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Chapter 17 - Only So Much An Alpha Can Take

Elián;

"First, our king hates when people talk out of turn." Alana begins as she buttons up the black shirt she and I agreed would be best for tonight. 

It's simple but luxurious. A kind of elegance I would have admired if I weren't so scared right now. 

"Once, he had a maiden's tongue ripped out because she spoke over him." Alana adds like she's reciting some casual nursery rhyme to me, and I feel my heart sputter to a stop.

What!?

Perhaps she notices how rigid I've become because she stops moving her fingers and looks up at me. She then smiles sheepishly after realising she's worsened my anxiety. 

"Well… the real reason he did that is because she said unsavoury things about one of the Alphas. She had it coming." She adds, but that doesn't make it any better. 

I've been whipped into a world where it's seemingly normal to lose your tongue after saying something you shouldn't!? Why is she saying it like that's normal? It's not! It's animalistic!! But then again… They are half animals, aren't they?

I let out a sigh, walk over to my bed and sit on it. 

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, and the young man staring back looks way too calm for the shit storm he's suddenly been placed in the center of. 

 My hair has been sleeked back… and even though I'm dressed in a simple black shirt and pants, I'm exuding luxury. 

I should let this image burn into my mind. It's probably the last fancy thing I'll wear before I meet my end. 

Under different circumstances, I may have liked being dressed like this… like someone important. But how can I allow myself to feel like that when I don't know what's ahead? 

Why is their father so adamant about meeting me? What if I screw things up? Say something I'm not supposed to… I don't… 

Every time I think I can breathe, this place goes ahead and gives me something that's way too big to go down my fucking throat. 

I'm constantly going to be on my toes here? I hate this…

I look down at my fingers and start pressing my thumbs against each other when suddenly, Alana comes into my frame of view. 

I look up and find her sitting on the floor in front of me. She smiles warmly at me like she understands my fears, and that almost gives me some relief. Almost…

I guess it feels a little good to know that someone probably understands… Or at least that someone is trying to…

"There's no need to be scared, Master Elián. If anything, you're quite important to the king. He wants to meet you because he's been hoping for an heir for so long, and now you're his first hope of getting one." She says softly, and I swallow. 

Right. Imagine what he'll do when he finds out I don't plan to give him a grandchild.

"It's simple. Just keep your head low, only speak when you're spoken to, and don't make noise with your cutlery when eating. He gets infuriated by that. Above all, never look him in the eyes. He counts that as a challenge." She adds, and my brows knot. 

A challenge? 

I open my mouth to speak, but am cut off when there's suddenly a knock on the door. 

She quickly stands up and moves away from me, like it's an abomination for anyone to see her that close to me. 

I turn to the door, and my heart skips a beat when it opens, and Koda walks into the room.

Alana quickly bows, and I instinctively shoot to my feet.

Why is he here?

"Leave us." He orders, and without a second's delay, Alana walks out, leaving just Koda and me alone in here, even though I'd rather have her stay back.

I turn fully to face Koda as Alana shuts the door behind her, and Koda starts walking over to me in slow, imposing strides. 

His bare upper body is glowing under the light. 

Did he get oiled, or is his skin just… naturally like this? This… mesmerising…

"You look good." He speaks. Pulling me out of my mind, and my eyes flick back up to his golden eyes, which are watching me… closely. 

"Th…thank you…" I stutter as my heart starts drumming, and a hint of a smile tugs at his lips. 

"You look pale with worry." He adds, and only then do I realise that he's just a few inches away from me. 

I take a few steps back to create some distance between us, but he just follows me. Rendering my efforts at creating space useless.

It's only a few minutes to dinner. Why is he here now? And why is he following me!?

"Is it because you're going to be having dinner with Father?" He questions, and I eye him as I keep moving away from him cautiously.

Of course that's why I'm pale! Who wouldn't be pale? All the brothers I've seen look like massive titans. Their father is clearly going to be more intimidating. 

I'm about to meet a tongue ripper and I shouldn't be pale??

Of course I'd be pale! In fact, we're all lucky I haven't started turning blue!

"Do you get tongue-tied when you're scared?" He questions, and I swallow as I begin to search for an answer.

"I… well… I'm just…" I begin but stop. Thoughts and reasoning have abandoned me. 

"It's okay. I just came here to be sure that you remember your promise." He says, and my heart skips a beat. Just then, I trip over my legs. 

My eyes widen as I start falling backwards, but he quickly grabs me and pulls me to himself. I crash into him with a grunt, but of course, his rigid body is unaffected by my feather-light weight crashing into him. Instead, he scoffs. 

"How are you so clumsy?" 

"S-sorry." I blurt before pulling myself out of his hands, and suddenly it's easier to look at everything else in the room except his eyes or face. 

"I came to warn you." He finally speaks again, and I shut my eyes. 

Of course. You certainly didn't come here to get dressed, did you?

"My father will smile, but his kindness is never free. Watch yourself… but most importantly, watch your words." He says, and I look up at him. 

He leans closer to me, and I stumble backwards, only for my back to hit the wall. 

Koda closes the space between us, and to my horror, he presses his huge body against mine. Pinning me against the wall as his fingers travel to my neck. 

With much too simple ease, he tilts my neck, and I shut my eyes as he takes his nose to the curve of it. 

He takes a deep breath, and this causes shivers to run up and down my spine. 

"I like you, little one. Don't fuck this up." He whispers, and I gulp. 

He keeps taking deep breaths, and for some weird reason, this causes an odd type of heat to swell inside me. 

"Your scent is much stronger here…" He breathes, and my heart starts pounding.

"A…alpha Koda?" I call in panic, and he pauses. 

He kisses his teeth like I should have waited a little longer before calling him. 

He pulls away from me, and I do not miss the reluctance. 

"We need to do something about your pheromones." He says, and fear washes over me like a cold breeze as I stare at him. 

His bright, golden eyes take me in, as he steps away from me. 

"There's only so much an Alpha can take." He adds, and I hold my breath. 

What does he mean by that?! I… It's not my fault. I… I can't… I don't know how to control this pheromone thing they keep talking about!!

"You have five minutes left. Father doesn't like tardiness." He says as he turns around, and I remain frozen as I watch him leave..

There's only so much an Alpha can take. The fuck did he mean by that?! Are they going to rape me if I hold out too long!?? Is that what he means?

And what he said about his father... What does it mean? 

"His kindness is never free. Watch yourself… but more importantly, watch your words..."

As if i wasn't tense enough before he got here!

What sort of chaos is this?

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