CHAPTER ONE

MADELINE'S POV

PRESENT DAY.

"The shameless bitch lost my baby. Who told her to interfere with the affairs of the slaves and servants? I strongly instructed and warned her to be careful and specific with what she takes for the sake of the baby, and out of carelessness, she gobbled down a herbal tonic that wasn't hers to take in the beginning. For disobeying me and killing my pup due to carelessness, I am going to punish her dearly for it."

"Dan!!!" his voice bellowed, smitten with pure anger and fury. "Bring Madeline to the execution room." And he sauntered angrily out of the hallway.

From my room enclosed with brick walls, I could hear Alpha Konan’s voice thundering and ranting. My heart sank further into despair. Alpha Konan had always been unsympathetic and ruthless when dealing with me, and today's own won't be any different. He was feared by all and respected by none for his compassion—because they didn't exist.

I huddled myself together on the tiny bed in my room, my gaze fixed on the wall opposite me. Despite his uncompassionate nature, he was the father of the unborn baby, and I had dared to hope the child might change our fate—his disdain for me and my helplessness in this world.

Fast forward to now, everything had gone down the drain, scattered with the wind. I knew this was going to make me suffer more hardships, disrespect, and scorn from him and every trusted ally around him.

My room door opened ajar and a warrior werewolf came in. His eyes held no pity as he motioned for me to stand. He jabbed me with the stick he held in his hands with no form of respect, and I stumbled on my feet, enduring his rough treatment silently till I got to the execution room. I was still wearing my dress, the dress which I wore when I miscarried my baby.

It was stained with blood—dry blood. I was unwilling to let go of the dress that made me see the color red traveling from my womanhood, trickling down my thighs, and forming a river of blood on the ground below me. I hoped I would be pinched by someone and I would be told it was all a dream.

Alpha Konan stood up from his seat, dragged me from where I was standing, and threw me to the ground mercilessly, making me wince in pain.

The execution room not only contained Alpha Konan, but it also held people who had disdain, disgust, and scorn written on their faces. I did not like to be pitied, but my knees became weaker when I saw no evidence of pity in any of their faces.

With my vision becoming more blurry than ever, I huddled myself together on the cold tiled floor, gathering my blood-stained garment to cover the dried blood on my thighs and legs, and waited patiently for Alpha Konan's judgment.

"For killing Alpha Konan's baby out of your undue carelessness, I sentence you to hard labor."

My once gloomy eyes widened more than normal, and I sincerely hoped I didn't hear well.

Hard labor in the Oceanwolf Pack was a sentence given to hardened criminals and traitors. It meant engaging in long, exhausting tasks and dangerous work, all meant to break you and remind you of your place. But as a contracted mate to Alpha Konan, I didn't deserve this kind of treatment and punishment. I was ready to endure everything—but not hard labor. This, I know, would be very difficult to survive.

"Alpha Konan, please. Temper justice with mercy. It was not intentional for me to miscarry the baby," I said as I forced myself to plead.

He walked up to me with full-length angry strides, crouched to my level, and squeezed my jaw, whispering venomously into my ear.

"Look at me, Madeline. This is the start of the hell you are going to see. You will regret ever knowing me or having anything to do with me. For killing my child, I am going to kill you a thousand times. You will crave death and you won't find it anywhere. Listen, you are not even allowed to take your own life because if you do, I will make sure I go to the ends of the earth to revive you. I only have the right to kill you in this life."

"Drag her out of here!!!" Alpha Konan commanded, and two guards came and dragged me out. I struggled under their grip and pleaded repeatedly.

Who was I kidding?

This was the true nature of the iron-fisted Alpha Konan. When he makes up his mind, it is final. All my pleas fell on deaf ears, and when I got to my room, a servant lady was already there waiting to escort me to my new hellhole.

There was no time to bid the room that had seen most of my tears goodbye. With my blood-stained clothes, I trudged behind the servant lady to my new hellhole, the chains around my wrists clinking with every step I took. On my way, I reminisced about all the events that caused me to be in this position today.

*******

FLASHBACK

My name is Madeline, born and raised in Oceanwolf Pack. My family was among the poorest living in the pack, and surviving every day was frustrating. We moved from house to house, begging to see if we could get something to eat and get by daily. Hunger was always with us, like a shadow we couldn't escape.

My life fell apart when I was twelve. My parents couldn't take it anymore, and out of desperation, they sold me to the Alpha family of the pack. I was forced to go work for them and serve them. I didn’t hate my parents—but I couldn’t forgive them either.

I learned quickly: keep quiet, keep working, and never look anyone in the eye. Speaking up earned me a slap or worse. The other servants avoided me. Some whispered that I "was the girl sold by her own family," like that made me less than them.

Alpha Konan noticed me first. Not because he cared, but because he saw me as an easy target. Even as a teenager, he had this sharp, dangerous edge that made everyone fear him. But I wasn't important enough to fear—I was just there.

He started with little things: spilling water and blaming me, hiding things I needed to finish my chores. But one day, it got worse. He dared me to drink wolfsbane.

I will never forget the burning. It felt like fire crawling through my body, stealing my breath. I collapsed, gasping on the cold marble floor. He just stood there, watching, like he wanted to see what would happen. He didn’t call for help. Not until his father walked in and found me nearly clinging to life.

Alpha Konan was punished that day severely—and that was the last I saw of him for a while. In the years that followed, I worked until my hands bled and my body ached. I swallowed my pride and hoped that one day, I would escape.

*******

SIX MONTHS AGO

Konan's installation as the new Alpha was approaching, and preparations were at their highest. Everyone and everywhere was in a hustle and bustle trying to make the ceremony grand and perfect, befitting for the new upcoming Alpha.

Top leaders from other packs were all invited to grace the ceremony, and everyone was on their tippy toes because it was also a time to drink and eat without constraint.

I prepared the best dress I had—a white flowing dress, closely and neatly knitted to cinch my upper body and accentuate the curves of my lower body.

As the ceremony began—the moment everyone was waiting for—Alpha Konan made his grand entrance. Draped in a leather attire, complemented by a regal purple cape adorned with gleaming stones.

It was a costume-made dress well befitting for royalty. He walked with confidence and well-composed strides, the dim light in the great hall well addressing his manly features.

He had grown over the years and was now strikingly handsome, with his well-toned muscles and chiseled jaws ready to cut through anything clean without leaving rough edges. The tattoos on his body crept out of his arms and neck, adding to his every dark aura.

His appearance, according to the rumors, was all true—and looking at him up close, I could attest to it.

Everyone clapped in appreciation and approval. The grand ceremony to welcome the new Alpha ended and it was time to make merry. Every servant and guard were all given the night off to join in the bliss of enjoyment. Everybody I saw around had a bottle of alcohol in hand, and I decided to unwind a little and join the crew.

Feeling the need to unwind, I joined the party. One drink turned to two, then three, until a particular drink caught me off guard. Its effect was immediate. A wave of dizziness and heat consumed me, making it hard for me to think or move coherently.

Disoriented, I staggered into an unknown room.

"Who is there?" A thick rich voice thundered from somewhere within the room. I flinched, and at that moment, I recognized the shadow in the corner, hairs matted to his face.

In my intoxicated state, I came closer and I was met with his icy blue stare, his musky and alluring scent filling my nose. The stranger engaged me in eye contact, which had me unflinching under his gaze.

Before I could process anything, he wrapped his hands around my neck and pinned me to the wall behind me, his hot breath fanning my face making the hairs on my neck stand. I could tell he was drunk too. I could see it in his wild, unrestrained gaze.

Whatever followed next was sensual.

That was the first intimacy I ever had—and also one that sent my life rolling down into the great abyss.