Chapter 3

Katherine's POV I looked back and forth between both Alpha Jackson and the Lycan King. Not only was I in disbelief of who I just met but also of what I felt for the Lycan King when our fingers brushed.  Lowering my gaze slightly, I moved away from the door to allow Alpha Jackson to walk in. I could feel his hot gaze on my face as he did and as soon as he walked down the stairs leading into the wine cellar, I walked out and closed the door behind me.  It was punishable by death to wait behind and eavesdrop on their conversation unless called upon.  With as little as five wine bottles in my basket, I returned to the feast. The chef gave me a hard glare as I placed all five bottles on the table.  "That's all you could bring, you useless wimp," he said through gritted teeth.  "I'm sorry," I bowed, apologising. He was the chef, which means he had the authority to kill me or punish me for my foolishness. He was also Jackson's favourite. That gave him the leverage to act in his capacity in the pack. All the slaves hated him but there was nothing we could do.  I returned to my spot, right beside Roma. She grabbed my pinky finger, making me turn to her.  "What happened?" She asked in a whisper.  I raised an eyebrow. How did she know something happened?  "What?"  "You're as red as a tomato,"  My eyes went wide. Did Alpha Jackson also see me like this?  "Nothing important. I only ran into Alpha Jackson,"  She suddenly grabbed my hand, making me scrowl.  "Did he try anything?"  I shook my head. Roma was the only one in the pack who knew my secret. Maybe I told her because she was my friend or because she would understand my predicament but I knew I told her when I needed someone to confide in.  The festival continued when Alpha Jackson returned to the hall with the Lycan King. An eerie silence descended on the hall in the presence of the Lycan King.  His aura was dominating and powerful. I only looked up for a few seconds to see them walk in.  Jackson started a long speech, emphasizing on the friendship between both of them and how they've come a long way.  They were friends. I'm sure Jackson already told the Lycan King about me. How he rejected me and how I was nothing but a tool to me. I wouldn't expect any less from his friends as well.  If he wants to reject me, so be it.  "We're honoured to be in your presence today, Lycan King. I hope you have a wonderful evening," Jackson ended his speech.  Kai? That was his name. Is it a short form of a longer name? Or is it just Kai?  I pinched myself, coming back to my senses. Why was I curious about him? He wouldn't accept a degraded sex slave like me.  A whole Lycan King.  Unknowingly, I scoffed.  "You!" Someone commanded. We all looked up at the chef who was pointing at me.  "Pour some wine for the Lycan King,"  I swallowed hard. My lips trembled. Hot breath bursted in and out of me.  I'd never been given such a delicate yet hard task before. All I knew was to wash dishes and carry plates. I didn't even know how to open wine bottles, not to talk of pouring one.  "Get you stupid ass over here," he demanded and I flinched. A loose hiccup escaping my throat.  The loud music in the room made others oblivious of what was happening and for once since I got to this bloody pack, I was grateful they wouldn't witness my shame.  I moved closer to him. "I don't know how to…"  The words had barely left my lips when a resounding sound echoed, a sharp pain resonated on my right cheek.  My hand flew to grab hold of my cheek as tears threatened to come down my face.  "Useless pig," he mumbled under his breath and called over to the next person. When the boy opened it wrongly, he kicked him where the sun doesn't shine and instructed the guards to drag him out.  I returned to my spot and Roma secretly held my hand. My eyes went across the room and landed on the deep blue eyes staring at me.  I quickly looked away before I was caught staring.  At a second thought, I looked up again and I saw the Lycan King still staring.  His eyes were cold, hard and flinty. His jaws were tightened and his palm was curled in a fist on the table. I had to look away again.  The party went on for what seemed like years but in reality was only a few hours. I wanted nothing more but to leave that place. I was done getting cakes, bread, wine and food thrown at us by other members of the pack.  I was hungry too.  As the party manoeuvred into the night, the music decreased, the screaming and yelling went down, the dances also stopped as most men were drunk while the rest were busy fondling the women with them.  "They should retire for the night soon," Roma insisted.  She's usually the one who gave me insights about the pack since she'd stayed longer than I did.  "Good,"  Jackson stood up to give another long, boring closing speech for the party before leaving and at the end, he asked Kai to take anything he wanted as he was being generous.  The Lycan King smirked, then raised a finger at us.  "Shit! Shit!" Roma held my hand tighter as she muttered underneath her breath. I could only curse as well because I knew he was an animal as worst as his friend, Alpha Jackson.  He probably wanted one of us for the night.  His finger suddenly moved away from us and stopped at the chef.  Jackson frowned. "I didn't know you swung that way, your highness. You want my chef,"  Kai interrupted before Jackson could say anything to the chef. "I want his head,"  Another deadly silence came over the room. His demand was so powerful it cleared off the drunkenness even from the most drunk man in the room.  My eyes went wide at his demand. Murmuring soon replaced the silence.  "What?" Jackson asked in disbelief.  He stood up, placed a hand on Jackson's shoulder.  "His head on a pyre by morning. That's my only demand,"