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đAttention! Do not read in publicďźđ | Astridâs POV My husband and mate Killian, who is also the Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack, left the assembly and went somewhere with his ex-girlfriend leaving me behind. As the Packâs Luna, I dutifully prepared for our annual pack assembly, but he nearly ruined it because he couldnât wait to spend time alone with Giselle. Giselle was Killianâs ex-girlfriend. She was his one true love, a woman who is better in many ways than me. Giselle and Killian were in love with each other. Even after Killian found out that we were mates and marked me as his mate and Luna, Killian only had Giselle in his heart. As his mate, it kills me to know that my mate who is supposed to love and cherish me is in love with someone else. Killian had always reminded me that he felt nothing for me. In the years that we were married, he treated me as nothing more than his mere subordinate. Aside from being a Luna, I am also Killianâs right-hand man in the military. I am in charge of the Pack training and I always work alongside Killian like I was his secretary. With my fighting skills and abilities, no one in this Pack can take me down in a fight. With this, I earned my position in the military. It is also one of the reasons why Killianâs father was so happy to find out that I was his sonâs mate. If it wasnât for Killianâs father, Killian would have rejected me as his mate. I would have lived miserably, watching Killian being happy with someone else and forming his own family. I know that Killian never wanted me as a mate. I know that I do not have a place in his heart. I thought everything would be fine as long as I fulfilled my duties as his Luna and right-hand man, but things only got worse ever since Giselle came back. Two months ago, Giselle came back out of nowhere. Ever since then, Killian had become more cold and indifferent towards me. He also started to neglect his duties because of her which added to my workload. This cannot continue any longer especially now that Iâm pre9nant. With what has been happening recently, I know I can't keep this a secret any longer. My palms grew clammy as I approached Killianâs office. I hadnât seen him the whole night and searching his office was the first thing that I could think of. Doubts and insecurities filled my mind as I went nearer and nearer to my destination. I couldnât get off my mind that Killian and Giselle had been spending time together for a long time. Laughter entered my ears when I finally reached Killianâs office in the distance. My brows wrinkled in confusion when I realized that the laughs were coming from his office. I stared at Killianâs office in silence. Its light poured out of the windows, but I could only see their shadows inside because of the translucent blinds that were blocking my view. I pursed my lips as I took hesitant steps to get closer. I thought they would be talking about work, but I didnât expect that they would be having fun together inside. In the years that I have been together with Killian, I have never heard him laugh so sweetly as he is doing now with Giselle. I felt a pang of jealousy inside my chast because Giselle could easily make Killian laugh while I couldn't even bring a smile to his face even if I'm his mate and Luna. I always knew that Killian didnât love me. I always knew that he loved Giselle. With that knowledge, I couldnât help but feel insecure as I heard them having fun inside. It hurts inside my heart to know this, and it hurts even more because there's no way for me to change it. I've never held a special spot in Killian's heart, but he's the only one who's ever had a place in mine. His cold treatment towards me is a constant reminder that he sees me as nothing but a pestilence for him. If only I wasnât his mate, he wouldnât be forced to have me out of his will. As I stood there at the door listening to their sweet waves of laughter, I leaned into the door hoping to hear a glimpse of the conversation that they were having. I am Killian's mate and Luna, but I don't even have the right to go inside and find out what my mate is talking about with his ex-girlfriend. Unable to hear their conversation, I grew more curious and my insecurities got the best of me. When their laughter suddenly died down, I knew I had to go in there and know what was happening. I know Killian still has feelings for Giselle, which has been obvious ever since she came back. As his mate, I couldnât help but feel anxious that he was alone in a room with that woman. Trouble filled my heart as different thoughts entered my head. Jealousy got the best of me and before I could think clearly, I pushed Killianâs door open, stopping the two from what they were doing. âAstrid! Didnât I tell you to always knock? How many times do I have to tell you that you are only allowed to enter if I tell you to enter?!â Killian yelled at me angrily after I caught him sitting close to Giselle. I gripped the hem of my oversized shirt tightly as I stared at their closeness. Killianâs muscular build shields Giselleâs petite frame. Killian looked so relaxed and comfortable with Giselle. He is even sitting on the same couch as her. Although I am his mate, I have never been that close to him. He had always been so formal with me, always treating me as his subordinate. I glanced at Giselle and looked over her outfit. She doesn't look like she came here to discuss work. Sheâs wearing little clothes with too much skin exposed. Anyone would think that Giselle came to seduce Killian. Sheâs wearing a silk nightgown with her unblemished porcelain skin exposed. I gulped as I stared at her perfect body. Her skin is clear and radiant with a flawless complexion. Just by looking at her skin, you could say it is soft and supple because her skin looks smooth as polished porcelain. Is this why Killian likes her? I clenched my jaw as I compared her body to mine. As a Pack Warrior, I had to train every day under the sun this left me with tan and dry skin, unlike Giselleâs smooth porcelain skin. I also have some scars on my body as a result of the fights that I had. Aside from that, I also have callouses on my hands which I got from training and fighting with weapons. You could say that my body is tarnished, unlike Giselleâs unblemished body. Besides, Giselle is a woman. Although I am also a woman, I do not act like one. I even had to pretend to act ladylike when I was in public, but that comes naturally for Giselle. I am unruly and nowhere near what is expected from a woman. Now, I no longer wonder why Killian doesnât like me and why it was hard for him to forget his first love. âWhat do you want?!â Killian demanded as they finally separated from each other. Giselle starts to wear her clothes and Killian puts on his shirt. I blinked as I was taken out of my reverie. I came here because I wanted to say that Iâm pre9nant, but based on the circumstances this is the worst time to tell him that. âI-I just have something to report,â I stuttered. âA report? Did you interrupt us for a useless report? Couldnât that wait until tomorrow?â Killian questioned angrily. I swallowed hard after receiving his furious response. âThis is urgent,â I lied with a straight face. Giselle stood up. âThis must be something important. Iâm going to leave,â Giselle spoke softly as she stood up to leave. As an unofficial member of the pack, this is a private matter that she couldnât pry into. Giselle carried the tray of food that they had together for dinner with her and purposely knocked over me making her drop to the floor. In her fall, she dropped the tray that she was holding, sending the dishes flying. Broken shards splattered across the room upon her fall. I winced when one of the shards slashed my skin when it splattered towards me âGiselle!â Killian shouted worriedly as he turned to help her while I was left on my own, checking the sliced wound on my leg. I watched as Killian searched over Giselleâs body for any signs of wounds or injuries, but she was perfectly fine. It was I who got hurt but Killian couldnât care less about me. Giselle glared at me when this was entirely her fault. There was a lot of space on the other side of the room, but she purposefully bumped into me. âI know you donât like me, Astrid, but you canât just hurt me if you want. Itâs not my fault that Killian likes me. Why donât you look at yourself in the mirror? Do you think that any man would fall for you?â Giselle hurls insults at me when I didnât even do anything against her. âAstrid! What are you a four-year-old?â Killian rebukes me without even asking me for an explanation. âIs this how a Luna should act? This kind of attitude is not fit for a Luna,â he added. I swallowed hard when my identity as a Luna was also questioned. I did everything for this Pack. As a Luna, I never slacked on my duties. I am his mate, therefore I am the righteous Luna of this Pack. How could he question my credibility as the Luna? âWhat would you do if Giselle gets a mis carriage? I will never forgive you if you kil our child,â Killian hissed angrily. My eyes went wide at this newfound information. âS-Sheâs pre9nant?â I stammered. I was speechless for the next few seconds as the news of Giselleâs pre9nancy hit me like a freight train. A lump formed inside my throat as I locked gazes with Killian. I waited for him to say something, to defend himself for the immoral thing that he had done, but all I received from him was his anger. He doesnât even feel any remorse for cheating on me and impregnating a different woman. Instead, he dared to glower over me with his nose flaring angrily. My heart twitched slightly inside of me as I locked gazes with him. Am I really that insignificant to him? Havenât he thought of how this news is going to hurt me? âYou apologize to her!â Killian demanded, making my jaw fall open. I let out an air of disbelief when I heard what he had just demanded me to do, but he just looked at me with a straight face. He is really serious about this. I blinked at his shamelessness. Isnât it enough that he impregnated his mistress without them feeling guilty about it? Does he have to force me to apologize to his mistress when I didnât do anything wrong in the first place? He is looking down on me like I was nothing. Has he forgotten who I am? My blood boiled as I looked at Giselle who was carrying my mateâs child. She knew that Killian was my mate and that we already marked each other, but she just couldnât keep her legs close. She stole my man without feeling guilty about it, but I am forced to apologize for something that isnât even my fault. If there is anyone who had to say sorry, it was them. They must apologize for betraying me. Chapter 2: Unwanted Astridâs POV âI am not just a warrior in this Pack, Killian. I am also your wife and your Luna. Why should I apologize to your mistress that is not even a part of this Pack,â I blurted out as I pointed an angry finger at Giselle. Killian only scoffed in response. He looked at me mockingly like I was a joke to him. âYou are so delusional!â He answered back frustratingly. âWhen have I ever seen you as my mate and Luna?â He questioned taking me aback and causing a sharp pain in my chest. âIf it wasnât for you, Giselle and I wouldnât have separated.â My body ran cold when I heard his blunt response. I never thought that he was blaming me for what happened between him and Giselle. âKillian⌠Iâm your mate,â I retorted with my lips quivering. âA mate that I never wanted!â He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. âK-Killian, the moon goddess chose us to be together. How could you choose someone else over me?â I asked back as my wolf whimpered inside of me. His rejection caused a fatal blow to my heart because of the mate bond. âI donât care! All this time I never cared! You are just a mere Pack Warrior. If you hadnât manipulated my father into forcing me to mark you, I would have marked Giselle as my mate and Luna instead.â I held myself together as I locked gazes with him. Looking into his eyes, I knew he was telling the truth. In the years that we have marked each other, I knew that he never liked me, but it hurts as hel to hear the truth come out of his lips. âI never manipulated your father, Killian. I never asked him to force us into this marriage,â I rebutted to clear my name. âReally? Why would my father force me to mark a mere warrior if you havenât deceived him?!â Killian shot back, turning me speechless. Even if Iâm telling the truth, it was hard to prove my innocence with his question. âGiselle had already suffered so much because of you. You do not have to punish her anymore,â Killian hissed with menace making my body turn rigid. I fell quiet as I stood still in front of them. Killian thinks that Iâm bullying Giselle. Killian thinks that Iâm the reason why he and Giselle broke up. Killian thinks that I manipulated his father to force him into marking me. In short, he thinks that Iâm a manipulative woman who wormed her way out to become the Pack Luna and separated him from the love of his life. To him, I am the villain that ruined his life. âGiselle, are you okay? Does anything hurt?â Killian asked softly, his anger vanished instantly as he fussed over Giselle worriedly. I blinked as I felt tears pricking my eyes. Killian crouched down and looked at Giselle with concern etched all over his face like she was a fragile doll. Killian has never looked at me like that. âIâm okay, but Iâm afraid,â Giselleâs eyes watered as she looked into Killian and gripped his sleeves for comfort. âI badly fell on the floor. What if something happened to the baby? I need to go to the hospital and have it checked. I wouldnât be able to sleep until I know that the baby is fine,â Giselle muttered with her lips curled downwards. âDonât worry, I will take you to the hospital,â Killian comforted her and carried her in his arms without questions. They left the room and rushed to the hospital leaving me behind like I wasnât even there. My lips stretched slightly as I looked at the calendar. Today is our anniversary. No one even remembered it, not even him. I was planning to tell him my surprise that I was pre9nant with his child, but I was the one who got surprised instead. Before my thoughts could spiral down and cause me to gloat, I cleaned Killianâs office knowing that he would be expecting it to be clean and spotless when he arrived. I cleaned up the mess that Giselle made and organized his things in his office while I was at it. His office was as good as new when I finished. Only when I was done with cleaning, did I finally tend to my wound. My wound on the leg is long and deep and I have to tend to it myself. As a Pack Warrior though, Iâve seen wounds much more grotesque than this, and Iâve had some uglier wounds myself. Most of my wounds, I had to clean on my own to avoid infection. This shouldnât be a big deal, but I couldnât help but overstate my situation because of Giselle. It is still clear in my head how Killian was worried sick about her and how he brought her to the hospital for nothing. She had no injuries, but Killian was so worried. Meanwhile, he couldnât care less about me. When I was done applying ointment on my wound and wrapping it in a bandage, I finally walked out of Killianâs office and locked his door closed. âAstrid.â I turned around in surprise when I heard someone call my name. My brows furrowed, not expecting anyone to be still outside at this hour. âDrystan?â I called back when I saw Killianâs uncle standing in the dark, smiling at me. The wrinkles on my brows straightened and I beamed happily when I saw him. Drystan is a kind guy who has always been nice to me. What is he doing here? Drystan is the Alpha of the Nightsong Pack. He was originally the powerful heir of our pack but was excluded because he wasnât the eldest son. So, he set up his own Pack which is very unique from the others. His Pack is the only Pack that doesnât follow the status class. In the Nightsong Pack, everyone is equal like in human society. The members are not classified by the level of their power. âWhat happened to your leg?â Drystan frowned when he saw my leg wrapped in a bandage. Nothing really escapes his eye. Even in the dark, he still noticed my leg wound. âI got it during practice,â I lied in between my teeth. I know that if he finds out what truly happened, he will get angry. Drystan could be too concerned about me than his own good. Drystanâs brows knotted together upon hearing my answer. Itâs in the middle of the night and my wound is still fresh, I also just came out of Killianâs office. How could I have gotten my wound on a practice match? âIs everything okay?â He asks me with concern in his face. I forced a smile on my face. âOf course Iâm fine, Iâm just tired,â I waved him off. Drystan wasnât the least convinced of my words. He knew I was lying. He knew I was hiding something, but he also knew when to trust me. I know whoever Drystanâs mate is, she would be so lucky to have him as her mate. Itâs so tragic that Drystanâs mate had already died. She died a long time ago and until now, Drystan still hasnât met his second chance mate. âAstrid,â Drystan called my name when I was about to leave. I turned around to face him. âHappy Anniversary,â Drystan greeted me softly, surprising me. My mate did not even remember that it was our anniversary, but he remembered. I just stood there with wide eyes until Drystan turned his back on me and left. Why did I see sadness in his eyes when he greeted me? My phone suddenly rang, interrupting me from my thoughts. Seeing the caller ID, my heart raced in anxiousness. It was a call from the hospital. âHello?â âMrs. Sullivan, please come to the hospital quick, your grandmotherââ I didnât wait to listen to the rest of her words. I instantly shifted to my wolf and raced to the hospital. My grandmother has been seriously ill. I always knew she only had a little time left, but I didnât expect it to happen this sooner. âMrs. Sullivan! Youâre here! You must hurry while your grandma is still alive,â a familiar nurse instantly recognized me when I arrived. âAstrid?â Someone stopped me. When I turned around I saw Giselle. âWhat are you doing here? Are you here to cause us trouble again?â She taunted with an angry look in her eyes. I did not expect that Killian would bring Giselle to the same hospital where my grandmother was admitted. I only had little time left so I ignored her. âHey! I was talking to you. Didnât you hear what I said?!â Giselle yelled after me. I bit my lower lip in anxiousness when I saw that the elevator was still high up and I had no time to wait so I sprinted for the stairways instead. âAstrid!â Giselle yelled my name repeatedly as she chased me. âHow dare you?! You canât just ignore me like that!â I gasped when Giselle suddenly grabbed me by the arm and forced me to face her making me nearly lose my balance. âGiselle, I need to go,â I spoke firmly as I looked directly into her eyes. I harshly took my arm away from her hold, but I did not expect that she would use it as her chance to fake her fall. Giselle suddenly yelped as she rolled down the stairs. I stared at her in shock not knowing what to do. âG-Giselle,â I stammered as she writhed on the ground, but before I could even turn to help her, someone suddenly arrived. âGiselle!â Killian yelled as he rushed to her side. âK-Killian,â Giselleâs voice trembled as blood trickled down her dress. Killianâs breath hitched when he realized that their baby was in danger. After seeing the blood, he slowly looked up at me with a murderous glare in his eyes. My body ran cold as I locked gazes into him. Iâve never seen Killian look at someone with this much hatred. âI-Iâ my voice quivered. âKillian, she pushed me! She tried to kill me and our baby,â Giselle teared up as she held on to Killian. âDonât let her leave! What if something bad happens to the baby and she tries to get away with it?â My mouth fell open at Giselleâs words. Killian nods his head. âAstrid, you must stay until I make sure that Giselle and our baby are okay. As for what you did to Giselle, you must be punished accordingly.â âKillian, my grandmother is in danger. She needs me.â I blurted out as I rushed towards him. âStop making excuses! You will not leave us until I say so.â Killian asserted. Doctors and nurses arrived to rush Giselle into the emergency room. âKillian, my grandma is waiting for me. Sheâs dying.â Tears streamed down my eyes as I pleaded with Killian, but he didnât even bother to look at me. His eyes were only on Giselle. Desperate to be with my grandmother, I dropped to my knees and lowered myself before Killian. âKillian, please just let me see her before she dies.â âYou know who else is dying here? Itâs Giselle and itâs all because of you,â Killian responded coldly. âYou are not leaving until I say so, Is that clear?â Tears blurred my vision as he pushed me, making me fall to the ground. While my grandma was dying, I was there forced to stay with them for nothing. âGiselle and her baby are safe,â the doctor announces after having a thorough examination on Giselle. Hearing this, I finally rushed to my grandmotherâs ward hoping to see her alive one last time. âG-Grandma,â my lips quivered when I entered her room only to see her lying on the bed coldly. I felt the world stop as her beeping heart monitor filled my ears. The flatline was a reminder that I came too late. âGrandma!â I wailed loudly as I hugged her lifeless body. All I could do was cry because sheâs gone. Because of my mate, I wasnât able to see my beloved grandmother for the last time. Chapter 3: Funeral Astridâs POV My eyes had been swollen red and puffy from endless crying. My grandmother was the only family member I had left. Now that sheâs dead, I am left all alone. Since Iâm the only one left, I am in charge of her medical expenses and I have been busy preparing for her funeral all alone. Iâve never stopped crying since my grandmother died. Still, I hated myself. Whatâs the purpose of preparing for her funeral and crying after she died when I wasnât even there by the time that she needed me the most? In her last days, I wasnât even there to comfort her. My precious grandmother doesnât deserve a granddaughter like me. I held back my tears as I gathered my grandmotherâs favorite foods together and placed them near her casket. In the happy memories that I had when I was little, I wasnât all alone. I always had my mom and grandma to rely on. That didnât last long though, eventually, my mother died and my grandma had to shoulder all the responsibilities and raise me on her own. Having only each other to rely on, my grandma and I became very close. She is the person closest to me, the person to whom I also owe my life. I was pulled back from my thoughts when someone placed a hand on my shoulder. I thought it was Killian, but when I looked up I felt disappointed to see Drystan. âCondolence,â Drystan muttered under his breath as we locked gazes. I just gave him a slight nod. My heart is too heavy to say anything. I looked around to search for Killian. The guests are piling up already to share their condolences, but heâs still nowhere to be found. He is my mate, he should be the first one to comfort me after the person who raised me had just died. He knows that my grandmother was the only family member I have left. I needed his comfort the most. I have been waiting long enough for him to come, but he is nowhere to be found. Drystan sat at the empty seat beside me which I left vacant for Killian because I was still hoping that he would come. I know Killian doesnât love me and he only cares about Giselle, but I thought in the years that weâve been together, he would at least feel concern for me especially since I was just bereaved of a loved one. He is the reason why I wasnât able to see my grandma while she was alive. I thought he would come and at least apologize for that. In the end, I was stuppid for hoping that Killian would show care for me at all. âLuna Astrid, should we start the funeral?â Someone came and whispered to me. I swallowed hard. âThereâs no need to delay the funeral any longer. Itâs better to conduct the funeral while the people who truly cared are here.â I answered in a soft whisper, but Drystan heard me because he was sitting beside me. Tears that I thought I had already used up sprang up again and streamed down my eyes as my grandmotherâs casket was slowly lowered into her burial place. My shoulders shook and I heaved knowing that this would be the last time I would ever see my grandmother again. âHere,â Drystan whispered to me as he handed me his handkerchief. I took it willingly and used it to wipe my tears and snot away without feeling embarrassed because Drystan and I were close. I stiffened a bit when Drystan suddenly caressed my back to comfort me, but eventually, I relaxed since he was my friend. Wanting more of his comfort, I turned around and enveloped him in a hug. Right now, all I need is warmth. Thankfully, he didnât push me away. Instead, he hugged me back and continued to rub my back soothingly. If Drystan wasnât here, I would have been a mess. Thanks to his hug and comfort, some of the pain in my heart had melted away. Drystan never left me. As I saw the guests away and received their condolences, Drystan just stood by my side, ready to give me comfort whenever I needed it. The funeral was done and the guests had left. As I packed everything up, Drystan helped me without saying a word. His silence was like his comforting hug to me. Just seeing him here helping me, I felt understood and I do not have to feel alone anymore. âThank you, Drystan,â I muttered under my breath and gave him a small smile. âItâs nothing, Astrid.â he pauses. âEverything will be okay. Iâm sure time will heal you,â he adds when he still sees sadness in my eyes. I nodded my head slightly, accepting his advice. âWhat happened to Killian?â He asks me. He must have been dying to ask me that question, but he waited until I had turned emotionally stable. I averted my gaze at him and continued to pack the excess things that I bought for my grandmotherâs funeral. Drrystan doesnât know anything because I havenât told him anything yet. Iâm not planning to tell him anything either. I heard footsteps behind me as I felt a presence approaching me. I stopped what I was doing and turned around to see who the late visitor was only to find out that it was Killian. Killian looked like he ran in his wolf form to come all the way here. His hair is a mess, and his tie is not even tied properly. He was breathing so fast that he couldnât even speak. My face turned blank as I locked gazes with him. The funeral was over, he didnât need to come. Annoyed with his presence, I stormed out of the place and left Drystan. Killian chased after me with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. âAstrid, I couldnât leave early because I had something I needed to take care of. It was something I couldnât get away from.â I stopped and turned on my heel to face him. My fists balled up at my sides as I narrowed my eyes at him. âWas there anything else more important than to be on your mateâs side at the time that she needed you the most?â I shot back at him. His eyes met mine and for a fleeting moment, a shadow of remorse flickered across his gaze However, it wasnât enough to quench my anger. âYou know what, you do not even need to come here,â I spoke bitterly. âIf only you hadnât stopped me that night, I would have still met my grandma while she was still alive.â Killianâs grip on the bouquet tightened when he heard my words. âI had no idea Iââ âI kept telling you that my grandmother needed me!â I yelled, interrupting him from his words. âYou never listened to me.â âAll you cared about is Giselle who is pre9nant with your child.â I blurted out finally releasing all the emotions that I have buried down long enough. Killian could not say a word. Whatever he says, and even if he apologizes, his words would never bring back my grandmother and it would never bring me back the time that I could have spent with her. Killian was silent for a moment. My heart which has always been heavy, felt lighter than it was after I finally told him the things that Iâve been wanting to tell him. I glanced at him in surprise when he suddenly crouched down and placed the bouquet of flowers that he brought on the ground where my grandmother had just been buried. âI only came here to pay my respects to your grandmother. Iâm sorry if I was late, that was out of my control,â Killian replied like he didnât just hear the rest of the words that I said. My breath turned shallow and my heart burned more in anger at his heartlessness. After everything that I said, that was it? Unable to control myself anymore, I picked up the flowers and thrashed them on Killian until the flowers were all shredded into pieces. Killian accepted all the hits that I had given him without saying anything. âYou are here to pay respect?!â I screamed at him. âDo you know how disrespected my grandmother would feel to see how much you had disrespected me?â I threw what was left of the flowers to the ground. âIâm tired of this. If you canât give me respect, I should at least give myself some respect,â I spoke in a weak voice as I collected myself together. This wasnât a part of any of my plans, but right now I think that is the best decision I could ever make for myself. âLetâs just stop this joke and get a divorce,â I spoke firmly, looking at Killian directly in his eyes. Chapter 4: Divorce Killianâs POV Divorce? I couldnât understand. I sighed and raked my hair in frustration when I caught my mind drifting off again instead of focusing on the paperwork that I had to finalize for the day. My mind kept on going back to Astridâs words. I couldnât believe how she easily asked me for divorce. Astrid has always been responsible and obedient as a Luna and as my right-hand man or commander in the military. I couldnât believe that she would easily file for divorce knowing that divorcing me would mean she would have to give up her Luna title and it would also make things awkward between us. I leaned on my chair and shut my eyes as I felt my headache coming. She must be talking purely out of her emotions. Once she had calmed down and saw the whole situation with a clear head, she would realize that the divorce would be too much. I was just late for her grandmotherâs funeral and I have a reasonable excuse for that. If I really didnât care, I wouldnât have shifted to my wolf and raced to that place even though I knew I was already late. For the part when I stopped her from being with her grandmother before she died, that wasnât intentional. I had no idea that she was actually telling the truth at that time. I thought she was making excuses. I really had no idea. If she didnât push Giselle off the stairs, she wouldnât miss her chance to be with her grandmother. What would she expect me to do after she tried to kil Giselle and endanger the life of my unborn child? Again, this is entirely not my fault. I agree that I have been busy lately and have neglected Astridâs feelings, but itâs not an appropriate reason to suddenly decide on a divorce. I jolted when someone suddenly entered my room without knocking, I thought it was Astrid, but it turned out as no other than my Beta. I forgot Astrid is required to knock before entering, but Beta Ryder could enter my office whenever he wants. âAre the papers signed already?â Beta Ryder asked me as he strolled loftily inside my office. I glanced down at the papers that my mind had barely absorbed. Before I could give my answer, Beta Ryder spoke up. âYouâve been out of yourself ever since Luna Astrid left. What happened between you two?â Beta Ryder asked curiously. Itâs been three days since Astrid had left, surprisingly he is only asking that question now. âAstrid is filing for divorce,â I answered him straightforwardly. His eyebrows shot up when he heard my answer. âAre you serious?â He asked me in disbelief. âDo I look like Iâm joking?â I glared at him. His brows furrowed as he thought carefully. âIs this a good thing or a bad thing?â My eyes narrowed at him upon hearing his question, but I couldnât blame him for asking such a question. Although Astrid and I were married for four years, we had never been intimate with each other. I have never even treated Astrid as my own mate, but when Giselle came back I already made her pre9nant. It is common for Beta Ryder to think this way. âOf course, it is a bad thing,â I answered him. âShe is our Pack Luna, we cannot lose her.â When I met Astrid, I thought she was just a weak werewolf who wouldnât be able to handle the role of a Luna. Of all the powerful women I could be mated to like Giselle, I ended up with Astrid who is born omega. I hated her because she was weak and didnât match up to me. I hated her more because she manipulated my father and separated me from Giselle. Eventually though when I saw what she was capable of, I finally learned to hate her less only because of the contributions she had to the Pack. She is still a useful Luna to this Pack even though she is born omega. âHow about Giselle then?â He asked me as he plopped on my couch making himself comfortable like he was at home. âSheâs still pre9nant with your child and for sure she would also love to be the Packâs Luna.â âGiselle canât be our Luna,â I replied. If Giselle becomes the Luna, Iâm sure she wonât be half as good as Astrid. Besides, our pack cannot afford to let go of a talent like Astrid. All of this started because I got Giselle pre9nant. If I hadnât impregnated her, then maybe Astrid wouldnât even have thought of divorce. I will also have more reasons to make Astrid stay in our Pack. What happened between me and Giselle was an accident. I was drunk. I donât even remember how it happened on the night that Giselle came back. I hated myself for being unable to control myself. The next thing I knew, Giselle was already pre9nant. I couldnât go back in time even if I wanted to, and I had to be responsible for my actions whether it was intentional or not. In the end, the baby is innocent and it is still mine. It is my responsibility to take care of Giselle and my child. âI will take care of her and our child since itâs my duty and the Pack needs an heir, but Astrid is the rightful Luna. Iâm not divorcing her,â I added firmly after making a decision. âThen since you have already figured that out, why donât you just go and tell her that?â He suggested as if it was that easy. âAstrid is still angry. She would only hate me more if she saw me and heard me say anything more.â My downcast expression brightened up a bit after I thought of something. âTrust me, once Astrid has calmed down, she would realize that the divorce is something she wouldnât want. Astrid wouldnât like to leave the Pack and turn into a rogue, does she? Who in their right mind would want that?â All my fears were washed away as I had that thought. âWhat are you planning to do now?â Beta Ryder asks me, putting me deep in thought âBuy me some flowers, lilies to be exact,â I ordered him. âWhat?â Beta Ryderâs brows furrowed at my unexpected response. âI shouldnât just wait for Astrid to calm down, I should try to ease her anger too,â I replied. Since my problem would be solved once Astrid had calmed down, it would be better if I did something to ease her anger. In that way, I would also be able to wim her heart too. Hearing my reason behind it, Beta Ryder did not ask more questions and left to get the flowers that I asked for. What is a better gift you can use to win a womanâs heart than flowers? Iâm sure once Astrid receives the flowers, she will rethink all that she said, and she will also think that I donât only care about Giselle just like what she had thought. A small smile stretched on my lips when I remembered the first time that I met Astrid. It was a beautiful spring day. I was just taking a stroll in our packhouseâs garden when I saw her from afar speaking to the fishes swimming in the pond while feeding them. It was the first time I saw someone in their right mind talking to a fish. She didnât notice that I was watching her so she continued talking. At that time, I had no plans of talking to her. I just saw her as a weird woman talking to creatures that she knew wouldnât be able to understand her. I was about to leave when she suddenly fell off the pondâs bridge and dropped into the swimming fishes that she was feeding. I didnât think twice and jumped in to save her. It was an unusual first encounter, so I could never forget it. At that time, many lilies were growing out of the pond. Ever since then, I am always reminded of our first encounter whenever I see lilies. Iâm sure once she receives my gift, she will be reminded of that encounter too. Chapter 5: Bracelet Astridâs POV My heart was heavy with grief and my body was fully exhausted when I returned to the packhouse. Being pre9nant made me become more emotional, and it also made me tire more easily. With everything that had happened to me lately, being pre9nant made things more difficult for me. Returning to the packhouse was the last thing that I wanted, but I had to. I had left all my things behind when I suddenly decided not to come back anymore. Right now, I just donât want to meet anyone who would ruin my mood even further. I came to the packhouse to pack my things and thatâs it. I have no intention of meeting Killian or even seeing his face. I also do not have any intention of telling him about our unborn child anymore. I instinctively touched my bump as I had that thought. I bit my lower lip as I felt sorry for my child. As someone who grew up without a father, I do not want my baby to experience that also. However, I couldnât also let him grow up with a father who doesnât want him either. Since Killian already has a child with Giselle, itâs clear he wouldnât want a child with me anymore. It doesnât matter anymore. My mother managed to raise me on her own before. I will make sure that I will be a better mother to my child than my mother was. âYouâre back,â someone spoke from behind me while I was stuffing all my things in my luggage so I could finally leave this place for good. âYou were gone for three days. What kind of Luna leaves the Pack for such a long time without notice?â I gritted my teeth as I closed my filled luggage and zipped it up before turning around to face Killianâs mother. Killianâs mother had always disliked me. She had always thought that I was too weak to become a Luna and that I did not deserve her son. For years, Iâve tried my best to live up to her expectations and live in peace with her as my mother-in-law. However, no matter what I did, she never liked me. She just hated me for who I was and had always tried to force me to leave his son and denounce my position in the Pack. Killianâs mother glared at me as she stood at the doorway with her arms crossed. Every time that I made mistakes, she was always there to point them out and shame me. She must have been waiting for me to come back so she could rub it in my face on how bad of a Luna I was and force me to denounce my Luna title once again. âI thought you did not want me here. Donât you used to force me to leave this Pack and denounce my title? Why are you angry that I was gone for three days?â I shot back at her. Before, I used to let her insult me, yell at me, and vent her anger on me even at the cost of my own dignity. I never talked back to her since she is my mother-in-law and I had to respect her. Now that Killian and I are getting a divorce. Thereâs no need for me to svck it all up when she and I will no longer be related to each other. Her eyes widened when she heard my disrespectful response. âYou!â she raised her voice as she pointed an angry finger at me. âIs that how you are supposed to talk to your own mother-in-law, huh?!â âDonât worry, you are not going to be my mother-in-law anymore. Killian and I are getting a divorce and Iâll be leaving this Pack for good. You wouldnât have to see my face just as you wanted!â I yelled back at her. Finally, after so many years of just being silent whenever she disrespected me, I could finally yell back at her and defend myself against her. It feels good to be able to stand up for myself again instead of just accepting insults and keeping everything in. âReally?!â Her face which was contorted with anger suddenly brightened up when she heard my words. âYou are leaving?â She asks again, not quite believing it. âYes! Iâm finally leaving this place and Iâm also so happy about it!â I yelled back at her angrily when I saw how happy she was to find out that I was leaving. If sheâs happy, I should be happy too. I should be happy that I could finally leave this place where no one ever appreciated me. âFinally you came to your senses!â She responded with a look of relief in her eyes. âGiselle is now pre9nant, and the Pack finally has an heir. You have been married to my son for several years, but until now you havenât bore my son with any children.â Hearing her words, I looked down on my belly and stilled. âYou have been holding back this pack and my son. Itâs time for you to leave and let my son live with someone better than he deserves.â Killianâs mother is truly glad at the news that Iâm leaving, not knowing that I would be bringing her grandchild with me. âSince you have decided to divorce my son and leave, donât you ever come back in the future? You only bring misfortune to us all. You are a jinx to our Pack,â Killianâs mother added without shame at all. Iâm not coming back. I will never come back. Once I leave this place, I will cut all the ties I have in this Pack and live my own life as a free woman who doesnât have to please anyone else. I smiled when I thought of the future that awaited ahead of me. I should have left a long time ago. I shouldnât have let these people demean me and lower my self-value. For one last time, I collected myself together and took out my belongings with me. I would make sure that this would be the last time that Iâd ever see this place. As I was about to walk past Killianâs mother, she suddenly pulled me aside causing my bag to fall on the floor. All of the stuff inside was scattered all over the place just when I was about to leave this wretched place. I dropped to the ground to bring my stuff back inside my bag when Killianâs mother suddenly crouched to the ground and picked up my bracelet which was given to me by my grandmother. âI knew it, you little thief. You still dare to steal from us before you leave?â Killianâs mother hissed at me. I stood back up and tried to snatch my bracelet from her hand, but she was too fast. She raised her hand before I could even reach it. âThatâs mine, I didnât steal it.â I narrowed my eyes at her. Killianâs mother just laughed at me. âYou were just an omega when you came here. How could you possibly own such valuable stuff? You are trying to steal from us before you leave,â she accused me. I clenched my fists when I heard her unwarranted accusations. Killianâs mother had always been hurtful with her words. Even though Iâm just an omega, I am not a thief. My grandmother raised me properly. I do not come from a family of thieves. âThis bracelet is mine,â I spoke firmly. âMy grandmother gave this to me. It doesnât belong to you or the Silvermoon Pack at all.â âThis bracelet is made with rare gems. How could your grandmother afford it? This must be a gift from my son and you are not allowed to take it,â Killianâs mother rebutted. âWhat is happening here?â Killian suddenly arrived at the scene, stopping me from doing anything I might regret against his evil mother. I will never leave this place without that bracelet that my grandmother has given me. âKillian, have you ever given me gifts before?â I asked him so that his mother would realize how wrong she was. In our entire marriage, I have never received a single gift from Killian. He doesnât even know my birthday, he doesnât even know our anniversary, and he couldnât care less about me on Christmas. In our entire marriage, I never received anything from him at all. I waited for Killian to give his answer, but he did not speak. I glanced at him to see what was stopping him from answering when the bouquet of lilies in his hand caught my eye. I sneezed when its fragrance entered my nostrils. I started to laugh as I felt my nose start to clog up because of my allergies. âIn the four years of our marriage, you do not even know that Iâm all ergic to lilies. How could you even think of buying me a bracelet?â I asked him with a bitter look on my face. He and his mother had just rubbed on me again because of how awful they were towards me. Chapter 6: Rejection Astridâs POV Killian turned his face away in shame when he heard my words. His hands trembled slightly as he reluctantly pulled the lilies away from my face, giving me the chance to breathe much better. I remained silent as I covered my nose. My nose felt itchy because of the damm flowers that stirred up my allergies. Killian suddenly scoffed after a moment of silence. âThese flowers are not for you,â he spoke angrily. I slowly looked up at him through the corner of my eyes when I heard him speak. When he came here holding the flowers, I really thought it was meant for me. âFor whom was it then?â I asked him since I really thought that he had come all the way here to give me those flowers as his way of apologizing. âFor Giselle of course,â Killian blurted out. âAs you have said you have never received any gift from me. Did you really think I would give you a flower now?â A bitter smile spread across my face when I heard his answer. It was foolish of me to expect that the flowers he was holding were meant for me. Killian is right. I truly am delusional. Even though I know that he doesnât like me, I always hope that he will still care about me. I hoped that he would learn to love me and forget about Giselle while we were married. I hoped that he would be happy to find that I was pre9nant with our baby. I hoped that he would be present to comfort me at my grandmotherâs funeral. In the end, I always get hurt because of my stvpid expectations. From now on, I will no longer hope for such things anymore. I will no longer be the foolish Astrid that I was. âThen thatâs great,â I shot back with a forced smile on my face. âEven if you beg me for forgiveness and fill my feet with flowers, I will never change my mind about the divorce.â Killian was stunned at my words. Maybe he was expecting that I would cry and wallow at his words, but Iâve already learned my lesson. A man like him is not worth my tears and efforts. Itâs better that I leave him as soon as possible before he fully ruins my life. âGive me my bracelet now so I can leave this place.â I narrowed my eyes at Killianâs mother. Killianâs mother just smirked at me, unswayed by my seriousness. Instead, she held up the bracelet in her hand and showed it to his son. âTell me, Killian. Is this bracelet really hers?â She questioned him in earnest. Killian stared at the bracelet carefully. His brows furrowed and his eyes deepened as he examined the bracelet carefully. âIs it hers, Killian?â His mother repeated her question when it took too long for him to answer. Killian blinked as if he was abruptly pulled out of his thoughts. âT-the bracelet is hers,â Killian answered truthfully. The eyes of Killianâs mother widened at her sonâs answer. âThat couldnât be!â She exclaimed. âHow could a mere omega like her own such an expensive bracelet? She must have stolen it,â she insisted. I gritted my teeth upon hearing her accusations. Now I know where his son got his attitude from. Both mother and son think so little about omegas. âBe careful of your words, mother,â Killian reprimanded her. âItâs true, Astrid owns the bracelet,â he muttered firmly. The bracelet that his mother is holding right now is so precious to me. It is a gift given to me by my grandmother making it a very important treasure for me. If the bracelet wasnât given to me by my grandmother, I would have freely given it to her despite its financial value. However, it holds a sentimental value for me. âMother, you should give her a bracelet,â Killian tells his mother respectfully. Killianâs mother gripped the bracelet tightly in her hand. Anger rose inside her as she thought of giving up the bracelet to me. The bracelet must be so expensive as she had said for her to want it so much. With an emotionless expression on my face, I stared blankly into his sharp eyes and opened my palm in front of her. Killianâs mother clenched her jaw tightly before reluctantly dropping my bracelet into my palm. After securing my bracelet, I opened my bag and pulled out the signed divorce papers. âHere,â I muttered coldly as I handed him the papers. âSince you are already here you can now sign it.â Killianâs eyes shot up to me when he heard my words, then I just took off without waiting for his answer. When I had exited the packhouse, Killian finally caught up to me after he recovered from his shock. âAstrid!â He yelled. I gasped when he suddenly grabbed my arm stopping me from leaving. âWhat are you thinking?â Killian glared at me as he gripped my arm so tightly that I could feel a bruise forming. âYou are the Pack Luna, you canât just leave!â I bravely stared into his narrowed eyes without cowering down before him. âDonât you understand, Killian? I give up!â I yelled into his face surprising him. âI donât want to be your mate and I donât want to be your Luna anymore. Just sign the divorce papers and let me go!â âI wonât sign these damm papers!â Killian blurted out as he raised the divorce papers that had crumpled at his tight hold. The corner of my lips slowly stretched as I stared into him. Slowly, I shook my head and started to laugh coldly at him. Killian stiffened as he looked at me like I had gone crazy. Maybe, I truly have gone crazy because of him. âWhy not? Giselle is free to become your Luna, after all, she is already pre9nant with your child,â I retorted blankly. Killianâs face softened. âItâs not like that. Giselle and Iââ I raised my hand stopping Killian from his words. âYou donât owe me any explanation, I understand. You never like me and now that Giselle is backââ âYou donât understand, Astrid!â He yelled interrupting me from my words. âYou just canât leave,â he told me unreasonably as he gripped my shoulders. âOh! I get it now. The divorce papers are not enough right? Fine! Letâs just reject each other now so you can have Giselle as your Luna without any problem,â I continued to speak without allowing Killian to answer. âI, Astrid Zorensen reject Killian Sullivan as my mate.â As those words left my lips, a searing pain coursed through my body causing me to drop to the ground. I shut my eyes tight as a soft cry escaped my lips. I clawed at my chast as I felt the agonizing torment coming from there. Just like me, Killian also crumbled to the ground because of pain. He couldnât speak as his face contorted in pain with his hand clutching his heart. He knelt weakly on the ground with one hand pushing himself up, trying to keep himself off the ground. He stayed like that trying to bear the pain without accepting my rejection. If he had only accepted my rejection, he wouldnât have hurt that much. Since I had already snapped whatever bond I had with him through the rejection, my body had coped up eventually. When the pain had minimized a bit, I forced myself to stand up. Killian just watched me with pain in his eyes. Now that he is weak and in pain, he will no longer be able to stop me. With little strength that I had left, I turned around to leave. âYou canât live without me, Astrid!â Killian yelled. âI know youâd come back sooner or later. You will never survive out there!â I smiled coldly without giving him the satisfaction of turning back and giving him attention. I will never come back here. Iâd rather die than come back. | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13490& | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,420 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13490&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/456457347_7981590751933249_889351046386276487_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=W0B-T9pE3WcQ7kNvgFuckOk&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AzMGpKa-rf6gscUPfkMA3xH&oh=00_AYDFQlRliK4wlQW0J7Jjqpu48gYT_PpAb6yCVzagXIlXOg&oe=671B6668 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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đAttention! Do not read in publicďźđ | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donât quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. âIs this the way you greet all Alphaâs?â His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. âIâm sorry.â I whisper, getting to my feet. âIâŚI thought I was alone.â I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. âCome forward.â He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iâm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. âYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?â My head moved up and down, though I couldnât tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. âI would prefer it if you spoke to me.â He growls, âIâm not in the mood to play games.â âYes.â I whisper. âI amâŚI am a Wolf.â I couldnât help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnât sure how much more my body could take. âHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.â âIâŚ..â I hated the question. âI havenât got all day!â He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnât scent him. I knew why I hadnât been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. âYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?â His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. âMy Wolf abilities were bound.â âWhy?â If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. âIt was a punishment.â âFor what?â âFor killing my parents.â | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | New world publications | https://www.facebook.com/61557831245498/ | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OQcZqQrlMHEQ7kNvgEjfoj5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AzMGpKa-rf6gscUPfkMA3xH&oh=00_AYBwR0uLMA2CodmQDwmwpKWb2bfqowwPP8UV7b_zEpi17w&oe=671B669D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | New world publications | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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đAttention! Do not read in publicďźđ | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donât quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. âIs this the way you greet all Alphaâs?â His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. âIâm sorry.â I whisper, getting to my feet. âIâŚI thought I was alone.â I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. âCome forward.â He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iâm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. âYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?â My head moved up and down, though I couldnât tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. âI would prefer it if you spoke to me.â He growls, âIâm not in the mood to play games.â âYes.â I whisper. âI amâŚI am a Wolf.â I couldnât help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnât sure how much more my body could take. âHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.â âIâŚ..â I hated the question. âI havenât got all day!â He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnât scent him. I knew why I hadnât been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. âYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?â His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. âMy Wolf abilities were bound.â âWhy?â If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. âIt was a punishment.â âFor what?â âFor killing my parents.â | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | New world publications | https://www.facebook.com/61557831245498/ | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OQcZqQrlMHEQ7kNvgEjfoj5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AzMGpKa-rf6gscUPfkMA3xH&oh=00_AYBwR0uLMA2CodmQDwmwpKWb2bfqowwPP8UV7b_zEpi17w&oe=671B669D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | New world publications | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Promotion ends today | SHOP_NOW | https://lyntion.shop/collections/vintage-jacket | Lyntion-GB | https://www.facebook.com/61565655651218/ | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shop Now | 0 | lyntion.shop | CAROUSEL | https://lyntion.shop/collections/vintage-jacket | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462958591_3741565072782653_4975730433504023151_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iwu4EMfjH0wQ7kNvgEwlCfw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AFkpUFQ1OXOY8yUC7i3foWo&oh=00_AYABlSYBRPPOh4Xp5LR5f5HGDqrDogCpbJ8sWJSgxHJUwA&oe=671B91D4 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lyntion-GB | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Order your đđđđ đđđđ CLASSIC tonic sampler pack today | Try it for yourself to find your ideal state of "chilled energy." Made with botanicals sourced from the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, đđđđ đđđđ CLASSIC is a feel-good tonic for your đđđđ đđđđ state of mind. Consume responsibly. Adults 21+ Only. | SHOP_NOW | https://botanictonics.com/products/feel-free-tonic | Feel Free Tonics | https://www.facebook.com/feelfreetonics/ | 3,719 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shop Now | 0 | botanictonics.com | DCO | https://botanictonics.com/products/feel-free-tonic-sampler | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462459580_433068069806471_4872470279251884864_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=twJHic8mis4Q7kNvgH9eBji&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AFkpUFQ1OXOY8yUC7i3foWo&oh=00_AYAapB-aLTsVNOM72laORkGjNGHwUYwwXzJoo2pS4acZAQ&oe=671B61C1 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Feel Free Tonics | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Order your đđđđ đđđđ CLASSIC tonic sampler pack today | Try it for yourself to find your ideal state of "chilled energy." Made with botanicals sourced from the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, đđđđ đđđđ CLASSIC is a feel-good tonic for your đđđđ đđđđ state of mind. Consume responsibly. Adults 21+ Only. | SHOP_NOW | https://botanictonics.com/products/feel-free-tonic | Feel Free Tonics | https://www.facebook.com/feelfreetonics/ | 3,719 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shop Now | 0 | botanictonics.com | DCO | https://botanictonics.com/products/feel-free-tonic-sampler | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462459580_433068069806471_4872470279251884864_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=twJHic8mis4Q7kNvgH9eBji&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AFkpUFQ1OXOY8yUC7i3foWo&oh=00_AYAapB-aLTsVNOM72laORkGjNGHwUYwwXzJoo2pS4acZAQ&oe=671B61C1 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Feel Free Tonics | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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'{"alias":2252024}' |
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đ Biglaang KasalanđđĽđđI-click upang makakita kaagad ng mas kapana-panabik na nilalamanđ | âPapakasalan kita.â Ang narinig ni Xavier. Lumingon siya at nakita niya ang isang magandang babae na may itim na mga mata. Tumingin siya sa kanya at napaisip siya kung bakit iyon gagawin ng babae para sa isang taong hindi niya kilala. âPapakasalan kita,â muling sinabi ni Jessica. âAno?â Sabi ni Xavier, binaba niya ang phone mula sa kanyang tainga upang tumingin sa babae. Paano niya naisip na magpakasal sa kanya kung wala siyang kaalam-alam tungkol sa kanya? âMula ka ba sa marriage service?â Tanong ni Xavier. Nagulat si Jessica sa tanong niya. âHindi,â sabi niya habang kinakagat ang kanyang mga labi. Sigurado siya na nasira na ang kanyang makeup dahil sa kakaiyak niya. âKailangan mo ng mapapangasawa, hindi ba?â Tanong ni Jessica habang sumisinghot siya. âOo, tama ka,â sagot ni Xavier. Naisip niya na posibleng siya na ang sagot sa kanyang problema. âIniwan ako ng groom ko sa araw ng kasal ko. Hindi ko na ikukwento sayo ang mga detalye pero nakikita ko na kailangan mo ng mapapangasawa. Pwede akong maging asawa mo.â Sabi ni Jessica. Tiningnan siyang maigi ni Xavier. Mukha naman siyang matino maliban sa nasirang makeup sa mukha niya. Ibinalik niya ang phone sa kanyang tainga. "Magpakasal na tayo. Kailangang-kailangan ko ng mapapangasawaâsabi ni Xavier at tumango si Jessica. âBigyan mo ako ng ilang minuto para linisin ang mukha ko. Magkita na lang tayo sa loob.â Sabi ni Jessica. Mas mabilis siyang natapos. Tiningnan siya ni Xavier mula ulo hanggang paa at naisip niya na at least hindi pangit ang pakakasalan niya. âWalang mga witness?â Nagtanong ang judge habang nakangiti kay Xavier. Agad na nakahalata si Jessica na maimpluwensya si Xavier dahil kilala siya ng judge at kaya niyang magpareserve ng isang private room. âKung ganun, tatawag ako ng dalawang tao para tumayo bilang mga witness,â dagdag ng judge bago siya tumawag ng dalawang tao. Isang lalaki at isang babae. Ang lalaki ay tatayo bilang witness para kay Xavier at ang babae naman ay para kay Jessica. Mas maikli ang proseso nito kaysa sa iniisip niya at hindi nagtagal ay legal siyang naikasal sa isang lalaking hindi niya kilala. âSimula ngayon, kayong dalawa ay ganap nang mag-asawa.â | LEARN_MORE | https://grounpcorp.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=144 | Philip Spicy Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61561349855790/ | 35,396 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | grounpcorp.com | DCO | đđBaby,Maligayang pagdating sa mundo ng mga nasa hustong gulangđđ | https://grounpcorp.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=14487&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462091810_863528525758479_8285587723655056533_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BFZEIB9tpXUQ7kNvgGm8xSP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ADJcyF-pX2GWqWTBpAc-cnd&oh=00_AYDBYnVznBSmeHG5NWItS6xwyh9XmQz4IyIq_Wvedq1_Ew&oe=671B8C39 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Philip Spicy Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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'{"alias":2251930}' |
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Pursue Your Legal Rights | Legal matters simplified. | LEARN_MORE | https://www.justicepays.com/?utm_campaign=(copy) s | Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh | https://www.facebook.com/GoldmanBabboniFernandezMurphyWalsh/ | 845 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | justicepays.com | CAROUSEL | Legal matters simplified. | https://www.justicepays.com/?utm_campaign=(copy) sr_GBFMW_7_24&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=5014343-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/463396771_503486719347717_2797722979924991362_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Hlt3eLk-1DcQ7kNvgEeuLJR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYA3HzfxhQ6bh-PxNDcKdQhFPJcr4fGk39_jgZzusdKMuA&oe=671B63C4 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Legal Help For Fair Claims | Expert legal support. | LEARN_MORE | https://www.justicepays.com/?utm_campaign=(copy) s | Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh | https://www.facebook.com/GoldmanBabboniFernandezMurphyWalsh/ | 845 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | justicepays.com | CAROUSEL | Expert legal support. | https://www.justicepays.com/?utm_campaign=(copy) sr_GBFMW_7_24&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=5014343-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/463410268_1082928603540045_7234808639829631128_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X0eQJxvW62UQ7kNvgHlLISA&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYAWr1ZnpFPo5LER172QlII3wd6cONT_q-BMEC46pex68Q&oe=671B7B45 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Goldman Babboni Fernandez Murphy & Walsh | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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'{"alias":2251940}' |
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Know your rights | Let us help you find the right solutions, if you are hurt in an accident. Contact us for a free consultation. | CONTACT_US | https://www.currylawgroup.com/?utm_source=facebook | CURRY LAW GROUP | https://www.facebook.com/CurryLawGroup/ | 1,642 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Contact Us | 0 | currylawgroup.com | CAROUSEL | Let us help you find the right solutions, if you are hurt in an accident. Contact us for a free consultation. | https://www.currylawgroup.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_curry_traffic_8_24&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4941237-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/457249913_536974475465231_8225886550152497580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0G9RLht4ZCwQ7kNvgFmDPJ7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYBu_gNAeO_axSJSbu5ulugxt0b8YE3DW05Jbr_l3hA3nw&oe=671B92A2 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | CURRY LAW GROUP | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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'{"alias":2253306}' |
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Local Moving Pros | Stress-free moving. | CONTACT_US | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distan | Delaney Worldwide | https://www.facebook.com/61557773368721/ | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Contact Us | 0 | delaneyworldwide.com | CAROUSEL | Stress-free moving. | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distance/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/456451486_484771541074979_509422348011587811_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=p-JeoeRaOIQQ7kNvgEh0oDV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYA5Qi5gDK_pFs2wipqatkzBErCuwYfFeotAFUACmApwSQ&oe=671B81D1 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All-In-One Storage Solutions | Safe and secure! | CONTACT_US | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distan | Delaney Worldwide | https://www.facebook.com/61557773368721/ | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Contact Us | 0 | delaneyworldwide.com | CAROUSEL | Safe and secure! | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distance/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/456326637_1062883972209377_1888591131315826226_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tggNGmQ1QQoQ7kNvgEjVWzR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYCuWAzO66rxz0IFOcTTC2OEdGeH6HLh7HrKS7xZ5cLwtA&oe=671B6F76 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All-In-One Storage Solutions | Safe and secure! | CONTACT_US | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distan | Delaney Worldwide | https://www.facebook.com/61557773368721/ | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Contact Us | 0 | delaneyworldwide.com | CAROUSEL | Safe and secure! | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distance/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/456326637_1062883972209377_1888591131315826226_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tggNGmQ1QQoQ7kNvgEjVWzR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYCuWAzO66rxz0IFOcTTC2OEdGeH6HLh7HrKS7xZ5cLwtA&oe=671B6F76 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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đAttention! Do not read in publicďźđ | One Neah âWhere the heck is she?â I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donât make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. âAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.â Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnât need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. âWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!â I donât answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnât have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnât mess around and he had the largest pack. âHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!â Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnât tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. âUseless Wolf.â He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donât quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. âIs this the way you greet all Alphaâs?â His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. âIâm sorry.â I whisper, getting to my feet. âIâŚI thought I was alone.â I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnât introduce himself either, why should he? âCome forward.â He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iâm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. âYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?â I nod, though I couldnât tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. âI would prefer it if you spoke to me.â He growls, âIâm not in the mood to play games.â âYes.â I whisper. I couldnât help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? âWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.â âIâŚ..â I hated the question. âSpit it out, I havenât got all day!â He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnât scent him. I knew why I hadnât been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. âYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itâs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?â His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. âMy Wolf abilities were bound,â I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnât interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, âWhy would someone do that?â If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. âIt was a punishment.â I whisper. It wasnât far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereâs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnât tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me âNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?â He turns to the crimson eyed man. âI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.â Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. âI wouldnât do that if I were you.â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. âNeah,â My name rolls off of his tongue, âwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.â What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. âGo and get Beta Kyle.â Alpha Trey seethes. âTell him that our guest is here.â I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. âBeta Kyle,â I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. âAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.â He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. âYouâre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.â Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnât speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnât last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. âNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.â I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveâŚ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. âNeah is your sister, correct?â Alpha Dane questions my brother. âShe is.â Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. âWhy do you treat her like vermin?â Straight to the point, my brother wouldnât like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnât know what to do. I couldnât move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. âNeah was responsible for our parents' death.â Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. âResponsible how?â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. âShe served them Wolfsbane.â Two Neah Donât make a sound. Donât make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnât squeeze. âYou poisoned your parents?â âI was six.â I splutter. âI just made them lemonade.â My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. âHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.â âA six year old should know the difference between plants.â Alpha Trey snaps âSounds to me like she was set up.â Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. âWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnât affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.â What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnât lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. âWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.â Alpha Dane mutters âYou werenât there, Alpha Dane.â My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. âIt was Wolfsbane.â He nods his head. âYou are right, I was not present.â Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. âBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?â âI didnât ask you here to talk about my slave!â Alpha Trey spits. âOr what happened to my parents.â Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaâs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaâs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. âYouâre right and now I have a few things to mull over.â âI thought we agreed.â My brother exclaims âNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.â The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. âWhat the heck did you say to him?â My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. âN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.â âDid you tell him?â Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. âWELL?â My brother yells when I donât immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. âBut I didnât say it was you.â I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenât Wolves, they probably wouldnât have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. âIf you have ruined this, you wonât see daylight again.â He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. âPleaseâŚ.â I beg. âHe was an AlphaâŚI⌠I had to answer him.â My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. âAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.â Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. âI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?â âAs I said,â my brother holds his ground, âShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.â âYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!â Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. âIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?â âWe donâtâŚ.â âReally?â He cocks a brow, âYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.â âShe did do it!â Alpha Trey seethes âAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.â âThatâs for me to decide.â His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. âWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.â I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. âOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iâm certain she is just as vile as you.â He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. âI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.â Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother âWe have already agreed on terms.â âWell, Iâm adding one. And if you donât agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donât want that.â âI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?â Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. âYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.â Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? âDeal.â Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnât take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. âI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.â He reaches a hand out and cups my face, âEnsure you have everything packed.â He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. âIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.â He struts out, slamming the door behind him. âGet out of my sight!â My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnât slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatâs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane âTenth brideâs the charm.â Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. âShut up!â Eric snaps at him âBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!â âHe will never learn.â My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. âJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.â The door closes and neither one of them speaks. âShe isnât like the others. Donât speak to her, donât look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.â I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnât know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. âI mean it!â I snap at Jenson's smug face, âBeing my brother wonât change my mind!â He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itâs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. âAre you ready?â I call out. âIf you just want toâŚ..â Beta Kyle starts. âI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.â The expression on Beta Kyleâs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. âWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedâ âThatâs all she has.â Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. âThatâs it?â I stare at him. âThatâs all her belongings? Sheâs what, in her early twenties and thatâs all she has?â âWhat more does she need?!â His Beta sneers. âKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.â âWhat are you waiting for?â I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahâs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. âTake her Alpha Dane. Iâm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.â Her shrill voice goes straight through me. âLook at the silly girl, sheâs going to pass out.â The blonde bimbo laughs âYou donât get to talk about her like that anymore.â I glare at the blonde, âShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.â âDISOBEDIENCE!â The woman screeches just as Neahâs hip hits the floor. âHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itâs that rat in the corner.â âWho the heck is she calling a rat?â Aero growls âYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.â I snap. âIt seems your mate has not told you everything.â Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. âAll that for your help?â His mateâs eyes are wide âI donât do half-witted contracts.â Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyâs chest âShall we go to the office?â Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. âYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.â âAre those my only options?â she whispers, keeping her eyes low âFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.â She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itâs fighting to hang on to life. âSo what will it be?â âIâŚ.â Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. âIâŚ.. The office I guess.â âGood choice.â I hold out a hand for her but she doesnât take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. âTake a seat.â I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. âSit!â I say it a little louder âShe doesnât have that privilege here!â The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement âSitting is not a privilege.â I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnât see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. âIt better be!â Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. âAnd I suggest,â I look at Trey, âYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.â âAlpha Dane, you are in my homeâŚ..â âAnd you want my help, correct?â The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. âLetâs just get this done.â Trey snaps, âThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.â âYou should read the contract.â I muse âI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.â âIdiot!â Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. âDone.â Trey mutters âGood, you can get her out of my house.â Treyâs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnât have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canât have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, âCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.â Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnât even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. âCome.â I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. âIs she okay?â Eric links me. âNeah?â I step in front of her and she doesnât move. She seems to be staring right through me. âItâs time to go.â âOkay.â Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. âIâve got you.â I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnât weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. âKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!â I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. âCome.â I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donât wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. âIâm fine.â She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. âLet me give you a tour.â I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not âThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.â I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. âIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.â Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. âSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.â Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room âWell?â I ask. âI donât need anything.â She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnât fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. âI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iâm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donât have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. âYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.â âMark me?â I didnât think her eyes could get any wider. âYes, I will mark you.â She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnât take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnât said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. âYouâŚ.You brought me so that you could mark me.â She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. âIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.â âIâm a murderer.â She gasps. âWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?â âBloodâ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. âWhatâs that? Are you injured?â I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. âItâs nothing. Itâs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itâs there.â Forget? How could she forget a wound? âWhy isnât she healing?â I feel Aeroâs panic. âSheâs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.â His need to protect her was strong. It hadnât occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. âShow me!â âItâs fine.â She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. âItâs not optional.â I mutter. âIf you wonât show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.â Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. âCan.... can we go somewhere more private?â âPrivate?â I didnât really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. âOffice,â Aero mutters. âI was just going to suggest that!â I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. âThis way.â I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. âSee, itâs fine.â she whispers. âYou need to stop saying that.â She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. âNo,â I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. âLet me see the rest of them.â It wasnât optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnât want guests to see. More importantly, they didnât want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. âYou need to see a doctor.â âItâs âŚ..â she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. âIt always heals, eventually.â âDid Trey do this?â I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. âCassandra?â She still doesnât answer me. âThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?â She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. âAnyone else?â âThe pack.â She whispers. âIâm going to kill them all.â Aero growls. He will have to get in line, âBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.â She nods. âI donât believe you were responsible.â She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. âBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah âIâŚI donât know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?â I whisper He frowns at me. âYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.â âIâŚâ I didnât have an answer. I couldnât remember, not fully. âBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canât imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherâs story doesnât add up.â âOh.â âI wonât stop until I find out who did this, Neah.â His crimson eyes narrow. âI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.â He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. âRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.â I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? âCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.â Frozen to the spot, I donât move. Did he just say âour bedroom,â? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iâm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnât seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. âYou donât need to be afraid.â I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. âHey,â His rough fingers tip my face up. âItâs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.â Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. âThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?â He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. âI really wish you would talk more, Neah.â Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iâm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnât care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. âNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.â Alpha Daneâs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnât even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. âComing.â I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. âItâs not much, as we donât have anyone with as small a waist as you.â He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. âYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.â He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnât like that. âLetâs go.â He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnât get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. âRaven, this is Neah.â Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, âAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.â It didnât sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. âShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.â âI have a wound.â I whisper. âAnd you are not healing?â Raven asks, confused âI donât have my Wolf.â I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. âHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.â Alpha Dane tells her. âThatâs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.â My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenâs dark eyes hover on me. âWow, okay.â She grabs my hand. âThis way, letâs take a look at this wound of yours.â She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. âHow long ago?â âA few days.â I mutter, though I wasnât sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnât hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. âThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.â âNeah, you need to tell us the truth.â Alpha Dane orders âI donât know.â âNEAH!â His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. âI swear, I donât know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofâŚ. Iâm never not bruised.â Thereâs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnât already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packâs hospital, revealing the truth. âHeal her!â Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. âYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.â Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound âYour brother?â I whisper, opening my eyes âAh, I see he informed you. Iâm guessing he didnât tell you that Jenson is our brother too?â I shake my head, Iâm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. âJenson is considered to be our brotherâs Gamma.â âGamma?â I had never heard of the term. âYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iâm good at.â She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. âNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnât changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.â âThanks.â I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnât read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. âCream, three times a day.â I show him the pot and he takes it from me. âGood, come.â He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. âShow me.â He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnât going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. âI donât want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canât remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donât want to have to guess what you mean.â âOkay.â I couldnât say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. âStop holding your breath.â He tells me, getting to his feet. âI am not going to hurt you.â It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnât feel real. | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,420 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AEs3UNgoEDYQ7kNvgH3F4ZX&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYAoj79Yu35Q32xyuLuL7uK6jHAqpXpg7z30YaNNbDeksw&oe=671B73F3 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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đAttention! Do not read in publicďźđ | One Neah âWhere the heck is she?â I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donât make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. âAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.â Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnât need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. âWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!â I donât answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnât have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnât mess around and he had the largest pack. âHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!â Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnât tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. âUseless Wolf.â He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donât quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. âIs this the way you greet all Alphaâs?â His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. âIâm sorry.â I whisper, getting to my feet. âIâŚI thought I was alone.â I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnât introduce himself either, why should he? âCome forward.â He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iâm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. âYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?â I nod, though I couldnât tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. âI would prefer it if you spoke to me.â He growls, âIâm not in the mood to play games.â âYes.â I whisper. I couldnât help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? âWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.â âIâŚ..â I hated the question. âSpit it out, I havenât got all day!â He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnât scent him. I knew why I hadnât been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. âYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itâs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?â His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. âMy Wolf abilities were bound,â I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnât interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, âWhy would someone do that?â If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. âIt was a punishment.â I whisper. It wasnât far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereâs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnât tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me âNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?â He turns to the crimson eyed man. âI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.â Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. âI wouldnât do that if I were you.â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. âNeah,â My name rolls off of his tongue, âwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.â What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. âGo and get Beta Kyle.â Alpha Trey seethes. âTell him that our guest is here.â I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. âBeta Kyle,â I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. âAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.â He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. âYouâre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.â Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnât speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnât last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. âNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.â I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveâŚ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. âNeah is your sister, correct?â Alpha Dane questions my brother. âShe is.â Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. âWhy do you treat her like vermin?â Straight to the point, my brother wouldnât like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnât know what to do. I couldnât move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. âNeah was responsible for our parents' death.â Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. âResponsible how?â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. âShe served them Wolfsbane.â Two Neah Donât make a sound. Donât make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnât squeeze. âYou poisoned your parents?â âI was six.â I splutter. âI just made them lemonade.â My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. âHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.â âA six year old should know the difference between plants.â Alpha Trey snaps âSounds to me like she was set up.â Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. âWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnât affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.â What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnât lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. âWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.â Alpha Dane mutters âYou werenât there, Alpha Dane.â My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. âIt was Wolfsbane.â He nods his head. âYou are right, I was not present.â Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. âBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?â âI didnât ask you here to talk about my slave!â Alpha Trey spits. âOr what happened to my parents.â Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaâs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaâs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. âYouâre right and now I have a few things to mull over.â âI thought we agreed.â My brother exclaims âNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.â The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. âWhat the heck did you say to him?â My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. âN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.â âDid you tell him?â Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. âWELL?â My brother yells when I donât immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. âBut I didnât say it was you.â I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenât Wolves, they probably wouldnât have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. âIf you have ruined this, you wonât see daylight again.â He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. âPleaseâŚ.â I beg. âHe was an AlphaâŚI⌠I had to answer him.â My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. âAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.â Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. âI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?â âAs I said,â my brother holds his ground, âShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.â âYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!â Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. âIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?â âWe donâtâŚ.â âReally?â He cocks a brow, âYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.â âShe did do it!â Alpha Trey seethes âAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.â âThatâs for me to decide.â His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. âWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.â I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. âOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iâm certain she is just as vile as you.â He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. âI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.â Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother âWe have already agreed on terms.â âWell, Iâm adding one. And if you donât agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donât want that.â âI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?â Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. âYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.â Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? âDeal.â Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnât take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. âI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.â He reaches a hand out and cups my face, âEnsure you have everything packed.â He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. âIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.â He struts out, slamming the door behind him. âGet out of my sight!â My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnât slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatâs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane âTenth brideâs the charm.â Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. âShut up!â Eric snaps at him âBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!â âHe will never learn.â My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. âJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.â The door closes and neither one of them speaks. âShe isnât like the others. Donât speak to her, donât look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.â I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnât know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. âI mean it!â I snap at Jenson's smug face, âBeing my brother wonât change my mind!â He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itâs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. âAre you ready?â I call out. âIf you just want toâŚ..â Beta Kyle starts. âI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.â The expression on Beta Kyleâs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. âWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedâ âThatâs all she has.â Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. âThatâs it?â I stare at him. âThatâs all her belongings? Sheâs what, in her early twenties and thatâs all she has?â âWhat more does she need?!â His Beta sneers. âKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.â âWhat are you waiting for?â I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahâs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. âTake her Alpha Dane. Iâm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.â Her shrill voice goes straight through me. âLook at the silly girl, sheâs going to pass out.â The blonde bimbo laughs âYou donât get to talk about her like that anymore.â I glare at the blonde, âShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.â âDISOBEDIENCE!â The woman screeches just as Neahâs hip hits the floor. âHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itâs that rat in the corner.â âWho the heck is she calling a rat?â Aero growls âYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.â I snap. âIt seems your mate has not told you everything.â Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. âAll that for your help?â His mateâs eyes are wide âI donât do half-witted contracts.â Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyâs chest âShall we go to the office?â Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. âYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.â âAre those my only options?â she whispers, keeping her eyes low âFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.â She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itâs fighting to hang on to life. âSo what will it be?â âIâŚ.â Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. âIâŚ.. The office I guess.â âGood choice.â I hold out a hand for her but she doesnât take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. âTake a seat.â I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. âSit!â I say it a little louder âShe doesnât have that privilege here!â The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement âSitting is not a privilege.â I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnât see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. âIt better be!â Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. âAnd I suggest,â I look at Trey, âYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.â âAlpha Dane, you are in my homeâŚ..â âAnd you want my help, correct?â The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. âLetâs just get this done.â Trey snaps, âThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.â âYou should read the contract.â I muse âI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.â âIdiot!â Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. âDone.â Trey mutters âGood, you can get her out of my house.â Treyâs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnât have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canât have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, âCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.â Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnât even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. âCome.â I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. âIs she okay?â Eric links me. âNeah?â I step in front of her and she doesnât move. She seems to be staring right through me. âItâs time to go.â âOkay.â Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. âIâve got you.â I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnât weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. âKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!â I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. âCome.â I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donât wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. âIâm fine.â She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. âLet me give you a tour.â I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not âThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.â I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. âIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.â Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. âSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.â Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room âWell?â I ask. âI donât need anything.â She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnât fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. âI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iâm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donât have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. âYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.â âMark me?â I didnât think her eyes could get any wider. âYes, I will mark you.â She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnât take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnât said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. âYouâŚ.You brought me so that you could mark me.â She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. âIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.â âIâm a murderer.â She gasps. âWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?â âBloodâ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. âWhatâs that? Are you injured?â I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. âItâs nothing. Itâs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itâs there.â Forget? How could she forget a wound? âWhy isnât she healing?â I feel Aeroâs panic. âSheâs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.â His need to protect her was strong. It hadnât occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. âShow me!â âItâs fine.â She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. âItâs not optional.â I mutter. âIf you wonât show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.â Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. âCan.... can we go somewhere more private?â âPrivate?â I didnât really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. âOffice,â Aero mutters. âI was just going to suggest that!â I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. âThis way.â I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. âSee, itâs fine.â she whispers. âYou need to stop saying that.â She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. âNo,â I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. âLet me see the rest of them.â It wasnât optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnât want guests to see. More importantly, they didnât want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. âYou need to see a doctor.â âItâs âŚ..â she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. âIt always heals, eventually.â âDid Trey do this?â I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. âCassandra?â She still doesnât answer me. âThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?â She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. âAnyone else?â âThe pack.â She whispers. âIâm going to kill them all.â Aero growls. He will have to get in line, âBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.â She nods. âI donât believe you were responsible.â She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. âBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah âIâŚI donât know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?â I whisper He frowns at me. âYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.â âIâŚâ I didnât have an answer. I couldnât remember, not fully. âBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canât imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherâs story doesnât add up.â âOh.â âI wonât stop until I find out who did this, Neah.â His crimson eyes narrow. âI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.â He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. âRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.â I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? âCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.â Frozen to the spot, I donât move. Did he just say âour bedroom,â? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iâm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnât seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. âYou donât need to be afraid.â I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. âHey,â His rough fingers tip my face up. âItâs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.â Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. âThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?â He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. âI really wish you would talk more, Neah.â Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iâm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnât care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. âNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.â Alpha Daneâs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnât even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. âComing.â I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. âItâs not much, as we donât have anyone with as small a waist as you.â He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. âYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.â He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnât like that. âLetâs go.â He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnât get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. âRaven, this is Neah.â Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, âAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.â It didnât sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. âShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.â âI have a wound.â I whisper. âAnd you are not healing?â Raven asks, confused âI donât have my Wolf.â I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. âHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.â Alpha Dane tells her. âThatâs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.â My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenâs dark eyes hover on me. âWow, okay.â She grabs my hand. âThis way, letâs take a look at this wound of yours.â She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. âHow long ago?â âA few days.â I mutter, though I wasnât sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnât hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. âThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.â âNeah, you need to tell us the truth.â Alpha Dane orders âI donât know.â âNEAH!â His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. âI swear, I donât know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofâŚ. Iâm never not bruised.â Thereâs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnât already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packâs hospital, revealing the truth. âHeal her!â Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. âYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.â Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound âYour brother?â I whisper, opening my eyes âAh, I see he informed you. Iâm guessing he didnât tell you that Jenson is our brother too?â I shake my head, Iâm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. âJenson is considered to be our brotherâs Gamma.â âGamma?â I had never heard of the term. âYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iâm good at.â She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. âNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnât changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.â âThanks.â I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnât read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. âCream, three times a day.â I show him the pot and he takes it from me. âGood, come.â He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. âShow me.â He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnât going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. âI donât want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canât remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donât want to have to guess what you mean.â âOkay.â I couldnât say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. âStop holding your breath.â He tells me, getting to his feet. âI am not going to hurt you.â It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnât feel real. | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,420 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AEs3UNgoEDYQ7kNvgH3F4ZX&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYAoj79Yu35Q32xyuLuL7uK6jHAqpXpg7z30YaNNbDeksw&oe=671B73F3 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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đĽđĽClick to read the next chapter for freeđ | Two years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office. Today was the first time I went to his company. After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that theyâre finally learning to accept me? Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from losing my baby lingered, even though it had been a long time since that accident. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came. I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own. Now, I was about to step into Elijahâs world â his beloved company. My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over some papers. Their shoulders were touching, their cheeks almost brushing against each other. What is going on? I thought in alarm. Suddenly, the woman whispered something in Elijahâs ear while she gently laid her perfectly manicured hands on his arm. My heart jumped. I heard a loud thud on the floor and realized Iâd dropped the folder I was holding. They both looked up, startled. And thatâs when my gaze locked with that of the woman. I felt a shudder creeping through my skin. Serena Foster! She used to be a classmate of ours at Fairview University. She also happened to be Elijahâs ex-girlfriend. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So this is why my evil mother-in-law asked me to deliver this document! Morgana had probably known that Serena was here now. My husband rose from his chair, abruptly pulling away from Serena who was throwing me daggers with her eyes. âYou remember Serena, right? She works here now.â I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat and my thoughts raging in a storm. Theyâre just colleagues, nothing else, I thought, but not with full conviction. Elijah wouldnât cheat on me, would he? All this time, Iâd remained hopeful that he could still fall in love with me. But now, with Serena in the picture, time might just be running out for us. âSo why are you here?â Elijah asked, a frown creasing his brow. âYour mom asked me to deliver this,â I explained, hastily picking up the folder and handing it to him. Then narrowing my eyes at Serena, I waited for him to explain why they were working closely, or to at least introduce me as his wife. But much to my dismay, he didnât. It felt as though my heart was being squeezed tightly, as it dawned on me that heâd never really introduced me to anyone as his wife. Ever. âSophia, you look shaken up. Didnât you know Elijah hired me to work here?â Her voice dripped with sarcasm. âApparently, we make a great team. Funny, I donât recall seeing you here before.â She was purposely rubbing it in my face, and I wanted to slap that smile away from her face. She then added, âOh, right, you donât know anything about business. You might just mess things up.â âI take care of our home,â I said bitterly, looking down on the floor for a bit. I felt belittled, and my husband couldnât even defend me. Serena looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Just then, Elijah said, âNext time, Sophia, just contact me and Iâll have my assistant come over.â "Fine," I murmured, my voice barely audible, wishing the ground would swallow me up. The weight of hurt and embarrassment pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. My heart thudded as I blinked back tears. He doesn't want me here. Suddenly, Elijahâs secretary came in. âAlice, please prepare coffee for the ladies,â he instructed. âJust black for Serena. No sugar.â Serenaâs eyes lit up. âHey, you remembered!â she exclaimed, obviously delighted. Elijah nodded at her. âOf course.â I watched the exchange with a sinking feeling in my heart. Serena gave me a smug look as if she was reveling in some secret victory. I couldnât help but feel more depressed. Here was my husband, effortlessly remembering Serena's coffee preferences, yet he couldn't recall something as simple as my allergy to caffeine. âJoin us, Sophia,â Serena invited with a devilish grin. âJust like how we used to hang out together in college.â I struggled to contain my emotions, not wanting to break down in front of them. âI have to go,â I managed to say, my voice slightly cracking. âIâll see you at home.â Elijahâs expression remained unchanged, and my heart felt heavy with the realization of how little I meant to him. The way he treated me had only gotten worse after losing my baby. What did you expect? a small voice hissed in my head. He only married you because he got you to have a baby. Youâre the one who keeps hoping heâll eventually fall for you. As his assistant Connor Hayes drove me home, I thought about how my husbandâs mother Morgana had begun ignoring me after I lost the baby. Then one day, she started talking to me again, only to treat me like a housemaid. I fought back tears as the heaviness in my heart escalated. My marriage was falling apart so fast that I couldnât seem to catch up. When we pulled up the spacious driveway of the Sinclair mansion, a feeling of dread and loneliness engulfed me. Iâm back in this prison. Trapped. Helpless. I want to escape this prison! I screamed in my head, glad that Morgana was nowhere to be found. Yet. Running to my room and throwing myself on my bed, sobs wracked my body. And as I cried my eyes out, I felt something with my hand that made me sit up. A small portion of a brown envelope was peeking from under the pillow. My heart tightened, and more tears filled my eyes. I knew exactly what it contained â the papers Iâd prepared before. I pulled them out and stared at the title that blurred before my teary eyes. It read: Divorce Agreement. CHAPTER 2 The divorce agreement was written after I accidentally lost my baby. During that time, I couldnât even look at Elijahâs face without thinking about our baby. The pain was unbearable, so I believed divorce was my salvation. Looking back, preparing the divorce agreement was not a mistake, now that leaving was my only option. My hands shook as I held the papers in my hand. I could hear Morganaâs voice outside. âSophia!â she called in a sharp tone. She probably heard me come in and was now wondering where I was. Quickly, I hid the divorce agreement and washed my face in the bathroom. Thatâs when the door swung open. I dried my face with a towel and looked at my mother-in-law. She responded with a cold gaze. She immediately instructed me to do the housework, her tone full of disdain. As I began my chores, she stood there taunting me. âElijah told me not to ask you to deliver things in the future,â she said with a scoff. âYou canât even be relied on for such a simple task.â Her words cut deep. âWhen you first came to our house carrying a baby in your belly, it was okay that you couldn't do anything,â she continued. âThen you had lost your baby and you had to spend months recovering and regaining your health. Now you can't even deliver a document, so what's the meaning for Elijah of having you as a wife?" Her words were like daggers, each one piercing my heart. And then, in a cruel twist, she added, âMy son would be better off with Serena. She's prettier, smarter, and she even managed to land a job at his company! Unlike you... You can't even perform simple housework that well.â Sure enough, she already knew that Serena worked at Elijah's company. She asked me to deliver the papers today just to make a fool of me. The room felt suffocating, the burden of her words pressing down on me. I felt utterly alone, realizing that no one had ever been on my side. I clenched my fists, struggling against the wave of tears threatening to spill. Sweeping the floor became a mechanical task, a facade to hide my turmoil. The repeated humiliations and frustrations drained me of the energy to fight back or explain myself yet again. I donât deserve this, I thought sourly. Itâs time for me to escape, to save myself. With bitter tears streaming down my cheeks, I rushed to my room and grabbed the papers Iâd hidden. Staring at me from the front page were the words: Divorce Agreement. Iâve had enough. Flashbacks of how Elijah and Morgana had been treating me filled my mind. Despite my efforts to be the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, Iâd always seemed invisible to them. Iâve been obedient, helpful, and hardworking⌠But no one cares. Not even my own husband. Iâm nothing to him. He doesnât love me and he never learned to. Thatâs the most painful of all. My heart tightened. His indifference cut deeper than any overt cruelty could. And now, with Serena back in the picture, their attention gravitated toward her. I felt more isolated than ever. This is the last straw! I must get out of here, or Iâll lose my sanity! That evening, I hadnât realized Iâd already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. He mumbled something about a dinner party as he plopped on the bed and started sliding his fingers down my bare arm. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He was obviously drunk. If he wasnât, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. âHey, playing hard to get, arenât you?â he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didnât have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. âWhen did Serena start working at your company?â I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didnât stop what he was doing. âNot sure. Probably recruited by HR.â His lips traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally, the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. âSerena is such a talented addition to our team,â he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldnât believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. âYou know,â he said, oblivious to my disappointment, âshe's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years.â Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gazeâa kind of infatuationâthat he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. Heâs probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didnât want him anywhere near me. But when I pulled away, he threw me an irritated look. âWhatâs wrong with you?â he asked, taken aback that I was saying no to his advances unlike before. I didnât answer. He narrowed his eyes at me. âYouâve been down in the dumps for months now! I thought youâd snap out of it, but youâve only gotten worse. Itâs depressing to even see you.â I cringed at his words, the searing pain crushing my heart. He couldnât even see how my spirit was being shattered because of him. âMaybe itâs because of the baby we lostâŚâ he mused. Sliding his fingers down the surface of my cheek and then my neck, he added in a drunken slur, âWhy donât we just make another baby?â I couldnât believe my ears. I knew that whenever he was drunk, he spoke without inhibitions. He was often brutally honest in this state. Hence, he meant every word and that only showed how much he didnât understand me or the problem we had in this marriage. My whole body was shaking as the misery and fury Iâve been keeping inside rose to the surface. He doesnât get it. Or maybe he just doesnât care. I was totally pissed off. And thatâs when I blurted it out. âI want to divorce you.â CHAPTER 3 I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. My heart thumped hard as we gazed at one another â strangers whoâd been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. âI want a divorce,â I repeated, keeping my voice steady. âIâm serious.â Slowly he nodded. âYes, sure,â he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. This is it. Iâm going to be free. And yet somehow, I didnât feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth â he never loved me at all. Heâs not even upset about the divorce! I sighed. Itâs time for me to move on. The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. âWe should sign this,â I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same. âElijah, please,â I whispered, making sure my voice wouldnât break. âLet's end this.â His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didnât sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serenaâs name, making my heart tighten. I canât believe this womanâs timing! But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didnât want to answer it because I was in the room with him. A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my heart. âWhy donât you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.â He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings â relief, frustration, anger, sadness. âIâm finally free,â I murmured to myself incredulously. While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, âThe morningâs almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.â With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. âSorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.â Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her pit and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly. I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesnât matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely! But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. âYou know what? It's actually quite nice,â she said, her tone almost mocking. âElijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!â Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. Iâm done here. Iâm done with all this. Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after I lost my baby, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. âLuckily I hadnât sold it,â I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla: That Elijah! You have no idea what I saw! Elijah was out partying and flirting with that Serena, which he never did with you! My heart sank, anger and sadness clouded my mind as I realized he was indeed getting back together with Serena and flaunting her around. Forcing back my tears, I told Kayla: Itâs over between me and Elijah. We were divorced. CHAPTER 4 âAaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!â Kayla hissed. âIf I had known heâd treat you like that, I wouldnât have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldnât have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!â Being the daughter of Raven Mediaâs renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too. âYou should have seen them at the party last night!â she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look. âThey didnât even care that I was there! They were just⌠Aaahhh! I really couldnât take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!â âOh, wow,â I uttered in disbelief. âBut itâs over now, Kayla. Iâm doing my best to move on.â Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. âIâm always here for you, Sophia. You know that.â âThanks so much. Iâm really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,â I responded with a fluttering heart. âWell, youâve always had my back even in high school. So now itâs my turn to return the favor.â Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. Weâd hit it off at once, and the rest was history. âAnyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesnât deserve you, Sophia,â she went on. âSo what are you planning now?â âWell, Iâve been giving it some thoughtâŚâ I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. âA few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in Franceââ âYou did not!â she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. âThis will surely be your big break!â I laughed. âI havenât been accepted yet, you know.â âOh, but you will be!â Kaylaâs enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself. But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijahâs name popping up on the screen. I froze up. Kaylaâs eyes narrowed when she saw it too. âGo ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.â As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijahâs sharp tone of voice on the other end. âYou filed for our divorce, and now your family wants cash from me?! Unbelievable!â âWait, what do you mean?â âYou know Iâm busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!â Elijah railed angrily. I felt mortified and helpless. âIâll talk to Troy.â âGood. Make sure he doesnât come back again ever.â Then he hung up. I was so shocked that I couldnât speak for a while. My family's constant demands for cash had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and interrupt Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting. âSorry I have to go now, Kayla,â I said, bravely deciding to act immediately. She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye. I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved to after my adoptive father Tom Bennett passed away. Heâd left me the original house where heâd taken care of me like his real own child. But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. Theyâd bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan. Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. âWhat did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!â Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall. âIt was never going to work out,â I said, trying to maintain my composure. âJust please stop bothering him. Weâve cut our ties. You canât ask for anything from him anymore.â âOh, man!â Troy exclaimed with frustration. Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family. At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for financial support, he became impatient and angry. One time, they even borrowed cash in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me. âDid you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!â Brenda said, looking desperate. Troy scoffed. âWhen I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. Iâm guessing thereâs a third party involved! People who donât know better would think that woman is his wife!â CHAPTER 5 My heart felt like it would explode any time now. âIt doesnât matter,â I eventually said to Troy. âItâs none of my business now. I donât care what he does with that woman or with whomever.â Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, âWeâre definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for anything! Just stop!â âButâŚâ Brenda began to protest. I raised my hand to stop her. âElijah and I are over. Besides, Iâll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijahâs wealth, then now you wonât have any more need for me, right?â They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once. âAll thing that you swindled out of my ex-husbandâs pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,â I went on in a steady voice. âWe donât have to see or talk to each other ever again.â On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab. All of this dramaâs taking a toll on me, I guess. But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadnât fully recovered since the loss. âCould you please take me to the hospital?â I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility. The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach. I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me. Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man. âAre you okay? You look like you're about to faint,â he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features. âOh, wait! Itâs you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?â I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. âUh, Daniel?â I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me. âYes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.â I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well. As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside. The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms. âHow are you feeling now?â Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area. âA little better, but still kinda dizzy,â I answered honestly. âThanks for the assistance, but itâs okay if you have somewhere to be. Youâve already done too much for me.â âOh, itâs okay,â he said with a smile. âUnless you donât want me here.â âItâs nothing like that, of course!â I quickly replied. âThanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while Iâm here.â âWell, Iâm all ears. People say Iâm a good listener.â I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment. Chuckling, I said, âI donât really know you, DanielâŚâ âYou know my name. Thatâs a start.â His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up. âI remember⌠Daniel PierceâŚâ I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. âHigh school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.â He laughed. âYouâve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too â the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.â I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. âYouâre joking!â âNo, itâs true⌠Really! Iâm sure youâve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?â He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. âGood-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.â âOh.â His expression changed immediately. âIâm sorry to hear that.â âYou know, it's been a rough few months,â I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. âI'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for cash from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.â Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. âAnd then I lost my baby...It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?â He nodded in understanding. âIâm so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. Iâm sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?â âYeah, starting anew in a foreign land,â I answered, thinking about my application in France. âHmm⌠sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. âIt takes courage to make such a big change.â I smiled weakly. âActually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.â Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. âReally? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in ParisâŚâ My jaw dropped. âWhat? Iâm planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!â He looked at me with astonishment. âWhat are the odds, huh? Looks like weâll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.â I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. âThatâs really⌠something else.â âSurely youâll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?â âThe Latin Quarter, of course. Iâm looking at an apartment there, since itâs where most students live.â Daniel chuckled. âAnd it looks like weâll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.â He gave me a lopsided grin. âWho knows? Maybe weâre destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Letâs fly together. I mean, if thatâs alright with you?â His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. âThank you, DanielâŚâ Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic. âMiss Sophia Bennett?â she informed me. âYour test results are here.â CHAPTER 6 Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away. âWell, Sophia,â he began, his tone measured, âthe results are in. Congratulations to you both.â I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief. âYouâre going to be parents. Congratulations!â the doctor added. Iâm⌠pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child? The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor. âOther than that, youâre perfectly healthy, Sophia,â the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking. My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real. Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didnât know what to say either. âLet me drive you home, Sophia,â he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me. I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad. What am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and Iâm supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me. Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again. If I have this baby, it wonât have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I donât have anyone to help me? My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before. This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby? Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful. As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. Iâm so sorry, baby. Itâs just all too sudden. But I know that Iâm going to take care of you and love you with all my heart. Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil. Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrivedâI had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. In just a weekâs time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. âCall me when you get there!â she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters. As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses. The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. âEverything will be okay,â he reassured me. âI'm here. We'll do this together.â His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation. I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, Youâre my lucky charm, my baby. By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me. As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed pastâthe Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops. Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder. Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below. This was itâthe start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile. âLooks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,â he remarked, glancing back at me. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied. Daniel chuckled. âJust remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.â I rolled my eyes. âI'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.â He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. âI'm just saying, youâll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!â I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. âOh, shut up.â We both laughed. He added, âYou need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.â âOh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?â Daniel grinned. âHey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.â I playfully nudged him. âI think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.â He appeared pleased with that statement. âFair enough,â he answered with a teasing smile. âBut you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.â I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years. Sighing, I went over to my bags. âCome on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.â As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment. âHello?â I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode. âWho the hell is this? Where's Sophia?â a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient. My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me. I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, "Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allowed to go anywh...." I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath. It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me. Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care? No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved? Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety. "Who is he?" Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question. I sighed, "My husband. No, ex-husband." | LEARN_MORE | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid= | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 818 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | thebvhwysgng.com | IMAGE | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12887&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/458391687_1754417628715438_7252422995478922606_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RjHokomTihEQ7kNvgG6B9Zu&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=Aum4IfJg7e3KMaOVH7LNsZU&oh=00_AYD_TvfKMbangGRMmG22UVQSDNR81cYDcfPqXQ9lPiXMQQ&oe=671B90E6 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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đAttention! Do not read in publicďźđ | One Neah âWhere the heck is she?â I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donât make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. âAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.â Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnât need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. âWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!â I donât answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnât have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnât mess around and he had the largest pack. âHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!â Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnât tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. âUseless Wolf.â He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donât quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. âIs this the way you greet all Alphaâs?â His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. âIâm sorry.â I whisper, getting to my feet. âIâŚI thought I was alone.â I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnât introduce himself either, why should he? âCome forward.â He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iâm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. âYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?â I nod, though I couldnât tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. âI would prefer it if you spoke to me.â He growls, âIâm not in the mood to play games.â âYes.â I whisper. I couldnât help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? âWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.â âIâŚ..â I hated the question. âSpit it out, I havenât got all day!â He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnât scent him. I knew why I hadnât been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. âYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itâs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?â His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. âMy Wolf abilities were bound,â I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnât interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, âWhy would someone do that?â If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. âIt was a punishment.â I whisper. It wasnât far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereâs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnât tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me âNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?â He turns to the crimson eyed man. âI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.â Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. âI wouldnât do that if I were you.â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. âNeah,â My name rolls off of his tongue, âwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.â What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. âGo and get Beta Kyle.â Alpha Trey seethes. âTell him that our guest is here.â I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. âBeta Kyle,â I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. âAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.â He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. âYouâre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.â Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnât speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnât last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. âNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.â I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveâŚ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. âNeah is your sister, correct?â Alpha Dane questions my brother. âShe is.â Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. âWhy do you treat her like vermin?â Straight to the point, my brother wouldnât like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnât know what to do. I couldnât move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. âNeah was responsible for our parents' death.â Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. âResponsible how?â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. âShe served them Wolfsbane.â Two Neah Donât make a sound. Donât make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnât squeeze. âYou poisoned your parents?â âI was six.â I splutter. âI just made them lemonade.â My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. âHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.â âA six year old should know the difference between plants.â Alpha Trey snaps âSounds to me like she was set up.â Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. âWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnât affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.â What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnât lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. âWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.â Alpha Dane mutters âYou werenât there, Alpha Dane.â My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. âIt was Wolfsbane.â He nods his head. âYou are right, I was not present.â Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. âBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?â âI didnât ask you here to talk about my slave!â Alpha Trey spits. âOr what happened to my parents.â Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaâs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaâs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. âYouâre right and now I have a few things to mull over.â âI thought we agreed.â My brother exclaims âNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.â The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. âWhat the heck did you say to him?â My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. âN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.â âDid you tell him?â Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. âWELL?â My brother yells when I donât immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. âBut I didnât say it was you.â I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenât Wolves, they probably wouldnât have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. âIf you have ruined this, you wonât see daylight again.â He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. âPleaseâŚ.â I beg. âHe was an AlphaâŚI⌠I had to answer him.â My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. âAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.â Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. âI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?â âAs I said,â my brother holds his ground, âShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.â âYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!â Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. âIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?â âWe donâtâŚ.â âReally?â He cocks a brow, âYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.â âShe did do it!â Alpha Trey seethes âAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.â âThatâs for me to decide.â His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. âWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.â I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. âOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iâm certain she is just as vile as you.â He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. âI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.â Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother âWe have already agreed on terms.â âWell, Iâm adding one. And if you donât agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donât want that.â âI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?â Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. âYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.â Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? âDeal.â Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnât take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. âI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.â He reaches a hand out and cups my face, âEnsure you have everything packed.â He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. âIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.â He struts out, slamming the door behind him. âGet out of my sight!â My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnât slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatâs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane âTenth brideâs the charm.â Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. âShut up!â Eric snaps at him âBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!â âHe will never learn.â My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. âJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.â The door closes and neither one of them speaks. âShe isnât like the others. Donât speak to her, donât look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.â I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnât know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. âI mean it!â I snap at Jenson's smug face, âBeing my brother wonât change my mind!â He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itâs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. âAre you ready?â I call out. âIf you just want toâŚ..â Beta Kyle starts. âI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.â The expression on Beta Kyleâs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. âWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedâ âThatâs all she has.â Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. âThatâs it?â I stare at him. âThatâs all her belongings? Sheâs what, in her early twenties and thatâs all she has?â âWhat more does she need?!â His Beta sneers. âKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.â âWhat are you waiting for?â I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahâs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. âTake her Alpha Dane. Iâm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.â Her shrill voice goes straight through me. âLook at the silly girl, sheâs going to pass out.â The blonde bimbo laughs âYou donât get to talk about her like that anymore.â I glare at the blonde, âShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.â âDISOBEDIENCE!â The woman screeches just as Neahâs hip hits the floor. âHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itâs that rat in the corner.â âWho the heck is she calling a rat?â Aero growls âYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.â I snap. âIt seems your mate has not told you everything.â Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. âAll that for your help?â His mateâs eyes are wide âI donât do half-witted contracts.â Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyâs chest âShall we go to the office?â Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. âYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.â âAre those my only options?â she whispers, keeping her eyes low âFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.â She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itâs fighting to hang on to life. âSo what will it be?â âIâŚ.â Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. âIâŚ.. The office I guess.â âGood choice.â I hold out a hand for her but she doesnât take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. âTake a seat.â I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. âSit!â I say it a little louder âShe doesnât have that privilege here!â The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement âSitting is not a privilege.â I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnât see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. âIt better be!â Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. âAnd I suggest,â I look at Trey, âYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.â âAlpha Dane, you are in my homeâŚ..â âAnd you want my help, correct?â The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. âLetâs just get this done.â Trey snaps, âThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.â âYou should read the contract.â I muse âI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.â âIdiot!â Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. âDone.â Trey mutters âGood, you can get her out of my house.â Treyâs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnât have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canât have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, âCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.â Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnât even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. âCome.â I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. âIs she okay?â Eric links me. âNeah?â I step in front of her and she doesnât move. She seems to be staring right through me. âItâs time to go.â âOkay.â Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. âIâve got you.â I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnât weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. âKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!â I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. âCome.â I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donât wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. âIâm fine.â She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. âLet me give you a tour.â I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not âThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.â I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. âIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.â Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. âSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.â Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room âWell?â I ask. âI donât need anything.â She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnât fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. âI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iâm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donât have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. âYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.â âMark me?â I didnât think her eyes could get any wider. âYes, I will mark you.â She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnât take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnât said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. âYouâŚ.You brought me so that you could mark me.â She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. âIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.â âIâm a murderer.â She gasps. âWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?â âBloodâ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. âWhatâs that? Are you injured?â I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. âItâs nothing. Itâs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itâs there.â Forget? How could she forget a wound? âWhy isnât she healing?â I feel Aeroâs panic. âSheâs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.â His need to protect her was strong. It hadnât occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. âShow me!â âItâs fine.â She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. âItâs not optional.â I mutter. âIf you wonât show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.â Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. âCan.... can we go somewhere more private?â âPrivate?â I didnât really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. âOffice,â Aero mutters. âI was just going to suggest that!â I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. âThis way.â I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. âSee, itâs fine.â she whispers. âYou need to stop saying that.â She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. âNo,â I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. âLet me see the rest of them.â It wasnât optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnât want guests to see. More importantly, they didnât want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. âYou need to see a doctor.â âItâs âŚ..â she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. âIt always heals, eventually.â âDid Trey do this?â I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. âCassandra?â She still doesnât answer me. âThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?â She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. âAnyone else?â âThe pack.â She whispers. âIâm going to kill them all.â Aero growls. He will have to get in line, âBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.â She nods. âI donât believe you were responsible.â She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. âBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah âIâŚI donât know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?â I whisper He frowns at me. âYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.â âIâŚâ I didnât have an answer. I couldnât remember, not fully. âBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canât imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherâs story doesnât add up.â âOh.â âI wonât stop until I find out who did this, Neah.â His crimson eyes narrow. âI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.â He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. âRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.â I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? âCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.â Frozen to the spot, I donât move. Did he just say âour bedroom,â? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iâm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnât seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. âYou donât need to be afraid.â I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. âHey,â His rough fingers tip my face up. âItâs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.â Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. âThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?â He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. âI really wish you would talk more, Neah.â Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iâm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnât care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. âNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.â Alpha Daneâs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnât even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. âComing.â I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. âItâs not much, as we donât have anyone with as small a waist as you.â He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. âYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.â He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnât like that. âLetâs go.â He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnât get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. âRaven, this is Neah.â Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, âAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.â It didnât sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. âShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.â âI have a wound.â I whisper. âAnd you are not healing?â Raven asks, confused âI donât have my Wolf.â I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. âHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.â Alpha Dane tells her. âThatâs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.â My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenâs dark eyes hover on me. âWow, okay.â She grabs my hand. âThis way, letâs take a look at this wound of yours.â She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. âHow long ago?â âA few days.â I mutter, though I wasnât sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnât hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. âThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.â âNeah, you need to tell us the truth.â Alpha Dane orders âI donât know.â âNEAH!â His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. âI swear, I donât know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofâŚ. Iâm never not bruised.â Thereâs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnât already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packâs hospital, revealing the truth. âHeal her!â Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. âYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.â Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound âYour brother?â I whisper, opening my eyes âAh, I see he informed you. Iâm guessing he didnât tell you that Jenson is our brother too?â I shake my head, Iâm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. âJenson is considered to be our brotherâs Gamma.â âGamma?â I had never heard of the term. âYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iâm good at.â She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. âNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnât changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.â âThanks.â I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnât read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. âCream, three times a day.â I show him the pot and he takes it from me. âGood, come.â He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. âShow me.â He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnât going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. âI donât want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canât remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donât want to have to guess what you mean.â âOkay.â I couldnât say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. âStop holding your breath.â He tells me, getting to his feet. âI am not going to hurt you.â It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnât feel real. | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,420 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AEs3UNgoEDYQ7kNvgH3F4ZX&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYAoj79Yu35Q32xyuLuL7uK6jHAqpXpg7z30YaNNbDeksw&oe=671B73F3 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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đAttention! Do not read in publicďźđ | One Neah âWhere the heck is she?â I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donât make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. âAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.â Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnât need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. âWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!â I donât answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnât have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnât mess around and he had the largest pack. âHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!â Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnât tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. âUseless Wolf.â He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donât quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. âIs this the way you greet all Alphaâs?â His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. âIâm sorry.â I whisper, getting to my feet. âIâŚI thought I was alone.â I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnât introduce himself either, why should he? âCome forward.â He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iâm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. âYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?â I nod, though I couldnât tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. âI would prefer it if you spoke to me.â He growls, âIâm not in the mood to play games.â âYes.â I whisper. I couldnât help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? âWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.â âIâŚ..â I hated the question. âSpit it out, I havenât got all day!â He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnât scent him. I knew why I hadnât been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. âYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itâs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?â His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. âMy Wolf abilities were bound,â I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnât interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, âWhy would someone do that?â If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. âIt was a punishment.â I whisper. It wasnât far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereâs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnât tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me âNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?â He turns to the crimson eyed man. âI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.â Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. âI wouldnât do that if I were you.â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. âNeah,â My name rolls off of his tongue, âwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.â What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. âGo and get Beta Kyle.â Alpha Trey seethes. âTell him that our guest is here.â I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. âBeta Kyle,â I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. âAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.â He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. âYouâre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.â Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnât speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnât last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. âNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.â I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveâŚ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. âNeah is your sister, correct?â Alpha Dane questions my brother. âShe is.â Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. âWhy do you treat her like vermin?â Straight to the point, my brother wouldnât like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnât know what to do. I couldnât move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. âNeah was responsible for our parents' death.â Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. âResponsible how?â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. âShe served them Wolfsbane.â Two Neah Donât make a sound. Donât make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnât squeeze. âYou poisoned your parents?â âI was six.â I splutter. âI just made them lemonade.â My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. âHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.â âA six year old should know the difference between plants.â Alpha Trey snaps âSounds to me like she was set up.â Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. âWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnât affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.â What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnât lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. âWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.â Alpha Dane mutters âYou werenât there, Alpha Dane.â My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. âIt was Wolfsbane.â He nods his head. âYou are right, I was not present.â Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. âBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?â âI didnât ask you here to talk about my slave!â Alpha Trey spits. âOr what happened to my parents.â Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaâs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaâs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. âYouâre right and now I have a few things to mull over.â âI thought we agreed.â My brother exclaims âNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.â The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. âWhat the heck did you say to him?â My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. âN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.â âDid you tell him?â Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. âWELL?â My brother yells when I donât immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. âBut I didnât say it was you.â I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenât Wolves, they probably wouldnât have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. âIf you have ruined this, you wonât see daylight again.â He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. âPleaseâŚ.â I beg. âHe was an AlphaâŚI⌠I had to answer him.â My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. âAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.â Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. âI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?â âAs I said,â my brother holds his ground, âShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.â âYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!â Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. âIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?â âWe donâtâŚ.â âReally?â He cocks a brow, âYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.â âShe did do it!â Alpha Trey seethes âAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.â âThatâs for me to decide.â His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. âWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.â I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. âOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iâm certain she is just as vile as you.â He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. âI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.â Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother âWe have already agreed on terms.â âWell, Iâm adding one. And if you donât agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donât want that.â âI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?â Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. âYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.â Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? âDeal.â Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnât take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. âI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.â He reaches a hand out and cups my face, âEnsure you have everything packed.â He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. âIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.â He struts out, slamming the door behind him. âGet out of my sight!â My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnât slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatâs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane âTenth brideâs the charm.â Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. âShut up!â Eric snaps at him âBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!â âHe will never learn.â My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. âJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.â The door closes and neither one of them speaks. âShe isnât like the others. Donât speak to her, donât look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.â I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnât know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. âI mean it!â I snap at Jenson's smug face, âBeing my brother wonât change my mind!â He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itâs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. âAre you ready?â I call out. âIf you just want toâŚ..â Beta Kyle starts. âI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.â The expression on Beta Kyleâs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. âWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedâ âThatâs all she has.â Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. âThatâs it?â I stare at him. âThatâs all her belongings? Sheâs what, in her early twenties and thatâs all she has?â âWhat more does she need?!â His Beta sneers. âKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.â âWhat are you waiting for?â I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahâs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. âTake her Alpha Dane. Iâm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.â Her shrill voice goes straight through me. âLook at the silly girl, sheâs going to pass out.â The blonde bimbo laughs âYou donât get to talk about her like that anymore.â I glare at the blonde, âShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.â âDISOBEDIENCE!â The woman screeches just as Neahâs hip hits the floor. âHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itâs that rat in the corner.â âWho the heck is she calling a rat?â Aero growls âYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.â I snap. âIt seems your mate has not told you everything.â Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. âAll that for your help?â His mateâs eyes are wide âI donât do half-witted contracts.â Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyâs chest âShall we go to the office?â Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. âYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.â âAre those my only options?â she whispers, keeping her eyes low âFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.â She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itâs fighting to hang on to life. âSo what will it be?â âIâŚ.â Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. âIâŚ.. The office I guess.â âGood choice.â I hold out a hand for her but she doesnât take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. âTake a seat.â I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. âSit!â I say it a little louder âShe doesnât have that privilege here!â The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement âSitting is not a privilege.â I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnât see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. âIt better be!â Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. âAnd I suggest,â I look at Trey, âYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.â âAlpha Dane, you are in my homeâŚ..â âAnd you want my help, correct?â The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. âLetâs just get this done.â Trey snaps, âThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.â âYou should read the contract.â I muse âI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.â âIdiot!â Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. âDone.â Trey mutters âGood, you can get her out of my house.â Treyâs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnât have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canât have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, âCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.â Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnât even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. âCome.â I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. âIs she okay?â Eric links me. âNeah?â I step in front of her and she doesnât move. She seems to be staring right through me. âItâs time to go.â âOkay.â Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. âIâve got you.â I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnât weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. âKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!â I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. âCome.â I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donât wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. âIâm fine.â She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. âLet me give you a tour.â I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not âThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.â I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. âIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.â Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. âSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.â Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room âWell?â I ask. âI donât need anything.â She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnât fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. âI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iâm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donât have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. âYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.â âMark me?â I didnât think her eyes could get any wider. âYes, I will mark you.â She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnât take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnât said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. âYouâŚ.You brought me so that you could mark me.â She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. âIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.â âIâm a murderer.â She gasps. âWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?â âBloodâ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. âWhatâs that? Are you injured?â I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. âItâs nothing. Itâs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itâs there.â Forget? How could she forget a wound? âWhy isnât she healing?â I feel Aeroâs panic. âSheâs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.â His need to protect her was strong. It hadnât occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. âShow me!â âItâs fine.â She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. âItâs not optional.â I mutter. âIf you wonât show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.â Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. âCan.... can we go somewhere more private?â âPrivate?â I didnât really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. âOffice,â Aero mutters. âI was just going to suggest that!â I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. âThis way.â I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. âSee, itâs fine.â she whispers. âYou need to stop saying that.â She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. âNo,â I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. âLet me see the rest of them.â It wasnât optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnât want guests to see. More importantly, they didnât want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. âYou need to see a doctor.â âItâs âŚ..â she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. âIt always heals, eventually.â âDid Trey do this?â I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. âCassandra?â She still doesnât answer me. âThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?â She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. âAnyone else?â âThe pack.â She whispers. âIâm going to kill them all.â Aero growls. He will have to get in line, âBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.â She nods. âI donât believe you were responsible.â She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. âBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah âIâŚI donât know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?â I whisper He frowns at me. âYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.â âIâŚâ I didnât have an answer. I couldnât remember, not fully. âBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canât imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherâs story doesnât add up.â âOh.â âI wonât stop until I find out who did this, Neah.â His crimson eyes narrow. âI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.â He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. âRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.â I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? âCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.â Frozen to the spot, I donât move. Did he just say âour bedroom,â? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iâm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnât seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. âYou donât need to be afraid.â I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. âHey,â His rough fingers tip my face up. âItâs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.â Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. âThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?â He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. âI really wish you would talk more, Neah.â Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iâm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnât care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. âNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.â Alpha Daneâs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnât even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. âComing.â I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. âItâs not much, as we donât have anyone with as small a waist as you.â He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. âYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.â He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnât like that. âLetâs go.â He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnât get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. âRaven, this is Neah.â Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, âAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.â It didnât sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. âShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.â âI have a wound.â I whisper. âAnd you are not healing?â Raven asks, confused âI donât have my Wolf.â I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. âHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.â Alpha Dane tells her. âThatâs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.â My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenâs dark eyes hover on me. âWow, okay.â She grabs my hand. âThis way, letâs take a look at this wound of yours.â She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. âHow long ago?â âA few days.â I mutter, though I wasnât sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnât hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. âThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.â âNeah, you need to tell us the truth.â Alpha Dane orders âI donât know.â âNEAH!â His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. âI swear, I donât know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofâŚ. Iâm never not bruised.â Thereâs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnât already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packâs hospital, revealing the truth. âHeal her!â Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. âYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.â Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound âYour brother?â I whisper, opening my eyes âAh, I see he informed you. Iâm guessing he didnât tell you that Jenson is our brother too?â I shake my head, Iâm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. âJenson is considered to be our brotherâs Gamma.â âGamma?â I had never heard of the term. âYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iâm good at.â She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. âNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnât changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.â âThanks.â I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnât read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. âCream, three times a day.â I show him the pot and he takes it from me. âGood, come.â He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. âShow me.â He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnât going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. âI donât want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canât remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donât want to have to guess what you mean.â âOkay.â I couldnât say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. âStop holding your breath.â He tells me, getting to his feet. âI am not going to hurt you.â It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnât feel real. | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,420 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AEs3UNgoEDYQ7kNvgH3F4ZX&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYAoj79Yu35Q32xyuLuL7uK6jHAqpXpg7z30YaNNbDeksw&oe=671B73F3 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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đAttention! Do not read in publicďźđ | One Neah âWhere the heck is she?â I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donât make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. âAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.â Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnât need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. âWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!â I donât answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnât have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnât mess around and he had the largest pack. âHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!â Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnât tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. âUseless Wolf.â He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donât quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. âIs this the way you greet all Alphaâs?â His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. âIâm sorry.â I whisper, getting to my feet. âIâŚI thought I was alone.â I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnât introduce himself either, why should he? âCome forward.â He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iâm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. âYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?â I nod, though I couldnât tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. âI would prefer it if you spoke to me.â He growls, âIâm not in the mood to play games.â âYes.â I whisper. I couldnât help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? âWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.â âIâŚ..â I hated the question. âSpit it out, I havenât got all day!â He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnât scent him. I knew why I hadnât been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. âYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itâs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?â His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. âMy Wolf abilities were bound,â I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnât interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, âWhy would someone do that?â If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. âIt was a punishment.â I whisper. It wasnât far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereâs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnât tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me âNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?â He turns to the crimson eyed man. âI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.â Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. âI wouldnât do that if I were you.â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. âNeah,â My name rolls off of his tongue, âwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.â What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. âGo and get Beta Kyle.â Alpha Trey seethes. âTell him that our guest is here.â I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. âBeta Kyle,â I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. âAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.â He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. âYouâre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.â Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnât speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnât last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. âNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.â I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveâŚ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. âNeah is your sister, correct?â Alpha Dane questions my brother. âShe is.â Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. âWhy do you treat her like vermin?â Straight to the point, my brother wouldnât like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnât know what to do. I couldnât move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. âNeah was responsible for our parents' death.â Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. âResponsible how?â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. âShe served them Wolfsbane.â Two Neah Donât make a sound. Donât make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnât squeeze. âYou poisoned your parents?â âI was six.â I splutter. âI just made them lemonade.â My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. âHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.â âA six year old should know the difference between plants.â Alpha Trey snaps âSounds to me like she was set up.â Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. âWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnât affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.â What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnât lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. âWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.â Alpha Dane mutters âYou werenât there, Alpha Dane.â My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. âIt was Wolfsbane.â He nods his head. âYou are right, I was not present.â Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. âBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?â âI didnât ask you here to talk about my slave!â Alpha Trey spits. âOr what happened to my parents.â Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaâs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaâs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. âYouâre right and now I have a few things to mull over.â âI thought we agreed.â My brother exclaims âNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.â The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. âWhat the heck did you say to him?â My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. âN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.â âDid you tell him?â Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. âWELL?â My brother yells when I donât immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. âBut I didnât say it was you.â I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenât Wolves, they probably wouldnât have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. âIf you have ruined this, you wonât see daylight again.â He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. âPleaseâŚ.â I beg. âHe was an AlphaâŚI⌠I had to answer him.â My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. âAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.â Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. âI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?â âAs I said,â my brother holds his ground, âShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.â âYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!â Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. âIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?â âWe donâtâŚ.â âReally?â He cocks a brow, âYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.â âShe did do it!â Alpha Trey seethes âAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.â âThatâs for me to decide.â His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. âWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.â I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. âOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iâm certain she is just as vile as you.â He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. âI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.â Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother âWe have already agreed on terms.â âWell, Iâm adding one. And if you donât agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donât want that.â âI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?â Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. âYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.â Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? âDeal.â Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnât take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. âI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.â He reaches a hand out and cups my face, âEnsure you have everything packed.â He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. âIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.â He struts out, slamming the door behind him. âGet out of my sight!â My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnât slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatâs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane âTenth brideâs the charm.â Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. âShut up!â Eric snaps at him âBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!â âHe will never learn.â My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. âJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.â The door closes and neither one of them speaks. âShe isnât like the others. Donât speak to her, donât look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.â I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnât know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. âI mean it!â I snap at Jenson's smug face, âBeing my brother wonât change my mind!â He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itâs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. âAre you ready?â I call out. âIf you just want toâŚ..â Beta Kyle starts. âI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.â The expression on Beta Kyleâs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. âWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedâ âThatâs all she has.â Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. âThatâs it?â I stare at him. âThatâs all her belongings? Sheâs what, in her early twenties and thatâs all she has?â âWhat more does she need?!â His Beta sneers. âKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.â âWhat are you waiting for?â I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahâs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. âTake her Alpha Dane. Iâm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.â Her shrill voice goes straight through me. âLook at the silly girl, sheâs going to pass out.â The blonde bimbo laughs âYou donât get to talk about her like that anymore.â I glare at the blonde, âShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.â âDISOBEDIENCE!â The woman screeches just as Neahâs hip hits the floor. âHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itâs that rat in the corner.â âWho the heck is she calling a rat?â Aero growls âYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.â I snap. âIt seems your mate has not told you everything.â Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. âAll that for your help?â His mateâs eyes are wide âI donât do half-witted contracts.â Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyâs chest âShall we go to the office?â Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. âYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.â âAre those my only options?â she whispers, keeping her eyes low âFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.â She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itâs fighting to hang on to life. âSo what will it be?â âIâŚ.â Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. âIâŚ.. The office I guess.â âGood choice.â I hold out a hand for her but she doesnât take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. âTake a seat.â I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. âSit!â I say it a little louder âShe doesnât have that privilege here!â The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement âSitting is not a privilege.â I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnât see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. âIt better be!â Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. âAnd I suggest,â I look at Trey, âYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.â âAlpha Dane, you are in my homeâŚ..â âAnd you want my help, correct?â The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. âLetâs just get this done.â Trey snaps, âThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.â âYou should read the contract.â I muse âI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.â âIdiot!â Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. âDone.â Trey mutters âGood, you can get her out of my house.â Treyâs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnât have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canât have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, âCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.â Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnât even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. âCome.â I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. âIs she okay?â Eric links me. âNeah?â I step in front of her and she doesnât move. She seems to be staring right through me. âItâs time to go.â âOkay.â Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. âIâve got you.â I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnât weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. âKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!â I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. âCome.â I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donât wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. âIâm fine.â She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. âLet me give you a tour.â I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not âThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.â I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. âIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.â Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. âSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.â Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room âWell?â I ask. âI donât need anything.â She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnât fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. âI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iâm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donât have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. âYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.â âMark me?â I didnât think her eyes could get any wider. âYes, I will mark you.â She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnât take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnât said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. âYouâŚ.You brought me so that you could mark me.â She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. âIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.â âIâm a murderer.â She gasps. âWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?â âBloodâ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. âWhatâs that? Are you injured?â I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. âItâs nothing. Itâs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itâs there.â Forget? How could she forget a wound? âWhy isnât she healing?â I feel Aeroâs panic. âSheâs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.â His need to protect her was strong. It hadnât occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. âShow me!â âItâs fine.â She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. âItâs not optional.â I mutter. âIf you wonât show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.â Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. âCan.... can we go somewhere more private?â âPrivate?â I didnât really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. âOffice,â Aero mutters. âI was just going to suggest that!â I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. âThis way.â I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. âSee, itâs fine.â she whispers. âYou need to stop saying that.â She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. âNo,â I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. âLet me see the rest of them.â It wasnât optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnât want guests to see. More importantly, they didnât want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. âYou need to see a doctor.â âItâs âŚ..â she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. âIt always heals, eventually.â âDid Trey do this?â I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. âCassandra?â She still doesnât answer me. âThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?â She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. âAnyone else?â âThe pack.â She whispers. âIâm going to kill them all.â Aero growls. He will have to get in line, âBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.â She nods. âI donât believe you were responsible.â She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. âBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah âIâŚI donât know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?â I whisper He frowns at me. âYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.â âIâŚâ I didnât have an answer. I couldnât remember, not fully. âBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canât imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherâs story doesnât add up.â âOh.â âI wonât stop until I find out who did this, Neah.â His crimson eyes narrow. âI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.â He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. âRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.â I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? âCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.â Frozen to the spot, I donât move. Did he just say âour bedroom,â? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iâm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnât seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. âYou donât need to be afraid.â I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. âHey,â His rough fingers tip my face up. âItâs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.â Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. âThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?â He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. âI really wish you would talk more, Neah.â Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iâm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnât care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. âNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.â Alpha Daneâs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnât even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. âComing.â I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. âItâs not much, as we donât have anyone with as small a waist as you.â He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. âYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.â He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnât like that. âLetâs go.â He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnât get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. âRaven, this is Neah.â Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, âAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.â It didnât sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. âShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.â âI have a wound.â I whisper. âAnd you are not healing?â Raven asks, confused âI donât have my Wolf.â I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. âHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.â Alpha Dane tells her. âThatâs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.â My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenâs dark eyes hover on me. âWow, okay.â She grabs my hand. âThis way, letâs take a look at this wound of yours.â She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. âHow long ago?â âA few days.â I mutter, though I wasnât sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnât hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. âThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.â âNeah, you need to tell us the truth.â Alpha Dane orders âI donât know.â âNEAH!â His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. âI swear, I donât know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofâŚ. Iâm never not bruised.â Thereâs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnât already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packâs hospital, revealing the truth. âHeal her!â Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. âYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.â Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound âYour brother?â I whisper, opening my eyes âAh, I see he informed you. Iâm guessing he didnât tell you that Jenson is our brother too?â I shake my head, Iâm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. âJenson is considered to be our brotherâs Gamma.â âGamma?â I had never heard of the term. âYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iâm good at.â She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. âNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnât changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.â âThanks.â I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnât read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. âCream, three times a day.â I show him the pot and he takes it from me. âGood, come.â He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. âShow me.â He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnât going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. âI donât want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canât remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donât want to have to guess what you mean.â âOkay.â I couldnât say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. âStop holding your breath.â He tells me, getting to his feet. âI am not going to hurt you.â It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnât feel real. | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,420 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AEs3UNgoEDYQ7kNvgH3F4ZX&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYAoj79Yu35Q32xyuLuL7uK6jHAqpXpg7z30YaNNbDeksw&oe=671B73F3 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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đAttention! Do not read in publicďźđ | One Neah âWhere the heck is she?â I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donât make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. âAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.â Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnât need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. âWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!â I donât answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnât have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnât mess around and he had the largest pack. âHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!â Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnât tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. âUseless Wolf.â He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donât quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. âIs this the way you greet all Alphaâs?â His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. âIâm sorry.â I whisper, getting to my feet. âIâŚI thought I was alone.â I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnât introduce himself either, why should he? âCome forward.â He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iâm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. âYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?â I nod, though I couldnât tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. âI would prefer it if you spoke to me.â He growls, âIâm not in the mood to play games.â âYes.â I whisper. I couldnât help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? âWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.â âIâŚ..â I hated the question. âSpit it out, I havenât got all day!â He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnât scent him. I knew why I hadnât been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. âYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itâs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?â His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. âMy Wolf abilities were bound,â I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnât interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, âWhy would someone do that?â If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. âIt was a punishment.â I whisper. It wasnât far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereâs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnât tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me âNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?â He turns to the crimson eyed man. âI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.â Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. âI wouldnât do that if I were you.â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. âNeah,â My name rolls off of his tongue, âwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.â What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. âGo and get Beta Kyle.â Alpha Trey seethes. âTell him that our guest is here.â I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. âBeta Kyle,â I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. âAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.â He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. âYouâre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.â Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnât speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnât last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. âNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.â I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveâŚ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. âNeah is your sister, correct?â Alpha Dane questions my brother. âShe is.â Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. âWhy do you treat her like vermin?â Straight to the point, my brother wouldnât like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnât know what to do. I couldnât move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. âNeah was responsible for our parents' death.â Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. âResponsible how?â Alpha Daneâs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. âShe served them Wolfsbane.â Two Neah Donât make a sound. Donât make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnât squeeze. âYou poisoned your parents?â âI was six.â I splutter. âI just made them lemonade.â My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. âHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.â âA six year old should know the difference between plants.â Alpha Trey snaps âSounds to me like she was set up.â Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. âWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnât affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.â What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnât lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. âWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.â Alpha Dane mutters âYou werenât there, Alpha Dane.â My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. âIt was Wolfsbane.â He nods his head. âYou are right, I was not present.â Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. âBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?â âI didnât ask you here to talk about my slave!â Alpha Trey spits. âOr what happened to my parents.â Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaâs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaâs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. âYouâre right and now I have a few things to mull over.â âI thought we agreed.â My brother exclaims âNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.â The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. âWhat the heck did you say to him?â My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. âN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.â âDid you tell him?â Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. âWELL?â My brother yells when I donât immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. âBut I didnât say it was you.â I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenât Wolves, they probably wouldnât have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. âIf you have ruined this, you wonât see daylight again.â He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. âPleaseâŚ.â I beg. âHe was an AlphaâŚI⌠I had to answer him.â My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. âAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.â Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. âI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?â âAs I said,â my brother holds his ground, âShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.â âYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!â Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. âIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?â âWe donâtâŚ.â âReally?â He cocks a brow, âYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.â âShe did do it!â Alpha Trey seethes âAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.â âThatâs for me to decide.â His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. âWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.â I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. âOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iâm certain she is just as vile as you.â He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. âI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.â Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother âWe have already agreed on terms.â âWell, Iâm adding one. And if you donât agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donât want that.â âI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?â Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. âYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.â Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? âDeal.â Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnât take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. âI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.â He reaches a hand out and cups my face, âEnsure you have everything packed.â He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. âIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.â He struts out, slamming the door behind him. âGet out of my sight!â My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnât slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatâs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane âTenth brideâs the charm.â Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. âShut up!â Eric snaps at him âBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!â âHe will never learn.â My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. âJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.â The door closes and neither one of them speaks. âShe isnât like the others. Donât speak to her, donât look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.â I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnât know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. âI mean it!â I snap at Jenson's smug face, âBeing my brother wonât change my mind!â He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itâs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. âAre you ready?â I call out. âIf you just want toâŚ..â Beta Kyle starts. âI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.â The expression on Beta Kyleâs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. âWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedâ âThatâs all she has.â Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. âThatâs it?â I stare at him. âThatâs all her belongings? Sheâs what, in her early twenties and thatâs all she has?â âWhat more does she need?!â His Beta sneers. âKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.â âWhat are you waiting for?â I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahâs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. âTake her Alpha Dane. Iâm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.â Her shrill voice goes straight through me. âLook at the silly girl, sheâs going to pass out.â The blonde bimbo laughs âYou donât get to talk about her like that anymore.â I glare at the blonde, âShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.â âDISOBEDIENCE!â The woman screeches just as Neahâs hip hits the floor. âHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itâs that rat in the corner.â âWho the heck is she calling a rat?â Aero growls âYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.â I snap. âIt seems your mate has not told you everything.â Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. âAll that for your help?â His mateâs eyes are wide âI donât do half-witted contracts.â Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyâs chest âShall we go to the office?â Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. âYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.â âAre those my only options?â she whispers, keeping her eyes low âFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.â She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itâs fighting to hang on to life. âSo what will it be?â âIâŚ.â Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. âIâŚ.. The office I guess.â âGood choice.â I hold out a hand for her but she doesnât take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. âTake a seat.â I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. âSit!â I say it a little louder âShe doesnât have that privilege here!â The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement âSitting is not a privilege.â I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnât see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. âIt better be!â Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. âAnd I suggest,â I look at Trey, âYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.â âAlpha Dane, you are in my homeâŚ..â âAnd you want my help, correct?â The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. âLetâs just get this done.â Trey snaps, âThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.â âYou should read the contract.â I muse âI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.â âIdiot!â Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. âDone.â Trey mutters âGood, you can get her out of my house.â Treyâs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnât have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canât have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, âCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.â Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnât even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. âCome.â I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. âIs she okay?â Eric links me. âNeah?â I step in front of her and she doesnât move. She seems to be staring right through me. âItâs time to go.â âOkay.â Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. âIâve got you.â I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnât weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. âKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!â I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. âCome.â I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donât wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. âIâm fine.â She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. âLet me give you a tour.â I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not âThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.â I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. âIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.â Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. âSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.â Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room âWell?â I ask. âI donât need anything.â She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnât fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. âI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iâm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donât have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. âYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.â âMark me?â I didnât think her eyes could get any wider. âYes, I will mark you.â She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnât take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnât said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. âYouâŚ.You brought me so that you could mark me.â She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. âIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.â âIâm a murderer.â She gasps. âWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?â âBloodâ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. âWhatâs that? Are you injured?â I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. âItâs nothing. Itâs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itâs there.â Forget? How could she forget a wound? âWhy isnât she healing?â I feel Aeroâs panic. âSheâs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.â His need to protect her was strong. It hadnât occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. âShow me!â âItâs fine.â She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. âItâs not optional.â I mutter. âIf you wonât show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.â Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. âCan.... can we go somewhere more private?â âPrivate?â I didnât really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. âOffice,â Aero mutters. âI was just going to suggest that!â I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. âThis way.â I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. âSee, itâs fine.â she whispers. âYou need to stop saying that.â She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. âNo,â I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. âLet me see the rest of them.â It wasnât optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnât want guests to see. More importantly, they didnât want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. âYou need to see a doctor.â âItâs âŚ..â she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. âIt always heals, eventually.â âDid Trey do this?â I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. âCassandra?â She still doesnât answer me. âThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?â She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. âAnyone else?â âThe pack.â She whispers. âIâm going to kill them all.â Aero growls. He will have to get in line, âBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.â She nods. âI donât believe you were responsible.â She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. âBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah âIâŚI donât know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?â I whisper He frowns at me. âYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.â âIâŚâ I didnât have an answer. I couldnât remember, not fully. âBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canât imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherâs story doesnât add up.â âOh.â âI wonât stop until I find out who did this, Neah.â His crimson eyes narrow. âI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.â He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. âRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.â I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? âCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.â Frozen to the spot, I donât move. Did he just say âour bedroom,â? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iâm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnât seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. âYou donât need to be afraid.â I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. âHey,â His rough fingers tip my face up. âItâs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.â Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. âThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?â He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. âI really wish you would talk more, Neah.â Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iâm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnât care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. âNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.â Alpha Daneâs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnât even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. âComing.â I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. âItâs not much, as we donât have anyone with as small a waist as you.â He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. âYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.â He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnât like that. âLetâs go.â He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnât get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. âRaven, this is Neah.â Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, âAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.â It didnât sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. âShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.â âI have a wound.â I whisper. âAnd you are not healing?â Raven asks, confused âI donât have my Wolf.â I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. âHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.â Alpha Dane tells her. âThatâs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.â My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenâs dark eyes hover on me. âWow, okay.â She grabs my hand. âThis way, letâs take a look at this wound of yours.â She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. âHow long ago?â âA few days.â I mutter, though I wasnât sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnât hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. âThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.â âNeah, you need to tell us the truth.â Alpha Dane orders âI donât know.â âNEAH!â His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. âI swear, I donât know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofâŚ. Iâm never not bruised.â Thereâs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnât already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packâs hospital, revealing the truth. âHeal her!â Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. âYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.â Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound âYour brother?â I whisper, opening my eyes âAh, I see he informed you. Iâm guessing he didnât tell you that Jenson is our brother too?â I shake my head, Iâm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. âJenson is considered to be our brotherâs Gamma.â âGamma?â I had never heard of the term. âYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iâm good at.â She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. âNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnât changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.â âThanks.â I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnât read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. âCream, three times a day.â I show him the pot and he takes it from me. âGood, come.â He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. âShow me.â He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnât going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. âI donât want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canât remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donât want to have to guess what you mean.â âOkay.â I couldnât say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. âStop holding your breath.â He tells me, getting to his feet. âI am not going to hurt you.â It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnât feel real. | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | Galaxy in the Story | https://www.facebook.com/61555427913037/ | 1,420 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AEs3UNgoEDYQ7kNvgH3F4ZX&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AX_3aDFZgW3jnNJu5rheWlz&oh=00_AYAoj79Yu35Q32xyuLuL7uK6jHAqpXpg7z30YaNNbDeksw&oe=671B73F3 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete |