CHAPTER 5

MAYA

The ride to wherever we were going was the most awkward experience of my entire life. After the Lycan King flat out rejected my proposal I forced my way into his car and refused to get out until he heard me out.

He was furious at first. His silver eyes darkened and his aura pressed down on me so hard I thought my lungs would collapse. I was sure he was going to kill me right then and there.

But he did not.

Instead he climbed into the car a few seconds later without saying a single word. Now we were driving to some unknown location and the silence between us was suffocating.

I stole a glance at the man sitting beside me. Everything about him screamed power. His aura was so heavy and suppressive that even without my wolf being active I could feel it pressing against my skin like invisible hands.

If my wolf was awake she would have been whimpering and submitting to him instantly. Even an Alpha wolf would bend the knee in his presence. He was on a completely different level.

"Do you want to hear more about my story? Maybe then you will understand why I need your help so badly" I said after working up the courage.

He did not respond. He did not even look at me. He just sat there staring straight ahead like I did not exist.

I watched him for a moment then cleared my throat and began telling him everything. I told him about how I met Damien. How I fell in love with him. How he used me to get close to my family. How he slaughtered my pack and killed my parents right in front of me.

I told him about being forced to watch Damien with Isabella. About being made into a maid and a breeder. About being sold off to the auction house like I was nothing.

When I finished I turned to him and waited for a reaction. His face had not changed even a little. Not a single muscle moved. I had never met someone so impossible to read in my entire life.

"So what do you..."

"I cannot marry you. I do not intend to and I do not wish to" he said cutting me off. His voice was cold and flat like he was reading from a script.

"I let you into my car because I bought you. But you will not be coming home with me. I have business in one of the packs nearby. You will be dropped off there and whatever happens to you after that is your problem."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I opened my mouth to argue.

"But..."

"Shut up" he said without even looking at me.

Every fiber of my being was screaming at me to close my mouth and stop pushing this terrifying man. But my mind had other ideas. I was feeling reckless tonight. Maybe it was because I had already lost everything and had nothing left to fear.

"No. I need you to listen to me. I really need your help. We do not have to be together forever. We can write up a contract. I will not interfere in your personal life in any way. You would barely even know I exist. All I want is revenge and the moment I get it I will be out of your life for good" I said with as much determination as I could gather.

He slowly turned his head toward me and I nearly choked on my own breath.

This man was unfairly handsome. I had never seen anyone with features so sharp and so perfectly carved in my entire life. His jawline could cut glass and his silver eyes glowed faintly in the dim light of the car.

As those eyes locked onto mine it felt like he was peeling back every layer of my soul and examining what was underneath.

"You are very bold for someone with a weak wolf" he said.

Even though his words were harsh I could not help but notice how smooth and deep his voice was. It was like velvet wrapped around steel.

"She is just in hibernation right now but..."

"It does not matter. She is weak and so are you" he stated bluntly.

"But that does not change anything..."

"Oh it does matter Hazel..."

"My name is Maya" I corrected him quickly.

"If I call you Hazel then that is your name" he replied and I pressed my lips together unable to argue with that tone.

"As I was saying Hazel. Let us say I accept your little proposal. What exactly do I gain from this arrangement? Keep in mind that I am the Lycan King. I need a strong woman by my side to lead my people. Not a girl with a sleeping wolf."

"I can lead people" I shot back immediately.

He actually scoffed at that. "Yes you can. Straight to their graves alongside yours."

I pouted and was about to fire back but he turned away and pulled out his phone completely dismissing me from the conversation.

Fine. If he thought I was going to give up because of a few harsh words then he was dreaming. I would give him some time to think it over.

The exhaustion hit me like a wall after that. My body had been running on nothing but adrenaline and stubbornness and now both were running out. My eyelids grew heavy and before I knew it I was asleep.

When I woke up the car was gone. The hard leather seat had been replaced by a soft mattress beneath my back. I blinked a few times and looked around. I was in a small room with plain walls and simple furniture.

How did I get here? Did he carry me?

I carefully climbed out of bed and was about to walk out when the door swung open. Standing behind it was the Lycan King himself.

I had to crane my neck just to look at his face. Was I really that short or was he just impossibly tall?

"I have told the Alpha here to take you in as a member of this pack. This is your new home" he said flatly.

My eyes went wide. "What? No that is not what I..."

"That is the most I can do for you. Accept it" he said shutting me down completely.

A heavy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. Was this really how it was going to end?

Before I could say another word Ethan came rushing toward us. His face was tense and that was when I noticed the sounds of shouting coming from outside.

"What is going on?" the Lycan King asked.

"The Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack is here. He is causing a scene outside" Ethan reported.

I froze completely.

Damien was here. He had found me already. He was going to drag me back to that hellhole.

Without thinking I grabbed the Lycan King's hand and squeezed it tight.

"Please do not let him take me. I am begging you" I whispered as I looked up at him.

His face remained cold. His eyes showed nothing.

Then he pulled his hand away from mine.

"I am done helping you. You are on your own now" he said. Then he turned and walked away without looking back.

Ethan glanced at me briefly before following after him.

I stood there alone in the hallway with my heart pounding and my hands trembling.

So everything I had done was for nothing?

Even so I was not going to let Damien drag me back. I was not going to let him terrorize another pack because of me. It was time to face him head on.

I gathered every last drop of courage I had left and walked toward the noise outside.

The moment I stepped through the door his eyes found mine instantly.

"Maya!" he called out. The relief on his face almost made me believe he actually cared.

Almost.