Chapter 3

The sun from outside was blinding. I blinked a few times to adjust my sight, but my eyes kept watering up with tears. I had stopped screaming after one of the guards had hit me. My face was numb from the claw mark and slap I had just earned myself – there was no point in adding more fire to the already lit flame.

I shuffled in a single file line behind the woman who I had shared a cell with only a few minutes ago. I was at the end of what seemed like a never-ending line of wolves.

"Keep walking, don't slow down!" The main guard growled from the front of the line, his voice echoing off the forest trees that surrounded us.

They were marching us to our deaths, what great hospitality this pack has truly shown us!

There had to be at least fifty of us being led by the group of guards. They told us to be quiet and follow them, or else. I don't necessarily know what the 'or else' could be, considering where we were heading.

My thoughts were riddled with anxiety. How were they going to do it? Was it a public execution? Gosh, it couldn't possibly be! There was too many of us and what would be the point of that? The only humane way I could think of getting rid of us would be a silver bullet.

But this pack wasn't necessarily known for being humane...

We continued to walk for another ten minutes towards our destination. The walk was silent apart from the occasional sniffle and the guards' constant taunts. My bare feet were raw from walking on the forest floor but I gritted my teeth and tried my best to keep up with the rest of the group. Slowly, our pace began to still and eventually came to a stop. We were in a large clearing.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. The clearing reminded me so much of the grass fields back at my old pack. I used to take the kids out to the clearing after lunch to run around and knock off some steam. The open area served as the perfect arena for them to play.

I tried my best to hold in my tears. Memories of better times swarmed my head causing an ache to form in my chest.

"Stay in line and turn around to face the forest. Now." The main guard commanded as he walked to the middle of the clearing.

Almost immediately we all followed the orders, standing shoulder to shoulder around the edge of the clearing. I hesitated for a moment before turning to face the forest, leaving my back to the guards. I can't decide what is better – being able to face them and know what is going to happen or not.

Once everyone had followed orders, he began to talk again. "As I'm sure you all aware, it is cleaning day. I hope you've all enjoyed your time here with the Imperious pack, but we need to make more room for new friends." His voice was taunting and I'm sure if I turned around there would be a shit-eating grin on his face. "Before we continue, however, our Alpha and Beta will be coming for the dismissal. There will be no tolerance for any disrespect to our Alpha – so behave."

His last comment came out as a snarl, the threat clear in the air that our fates would be much worse if we reacted badly to their Alpha.

At the mention of the Alpha arriving, the tension amongst the line increased. I clenched my fist tightly, keeping my eyes trained at the base of the forest floor. The Alpha of the Imperious pack for known and feared across all wolf lands.

Alpha Benji – a ruthless, cold-hearted dictator. A man I thought I would only meet in my nightmares.

The air around the clearing got thicker – not just from the tension but the arrival of new people, as well. It was clear that more pack members were arriving. There were a few warning growls from the guards, but it didn't seem like anyone was going to test their luck.

I'm suffocating. I'm sure I must borderline having a panic attack at this point. The air in the clearing was so heavy I felt like I was being smothered. The scent of fresh wood fire and leather practically glued itself to my nostrils.

"Alpha Benji, Beta Alaric – It is a pleasure to see you." The main guard spoke, his voice now suddenly calm and no longer taunting. "We are ready to continue with cleaning whenever you are ready."

Tears were streaming down my face at a rapid pace. I tried to swallow my sobs the best I could, but every time I tried to breath, I felt like I was inhaling a cup full of that scent. Fresh wood fire and leather. I was choking on it.

"Pleasure to see you as well, Josiah. How many do we have?"

"Thirty-five, Beta Alaric." The guard, now known as Josiah, spoke. He was clearly proud of himself based on his tone.

I wish he would come over here in line and made it thirtysix.

There was a pause before the Beta spoke again, speaking an unusual amount compared to his apparently silent Alpha. "Any issues we should be made aware of?"

"No, it was a pretty standard round up. Twenty of the thirtyfive are either injured or sick, so they are automatically chosen. Seven are high-profile prisoners. The rest were luck of the pick, I suppose."

That's what I am. A luck of the pick. Just my luck, amiright?!

There was an uncomfortable pause after the guard spoke. I bit down on my lip hard to try and silence my sobs. I couldn't stand to keep looking at the forest floor anymore, so I squeezed my eyes closed instead.

"Is everything alright, Alpha Benji?"

"No."

His voice wasn't what I expected. After hearing, and experiencing, so many horror stories about him, I had painted a very ugly appearance to match the vile actions of Alpha Benji. His voice, however, didn't align with what I pictured. It was deep and alluring – like he had permanent morning voice.

The clearing was silent except for the slow, almost excruciating, sound of footsteps getting closer to the line. The crunching of the leaves was haunting – I suddenly wish we didn't have our backs turned to them. The mixture of the suffocating scent and the eerie silence was going to send me over the edge.

The crunching of the leaves suddenly stopped. And, for the love of the Moon goddess, I don't know why – but they stopped right by me. I didn't have to open my eyes to know that my whole body was trembling from fear. I prayed that his overwhelming presence would leave me alone, but I knew he wasn't going to.

"Turn around, pup."

I couldn't swallow the sob that escaped my lips. I wanted to say no. I wanted to just make a beeline for the woods and try to runway. But there was something about his voice. He was an Alpha, so naturally it was commanding and controlling. But it wasn't just that – not it was worse. It was alluring. I felt like he was calling me to him, to listen to him.

My body reacted on its own accord. I shakily turned to face him but kept my eyes cast downward, not wanting to make eye contact with him incase he found it disrespectful. I gasped softly as the invisible wall of that scent hit me once again.

A snarl ripped through his chest, "Mine!"