Chapter 5 005

Aveline’s POV

I waited patiently for him to speak, but it seemed he enjoyed torturing me with his silence. He said nothing for a long time, simply standing there, looming over me. My throat grew painfully dry as he dragged his claws slowly across my dry lips, as though he relished watching me struggle for breath and composure.

“The first choice,” he finally said, his voice cold and deliberate, “is being thrown into the dungeon for committing treason.” My eyes glistened with fear at his words.

This wasn't good. Not good at all.

“Or,” he continued calmly, “you can join my harem and allow me to bestow upon you my royal favor.” His words rasped against my ears like a curse.

Terrible. Absolutely terrible. I would rather drink poison and turn to stone for my sins than accept that fate. Even as his concubine, there would be no escaping this tyrant’s wrath. I had heard enough stories to know that.

“Join your harem?” I repeated weakly. “That’s not possible. I am not worthy of being bestowed with your royal favor.” My voice trembled despite my effort to remain composed.

He released a low, vibrating laugh that sent chills down my spine. It sounded dangerous, like a warning.

“Are you defying me?” he roared suddenly. “Should I kill you right now?” Panic seized me. I slammed my forehead against the floor without thinking.

“No, Your Majesty!” I cried desperately. “Please… why don’t you give Aveline the third choice?”

“But if you find those two choices too benevolent,” he said darkly, “you may choose to serve me to death. So tell me, omega, which will it be?”

He grabbed my chin roughly, forcing my face up. My gaze landed on his masked face, and terror wrapped tightly around my heart.

“I… please spare me, Your Majesty,” I whispered.

I resorted to pleading because every option was horrifying. I didn’t want to be thrown into the dungeon, not as a weak omega who wouldn’t survive a single night. I didn’t want to be one of his women either, I had heard he killed them whenever his mood was sour.

But serving him to death was no better. It was simply a slower path to the same end.

“Do you dare beg me when I am being this benevolent?” he roared.

His claws brushed dangerously close to my face, and I shuddered violently. The temperature in the room dropped so sharply that my skin prickled. I could feel his wolf stirring beneath the surface, restless and enraged, ready to tear me apart for my disobedience.

This was it. This was the moment my fate would be sealed.

“Your Majesty,” I screamed suddenly, without thinking, “I pledge to serve you to death!” The moment the words left my mouth, he withdrew his hand.

“Really?” he asked quietly. “You pledge to serve me to death? You chose that over the other two options?”

I nodded frantically.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I rasped. “I will serve quietly by your side until the day I draw my final breath.”

If only I had known how deeply I would regret those words.

“But here is what you fail to understand,” he said coldly as he straightened and turned away. “A lady-in-waiting can be bestowed royal favor at any time. So you are not entirely safe.”

With that, he walked out of the bathroom, leaving me collapsed on the floor, drowning in my misfortune.

“What?” I whispered hoarsely. “Did he just fool me?”

I mourned my situation silently, but I knew wallowing wouldn’t save me. I needed to find a way to escape quickly.

“Staying near him will get me killed,” I murmured as I forced myself up and slipped back into my clothes.

I walked into the king’s chamber and nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw him seated majestically on his bed. The aura surrounding him was so overwhelming that I felt as though I had wandered into the throne room itself.

“Your Majesty,” I said shakily, bowing low, “may this humble maid take her leave?” He didn’t respond for a long time.

My palms grew slick with sweat as my anxiety climbed. I feared he had found something else to punish me for.

“Looks like you’re not from around here,” he said at last.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Very well,” he replied. “You may leave. But you will report to me immediately whenever I summon you.”

“Immediately?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

His cold gaze silenced me instantly.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” I said hurriedly. “I will take my leave now.”

I dragged my trembling legs out of the room. The moment I reached the hallway, my strength gave out, and I collapsed to my knees. I couldn’t believe how drastically my life had changed in a single day.

How could one bath entangle me with a tyrant? Perhaps it was simply my cursed luck. I had heard stories, how every lady-in-waiting vanished without a trace after a month. Would that be my fate too?

“Things may change,” I whispered to myself as I stood, “but for now, I need to survive.”

I returned to the maid quarters and entered the room I shared with Thalia. She was pacing restlessly, worry etched across her face, but she froze the moment she sensed me.

“You’re back?” she asked, disbelief clear in her voice. “Yes,” I replied quietly.

“What happened?” she pressed. “Why did you come back so late?”

Frustration boiled over, and I hissed as I recounted everything that had happened. “I didn’t even mean to fall asleep, but..” I ranted.

She cut me off. “What option did you choose?” I blinked at her. “What are you talking about?”

“You said the king spared you because you chose one of the three options,” she said. “So which one did you pick?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I snapped, irritation creeping into my tone.

Her eyes widened. “You chose to be his concubine?” “Why would you think I’d do something so dishonorable?” I bellowed.

“Then what?” she asked.

“To serve him until I die,” I groaned. “And at this rate, I might die before I even serve him.” To my shock, Thalia burst into laughter.

“The king isn’t that bad,” she said. “And you know, you blew a chance many people would kill for. It’s not easy to become one of the king’s concubines.”

I stared at her in disbelief. Why would anyone want a man as masked and tyrannical as him? I didn’t voice the thought. All I wanted was to escape before I was killed.

“I don’t care about that,” I said desperately, gripping her hand. “Is there a way I can escape this, Thalia? Or should I pretend I’ve lost my mind so he sends me away?” She laughed even harder.

“Don’t try that,” she warned. “He might actually make you lose your mind.”

I sighed heavily. “Then what should I do?”

“For now,” she said softly, “just survive.”

She mentioned the soldiers drinking at the pack arena and said she might meet her mate there. I nodded, exhausted beyond words.

“Aren’t you coming?” she asked.

I shook my head. “No. I’ll stay here. I need to sleep.”

I needed rest…needed to recover from the trouble I had dragged myself into.

“Alright,” she smiled. “See you in the morning.”

She closed the door behind her.

If only I had known the night would not remain quiet for long.