KIRA'S POV
My body folded on the cold floor of the dark, and damp room, as hot tears streamed down my eyes.
I never realized how easy it was for one's life to be upended, until now.
This had to be how miserable my father felt on the day my pack was attacked by the rogue wolves, marking the moment he became forever indebted to bloodmoon.
My father was going to be killed, by the same man that took my innocence. The same man pretending not to know he did it.
Why?
That was the only question that troubled my head.
Why would anyone be brutal? Why would anyone hate that deeply?
My poor wolf whimpered from a broken heart, as we both nursed the aftermath of something beyond our control.
I moved to turn over to the other side, when the door opened.
His scent announced his presence, even before he opened his mouth to speak.
The room was dark, until I felt the flicker of a switch, and suddenly, everywhere became illuminated.
"Look at me," he demanded, and like the helpless girl I was, I sat up, and turned to face him.
My stomach flipped on seeing him. Even Ayana couldn't help but to stand at attention.
This time, we were alone, and I could really look at him.
His height was like that of giants that roamed the earth in the past. His body was so huge, it could serve as a sturdy wall. His hair was unlike other men. It was a bit long, giving him the look of an immortal god. Lastly, those eyes were so piercing, it felt like they were staring deep into my soul.
As I studied him, he did the same to me, by walking around me.
His eyes roamed all over my body, until he came to a stop directly in front of me.
"Your father is going to die tomorrow," he declared.
The tears I thought had ceased, resumed in full force.
"Please," I went on my knees, and buried my head on his leg. "Please don't kill him for my sins. Punish me instead. Punish me forever. Let me take his place. He did you no wrong."
"No, he did! He birthed a loose daughter! How could you give yourself to a stranger in the forest?!"
"But it was y—"
His large hand grabbed my neck and pulled me up, before I could complete my words.
"Don't you dare," he counted his words that dragged through his lower teeth. "Don't rope me into your whoredom!"
I went silent, as my teeth rattled in fear inside my mouth.
The result was a quivering lips, a vibrating body, and unending tears.
He sized me up with so much disgust, I felt it deep in my bones.
Even Ayana went into her shell, careful not to make any noise that would draw his attention to her.
Yet in all of these, there was a part of me that still felt unbearably drawn to him.
"You want to know the truth?" He pressed my neck.
I bobbed my head quickly, as the pain from the pressure he exerted, shot directly to my brain.
"Your pack has nothing of substance to offer me. Not even you. I have never wanted the daughter of the alpha of ForestGreen pack. You know why? I'll tell you why."
He released his hold on my neck, and moved his mouth directly to my ear.
"You're nothing of value. Your pack holds no value to me. I don't know what tricks the moon goddess is playing. I was surprised to be so drawn to you, a stranger in the forest. But I was thankful, because maybe it meant the ties between your family and mine had been severed by the moon goddess. Only for you to turn up, and it was you?!" he scoffed bitterly.
He seemed so surprised. Just as I was. But I still didn't understand what he was getting at.
"It felt like I couldn't escape your family. Why should I be with you? Haven't your family taken enough from me? My father died trying to protect your pack! I grew up with the mandate to protect your pack! The resources I would have spent doing reasonable things, I spend it all on your pack! What makes your pack so special? What?!" He grabbed my shoulders, and shook it until I felt wobbly, and dizzy.
"I'm—"
"Don't speak!" He growled, and a single tear rolled down my eyes as I went mum again.
I understood him now. It was resentment he felt. He blamed us for the death of his father.
"I will avenge my father's death. There is nothing I hate more than weakness. Twenty years later, and your filthy pack still can't stand on its own? I still have to protect it? No, not again. Not anymore. I'm going to let your pack burn. I'll kill your father. And you my dear, you'll be my slave," he said, and spontaneously kissed me.
The kiss was unexpected, yet my body lit up as soon as his lips touched mine.
However, it was just as brief as it was unexpected.
When he pulled away I saw the expression of torture in his eyes.
"I hate your family. I will never forgive your family!" He turned around, and stormed out of the room, leaving me alone and confused.
My knees buckled, and gave way under the pressure of the experiences of the day.
As I fell to the ground, it was with an understanding that came with an accompanying depression.
There was no hate stronger than that borne out of resentment.
It shifted the blame from reality, to the most convenient second place.
In this case, it was me and my family. After all, his father died saving my pack.
The tears that fell from my eyes this time around was that of hopelessness.
Nothing would save me from the wrath of the alpha. Not even the bond we shared.
My hands went round my body to protect myself from the cold that was sipping into me at a more rapid rate.
What I didn't expect was the cell door opening again.
I looked up to see a beautiful woman. By her side were two other girls each holding a pail of water.
"Hello whore," were the first words that escaped her mouth towards me.
My heart doubled, because I could sniff the trouble in the air.
"This is to officially welcome you to your new hell. I am Jada. The alphas mistress. The one he trusts the most. The one he buries all of the stress of the day into. If you know what I mean," she threw me a wink, and then went instantly straight faced. "You thought you would walk in here and become everyone's Luna?"
"N-o—" I stuttered. "Please," I quickly added, not sure how much more pain my body could take.
"No? Are you scared?" She pouted mockingly. "Poor thing."
The other two girls laughed at me, their intent obviously to humiliate me.
"Take off her clothes!" Jada suddenly ordered.
"Please-no-don't," I begged, as I moved back.
All my attempts to evade their touch proved abortive.
The two maids easily cornered me, and in two swift movements, I was stark naked.
"Good. Now spread her legs!"
My weak body tried to fight them off again, but they smacked me so hard, I stopped fighting.
What I thought was water, ended up being frozen piss. And the stench of it as it toppled all over my body, was the only thing I could remember.
They had won. I was well, and truly humiliated.