Playing The Alphas

Chapter 84: The Summons

SAMANTHA

I stood by the window, watching the chaos unfold below.

Two women were fighting in the garden. Their dresses were torn. Their hair was flying. Their nails were scratching at each other’s faces. One of them had a bloody lip. The other had a chunk of hair missing.

I could not hear what they were saying. But I could see their mouths moving. Screaming. Cursing. Accusing.

The sex-slave selecting ball had not even started and they were already fighting.

"Unbelievable," I muttered.

Joanne walked to the window. She looked down at the scene. She shook her head.

"That is Clara and Mara," she said. "They have been rivals since the day they arrived."

"Rivals over what?"

"Over the princes. Over who will be chosen. Over who will bear the first heir."

I laughed. "They are fighting over something that has not even happened yet."

"That is what happens when you are desperate, Miss Samuels. Desperation makes people do foolish things."

I watched as a guard pulled the women apart. They were still screaming at each other.

"Clara was a nobleman’s daughter," Joanne continued. "Her family lost everything in a pack war. She was sold to pay off debts."

"And Mara?"

"Mara was a servant. Like me. She was caught stealing food from the palace kitchens. She was given a choice—become a sex slave or lose her hands."

I shuddered. "That is terrible."

"That is the way of the world, Miss Samuels."

I turned away from the window. I walked back to the couch. I sat down.

"What about the others?" I asked. "The new girls. The ones who arrived after Leslie left."

Joanne sat across from me. Her hands were folded in her lap.

"There are twelve new ones," she said. "Mostly from the eastern packs. They were sold by their own families."

"Why would families sell their own daughters?"

"For money. For power. For protection. Some families think that if their daughter bears a Lycan child, they will be elevated. Given titles, land and wealth."

"And the daughters?"

"They have no choice. They are property. Just like you."

I was quiet for a moment. "And the fighting? Is it always like this?"

"It gets worse. The closer we get to the ball, the more desperate they become. They will scratch, bite and poison. Whatever it takes to eliminate the competition."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "That is horrifying."

"That is survival."

I was about to respond when there was a knock on the door.

Joanne stood. She walked to the door. She opened it.

A guard stood in the doorway. He was young. His face was serious. He whispered something to Joanne. Her face went pale.

She nodded. She closed the door.

I stood. "What is it?"

Joanne walked toward me. Her expression was gloomy.

"Miss Samuels," she said. "The king has given orders. You are to prepare yourself."

"Prepare for what?"

"To meet Prince Darlington."

I blinked. "Prince Darlington? But he is sick. He has been in the infirmary for days."

"Apparently, he is well enough to see you."

"Joanne—"

"I know. It is sudden. But you cannot refuse. The king’s orders are absolute."

"What about the competition? What about the Luna Games?"

"The guard said you will not be joining. The king said you should not worry about it."

I stared at her. My heart was pounding. "What do you mean I will not be joining? I was supposed to compete. I was supposed to prove myself."

Joanne shook her head. "It seems the king has other plans for you, Miss Samuels."

I sank back onto the couch. My knees were shaking.

"Miss Samuels, you need to prepare. You need to get ready."

"Get ready for what, Joanne? To be used? To be discarded? To be nothing?"

Joanne knelt in front of me. Her hands took mine.

"I know this is frightening," she said. "I know you are scared. But you have survived worse. You will survive this too."

"I do not know if I can."

"You can. You are stronger than you think."

I looked at her. "Why are you so kind to me?"

She smiled. "Because you are not like the others. You are not desperate. You are not cruel. You are just... you."

I felt tears prick at my eyes. "Thank you, Joanne."

She stood. She pulled me to my feet.

"Now," she said. "Let us get you ready. Prince Darlington is waiting."

I braced myself.

It was finally happening. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

I had known this moment would come. From the day I arrived, I had known. I was a sex slave. I was property. My body was not my own.

But knowing and facing were two different things.

Joanne led me to the bathroom. She filled the tub with hot water. She added oils, herbs and flowers.

"Sit," she said.

Joanne washed my hair. She scrubbed my skin. She rubbed lotion into my arms and legs.

"You will be beautiful," she said. "Even more than you already are."

I did not answer.

She helped me out of the tub. She dried me. She wrapped me in a silk robe. freewёbnoνel.com

Then she led me to the bedroom. A dress was laid out on the bed.

It was blue. Dark blue. Like the night sky. It was made of silk and lace. It would hug my curves. It would show my shoulders. My collarbone.

"The prince chose it himself," Joanne said.

I stared at the dress. "He chose it?"

"Yes. He sent it this morning."

I touched the fabric. It was soft. Cool. Expensive.

"Why?" I asked. "Why would he do this?"

"Because he wants you, Miss Samuels. He has always wanted you."

I felt my face burn. "That is not true."

"It is true. I have seen the way he looks at you. The way he speaks about you. The way he protects you."

I said nothing.

Joanne helped me into the dress. She adjusted the straps. She smoothed the fabric. She pinned my hair back.

"There," she said. "You are ready."

I looked in the mirror.

I did not recognize the woman staring back.

She was beautiful, elegant and graceful.

But she was also terrified. What if Darlington turned into the beast in front of his brother and ate me or something?