NOREEN

Of all the escape plans I had on mind, killing the Alpha by accident sure wasn't one.

I begged him, but he wouldn't listen.

My vision blurred as I stared at my quivering hands stained with his blood.

He stared me with wide, surprised eyes as he choked on his own blood.

I removed the knife, and his blood splattered everywhere.

Distantly, I heard the bell ring,

I have just one more hour to find my mate but it doesn't matter anymore, I can't meet up and I can't stay here anymore.

I killed the Alpha. There's no way I'll survive that.

I'd be dead too, burned alive before I ever found my sister.

I picked up his abandoned coat and draped it over my body, pocketed the knife, and left the room, hiding my bloodied hands in the coat.

"Why are you outside?" One of his friends asked when I reached the outer entrance.

I forced my body to tremble, which wasn't hard, considering what I'd just done. "The Alpha asked me to get a wine."

My voice shook badly, my insides were a mess.

I've never killed anyone before, not even any of the hunters constantly on my trail.

My insides were a mess, and I wanted nothing more than to undo what I had just done.

Maybe I jure the Alpha, yes, but not kill him.

I just want to find my sister and be free, not have blood on my hands.

The man's eyes twinkled, a big grin playing on his lips. As expected, trembling in fear would turn off any suspicion.

I lowered my gaze and hurried my step, almost falling.

His laughter reached my ears, "Don't even think about running away, slave."

Once I was out of his line of sight and hearing, I stopped and leaned against the wall, taking deep, forceful breaths against my uncooperative lungs.

What do I do? Where do I go?

I didn't have to think hard because I knew what needed to be done to guarantee my safety.

I hugged the coat tighter to myself as I made my way to the mistress' office, moving my protesting limbs.

I'd managed to commit more crimes than I've ever done in my entire life.

In order to please the Alpha, the mistress wouldn't be in her office. She'd be searching for other redheads in case the Alpha didn't take a liking to me.

The office was empty as expected when I entered.

I dropped straight to work, looking at anywhere she'd keep her money. I just need enough to leave this damn pack.

There were too many places she could have hid her money.

I dropped to my knees and opened the first drawer.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and the mistress walked in, flanked by the Alpha's friends who had sloppy grins and a crazed look on their faces.

I froze, my heart sinking to the bottom of my stomach.

She stared at me, then at the opened drawer, her eyes didn't betray any emotion.

How did she–

What do I say? How do I explain myself? I was careful, there was also no trigger in her office, so how did she, -they know to find me here?

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She snapped.

I opened my mouth, closed it, and opened it again.

No words made it past.

"Forget that, you can query her later." One of the Alpha friends chided, "We can't keep him waiting."

I frowned, "K... keep who waiting?"

"The Alpha is asking for you." The mistress said calmly.

The sound of my heart beating fast roared in my ears.

"Th... the Alpha is..."

"Awake." She completed, "You missed a major artery, and Alphas heal faster,"

The Alpha managed to heal that wound in minutes?

"Follow me," she ordered, "We can't keep the Alpha waiting."

Follow her? The Alpha?

I blanched.

My eyes caught the window. Would a fall from the fourth floor kill me?

Before I could react, strong arms grabbed me and dragged me across the floor with the mistress leading the way.

"Please, let me go!" I screamed, tears falling freely from my eyes.

One of them grinned, relishing the frightened look on my face, "Of course, once we are done with you. We're going to have so much fun." He licked and bit on his lower lips suggestively.

I screamed even louder and thrashed, but I was no match against them.

"I'm sorry." I said to the mistress. "Please just let me go."

"What's going to happen to me now?" I asked

She gave no response.

I could hear the Alpha's angry cusses as we got closer to a room.

My panic skyrocketed.

"Mistress, please!!" I screamed, "I'll do anything, don't take me to him. Please."

My pleas fell on deaf ears.

The moment she opened the door and led me in, I went on my knees, my hands clamped together, begging for everything that's not what they were about to do.

The Alpha stopped talking and turned fury filled eyes on me. There was still a small scar where my knife had been buried.

Alpha Joe closed the distance between us and struck my cheeks twice, consecutively.

Pain eroded in my head as the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. Tears blurred my vision instantly.

He squatted in front of me and grabbed my chin roughly, forcing me to state at him.

"You've had your fun," he smirked, pointing to the scar on his neck, "Now, it's my turn."

My body went cold, dread crawling up my spine.

"I'll be waiting outside," the mistress bowed and left.

"Noooo, please," I cried to the mistress and the guards, watching as everyone took their leave one by one.

"Please don't go, don't leave me alone with them" I begged, clutching the legs of a guard that was closest to me.

His boots connected with my face immediately, knocking me to the floor.

My head hurt, my cheeks stung, the tears wouldn't stop.

"Please," I begged in a much more quieter voice.

No one was listening. No one was going to save me.

The Alpha's friends surrounded and pinned me down, holding my hands and feet to the floor in a tight grip, tearing my clothes.

"No!" I screamed, twisting and thrashing against them, "Please don't do this."

"No one stopped you from having fun," the Alpha said with a smug smile, " Why should I not have my own share?"

His eyes roamed my naked chest hungrily, lingering on my breasts.

I tried twisting again, but his eyes followed my movements, specifically my chest's.

I went completely still, afraid to indulge him any further.

"Do you think we can take all of us at once?" The one holding my hands asked.

The Alpha chuckled,

"I think she has enough holes to cater us, and we can also easily make another," He replied, caressing my face, his hands trailing down to my cleavage.

I shut my eyes close, holding my breath as I whimpered.

Just as he was about to cup my breasts, the door flung open, more like shattered into pieces.

Without missing a beat, the Alpha was hauled off me and thrown across the room.

I was free, too. No one was pinning me down.

I curled on myself, my body shaking terribly.

"Please," I heard the mistress say to whoever just barged in, "You have to understand. It's a punishment. The Alpha is- please can you stop for a second and let us talk this out."

I could feel the rage coming off whoever was wrecking havoc.

I opened my eyes but couldn't see anything much past my blurry vision.

I tried again, blinking the tears away.

My vision cleared a little bit, just enough for me to see the Alpha on his knees and a makeshift stake to his heart while his friends scurried to a corner, shivering and staring at the intruder with so much fear in their eyes.

The next second, a man boomed in a thunderstorm like voice, "The slave girl belongs to me. Is there anyone else who wishes to attempt touching what's mine?"

My eyes flew open, and at the same time, the Alpha's friends who scurried away whispered in fear, "L... Lycan King."

What are they saying? Lycan King?

As if on cue, the Lycan King came into view, and the air turned cold.

It was him.

My nemesis.

The most revered and feared Lycan King to ever exist, the one used in a horror story to imbibe fear.

The one who swore to end me years ago.

A shiver ran through my body for a whole different reason as my eyes met his piercing gray ones.

It was Lycan King Elion,

The elder brother of my ex mate.

NOREEN

For a moment, the world seemed to disappear, leaving just Elion and I.

He was just as I remembered, six foot five, tanned skin and the same hardened gaze that always seemed to appear only when I'm in the room.

He's grown his hair longer now, making him look even scarier.

His eyes scanned my body, stopping on my fingers, and a deep frown replaced his scowl for a fleeting second before it disappeared.

"What are you doing?" He gave me a point blank stare, "Stand up and pack your things."

I laid frozen, staring at him.

"Now," he growled, his voice filled with malice.

That got me moving, I jumped to my feet.

"No!" The mistress yelled and threw herself in front of me.

"No?" Elion echoed, his eyes narrowed into slits.

"B... but she's for sale, your Majesty." The mistress stammered.

Elion rose an eyebrow, "How much is she going for?"

The mistress glanced around, her eyes landing on me with disdain, then back at the Lycan King, "Five thousand."

"I'll give you one million," Elion said in a tone of finality, then snapped his fingers.

A guard disappeared from behind him and came back with a black box.

The mistress eyes grew wide as saucers as she opened the box and saw it was indeed filled with money.

My stomach dropped to my feet as I witnessed the entire exchange, feeling more as an object than a person.

I collapsed to the floor, my knees feeling like jelly. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead as I shivered inwardly even though the room was hot as hell.

What was going on? Why would he pay that ridiculous amount of money just for me? Would he kill me now that he technically owned my life?

More importantly, what was he doing here of all places?!

"Grab her when she's done," Elion ordered the guard closest to him and left without missing a beat.

Even though he was gone, I could still feel his presence room, suffocating me.

The mistress eyes gleamed with mania as she stared at the box filled with money,

"You were useful after all." She grinned at me, "I'll give you a clue about the Lycan King. Nobody can survive him during his rut season."

She grabbed the box and dashed out of the room.

I almost scoffed. The rut season was the time the Lycan had an uncontrollable sexual drive, which could cause them to be a literal beast or descend into madness if their needs aren't satisfied. It usually spans for seven to ten days, depending on the Lycan.

Elion wouldn't, right?? That's not why he bought me, right?

Right?

A sense on dread crawled up my spine as the thought settled deeply on my mind.

"Do you have anything to pack?" The guard left in charge of me asked, "We can't keep His Majesty waiting."

Right, Elion was waiting.

I glanced at the entrance, then at the window, weighing my chances.

I doubt I'd barely make it to the gate before he finds me, and something tells me I don't want to anger him further.

Running, -trying to run away would be a terrible mistake.

I shook my head, I had nothing to pack anyway aside from the picture of my sister and a necklace I always had on me.

"Okay, follow me." The guard added.

I forced my jitters down and stood, following his lead to my new fate.

I bet the universe was laughing at me and having fun with my life.

I had just one job, borrow some money from the mistress' office and run away, yet I couldn't do that right.

I was no doubt moving from frypan to fire with my fate sealed.

The ladies from the brothel all stared at me with pity in their eyes as I was escorted to one of the carriages outside.

I was gently pushed into the backseat, sharing the same car as Elion.

I couldn't stop my body from shaking even as I settled down in the car, and it drove out of my home for the past three months.

My wolf stirred, but I blocked it out and focused on my feet instead, it was better than staring at anywhere else. Elion's presence was overwhelming enough as it is.

"Why aren't you wearing your ring?" He asked, am edge to his voice.

I stiffened.

How did he know about the ring?

How did he even know I wore or had a ring?

Before I could voice out my question, he interrupted.

"It doesn't matter," he scoffed

My wolf stirred again.

I sat stiffly, not daring to move a muscle or do anything that might trigger him.

A gentle waft of cedar mixed with citrus and cinnamon drifted to my nose. The scent was so calming and relaxing that a small sigh escaped from my lips in content.

"Mate," my wolf purred in content.

A flash of fear jolted through me as I realized what had just happened.

Elion froze, an angry growl emanating from him.

"Mate," he glowered at me, the word rolling off his tongue like it was bitter.

I lifted my eyes to meet his, my pulse thrumming loudly in my ears.

The word echoed in my ears repeatedly.

What does this mean for us, for me?

If we're mates, he'd have no choice but to protect me and guarantee my safety.

"Don't even think about it." Elion snapped, not sparing me a glance, "I'll never accept you as my mate."

I swallowed and nodded meekly.

The idea of me as his mate must have been really appalling, or maybe he was still angry and would rather have me as his slave rather than his mate.

So much for looking forward to my second chance mate.

"The primary reason I brought you here is because I need an heir, and no woman has successfully survived past the first trimester." Elion announced, breaking the uncomfortable silence in the car.

As my mate, your body should be able to accommodate the pregnancy.

My face turned white, I paled, darting my eyes away from him and holding the hem of my tattered shirt tightly.

But I don't have a womb

I can't tell him that, -I won't tell him that because if I do, and that's what he truly needs me for, it would mean he wouldn't need me again and he would kill me.

Because then, he would have no use for me.

My breaths came in short, I clenched my shirt tighter, and tears stung the corner of my eyes.

How would I find my sister?

Scratch that. How would I survive him?

Elion wouldn't just let me go, not even hell freezing over would change his mind.

His phone rang,

He answered it on the first ring, saying coldly into the phone, "It better be important,"

I shuddered at his tone.

"Damon is at the mansion?!" He roared with anger, his fingernails turning to long pointed talons, "What is he doing there? If he doesn't leave before I get back, I'd be sure to feed his heart to my pets."

Silence.

"Tell him I said that."

Pieces of the person's response reached my ears.

"He said....information..... would like,"

Elion took a deep breath and sighed, his talons were still out.

I glanced up, my gaze landing on him.

I found all red eyes, staring back at me.

I flinched and retracted my gaze instantly, withdrawing to myself.

My body was shaking badly again.

If this was how he was when angry, only heavens knew what he planned to do to me, especially when he found out I never had a womb.

Now, I needed no confirmation.

This was my hell on earth.

*

The carriage finally came to a stop, and I came down, glancing around..

What am I supposed to do now? Where do I go to?

A soft whimpers escaped my lips when Elion got down, standing a few feet away from me.

"Where's Damon?" He asked the butler, the gray in his eyes turning red.

"In the garden, " the butler answered, "What do we do with the new girl you brought, sir?"

Elion turned to me as if just realizing I was there. His eyes roamed over my body in distaste or maybe disgust, I couldn't tell.

"Prepare her for what's to come." Elion spat and left.

The butler eyed me, nudging me towards the side of the palace, "You're the newest victim then."

Newest victim? –I swallowed, the action not easing the tightness I felt in my chest.

"Who's she?" A shrill loud voice rang out.

"That's the King's concubine ." The butler whispered, "Pay your respects."

I was turned around in confusion, lowering my gaze as a woman walked closer to us, dressed in an expensive embroidered gown.

A hard jab came at my calf, forcing me on my knees in front of the woman.

"I'm sorry, mistress," the butler apologized, "I'm still teaching her some manners."

The woman gave me a once-over and scoffed as I stood.

"So you're the new breeding sheep." She pointed out with so much hated in her voice, then came closer and placed her lips few inches from mine, "Know your place else I'll make sure the next time you leave this grounds would be in a coffin."

She pulled back and smiled sweetly before heading towards the direction Elion went.

"Except His Majesty sends for you, you are not allowed anywhere near the King's room or his wing," the butler said to me as we entered the mansion.

Calling it beautiful would be an understatement. It was breathtaking.

"Do you understand me?" The butler snapped irritatedly.

I nodded, not like I had plans on going there anyway, I'm going to do my best to avoid him as much as I can.

"Since you were brought for breeding," the butler continued, throwing me a glare, "We don't have to be nice to you. The King doesn't like you either way, and you have to earn your keep."

I nodded again, following the butler as he led me through different corridors of rooms.

"Let's see how long you'll last," he added snarkily and paused, "This is your room. Be ready in five, I'll bring you a change of clothes."

He eyed me and left.

I opened the room and entered, expecting the worst.

It was surprisingly good and big, compared to the places I've lived since I was on the run.

I rushed to the shower to wash up. I had less than five minutes before the butler got back.

Just as I came out of the bathroom, I heard a knock.

Talk about timing.

I tightened the towel around my body and opened the door.

A six foot two demigod with the bluest eyes I've ever seen stood at the door in place of the butler, a crease appeared on his forehead when he saw me, his eyes lingering on me.

"Mate," he whispered.

What the heck?!

I took an involuntary step backward, away from him.

"W.. who are you?" I spluttered out as my wolf stirred again.

He stepped in fully, advancing on me.

I took two steps back, and he took five steps forward until my back hit the wall, and I had nowhere to run.

"W.. what are you doing?" I stammered, my heart beating wildly in my chest, "Are you perhaps in the wrong room?"

He leaned in closer, taking a sniff at the crook of my neck whispering again, "Mate,"

"What?" I gasped out, unable to fully form words, "That's not possible. There has to be a misunderstanding somewhere." I argued even as my wolf reacted to him differently like it did to Elion earlier.

Suddenly, the stranger was thrown off me.

"What did you just say, Damon?" Elion growled, towering over him easily.

"She's my-" The stranger -Damon started but was cut off abruptly.

Elion punched him on the face, causing him to stagger back.

"Don't you dare claim what is mine," Elion growled, his eyes red and his talons out.