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A lice woke up. She really needed to pee. She glanced at Axel and a smile flitted over her lips. He was sound asleep. How many times had she orgasmed? She shook her head, pushing the erotic thoughts aside, and slowly got out of bed.

After making use of the bathroom, she put on one of the robes behind the door and slowly headed downstairs, while rolling up the burgundy sleeves. Sunlight streamed from large floor-to-ceiling windows at the top of the staircase, illuminating the entire foyer. What time was it?

As soon as she reached the bottom floor, her feet landing on the cold marble, Alice regretted her decision.

What if Ariadna decided to chase after her again?

Or one of the others? Axel has said there were three lionesses in the house.

She’d met two. She glanced back the way she’d come.

There could also be other lions. He’d explained during the night the house was the place where the lions gathered.

Axel normally lived in the city, but his house was being renovated, and this is where they came to hang out and run in freedom.

Alice swallowed. She was thirsty and hungry.

She glanced through one of the arches. She could do this.

Axel had promised they wouldn’t hurt her, and she believed him, right?

She made her way through one of the hallways.

Surely, the kitchen had to be this way, right? She could smell coffee being brewed.

The smell became stronger as she approached a set of wooden doors left open.

Whispers could be heard coming from within.

She froze, but it was too late, they had already seen her.

Three women stood around the kitchen island, chatting amiably in pajamas.

They looked at her, surprise also clear on their faces.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, backing up.

“No, wait,” Ariadna spoke up. “Please, don’t leave.” She hurried forward, her hands steepled in a plea. “I want to apologize.”

“You do?”

Alice hesitated.

“Yes. I acted out of ... well, I was ... I have always wanted—”

“To be queen,” Scarlet piped in. She came around, stood behind Alice, draped an arm across her shoulders, and began to lead her back to the kitchen.

Ariadna scowled for an instant, then her features dropped.

“Yes.” She sighed. “I had been hoping maybe one day Axel’s lion would take me as its mate, and when I saw you, well, I could smell him on you, and I acted like an idiot.”

“You really don’t have to apologize.”

“Of course I do,” Ariadna said. She smiled slyly. “You have almost mated. Once you realize you have no escape, you will mate him, and you will become family. I don’t want us to hate each other, it would make family functions quite difficult to bear.” She chuckled, drily.

“We must respect you,” the third woman said.

She was also blonde, but unlike the other two, her eyes were green, and she had a piercing on her bottom lip and eyebrow.

“I’m Bea, by the way. I was out running when this whole fiasco happened.

” She moved toward Alice with her hand extended. Alice took it politely.

“I am a stranger,” Alice said. “I wouldn’t dare demand anything.”

“You don’t need to. We are in part animals and the laws by which we play are very strict. We respect those above us in the hierarchy, until the day we have our own pride, if ever,” Scarlet said.

“I’m sorry,” Alice said. “I didn’t ask for any of this. I’ll gladly—”

“Nonsense. It’s great to have another woman in the family. We are the true leaders,” Scarlet said, beckoning her closer to the table. “Would you like some coffee?”

Alice nodded.

“Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself, Alice?” Bea asked.

Alice’s stomach knotted at the unexpected question. Her innards squeezed painfully as her mind aimed to find something to say. She was once more saved by Scarlet.

“Would you like some milk or sugar?”

“Both, please,” she said eagerly.

Bea and Ariadna both laughed.

“You must really need that java. Where are you from? What do you do? How long have you known Axel?”

Alice blanched.

“I’m from, em, New York, born and raised in the suburbs,” she managed to say.

Thick and oppressive silence crept around her as she didn’t offer any more information. What was she supposed to say? Was it her turn to ask questions? Weren’t they being too inquisitive? Alice’s knot tripled in size, becoming almost unbearable. Her heart pounded frantically.

“I’m not very good at small talk,” she blurted.

“Sometimes all you need is a bit of practice,” Scarlet said, handing her a steaming mug.

“That’s what my therapist says,” she mumbled.

Ariadna laughed.

“Scarlet is a therapist.”

“Oh.” Alice glanced at the woman, who winked at her. Was that why she was being so helpful? Did she realize her struggle?

“Let’s take it one step at a time. We don’t need to know everything right now.”

Alice took a sip of her coffee. She let out a long sigh. These women were just trying to be friendly. She recalled her own therapist’s words. You can’t assume everyone is out to get you, Alice.

“I work in finance right now, for PAM,” she said.

“Oh,” Bea said. Abruptly, she hastily began to fold the papers which had been strewn on the table. One of them slipped to the floor and Alice bent to pick it up. Her brow wrinkled as she recognized the image.

“Wait,” she said. “I know this office. It’s my boss’s office.”

“What?” all three women exclaimed in unison.

Scarlet carefully plucked the photograph from her hands. “Alice, has Axel told you what else we do here?” she asked, caution lacing her words.

“No,” Alice replied quietly, a sense of foreboding prickling her scalp unpleasantly.