I woke up with an immense headache, my chest tight as if I couldn't breathe properly. Groaning softly, I pushed myself up from the bed and rubbed my temples, blinking as I took in my surroundings.
I was in a room.
A room far bigger than the brothel attic we used to sleep in. The walls were polished, the bed soft beneath me, the air scented with something expensive. But that wasn't what mattered.
What mattered was—where the heck was I?
"Hello? Is anyone there?" I called out as I stood from the bed.
The moment my bare feet touched the cold marble floor, a shiver ran down my spine.
I walked toward the door and opened it slowly. Outside, several maids hurried past, their heads lowered. I called out to them again, but none of them responded. It was as if I didn't exist.
"Hey—wait!" I reached out to stop one of them, but she harshly shoved me away without even looking at me.
I staggered back, confused. Why were they all acting like they couldn't see me?
Then a shadow loomed over me.
I flinched and turned around, only to find a pale, strange-looking man staring down at me. His eyes were cold. Empty.
"This way, Okash Flora," he said flatly before turning to walk away.
Okash Flora.
Something about that name felt wrong… but I couldn't quite place it.
For some reason, he didn't scare me. Not like he probably should have.
I followed him down the long hallway. When we reached a large double door, he knocked once before pushing it open. I stepped inside behind him.
An Alpha sat inside with a woman beside him—too close to just be an advisor. From the way she leaned into him, I assumed she was his wife.
"Your Royal Highness, the girl is awake," the pale man announced, shoving me forward.
I nearly stumbled to the ground, but I steadied myself before falling and forced my shoulders back as I walked forward on my own.
"Who are you people?" I demanded. "And why am I here?"
I didn't care about the deadly glares in their eyes. I'd seen worse.
"I bought you for a reason, Flora," the Alpha King said calmly.
"Reason for what?" I shot back harshly.
I wasn't playing with anybody. I had already been through hell in that brothel—I wasn't about to start another one.
"Insolent child. How dare you speak to my husband that way?" the Queen growled, her lips pulling back to reveal sharp canines.
A shiver ran through me.
I was playing with fire. I had no wolf in me—no claws, no fangs. And here I was speaking rudely to a room full of creatures who could snap my neck in seconds and end my life without blinking.
I lowered my head slightly.
"My apologies, Your Royal Highnesses," I said carefully. "But I would like to know the reason I was bought by the King."
"You will find out now," the Alpha King replied calmly.
The Queen rose gracefully from her seat.
"You see, dear," she began, her voice suddenly softer, almost gentle, "you were brought here for only one reason."
My throat felt dry. "Which is?"
"To feed my hungry son."
Her tone dropped low.
My heart began to race. "What… what do you mean, my Queen?"
She studied me as if I were already a meal set before her.
"Have you ever heard of the Kyokai Beast?" she asked, stepping closer.
Kyokai Beast.
I barely remembered anything about my own past. I didn't even remember where I came from. All I knew was my name—Flora. So how could I know anything about beasts?
"No, Your Highness," I answered truthfully.
"Well," she continued, "these beasts are believed to be extinct."
I nodded slightly, relief almost washing over me. Extinct sounded safe.
But then her eyes darkened.
"When I was pregnant with Ramon, I was cursed by a witch."
The anger and pain in her voice were unmistakable.
She stopped directly in front of me and looked down at me.
"I killed that witch," she said, as if it were something to be proud of.
"This is why witches are banned everywhere. They are nothing but a curse upon werewolf kind."
I swallowed hard, my mind racing.
Where was she going with this?
"All because of that stupid witch," the Queen spat, her composure cracking. "Now my darling son has a Kyokai Beast living inside him… and it can only be suppressed by omega blood."
My eyes widened.
Omega blood.
They were going to feed me to their son.
Panic surged through me like fire in my veins.
I have to get out of here.
Without thinking, I spun around and bolted for the door—but the pale man stepped in front of me instantly, blocking my escape like a wall.
"No. No— you want to feed me to your son?" I demanded, staring at the Queen in disbelief.
"We have no other choice," she said, her voice trembling. "If we do nothing, the heir to the throne will die."
As if I was supposed to care.
"Oh, fuck you and the dying heir!" I screamed.
The words shocked even me—but I didn't take them back. These people weren't normal. They were monsters.
"Language, little girl," the King said coldly. He turned to his wife. "I told you, Samantha. There was no need to explain."
"I thought if I did, she would understand," the Queen whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Understand?
She just calmly explained how her son was going to eat me—and now she was crying like I was the selfish one.
I stared at her in disbelief.
Suddenly, two strong hands grabbed my arms.
I gasped and looked up to see two tall guards restraining me tightly.
"Take her to the dungeon," the King ordered without hesitation. "The beast must be hungry."
They nodded.
"Please!" the Queen cried out desperately. "I need my son back to normal tonight. Do whatever it takes!"
My heart pounded violently as they dragged me toward the door.
No.
No, this couldn't be happening.
This couldn't be how my life ends.