in this house for days.” “We’re outside right now,” Charles said, grinning at me. Even Charles looked better since I’d come around. He’d traded in his torn suit for some clothes that weren’t as nice as his suit but they didn’t have any holes in them. It made him look a lot nicer. “I want to go out into the village and see what is going on in the Rogue Zone. Don’t get me wrong, you’re great company but I want to see a little more of this place,” I said, motioning around to the front yard. The yard was overgrown, too. I had a feeling Charles and I would tackle the yard eventually. “Master Blake has told me that you aren’t allowed to leave the house alone,” Charles insisted.. “Well, you’re here. Why don’t you come with me?” I asked. I glanced at Charles and gave him an innocent, pleading look. He drummed his thumbs against his thighs as he gave me a suspicious look. “I won’t try anything. I promise,” I said. “Master Blake wants you here to keep you protected,” Charles pointed out. “And you can’t protect me?” I asked. He looked thoughtful again, stroking his chin as he looked at me and then let his eyes wander in the village. “The others know I work for Master Blake. They won’t bother you if you’re with me” he agreed “Great, let’s go. I could use some new clothes.” I said, motioning to the ratty clothing I still wore I’d washed them but I didn’ı have anything but the clothing I’d worn when I was dumped in the Rogue Zone “I can get you a few things” Charles offered with a nod “You have to stay with me, though,” I nodded and made a motion over my chest like I was crowing my heart Charles and I headed into the Rogue Zone village. The last time I’d been there, I’d only been on the outskirts Charles took me right into the center of the village where it was a little more built up than the outskirts There were nicer houses, a few cafes, and a small shopping district. He let me pick out some new outfits. Nothing was as nice as it was when I’d been with Moonery, but at least 1 got a couple of outfits that weren’t torn with holes in them. “Are you hungry, Lady Nora Charles asked. He insisted on carrying my shopping bags. He was Blake’s butler which meant that he was mine too since I was married to Blake: “I could eat.” I said, nodding. “There is a cafe on the corner. I will give you some money so you can get yourself something I’ve got an errand of my own to run,” he said “You’re leaving me alone?” I asked. “You’ll be safe at the cafe. If you leave the corner without me, you won’t be so lucky. Blake knows the owner and I just need to let her know that you are under his protection,” he explained “Okay.” I said, shrugging. It would be nice to have a moment of freedom without Charles or Blake watching me I ordered myself a coffee and a bagel. I sat at an outside table that wobbled in a chair that didn’t have any kind of c*shion and was very uncomfortable. “You’re new,” a female voice said. I looked up from my coffee as a woman my age sat down across from me. She was smiling widely and had a nice outfit on. her top even had sequins on it. It was low cut and her cutoff shorts revealed her pale thighs. She bit her l*p and looked at me with bright, green eyes. “And you’re married to Blake.” “How do you know?” I asked. I leaned back slightly. “The ring.” she said, nodding to it. “I’m Lucy, by the way.” She held her hand out across the table. “I’m Nora,” I said. I shook her hand. She was the first person, other than Charles, to actually smile at me, genuinely Charles didn’t really count because he was being paid to look after me “Wow. I didn’t know that Blake decided to settle down. You know, he and I kind of have a thing. I still have a pretty big crush on him.” Lucy said, batting her thick eyelashes at me and fl*pping her smooth, brown hair over her shoulder “Oh Well. I’m glad he has someone he can talk to.” I said a little absently. I didn’t know anything about Blake. I couldn’t be surprised that he had other relationships, even if they were casual flings

“You’re not jealous?” Lucy asked, raising her eyebrows at me I shrugged and sipped my coffee. “We’re still getting to know each other,” I explained. “Well, I’m the sister to one of the Alphas here in the Rogue Zone. I can get you pretty much anything you need. As long as you do me a favor, Lucy offered. She smiled again, being friendly once more. I wasn’t about to turn down an offer for help. Lucy seemed well connected and she was the only one that was willing to talk to me. Everyone else was so secretive and it was maddening. I needed someone to talk to, someone that was willing to share with me and be nice. I set my coffee down and smiled softly. “Do you know anything happening in the pack territories?” I asked. “Oh, I definitely do. I’m very well connected.” Lucy assured, nodding. “And if I wanted an update about what is going on at Moonery, what would that cost me?” I asked, chewing the inside of my check. “That’s easy. I can tell you everything about Moonery. All you need to do is bring me to see Blake. That’s not too, awkward. is it?” she asked, batting her eyes at me again. “No, that won’t be awkward.” I assured with a light laugh. “Let’s go. I’ll fill you in on the way,” she said. “I have to wait for Charles,” I said, pointing in a random direction. “I’ll send a note to him. You’ll be fine with me.” Lucy promised. She stood up and took my hand, pulling me to my feet. While Lucy and I returned to Blake’s house, she filled me in on what was going on in Moonery. “I heard that Jeremy, the Alpha’s son, announced his recent engagement to his mate, Helen. She’s going to be the next Luna Apparently, everyone loves Helen and is welcoming her with open arms,” she explained. “Oh.” I whispered. I looked down at my feet. That wasn’t what I’d wanted to hear. I played with the Holly leaf bracelet on my wrist. Jeremy really had accepted Helen as his mate and was going to marry her. I was forgotten. Lucy looped her arm with mine and dragged me along. “Other than that. I haven’t heard much out of Moonery. I guess things are going really well.” “I guess so.” I muttered. Lucy and I sat on the recently cleaned front porch. When Charles returned he just gave me a sharp look and then shuffled inside, along with my shopping bags. “I don’t think Charles approves of me bringing someone over.” I said. Lucy laughed a sweet laugh and shook her head. “He’s just intimidated. My brother is connected and powerful here. We can do whatever we want “And what do you want?” I asked, glancing at her. She had her legs crossed and was leaning back, resting her weight on her arms on the porch behind her. “What’s going on here?” Blake’s voice sent a shiver down my spine. Lucy jumped up and ran to him. “Blake, I’ve been waiting for you,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him. “Leave, now,” Blake ordered. Lucy pouted. “Go!” Blake ordered. I saw Lucy shudder. She glanced back at me and I shrugged. She took off toward the village again. “What the hell do you think you’re doing!?” Blake asked. He stomped up the steps and grabbed my elbow, dragging me to my feet “You’re hurting me!” I argued. I pulled my arm from him. He tried to grab me again but got my bracelet instead. I was still pulling away and the bracelet snapped. Blake dropped it on the porch like he didn’t care and grabbed my arm again, pulling me inside.. “Lucy told me her brother is the leader here in the Rogue Zone. She has a huge crush on you. Can’t that help with… whatever it is you are trying to do?” I asked as Blake shoved me against the wall of the entryway. “You don’t know what you are doing. Stay out of my business!” he snapped, glaring at me. “Then talk to me. Tell me what this is all about. Maybe I can help,” I offered. Blake scoffed and shook his head. He advanced and I pressed my back to the wall. “What could you possibly do? An exiled orphan. You have nothing I want,” He snarled in a disgusted tone as he glared at me. So this was his true feeling. Pity for my cheap sentiment at the fake wedding.   My l*ps curved. “You do need me or you wouldn’t have married me,” I reminded him. Blake grabbed my shoulders and pushed me into the wall. I swallowed hard and looked into his raging eyes. I saw the bartle between himself and his wolf as those animalistic desires stirred inside him. “Don’t talk about things you don’t understand!” he growled, his sweet breath tickling my nose. “Am I just supposed to wither away in this house, then!? Am I your prisoner here to use at your own whim?” I struggled against him but he was strong and he pushed me into the wall, my head hitting the plaster. “You are here as my wife. You do as I command and you stay in line,” he hissed, his l*ps barely moving when he spoke. “No, I am not your submissive. You are not my Alpha!” I snarled. All happened in a second. Before I could say anything else, Blake pressed his l*ps to mine, k*ssing me with a hungry, heated passion. I gasped and my brain froze. What was I supposed to do? I just stood there, not moving. No, I did move, I started to k*ss him back “I am in control,” Blake growled. He leaned in and clamped his teeth down on my n*eck. I screamed as my skin broke and be bit me to show me he was in control, he was the dominant one. I thrashed against him, trying to release myself from his hold. He pulled his mouth away, licking his l*ps as he stared into my eyes.