Chapter 2: From One Hell To Another

ADELINE

I truly was cursed. 

If a tiny part of me believed that my life could change for the better someday, that part had just died. 

Hilton’s face contorted, his anger boiling over. He slapped me, the force of it sending my head snapping to the side, my cheek stinging.

“What is this?!” he roared, his voice filled with disgust. “You… you are my mate? The daughter of that traitor? This is impossible! What have you done?!”

“Nothing! I didn't do–”

“Silence! Understand this, Adeline,” he snarled, his eyes blazing with fury. “Don't even dream about it, I would never be mated to the daughter of my father's killer, a dirty, useless omega!”

He took a step back, his jaw tight. 

“I, Hilton Redpool, reject you, Adeline, as my mate and Luna!”

Another scream tore from my throat as a wave of pain, far more excruciating than the transformation, consumed me. It felt like a million knives were driving themselves through my flesh, twisting and ripping my senses away.  

It was as if my soul was being ripped from my body. 

Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision as I writhed on the cold floor. I had heard rumors about the pain of a rejection vow, but this was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. 

I crumpled to the ground, almost lifeless.

Hilton stood over me, his chest heaving, his face contorted in disgust.

“I should have gotten rid of you a long time ago, traitor’s spawn.”

He turned, his voice booming as he called out, “Guards! Take this dirty thing to the dungeon. She will be executed at dawn!”

The two guards hauled me up and dragged me out.

“No! Please… I don't want to die..” I whispered to nothing, my vision hazy as they led me out. 

Outside, the pack members stood, watching my humiliation play out. I could see the satisfaction on their faces. 

“Finally, such good riddance!” A voice yelled out.

“Of course! She's a curse to this pack. Die, you wench!”

Tears blurred my vision as I was led down to the dungeon and tossed inside like a ragdoll. 

I knew I was condemned already, and the thought of death was almost comforting; but this was too much. 

Tara sprang up to ease my pain.

‘Adeline, don't cry.’

I cried even harder. My mind drifted back to the horrid pain of rejection. As if I hadn't been through enough already, a person like Hilton had to be my mate. 

Was I so unworthy of salvation?

While rejection broke my insides and left me weak, I was grateful for it. He made my skin crawl, and the idea of being his mate was an eternal torture worse than being locked up here.

But I didn't want to die. I couldn't die here. Not for the sins of my father. 

I lifted my head to scan the room I'd been in a hundred times before.

Dimly lit with burned out torches, the small room was ventilated with a small window that led to the surface. 

The fear of getting caught had engulfed me every time, even now as I stared at the bar less window so high up, nearly twice my height.

But I would leave. I wouldn't die here.

Several hours had passed since I conceived the thought. The dungeon had been plunged into total darkness and fallen silent, the only sounds, that of crickets chirping in the distance. Feeling around the walls for the ridges, I dug my nails into them and reached for the window pane. It must have drawn blood, but I didn't mind. I pulled myself as hard as I could.

Adrenaline washed over me as fresh air hit my face the minute I climbed out the window, bringing me short term relief. 

Without thinking, I sprinted into the darkness. 

Dead tree branches tore at my legs, wet ones slapping my face as I ran. I didn't stop for one second. It felt like I'd been running for hours, until I crashed into something in the woods, bringing my sprint to a sharp halt. 

There was a loud scream as my pelvis hit something metal, but it wasn't mine. My fingers felt around as I tried to steady my breath. I could hear a chuckle, and I was spun around forcefully. 

One clothed hand held me tightly by my waist, while another grabbed my throat. 

The rotten stench hit my nose and my heart dropped as I realized. 

These were rogues. 

“Lookey what we have here!” A voice cheered, masculine and croaky, with a hint of amusement. 

I blinked rapidly to make sense of my surroundings. A huge man stood in front of me, assessing with intense eyes. His hands ran from my face down to my collars and then my breasts, causing me to wince in discomfort. Then he burst out laughing.

“Alright, load her up! This one is plump, she’d fetch us a good price!”  

He hauled me into the truck, where there were a handful of other girls whose faces I could barely make out in the dark. I tried to listen for any clue, but all they did was drunken laugh and talk about money. 

Quiet sobs escaped my lips as I sat there, pulling together the ripped pieces of my dress. 

I should have stayed back. I should have accepted the death offered to me on a platter. 

The truck came to a slowed halt and the door flew open. The same man who'd been holding me dragged me out forcefully.

I was immediately jolted forward, inching closely towards the men in fine clothes circled like auctioneers.

“I found this one on Redpool terrain.” The man who'd been studying my face spoke with a chuckle. He kicked the back of my knees and it buckled, I fell to my knees with a harsh stinging. “She's priced quite highly you know.”

Humiliating tears ran down my cheeks again. 

“The Lycan WhiteWolf Pack will take her, but I'm offering half the price.” A man spoke calmly as he rose to his feet, accompanied by mumbles of agreement. “I believe your eyes function perfectly, that you can see how sickly and dirty she is. Nobody here wants her, let alone at full price.”

They haggled back and forth while I knelt there, trembling. The Lycan King was feared amongst all of the packs in similar terrain. I'd heard tales of him idolizing the practice of impaling anyone who stood against him, and cannibalizing their bodies. 

But a spark of hope lingered. If I went there, even as the lowest omega, no one would know who I was, or my family's history. I didn't mind being a slave and working my whole life, as long as I was no longer identified as the daughter of a tyrant. 

This could be my chance at redemption.

I was taken away almost immediately. The drive to the pack was short and bumpy, halting just long enough to drop me by a door. 

For the first time in a long time, I saw smiling faces. One of the maids ushered me in through the door, handing me a handful of cleaning supplies without saying a word. 

I was led to a large hall where I scrubbed floors and wiped down pillars, working till dusk. I found my way back to the room, where I was welcomed with yet another smile.

“There's a party going on tonight at the pack.” The maid who'd welcomed me spoke as I kept the supplies away. “What's your name again?”

“Adeline.”

“Adeline. Yes.” She continued. “The maids have been invited and the theme? A veil! We all have our costumes. We didn't know you were joining us today or we would have gotten one for you too.”

I didn't respond, but it felt a little thrilling. Never had there been a party where maids were invited to at Redpool pack. And even if they were, I was always the exception. 

This… coming here had to be the best thing that had happened to me in forever.

“Never mind!” She clapped lightly. “There's an outfit for you, Lisa here will usher you into the waiting room. All you need to do is try the dress on and wait till she comes to get you.”

A small redhead, whom I assumed was Lisa, skipped to my sides and wrapped her hands around mine, wearing a big smile. “We'll be late! We need to hurry!” She chirped.

The rest of the maids and I hurried to the said waiting room and they stepped away, hurrying me to try on the dress. It hung there, a red threaded dress delicately embroidered with gold. The veil was of thicker material, although identically embroidered. 

I couldn't help but break a smile. If they did this for maids, it was surely heaven on earth.

I hurriedly wore the dress and the veil and called out to Lisa, but there was no response. 

Perhaps she had gone out to get something. 

I sat down on one of the ground pillows, waiting with a bit of excitement and confusion. I had so many questions to ask; what the party was about, why they were so well cared for, and several different questions I couldn't think about yet.

The door flew open just as I'd lost myself in my train of thought. 

But nothing prepared me for the sight in front of me.

Two men, one dressed in red and bigger than the other, stepped into the room, the smaller, older man holding a gold tray littered with several different items. 

Without a word, the tall man sank into the ground pillows opposite from me, his face unreadable. 

My heart lurched at the sight of his deep, sea blue eyes and set jaw. 

Wow, I thought. 

Who was he?

The old man set down the tray and knelt between us.

“The mating ceremony shall now commence.”

Instantly, all the breath left my lungs. My eyes widened in shock. 

A mating ceremony? 

I thought this was a party. 

I was about to explain the misunderstanding when the old man grabbed my hand and nicked my palm with a knife. 

I hissed in pain, dazed as I watched him do the same to the man seated next to me. He then reached out for a gold cup and let my blood drop into it. After doing the same with the man's blood, he set the cup aside. 

My heart was beating wildly now. 

No, no, no. 

This was bad. 

This wasn't supposed to happen, but fear froze me in place. If I spoke now, I could be killed on the spot. 

After muttering some incantations, the old man whom I realized now was an oracle, finally spoke. 

“Now the mating ceremony is complete. Our Lycan King, Alpha Dominic and Princess Vivian, are now proclaimed mates; Alpha and Luna of the Whitewolf Pack.” 

The Lycan King?!

I nearly staggered to the ground. 

Holy moon goddess, save me! 

I could already feel the tears pricking the back of my eyes. 

The Lycan King rose to his feet, his form intimidating. I could feel his gaze burning through my veil. 

I prayed he wouldn't ask me to unveil myself. Maybe I could slip out and make a run for it before the mistake was discovered. 

But right at that moment, the door flew open and a regal-looking woman rushed in. 

“I'm so sorry I'm late. There was a–”

Her words came to a screeching halt when her gaze landed on me, taking in my attire. 

The room went deathly silent. 

The Lycan King's face twisted in confusion as he looked from me to the woman standing at the door. Then back at me. 

And then without warning, he lunged forward and snatched off my veil.