I didn't see Keial for the rest of the day, or the day after, but I did overhear how he came back from the hunt with blood on his face, satisfied with what he and his companions had hunted.

It's been three days since then, and not one person had mentioned Vicrim, or his friends not being around anymore, it was almost like people chose to forget, or that they simply didn't care.

I took this as an opportunity to learn about the rules, and just like every pack, you had rules you had to follow, to remain a member and to have all the perks that came with being in that pack.

Forgotten Valley rules were pretty straightforward.

1. Any form of violence is punishable and could mean death, depending on the form of violence

2. No one was to enter the Valley without permission from either the King or someone high up on the food chain of power within the city

And the last, but not least, and the only one that made me uncomfortable.

3. You had to pass a test given to you by the King, to remain in the city you had to pass, fail and you could be thrown out

So far, nobody had even mentioned anything like a test to me, not even Keial, which made me worried as I wondered every time I did my chores about what this test could be.

I always felt Keial was testing me every time he opened his mouth, did that even count?

Hah, I doubt it.

As much as I wanted to feel something for Keial, I still couldn't forget who he was, and what he was.

He was dangerous, and he was not someone to be relaxed around, as I'm sure nobody knew what he was thinking, which made me want to lay low even more right now.

Even if we did have sex, I didn't trust him, and he didn't trust me, it was so fucked up but I couldn't deny that something was there between us.

Why else would he not let me take a moment of rest?

*****

It's been six days since I last saw Keial, and word amongst the other servants was that he wasn't even in the city, and had not been since he came back from the hunt.

This whole time I had been on edge, scared about running into him, but then again, I did think it was strange.

I was his personal servant, and not once had he called for me.

I must be so stupid, I was so worried about seeing him that I didn't even realize the obvious.

What was I so scared of?

The words he whispered to me played over and over in my head, his sweet yet believable 'I'd never hurt you' and ever since that night and for a split moment... I had believed him,

Until I woke up the next day, bruised and broken, unable to sit down on my ass for the next two days without wincing.

Ahhh.. I didn't want to get mixed up with him anymore, I just wanted to lay low, do my job, and start a fresh new life here, maybe even make some friends.

Friends...

How does someone even make friends in this place?

"Hey, Felix, you've been summoned by the King." Another servant says, as I stop what I'm doing and drop the cloth back into the bucket.

The King- Keial wanted to see me?

When did he get back? Nobody told me anything.

I go to open my mouth to thank him, but he has already walked away, making me sigh and accept that now isn't the time to try and make friends.

It's been almost a week since I've seen him, I wonder what he wanted me for?

Or did my time finally go to be tested to stay here? After what happened in the royal garden last week, I've been on edge since learning about this test, as it was a perfect excuse to get rid of me.

Dusting myself off and making sure I had no creases, or dust on me, I walked to the only place I could think that Keial would be, his bedroom.

With each step I felt more anxious than ever, was it because I had sex with him?

I wasn't some love-sick girl, I barely liked the man, every time he spoke it felt like he was looking down on me, even when we were in his bed, he treated me like a one-night stand, used and then tossed aside.

I wasn't scared of him, but I was terrified of being thrown out, and losing the protection he provided me, a rogue and now, a branded traitor.

I'm never letting that happen.

I make it to his bedroom door and try to calm my racing heart by taking a few moments to myself, before I knock on the door, and announce to him that I am here.

"Your Highness, it's Felix." I said surprisingly confidently, despite my hands shaking, and being nervous at the thought of being alone with him.

"Come in." His deep voice said behind the door.

Taking a breath, I opened the door fully and then stepped inside his chambers. Once I was fully inside, I saw him in the large wooden bathtub, his hair wet and his eyes stoically watching me as I closed the door behind me.

Gosh, didn't he ever wear clothes when he summoned me?

I bent and bowed, making sure to not stare at him too long, my heart still beating too fast for my liking and afraid he would hear it.

"You asked for me, my King?"

I hear water splashing around, and with my back still bent, from the corner of my eye I see his bare, wet feet walk over to me, making me hold my breath and bite my lip hard to stop myself from getting nervous.

His large hand slapped me on the back, making me flinch. "No need to be so stiff, stand up straight when you're in my presence when you're with me like this."

I straightened my back and saw he had walked over to where clean clothes lay out for him, his wide-muscled naked back and perfectly toned ass in view as I tried my best not to gawk at how beautiful and impressive his body was.

I hadn't seen a man so well-built before I met Keial, I was a little jealous, he was everything I was not.

"It's come to my attention that you have yet to fully offer your services to me." He started to talk, making me snap out of it and watch as he turned around and buttoned up his trousers.

"Sir?" I confusingly mumbled, my body tensing when his eyes met mine.

"While I wouldn't hound you like this, your current position can be challenged if left too late." He sighed annoyed, a scowl on his face.

"I'm a man of my word see, Felix." He walked over to me, his shirt on but unbuttoned, displaying his impressive chest.

"I heard some things about you, and the way I see it, you won't survive long outside these walls without my protection, and as much as the image of you on your knees amuses me, and begging me to not let that happen...." He smirked and reached out to hold my chin up, to look him in the eyes.

"Well, that just won't do."

His eyes were hard as he looked down at mine, a stoic, emotionless look on his face as he held my chin with his firm grip, his eyes staring into mine longer than he had done before.

I felt my cheeks grow warm the moment he let go of my chin, and shamefully averted my eyes from his, as my stomach tightened strangely.

"I need people I can trust." He said, his voice deepening as he captured my eyes.

"Tell me, did you think of me at all this past week?" He suddenly asked, making my face grow hot as my heart skipped a beat.

"W-What?" What the hell was he saying?

"N-No, of course n-not, t-thats..."

His eyes filled with amusement as he crossed his arms, and continued to watch me squirm under his stare.

I hated that he enjoyed this but on the other hand... Yet, I couldn't help but hate him because he wasn't wrong, I just didn't want him to admit it to him.

After a deafening moment of silence, Keial walked back over to me until his head was hovering over my shoulder, his lips dangerously close to touching my ear, making me hold my breath as my heart started to speed up when his hot breath touched my skin.

"Pass the test." His deep husky voice sent shivers down my body, as he whispered in my ear, his intoxicating scent invading my senses.

"Impress me Felix... give me a reason to trust you."