Chapter 50: The Request
Rebecca’s POV
I sucked in a deep breath, gathering every single ounce of courage I had left, and forced myself to look him in the eyes.
"I... I would really like to make my own meal," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady. "That’s what I feel like eating. A meal cooked by myself."
Kaden scoffed, a dark, terrifying anger flashing across his face as he leveled a chilling glare at me.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" he growled, his voice vibrating with irritation. "Just because you are carrying my pup—which I’m not even sure of yet—you think you can start making demands? Do not forget what you are, Rebecca. You are a slave."
The way my heart absolutely dropped into my stomach in that moment was terrifying. One second he’s touching me like I’m something precious, and the next, he’s reminding me that to him, I am absolutely nothing.
I swallowed hard, the harsh reminder cutting deep into my chest. I didn’t dare argue. I just nodded numbly and walked over to the couch, picking up the clean, plain gown that had been laid out for me.
Right there, right before Kaden’s intense, watchful eyes, I shed my robe. I didn’t try to hide myself. I just pulled the gown over my head and let it fall against my skin, standing there silently, waiting for his next order.
Suddenly, Kaden stood up from his desk. His towering frame completely dominated the room.
"Follow me," he commanded coldly.
He turned on his heel and led the way out of his room. I followed him immediately. Of course I did—I had no choice. If this man told me to follow him straight into hell, I would have to do it.
We walked through the grand, quiet hallways until we finally arrived at the massive kitchen. The moment we stepped inside, the kitchen staff froze in utter shock. Seeing the Alpha King in the kitchens was unheard of. They immediately dropped to their knees, bowing their heads in fear.
"Leave," Kaden ordered, his voice echoing off the tiled walls.
They didn’t need to be told twice. They practically ran over each other to get out of the room, scurrying away until the heavy doors shut behind them.
Once we were completely alone, Kaden turned his sharp, dark gaze back to me.
"I am not doing this for you," he said, his voice clipped and freezing. "I am doing this for my growing pup."
I nodded quickly. Of course I knew that. I didn’t dare to think otherwise for even a second.
"Go prepare whatever it is you want to eat," he said, gesturing toward the counters.
Then, he sat down on a stool, crossing his arms and watching my every movement like a hawk tracking its prey.
If you’ve ever had a ruthless, dominant Alpha stare down your neck while you’re just trying to breathe, count yourself lucky. It completely paralyzes you.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced my shaking legs to move. Remembering Queen Helen’s words about his favorite meals, I began scanning the kitchen for the ingredients. I could feel his eyes burning into my back, tracking every single twist and turn of my body.
Ignoring the suffocating weight of his stare, I began picking up the items I knew would be needed—the roasted venison, the wild rosemary, the juniper berries, and the ingredients for the spiced blackberry tea.
Once I gathered everything onto the large marble island, I began the preparation. Kaden remained completely silent, just staring. But then, as I started crushing the juniper berries and laying out the rosemary, his eyes suddenly narrowed.
The air in the kitchen turned instantly freezing.
"What are you making?" he demanded.
His voice was dangerously low, as if he recognized exactly what those ingredients were meant for.
I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I forced the words out. "It’s... it’s just one of my favorite meals."
Liar.
Before the word could even fully form in my mind, Kaden stood up. In a literal blink of an eye—with terrifying, supernatural alpha speed—he crossed the kitchen.
Smash!
With one violent swipe of his massive arm, he threw everything I had gathered straight to the ground. The bowls shattered, and the ingredients scattered across the floor.
Before I could even gasp, his large hand wrapped tightly around my throat, pinning me back against the counter. He slammed me hard, almost choking the air right out of my lungs.
"Who told you about this?" he roared, his face inches from mine, his eyes wild with a sudden, explosive rage. "Who told you about my favorite meal?! Did Stephanie tell you?!"
Panic exploded in my chest. I couldn’t breathe. I desperately tried to act ignorant, shaking my head as much as his iron grip would allow.
"No!" I choked out, tears springing to my eyes. "No... I told you, it’s just one of my favorite meals!"
"Liar!" he growled, his grip tightening for a terrifying second. "Bitch!"
I genuinely thought he was going to snap my neck right then and there. I thought he was going to throw me across the room like a ragdoll. But just as the darkness started edging into my vision, I saw a sudden flash of realization hit his eyes.
The pup.
If he killed me, or if he hurt me too badly, he would lose his growing heir.
Slowly, reluctantly, Kaden released his suffocating grip on my neck. The sudden release made my knees buckle, and I slid straight down to the kitchen floor, gasping for air. My hands flew to my throat, frantically massaging the raw skin right where the silver choker wasn’t covering.
Kaden didn’t look down at me. He just turned around, walking back to the stool, his chest heaving as he tried to control his breathing.
"Make another meal," he ordered coldly, sitting back down.
I lay on the cold floor for a moment, my heart hammering against my ribs, too terrified to speak.
How? I asked myself. How can I ever soften a heart that is this cold? A heart made entirely of... of stone? How am I ever going to make him remove this choker? How?
Slowly, painfully, I forced myself back up onto my feet. I stood there, completely dazed, staring down at the ruined ingredients and shattered glass covering the floor. I bent down, my hands trembling as I reached out to start cleaning up the mess.
"Leave it," Kaden snapped, his voice tight. "The maids will do that. Just cook."
Between the shock, the overwhelming emotions, and the lingering terror, my entire body was failing me. My hands began to shake violently. I reached out to pick up a metal pot from the counter, but my fingers couldn’t grip it.
Clang!
The pot slipped from my hand, crashing loudly onto the floor. I panicked, reaching for a bowl of flour next, but my clumsy, shaking elbow knocked a container of oil right off the edge. It shattered, spilling slick liquid all over the tiles.
It was an absolute disaster. I was shaking so badly I couldn’t even hold a piece of silverware, let alone cook a meal.
Kaden’s jaw clenched, his irritation clearly reaching its boiling point. He stood up and marched forward, his large shadow falling over me.
He pulled me away from the counter by my arm, his grip firm but noticeably careful around my waist.
"Leave it," he commanded, looking away from me as if he couldn’t bear to see how pathetic I looked. He let out a harsh, frustrated breath. "Go sit down. I’ll make it myself."
My eyes widened in absolute shock. My jaw practically dropped.
Did the Alpha King just tell me he was going to cook?
"Sit," he ordered again, his voice leaving zero room for argument.
Completely confused and utterly stunned, I slowly walked over to the stool and sat down. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as the ruthless, terrifying Alpha King turned toward the counters, grabbed a fresh apron, and began to prepare a meal with his own hands... for me.
