A Kiss With The Alpha King
<b>CHAPTER </b>14- <b>PERSONAL </b><b>PURG</b>
<b>VENUS</b>
I stood awkwardly with the other girls who also came for the same job as I. They were a few guys too but the majority was female. We were put in the waiting room and as time flew by, the awkward atmosphere faded and the girls began to discuss among themselves. I was content to sit and listening, learning names and facts about Plum Paradise. Three girls sitting beside me were already engaged in an
argument<b>.</b>
“I heard that some parts of the pce are offlimits to servants. I bet they are hiding some sort of creature there<b>,</b><b>” </b>a pimple–faced girl with blonde fringes decided <b>for </b>herself. Another girl with cropped dark hair scoffed, prepared to argue the assumption.
she t
“It’s t
probably the Alpha King’s hiding ce. My mother worked here before she found her mate and told me <b>she </b>usually heard the King tearing apart histest victim. He feeds on flesh and cannot stand the daylight. That’s why he never leaves his room.”
“April!” a sharp <b>voice </b><b>snapped </b>at thest speaker. It was <b>a </b>small boned young woman, older than most of us in the room. Her dark hair <b>was </b><b>in </b><b>a </b>sensible bun piled on top of her <b>head</b>. “Be <b>careful </b>about
the things you say. For all we know, they could be watching us and don’t start twisting the things Mother said to suit your wild imagination.”
April pouted, folding her arms across her chest stubbornly. “You weren’t there when she told me<b>.</b>
Why else would the powerful Alpha King keep himself hidden in his room. <b>Yes</b><b>, </b>tell us, Edna, <b>since </b>you know everything.”
“To keep inquisitive little girls like you from pestering him, of course<b>,</b>” Edna fired back without missing a beat. April pursed her lips although it was obvious that she was not pleased with her sister. The other girls eyed the older sister<b>, </b>previously enjoying April’s stories<b>.</b>
I pondered on April’sst question however. Why indeed would a powerful king <b>hide </b>himself from
his subjects? It didn’t make sense. He could attend my sister’s wedding in a faraway pack but refused to show his face to his people.
“Anyways,” Blonde Fringes continued, determined to keep the discussion from getting cold, “I was
born <b>and </b>raised here in Plum Paradise and <b>the </b>Alpha King has never addressed us himself. He <b>uses </b>middlemen, mostly his Beta. Perhaps he is too beastly or terrible looking. What do you think?”
It took two <b>seconds </b>before <b>I </b>realized <b>that </b>the girl was seeking my opinion. What could I say? I was a stranger and did not know anything about the object of their discussion. Before I could <b>make </b><b>a </b>fool of myself, April came to my rescue.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.
“There is nothing to think. If he had nothing wrong with him, he would stand before <b>us </b>instead of sending intermediaries. What does he have to <b>hide</b><b>?</b>”
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CHAPTER 14 – PERSONAL PURG
Her question hung in the air and I shrugged, having no answer once again. She prodded at my ribs, wanting my attention.
“You are awfully quiet. Are <b>you </b>nervous about the job?” April asked, merely out of curiosity. She could not possibly be worried about someone she had just met.
“<b>I </b>need this job and yes, I am a bit nervous and to be honest, all this talk about how horrible the Alpha King could be is not <b>helping</b>.” My nerves were jumpy <b>and </b>my eyes <b>were </b>fixed <b>on </b>the heavily
crafted wooden door.
“Don’t be. We might never meet him anyways. I’m April by the way<b>. </b><b>This </b>is my friend, Jess and the annoying girl sitting some seats behind <b>us </b>is my older sister, Edna.” <b>She </b>paused, waiting for me to introduce myself. It was not everyday people were interested in knowing who I was and her fixed
attention was new<b>.</b>
“I’m <b>Venus</b>, but you can call me Vee.”
Jess pushed her fringes away, looking me over suspiciously. “I literally know everyone in <b>Plum </b>Paradise and I can swear that I have never <b>met </b>you. Are you from another pack?”
Dan’s warning shed in my memory, keeping me on my toes. Everyone turned to me, waiting for my reply. Suddenly, the heavy doors were pushed open by a set of guards and a woman walked in, her hands sped behind her. I could not guess her age because her wless, milky skin glowed, setting off her auburn coloured <b>hair </b>falling down her straight back. She managed to escape the freckles that gued redheads, her shoulders high and projecting herself like an empress. Everyone paled inparison to her light and when she spoke, it bounced off the walls,
“Wee to the Paradise Pce,” she said, as a way of greeting. “I am Prefect Naomi Ward, the
head of servants.”
Her eyes floated from one person to another and slowly, we rose to show her respect. Acknowledging our wisdom, she nodded slightly, a humourless smile on her tiny lips.
“You all are here for the same <b>reason</b>: to <b>get </b>a job as a servant. However, we only need ten of you. Therefore, a test will be conducted to determine the best ten. You were already given some time to catch your breaths so the test shall begin immediately.”
Lucky for <b>me</b>, Dan had warned me about the test but it did not help the growing anxiety in my belly. I jammed my palms together and rubbed slowly. I was at a great disadvantage to everyone else in the room. I was wolfless and so if it was a test of strength, there was no way I would win. A test of intelligence would favour me but who knew what Prefect Naomi had in mind?
The guards made us form two files <b>and </b>I stood behind April, whose excitement was beginning to wear off on me. She was talking to me, barely able to remain <b>still</b>.
“Aren’t you afraid?” I whispered to her and she shook her head.
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“Nope. My wolf is strong and I am confident about my skills. Besides, showing fear would make you look weak. However, don’t try to do too much. I have a feeling Prefect Naoml is hard to please.”
Her brave words went straight to my heart and I drew strength from her courage. Worse case scenario, I would not get the job. It wouldn’t kill me and I could always apply again some time Inter.
Once we were outside in an open field, Naomil started by stating the instructions for the test.
“In this field are ten pieces of the symbol of the Plum Paradise Treasure. Only those who find a piece are eligible to work at the Paradise Pce. Don’t bother looking for clues because only true pack members would know what to look out for. Using this method, we will discover strangers parading <b>as </b><b>pack </b>members,”
I <b>saw </b>people grinning, while some bit down on their lips in worry. I obviously wasn’t the only stranger and that exined why most of them said nothing to contribute to the argument carlier. It was both anxiety and ignorance. Jess put on her serious face, exchanging secret smiles with April. They <b>were </b>good to go while I was in my personal purgatory. I had no idea what the Plum Paradise Treasure was supposed to look like. I was doomed.
“You all have only twenty minutes. Your time s
and fired a shot.
now.” She pointed a small pistol to the skies
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