CHAPTER 3

MARTHA

I had not expected this handsome stranger to stand up for me. He defended me and chose me over the beautiful women arranged for him.

I had only arrived here to see if I could get money by selling my body.

Tolu, my best friend, had told me that I could get money by sleeping with a stranger, as the wages I earned working at Silvers Restaurant weren't much.

My heart raced as the formidable man scooped me into his arms. His masculine scent of wood filled my nostrils, and his well-sculpted features made me uncomfortable.

I had not been feeding well due to my stepmother's brutality, especially since my father's death.

I lost weight, as I had to fend for myself. I was only living in the house with my stepmother and Elena.

They cooked without giving me any. They spent my father's hard-earned money without caring to ask about my needs.

I had to work to sponsor my feeding and to ensure that I completed my studies at the university, since I was studying business management.

I couldn't challenge Sandra, and I was hoping that by the time I graduated, I would have a better job to fight back and take what was rightfully mine.

After all, Sandra had an explanation to give — about Mark's comments regarding my father's will.

"Are you scared of me?" the formidable man asked after he had placed me on the bed.

If I said that I was not afraid, that would be a lie, because he towered above me and I could barely reach his shoulder.

My head was just reaching his chest, and he peered down at me like a predator scrutinizing its prey.

"No… I am not scared of you," I lied, and he laughed and reached for his shirt buttons to strip it off.

"You do not have to be scared. I am like you, so why should you be scared? I have human features, don't I?" he asked, his brows raised in a question mark as he regarded me and flexed his muscular arms.

I gulped hard, wondering what he meant by having human features like me.

"Yeah. You're handsome," I replied bashfully and avoided his eyes.

"You should have your bath first. I am a clean freak. So, would you like to bathe first, or should I go first? What drink do you want?" he asked as he stripped off his shirt and revealed his tattooed chest to my view.

My eyes widened when I saw the wolf-head tattoo on his chest and the several marks like claws and scars scattered across it.

Seeing that my eyes were glued to his chest, the man smiled and said, "Admiring my tattoos, right?"

"Yeah. Are you a warrior? Didn't this big tattoo hurt?" I asked him, knowing that it was wrong to pry into a stranger's life. We were only having a night together, and I did not need to ask him who he was.

"Yeah. It's a tribal tattoo. I am from the Dark Mountain Pack," he said, and I saw his eyes glow. I didn't know if I was hallucinating at that moment.

"Dark Mountain Pack? I heard the pack has real live wolves living there, and we were warned not to cross the river and mountain into that territory. Are you a werewolf?" I asked, my eyes wide with shock. Even though I did not pay attention to the news, it had been rumored that real live werewolves resided on the other side of the city. But many of us were too scared to venture into that area.

Like, who would want to uncover the truth about a werewolf? The thought of being in a room with one made me anxious.

I rose from the bed to dart out, but he caught my left wrist and pulled me to his tall frame.

"Are you scared of me?" he asked, his eyes narrowed with a sinister glint.

"No. I am just not comfortable. Your tribal tattoo and the fact that you said you are from the Dark Mountain Pack—" I replied, my lips trembling. He raised his right hand and used it to touch my hair.

"I haven't seen a beautiful woman like you before. Has anyone ever told you that you look like a real-life moon goddess?" he teased, and my cheeks flushed at his remark and his closeness.

"No. I am a human. I am not a goddess or whatever you said," I replied, thinking he was just complimenting me and was not really from a pack of wolves.

Or was I overthinking it?

Was he really a werewolf?

"You don't have to be scared of me. I like you, and I will pay you one million. What do you say?" he offered, and my jaw dropped.

"One million…" My lips trembled as my ears flamed red.

"Will you really offer me that amount?" I asked as he stepped away from me to take off his trouser belt.

"I do not promise what I cannot offer. If you perform well, I can double the amount. So the choice is yours," he said as he pulled off his belt and let go of his trousers.

They fell off, revealing his long, hairy legs.

I gulped hard as my eyes shamelessly trailed his tall frame — from his feet up to his crotch.

Even though he had not taken off his boxers, the massive size of his bulge made me tremble.

My knees buckled as I staggered backward.

"Will that thing fit in me? I do not think I can take you, sir," I replied, trembling before him.

Before I could run to the door and exit the room, he captured me and pressed me against the wall.

"Do not test my patience. You saw other women who were offered to me, but I rejected them for you. Why can't you be a good girl and please me? Fine, I will pay you three million. Will that be enough?" he asked, his deep husky voice filling my ear as his hot breath brushed my cheek and sent shivers crashing down on me like a tidal wave.

"Um, okay. I will try," I replied anxiously, and he released me.

"Strip," he ordered as he moved back and stepped away from me.

My mind raced on what I could use the three million to do.

First, I would be able to get my evil stepmom arrested and dig into my father's files — to know the actual cause of his death and to take over his company that had been handed to Elena and my evil stepmom.

"Alright," I replied, and reached to take off his black coat.

He lit a stick of cigarette as he moved to take his seat in the room.

Once my hands reached for the hem of the black coat, I took it off slowly and carefully from my shoulders.

The thickness of the coat made me realize it must be expensive, as the cold wind bit at my skin.

I stood before the formidable man in my orange panties and bra.

"Go and have your bath and come out without anything except a towel. Hurry up," he dismissed me, his golden eyes locked on mine, and I gulped down my anxiety.

"Alright." My legs quickly carried me to the bathroom door, and I shut it as soon as I stepped inside.

The bathroom was furnished with a bathtub and a shower faucet.

There were complimentary sponges and soaps available to use.

Knowing that I could not keep him waiting before he changed his mind, I hurriedly unwrapped a new sponge and swiftly switched on the shower and bathed as thunder struck in the sky.

I knew that my fate was already sealed — to sell myself for money.

I prayed to God for forgiveness of my sins as I finished my bath and stepped out of the bathroom to find the man still seated on the single chair in the room, but he was on a phone call.