Chapter 3

My father died before I was born so it was always just my mother and I. I was seven when we moved to the Dark Howl pack as my mother got a job to work for the retired Alpha. Alpha Darren or Grandpa D as I called him, was an old man abandoned by his family. He had a nasty temper, was high-handed and did not get along with his only son so he was withering away, alone in his old age.

Grandpa D had a nasty temper so most of his employees didn’t last long but my mother had a temper to match. They bickered a lot, quarrelled, and called themselves names often. While the other workers would hide in his presence, my mother faced his wrath with rage of her own. They were an odd pair; a wealthy, influential and fearsome Alpha and his poor maid. It didn’t take long for them to become inseparable. Grandpa D adored my mother who he called his spirit child and that adoration naturally extended to me.

It was upon my mother’s insistence that he invited his son and his family over to his house to apologize after many years of being cut off. It was the first time I ever met Kian.

“I thought too highly of my grandfather. He also collects filth.” Kian sneered at me that day.

Disparaging words poured from his mouth but I was too star-struck to react.

“Are you deaf?” He scowled at me when I didn’t answer him. He took his hands out of his pockets and made some strange gestures with his hands. Years later, I found out that he tried insulting me using sign language.

I ran away after that. I ran to my room and hid under the covers, red from my head to my toes. That day, I didn’t come out of my room until they left.

The next time they came, I dressed in my best clothes and when they left, I went to Grandpa D.

“Grandpa, I’m going to marry Kian,” I declared.

He laughed so hard, I felt ashamed but from then on, anytime Kian came over, he sent us out to play together.

I followed Kian around whenever he came to visit. His words were harsh but he wasn’t like the other boys. He didn’t push me, didn’t make fun of my mother’s status and sometimes, he told me stories. Stories of what was happening in the pack since we lived on the outskirts, stories of his school and the stupid people he was surrounded with and stories of his daily life.

For two years, the highlight of my life was the times when Kian came to visit Grandpa D with his parents. I may have been nothing better than an accessory to him but he was my favorite person in the world. I cherished him and the time we spent together.

One day, we received tragic news. The Alpha and Luna had died in a plane crash, leaving behind sixteen-year-old Kian. Just like that, he was orphaned. It was the first and only time Kian ever cried in front of me. I think it was the only time he ever cried.

My life changed after that. With his son dead, Grandpa D had to come out of retirement to protect his grandson’s inheritance. We moved from the outskirts of the pack to the centre and at thirteen, I faced reality.

Kian and I were worlds apart.

He was the heir to a renowned pack. Adults and young people alike deferred to him. It was my first time facing social hierarchy and I soon realized that Kian was not just cool, he was powerful. He was important. I, on the other hand, was nobody. The daughter of a maid and an omega at that.

Every parent wanted their daughter to be the Luna. As a child, I didn’t grasp the seriousness of it all but I became a threat. Grandpa D, the fearsome Alpha, favoured me. I constantly followed Kian around despite him moving as a lone wolf.

I was an eyesore to many.

I endured a slew of bullying, attempts on my life, insults on my person and an outright destruction of my self-esteem because of Kian but even till the end, it never occurred to me to leave his side.

When my mother died a few years ago, Grandpa D went into shock. His health deteriorated from then on but he refused to hand over the pack to his grandson. Worried about me and what would happen to me without him and my mother, he entrusted me to Kian, forcing Kian to mate with me even though Kian made it clear I was unworthy of staying by his side.

Grandpa D, despite his ailing health, continued to work as the Alpha, threatening to hand over the pack to someone else while neglecting his health. In the end, Kian had no choice but to mark me just to get his grandfather to agree to treatments and to hand over the pack.

That’s how I perfectly roped myself into this hellish bond. I had been happy to spend the rest of my life with Kian but his indifference towards me had grown into pure hatred.

“I have to leave this pack,” I muttered to myself as I grabbed my already-packed luggage from my room after Matthew left.

My spine stiffened when I raised my head and saw Kian casually leaning against my doorframe, his eyes darker than normal.

“Natalie.” It was rare for him to call my name. He liked to address me with ‘you’ or ‘stupid girl’ or ‘silly girl.’ “Where do you think you’re going?”

There was no reason to argue with a man like Kian so I ignored him and went to grab my handbag.

“Hey – what are you doing with my bags!?” When I turned, he had already taken hold of my suitcases. I rushed over to take them from him but I was like a child playing with an adult. He skillfully blocked me while maintaining his hold on my luggage.

“Since you packed a bag, I take it you want to move into my room. Let’s go.”

“You’re delusional.” I shook my head.

“No, you’re the one who is delusional if you think I’d ever let you go.”

“Do you think I’m your doll? Your furniture? What rights do you think you have over me?”

“I am your Alpha,” his voice came out crisp and clear. “And you are my mate.”

It was the first time it occurred to me that I may be dealing with a lunatic.