Chapter 3

“Where are you taking me?” I asked cautiously, but neither of my captors answered as the quiet drive continued. Hours passed before we arrived.

After passing through the large gates, I took in the surroundings—a massive estate with intimidating statues and well-trimmed lawns. Whatever this place was, I didn’t feel safe one bit.

Once the cars pulled up, the guards dragged me out without a word. My heart thudded as I was pulled through elegant hallways and thrown into a room.

I didn’t care to look around.

I was furious. My own family sold me like I was livestock. I didn’t even know where I was—but I swore I’d get out and make them pay.

“I’d prefer if you sat.”

A deep voice came at me in the room and I paused. 

Turning, my eyes scanning the room for the source until I saw a chair slowly swivel, revealing him—Alpha Ragnar.

He was watching me with a look that made me feel uneasy. He sat calmly, collected and observant. But his gaze? It was the gaze of a predator who’d already claimed his prey.

His eyes dropped, roaming my body slowly, care freely, making me feel naked in my own skin.

He sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and stood. He began walking toward me, his steps casual, but his eyes burned with something dark, his underlying intentions already brimming to the surface.

“I wouldn’t repeat myself,” he said, closing the distance I so dearly wished could’ve expanded even more between us.

But I didn’t move fast enough.

“You should be grateful,” he murmured, standing inches from me now. And now, I couldn’t help but remain fixed to the spot.

“I saved you from your pitiful life, from that shithole you call a home. I bet by now you’d have been scrubbing floors maybe?”

I flinched as he reached up and brushed a stray hair behind my ear to reveal my cheek still carrying the red mark from Sylvia’s slap.

“I took you in so the least you could do is sit when I tell you to.”

I backed up instinctively, but he followed, matching my every step with calculated ease until my knees hit the chair behind me and I plopped into it.

He chuckled, low and satisfied, then leaned over me—his hands on either side of the chair, caging me in.

“Now, a lecture. You’re in the Gravestone Pack, and as you know, I am the Alpha. We follow these three core rules I’m about to drill into you.”

“One—don’t ever try to escape. It’s impossible.”

His body loomed too close. I felt uncomfortable and turned my face away, refusing to look at him, but he used a finger to tilt my chin back toward him.

“Two—you do exactly what I say. When I say it.”

He leaned closer until his lips hovered just over mine—not kissing, just existing there. I hated it. Hated how my heart pounded.

I saw his expression, and I knew he felt amused by my reaction. I didn’t want to give him an ounce of satisfaction, but that was only if my body would listen to me.

“You reek,” he said out of the blue, and I followed his gaze to my clothes. Why wouldn’t I? Aside from the spilled wine I used to clean from that disastrous family dinner, I don’t recall the last time I changed out of them.

“Take them off,” Ragnar ordered, and my heart sank.

“What?” I stuttered.

He didn’t say anything but just went behind me, and I felt my breath getting faster.

“I’d need to stand up. My clothes don’t have a zipper,” I gave an excuse to move away, and I tried to stand, but he seated me back down. Then his sharp fingernail touched my neck, and goosebumps exploded across my skin. Slowly and calculated, he went down, slicing through my clothes with practical ease, and the sensation was so dominating I arched my back when he reached my panties.

“Now you do,” he whispered behind my neck, and I clenched my thighs tightly.

“Three,” he said, his fingers already working their way up to my shoulders to finish the job of stripping me, “never betray me. Else, there’d be dire punishment for that.”

“Do you understand?” he asked, and my clothes were already halfway down.

“Yes,” I stuttered as he reached my lower region, and my heart started beating even faster.

“Yes what?”

“Yes, Alpha,” I answered, clenching my thighs even more in resistance. And thankfully, he stopped.

“Good,” he murmured.

Then he stepped back, adjusting his cuff-linkscufflinks like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t just pushed my buttons so easily and dialed my senses to eleven.

His voice shifted to a casual, almost bored tone. “Lecture over for now.

There are some new clothes in the wardrobe. Change into them,” Ragnar said, and I nodded, my hands already covering my breasts since he slit through my bra as well.

“I have things to handle. Get some rest,” he said.

As he walked out, I stayed frozen in the chair. My heartbeat was still fast but slowing, my skin burning where he touched me. I hated how my body trembled—it was a mixture of fear and probably bitter pleasure, as much as I hated to admit it.

When the door shut, I rose and did as I was told and put on the clothes I saw there.

Now. I had to leave. No way I was staying the night after what just happened. I opened the door just a bit and peeked through, there were no guards or movement. Now was my chance.

I knew I was breaking Rule Number One. Or was it Two? I didn’t care. I just wanted to get out of this place.

I quickened my pace, my breath shallow. I was so focused on getting away that I didn’t see what was in front of me until I crashed into something.

Or someone.

I stumbled back, landing on my butt. The figure I had run into staggered but remained standing.

I gulped.

I had been caught.

But when I looked up, it wasn’t a guard—it was a woman.

Curiosity flickered inside me. But her expression instantly killed it. The disdain in her eyes made me push myself up and apologize.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bump into you.”

“You.”

Her voice was low.

I hesitated. “My name is Jade.”

She didn’t respond for a few seconds. Instead, she folded her arms, looking at me like I was beneath her.

“Blaire,” she finally said.

I opened my mouth to continue, but she cut me off.

“You’re Alpha Ragnar’s new plaything,” she said, smiling.

“Pardon?” My brows furrowed.

“Don’t worry,” she huffed. “It’ll come to you eventually.”

I instantly felt uncomfortable, and I cleared my throat.

“Uh, I just wanted to get some water. I’ll be going now,” I said, taking cautious steps past her.

“I don’t know why,” Blaire mused behind me.

I hesitated and turned.

“You aren’t necessary,” she continued. “And I know that. After all, I’m betrothed to him. So I could never feel intimidated by a piece of trash like you.”

She caressed the ring on her finger.

“But even then…” Her gaze darkened. “He still took you in. Mild interest, perhaps?”

Her tone dripped with bitterness. I wasn’t sure where she was going with this.

“But don’t worry,” she said as her face brightened with a sinister smile, as if she was speaking both to me and to herself.

“I’ll do everything in my power to expose you. To show him you’re a useless, dumb, unwanted thing. Then, you’ll be thrown out of here like the trash you are.”

She savored the thought, her expression darkening even further as she hammered on her intent.

“I’ll make sure you’re nothing but a bad memory.”