AKIRA'S POV
I was so fucking stupid. As I diced the huge carrots, I vividly began to remember what happened two days ago, how Ares ordered me to dress up after giving me the first earth-shattering– which didn't even cover it– orgasm of my life. My thighs quivered as I remembered how he stretched me with his fingers before soothing the sting with his tongue. I couldn't believe I had let him do that. It was almost questionable how all my resolve crumbled into a gazillion pieces immediately I saw the lust in his eyes. Lust for me.
And the huge bulge in his slacks heightened my pleasure– and confidence. But all that– including my dignity– had filtered into thin air when I dressed up in the skimpy maid outfit he got for me. Of course, he had ordered me to thank him after putting the material on and I did, like the foolish little girl I was.
I was sure my face was flushed as I lowered my head to chop the carrots into smaller pieces. I looked down at the big bowl of salad. My mind was trying to come up with reasons why werewolves and a Lycan would be interested in eating vegetables. I assumed they would rely greatly on raw flesh and anything raw. Ares was way too intense and terrifying to eat anything but meat.
A giggle slipped out of my mouth at the thought, earning various hostile glares from other maids bustling around me. I pursed my lips and got back to work.
Ever since Ares dragged me (who was in a scandalous dress) into the kitchen and announced to Madam Yelena that from then onwards I would only clean his quarters and I would not be allowed to wear anything other than a clothing of his choice, their hatred for me was as clear as day.
Madam Yelena being Madam Yelena had immediately nodded her head with a smile on her face and responded with a; "Of course, Alpha Ares. Whatever you say will be."
While I stood there with my mouth gaped open because firstly; I was blatantly ignored, but what had I expected? I was freaking kidnapped, I didn't expect to ask for my opinion or anything. And secondly, Madam Yelena smiled. The grumpy old lady never smiled at anyone. It was almost like she was in love with Ares, but I knew it was nothing short of motherly love. I knew she cared greatly for Ares and would do anything for him.
Of course, after the Alpha left me standing in the middle of the kitchen with a dress that was only inches from showing my ass, Madam Yelena had barked out questions at me. Ranging from how I convinced the Alpha to cut off my chores, to strings of curses in Greek and finally, to how she was immensely disappointed at 'my humans'.
I had to stop myself from laughing at the flushed woman. She was looking at the dress the way she would look at me – with disgust. She wasn't the only one disgusted, I too was and the rest of the maids in the kitchen.
I'm shaken back into the present when another maid dropped a bowl of onions in front of me.
"Chop these faster, Amira." She spat out the name with so much venom.
My nose flared up with anger. It wasn't my fault the Alpha was obsessed with me– or what I wear.
I tried to force a smile on my face but it came out as a grimace instead. "Sure, Juliet."
She huffed before turning her back to me.
My gaze clashed with Eve's and she gave me a sad smile. Eve was entirely convinced that Alpha Ares was my mate but ever since he had refused to spare me a glance and would speak to me with so much animosity, her hopes crumbled.
I looked around me, everyone was bustling to finish their part earlier. The news was brought to us that we would be having guests today. And rumours had it that it was an Alpha from another pack who needed help from Alpha Ares.
Soon, the guests were filling in and we waited until everyone was seated around the forty feet dining table before the serving began. I was part of the servers today and immediately I entered the room, the air around me thickened. The red-blood velvet curtains were shut tightly and the only light in the room shone from the scattered crystals on the chandelier.
I refused to look at Ares, whose eyes found my petite frame immediately I stepped in. I felt his eyes sensually caress my body and goosebumps broke out on my skin. My whole body was flushed with heat.
I was quickly directed to stand beside Alpha Ares and we all waited for his command.
The chatter ended as Ares cleared his throat. "Dinner will be served now." He looked at them and then at me. "You will be serving us."
I swallowed as I nodded, reaching for the glinting butcher knife in the middle of the table. Barely able to reach, I stretched further only to feel stares on my ass, I grasped the blade before piercing it into the beef wellington.
I served Ares before the rest of the maids began to move. Sneaking a look, I realised that he was dressed in tight-fitting black pants and a black dress shirt that wrapped perfectly his bulging biceps, with a few buttons popped open.
I looked beside the Beta to find Serena glaring holes into me. She was dressed in a red silk gown, with a plunging neckline and her blonde hair in a beautiful updo. Serena was pretty and she knew it.
I'm standing still when the guest Alpha, Stephan, looked at me. "I want her to serve me." The look plastered on his face was outrageously disgusting as he raked his eyes over my body.
Beside me, I heard Ares' breath hitched the same time mine did. My heart thrummed hard in my chest as I waited for his command. As did everyone in the room.
Ares's face was blank when he spoke. "Go on, Akira." His jaw ticked. "Serve him."
I nodded and my feet began to move robotically and soon I saw myself standing beside Alpha Stephan. While Ares had a musky and woodsy scent, Stephan's smell made my eyes burn.
I leaned over stiffly and I could already feel his leering eyes on my ass. But right before I could place his beef on his silver plate, I felt his hands sneakily make their way to my thighs. The action made the plate and knife in my hands fall and clatter on the glass table.
"This one needs a little more teaching." Alpha Stephan hummed, his eyes shut as he took in a deep breath. "And she smells so fucking good."
My body was paralyzed with fear as Alpha Stephan's hands drifted closer to the edge of my ass. I looked over at Ares but he only took a sip of his wine and paid me no attention, the only way I knew he was on the verge of snapping necks was his tight grip on the glass.
His Beta, Czar, only smirked in response to Alpha Stephan's words. "You should know how Ares hates sharing."
Alpha Stephan paid him no attention, instead, he looked at Ares, exchanging the murderous gleam in his eyes for something else. "You should give me this one, Ares." His smile showcased his brown teeth. "A perfect human to fulfill my needs."
Ares still didn't snap, he looked at me as he leaned into his throne and crooked his fingers. "Come here, Akira." His voice was velvety, low and sensual and it drew me in immediately.
I slowly walked towards him, my fingers tingled with the need to run them through his hair. I could feel eyes on me as I stood right next to him.
He wrapped a thick palm over my wrist and tugged me down to his lap. Immediately, my body sizzled with electricity. Over my pounding heart, I heard numerous gasps and the number of eyes on me increased.
He pulled me closer, forcing me into his chest as he asked; "Should I let Stephan fuck you?" It wasn't meant to be a whisper, hence everyone in the room heard the question and it wasn't supposed to hurt but it did. My chest burned and I struggled to breathe.
"Ares." The Beta gave Ares a warning look but he paid no mind to it.
My hope shattered at my feet as he cupped my jaw, forcing me to look at him. "Hmmm? Would you like that?"
His face was void of any emotion but as the first tear slid down my face, he looked into my eyes. Dull grey eyes stared back at me. I heard the eyes were the windows to your soul but Ares's eyes? They guarded every little bit of his soul. The only thing that kept me from screaming like a banshee and wringing his neck and that of the sick fuck sitting away from us was the pad of his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my wrist.
My eyes shone with unshed tears as I looked back at him and whispered, "No."
Ares inhaled deeply, a small cruel grin on his face. "Do you think I would let him fuck what's mine?" He asked, the palm on my thigh tightened. "Touch what's mine?"
I shook my head.
"Use your words, doll."
He wasn't even trying to tone his voice down. And that gave me a certain amount of strength.
A strength that felt like a fresh of breath air. "No," I said out loud.
I heard the disapproving cluck of Alpha Stephan's tongue. And I felt the disapproving stares of the rest of them.
"I think your little doll is rather bold." Alpha Stephan spoke, turning my attention to him. And I knew Ares didn't like that with the way he tugged my chin back to face him.
"You look at only me and only me, doll." He hissed at me before looking back at Stephan. "Of course, her boldness is one of her many traits I like."
I melted at his confession. He was mentioning this in front of everyone. And his words were doing things to my body.
"Now, little doll, do you think I would ever," He stressed out the word, "Let him even imagine touching you?"
"No." My voice echoed in the room, no longer timid but now, strong and fearless. Ares had the power to make me fearless and also shatter my confidence all at once. I had to act like I was walking on cracked eggshells around him.
His smile was downright malicious when he spoke. "Good girl."
"I think you're getting a little too close to this one, Ares." Alpha Stephan declared. And I could hear distinctive murmurs of agreement from others.
"You do as you'd like in your home, but this is my home and my pack and you are not allowed to question me." His words were as sharp as the knife glinting in the– now quiet– room. And his body vibrated as he spoke.
I watched as Alpha Stephan sputtered. "Of course, Ares. Anything you say."
But Ares wasn't done. "You come into my home for help and you question my actions? And you dare to call me by my name?" He spoke the words with venom. Authority was steaming out of him in waves.
Alpha Stephan's Beta moved to speak. "We're so sorry, Alpha –"
Ares was quick to cut him off. "I didn't fucking ask you to speak." He then smiled. "All I wanted was a nice fucking meal."
I saw the questioning in the face of everyone sitting at the table. I knew they were all wondering why Alpha Ares was letting me, a slave, sit on his lap. While most of them finally concluded that the Alpha and I might have something, the look of disgust on the faces of others told me they thought I was the Alpha's new slut.
It went silent for a while before he spoke again. "We're going to have this wonderful meal prepared for us then you and your group of clowns are going to get the fuck out of my territory and never step your feet back into my land." His cruel smile was back. "Unless you're hungry for the bloodshed of course. The deal is off."
Everyone began to eat when his deep voice rumbled underneath me again.
"Get up." This time around the hostility was directed toward me. Immediately, I scrambled out of his lap so fast I almost fell on my face but a strong hand steadied me.
That same void eyes looked at me before he turned to face the table. And his gaze wasn't me the next time he spoke.
"Kneel."
With a shaky breath, I lowered myself to the ground. My hands turned clammy and my eyes burned with tears, tears I wasn't going to shed in front of these monsters.
And throughout the entire dinner, Ares's voice was cold and distant as he conversed with Czar while my knees hurt to the point where the pain numbed them.
The little hatred I had for Ares grew with each passing time and it finally turned into a tall brick wall around my heart.
Ares was the devil. While he publicly staked his claim on me, he also let them– and me– know that I meant nothing to him. But he owned me, he always will.