When the Blood Moon Pack raided a neighboring pack, they brought in Milo Ravenshade. A girl disguised as a man. He was being dragged through the corridors of the stronghold.
The sound of screams and snarling wolves echoed in his mind. He bite his lower lips feeling guilty for the successful raid on his pack.
When they entered a larger room ahead, he was thrown forward. He landed hard on the cold stone floor, wrists and ankles aching from the rough ropes that bound him.
He had been dragged before the Ruthless Lycan King, thrown like a sack of grain at the foot of the throne.
"Alpha, we caught this one trying to escape during our raid at the Indigo Light Pack," one of the warriors growled, yanking Milo's head back by his hair. "He was helping smuggling women out of the pack so we won't find them."
The Lycan King, Rowan Bloodhart, looked up slowly, his piercing ice-blue eyes narrowing as he took in Milo's disheveled appearance. His jet-black hair was slicked back, revealing a chiseled face with sharp cheekbones and a cruel smile. He rested his head on his hand, his elbow propped up on the armrest of the throne, exuding an air of boredom.
Milo's heart skipped a beat as Rowan's gaze landed on him, his eyes lingering on the Omega's delicate features and bound wrists. The Omega's luminous violet eyes darted up, met Rowan's, and immediately looked away, trembling.
"What is his name?" Rowan asked, his voice low and menacing.
The warrior shrugged. "We never got to ask, Alpha."
Rowan sighed, his expression unchanging, but his eyes flashing with irritation. He rose from his throne, his movements fluid and predatory, as he descended the dais steps.
"Then we'll have to make him tell us," he purred, his gaze raking over Milo's trembling form.
Milo's breath caught in his throat as Rowan approached him, the Lycan King's presence suffocating and overwhelming. He tried to scramble backward, but the warriors held him firm, their grip like iron.
Rowan crouched beside him, his breath whispering against Milo's ear. "You're a clever one, aren't you, little Omega?" he whispered, his voice dripping with menace. "Helping women escape, huh? What makes you think you can defy me, the great Lycan king?"
Milo shuddered, his heart racing with fear, as Rowan's words sent a chill down his spine. He knew he had to think fast of a way out, or his fate would be sealed forever.
Milo's voice trembled as he spoke, "I'm Sorry, Alpha... I was only doing what I thought was best for the females in my pack. I didn't mean to offend the Great Lycan King."
Rowan ignored his pleas, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What is your name?" he asked, his voice low and commanding.
Milo's hesitation was almost imperceptible before he slowly said, "Milo... Milo Ravenshade."
The name, a carefully crafted disguise, was a shield Milo had used to protect herself from those who would seek to exploit her true nature. Milo Ravenshade was not his birth name, but a male undercover identity, one that had allowed her to survive in a world where Omegas, especially females were coveted and enslaved.
Rowan's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he tasted the name on his lips. "Milo," he whispered, his mouth curving around the syllable as if savoring a sweet treat. "Milo Ravenshade."
As he spoke, his expression turned cold, his eyes flashing with a ruthless glare. "Since you were bold enough to help escape the female servant, you'll suffer the price for your unthought action."
Milo's eyes widened in terror as he realized his fate. He fell face down on the cold stone floor, his body trembling with fear.
"No, please, Alpha... I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he begged, his voice muffled by the floor.
Tears started forming in his eyes, streaming down his face as he sobbed. The thought of death was terrifying, but being told when he would die was even more unbearable.
Milo was frightened, his mind racing with the reality of his mortality. He had always known it was a risk, but now that it was happening, he was consumed by fear.
His breath came in ragged gasps as he awaited his fate, his heart pounding in his chest. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of his own ragged breathing and the soft rustle of Rowan's clothing as he moved.
Milo's desperation fueled his courage as he lifted his tear-stained face, his voice trembling with sincerity. "I'll do anything for you, Alpha... I'll give you anything, just please, spare my life."
The throne room fell silent, the warriors and courtiers exchanging uneasy glances as they waited for Rowan's response. But the Lycan King simply stared at Milo, his expression unreadable, his eyes locked on the Omega's pleading face.
The silence stretched out, Milo's words hanging in the air like a dare. He had been speaking at every turn and Rowan was perplexed to the courage Milo had to even plead his case before the Alpha king.
Normally, when slaves were brought before the Lycan King and they kept speaking before Rowan he was always agitated in anger and would end up beheading them and when Milo also was speaking he was felling the same way, his teeth's gritting together.
Rowan's brows arched in fustration, his gaze narrowing as he took in Milo's defiant gaze. He threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the throne room like a thunderclap.
The warriors looked at each other, their faces pale, wondering what had come over their usually stoic King. Rowan's laughter was like a stranger's, wild and unhinged, and it sent a cold chill down their back.
As quickly as it started, Rowan's laughter stopped, his face settling into a cold, calculating mask. He squatted down, his eyes level with Milo's, and grasped the Omega's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze.
"You'd be sacrificed," he whispered, his voice devoid of emotion. "Your punishment…is death."
Milo's eyes went wide, his face draining of color as he realized his mistake. He had thought Rowan's laughter was a sign of mercy, but now he saw the trap, and it was too late.
Rowan's face was a stone, his eyes glinting with a ruthless light. He rose to his feet, his movements fluid and deadly, and waved his hand at the guards. "Take him out of my sight, and do away with his body after slicing his head off."
Milo's world went dark, his mind reeling with the sudden turn of events. He was dragged up, his feet scraping against the stone floor, as the sound of Rowan's laughter still echoed in his ears.
His arms twisted behind his back as the guards dragged him away from the throne. Panic set in, his heart racing with terror as he realized the Alpha King was actually going to kill him.
The thought sent a wave of fear coursing through his veins, his body reacting instinctively. His skin pricked with goosebumps, his muscles tensing as a wave of heat washed over him.
And then, without warning, his body betrayed him.
A rush of slick heat pooled between his legs, his Omega glands responding to the stress and fear by triggering his first heat. The scent of his pheromones flooded the air, sweet and intoxicating, and utterly irresistible to the Alpha King.
Rowan's eyes snapped to Milo, his pupils dilating as he felt the soul resonance kick in. The connection was instant, primal, and undeniable. He felt his own body respond, his instincts screaming at him to claim the Omega, to take him, to make him his.
The air in the room fell tense, the courtiers and warriors frozen in shock as they watched their King turn, his eyes blazing with a feral light.
"Wait!" Rowan barked, his voice rough with suppressed desire.