Chapter 2

In the big room, there was only me and Alpha David. I sat across from him. The atmosphere was tranquil and stuffy.

"How many years have you been here?" Alpha David suddenly asked.

I didn't know what the question meant, but I answered, "Nine years, Sir!"

After answering that question, I felt that time passed quickly; nine years passed like the blink of an eye. I have been coming here since I was nine years old and now I am eighteen years old.

It may seem strange to people that I call my stepfather sir, but that's how I've communicated with him all these years, and I don't want to change that.

"I raised you for nine years. Although you and I are not close, thanks to me, you have been able to live comfortably for the past nine years, right?" he asked.

I pursed my lips, remembering the time of being bullied and enduring people's disdain over the years. That's not an easy life. I want to refute that, but I think of my mother; she has lived a perfect life over the years, so I don't deny Alpha David's words.

I nodded, "Yes, Sir! I thank you for that!"

"Will you repay me?" He asked.

I have a feeling he has bad intentions towards me. I'm not sure about my hunch; maybe I'm too sensitive. I hesitated momentarily, then replied, "I will render thanks to you, but I don't know how to reciprocate your favor."

I vaguely guessed that David was setting a trap for me, but I couldn't bluntly say not to repay him. I am not ungrateful.

David's expression showed satisfaction when I said that. He said, "The war situation between the Dead Forest and the Red Ocean is taut. Currently, Dead Forest is at a disadvantage. We can lose the Pack at any time. Do you understand that?"

I looked at him, neither nodding nor answering. I am trying to figure out what he's talking about war with me for. I'm not a Beta or a strong warrior.

"The last way to save the Dead Forest situation right now is to make peace with the Red Ocean. I sent a letter of reconciliation to Alpha Albert. He said he agreed to make peace on the condition that I pay him a large amount of money and you have to go to the Red Ocean. He likes you, so he wants you to be his mistress." David said calmly.

I was bewildered; in my heart, I understood what David meant but didn't want to accept that fact. I got angry, stood up, and yelled, "What the hell are you talking about? Why do I have to be that damn older man's mistress? Do you know how disgusting he is? Even if I die, I will not go to the Red Ocean to be his mistress."

I know the Red Ocean pack's Alpha Albert, not because he's a strong Alpha but because he's a perverted old demon. He was over fifty years old but had a hobby of forcing beautiful girls under twenty to be his mistress. The scary thing is that his mistresses could not live more than a year because he had a hobby of beating and torturing girls cruelly.

His heinous actions are not condemned just because he is an Alpha. I feel highly disgusted every time I mention that name.

David slammed his fist on the table so hard that the things on the table shook in an instant. David's face darkened, his brows furrowed, and he looked very fierce. He shouted, "Shut up! I gave you a good life for the past nine years, and now you repay me with your ingratitude? You bastard! You have no right to object!"

I panicked and was scared, "Where is my mom? I want to meet her. Does she know the bad things you're doing to me?"

I wanted to turn around and run out of the room to find my mother because I knew she would protect me, but when I opened the door, I was stopped by four tall, muscular soldiers.

"Lock her in her room! Observe her, don't let her run away, and don't let anyone come into contact with her, including Luna." David gave orders to the soldiers.

Immediately, four soldiers rushed to arrest me. I struggled and screamed but to no avail. In the end, I was knocked unconscious.

…

"Sharmaine, wake up!"

An urgent voice rang in my ears. I felt someone's hand patting my face. I slowly opened my eyes and woke up. The bright light made me squint a few times.

A gentle hand helped me sit up. In my head, I recalled the conversation with Alpha David. I panicked, looked up at the person beside me, and realized it was my mother. I excitedly exclaimed, "Mom! Did you come to save me? I don't want to marry Alpha Albert. He's a perverted old man…."

Because I was agitated, the volume of the conversation increased. My mother covered my mouth and motioned for me to be quiet. At this point, I calmed down a bit.

"Don't speak loudly. I have arranged for you a car. Get out of here!" My mother whispered in my ear. Her face was urgent and worried. She gave me a small backpack.

I asked, "Where should I go? Won't you come with me?"

My mother had a troubled expression and said, "I won't go with you. Go to the White Mountain pack, and find your father, Alpha Raymond. Only he can get you out of this situation."

I froze for a moment. It has been a long time since I have heard that name. Bad memories flashed through my mind.

"No! I'm not going to White Mountain. Did you forget how he treated us? He won't help me." I spoke in an indignant voice, so the volume was high. My mother covered my mouth again. Annoyed, I pushed her hand away.

"You are his daughter anyway, so he will help you. You have no choice because Alpha David and Alpha Albert will catch you no matter where you go. Listen to me; Raymond won't let you get caught." My mother tried to convince me.

I resisted, but I understood my mother's words were true. While I hesitated, my mother urged again, "Hurry up! You cannot procrastinate for long. If David wakes up, you won't be able to run away."

In the end, I agreed to do as my mother said. She prepared a car for me. When I got into the car, I asked my mother again, "You really don't want to come with me? If Alpha David wakes up and he knows you let me go, he'll probably punish you."

My mother reassured me, "Don't worry about me! I'm Luna; he won't do anything too harsh to me. Please leave quickly."

Although my mother tried to stay calm, I could still see a glimpse of worry in her eyes.

I drove away. I think I'll go to the White Mountain to ask my father for help and beg him to save my mother.