Chapter 4

Steven's POV

"Bunch of manipulative beings," I scoffed, shaking my head as I walked away from the gathering. The words felt heavy on my tongue, fueled by frustration and a sense of betrayal.

"Take me to the captured human," I instructed Liam, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. The grand mansion felt oppressive as I stepped inside, the air thick with secrets and shadows.

He led me down a narrow corridor to a dimly lit room where the human was held captive. He was awake now, his eyes wide with confusion and defiance.

"What is your name?" I asked, trying to maintain a semblance of authority.

"Williams," he replied, his voice surprisingly calm.

"Do you realize where you are?"

"I don't know, but I do know you'll kill me eventually. So just do me a favor and get on with it." His resignation struck me like a blow, and I felt a surge of surprise.

"You don't seem afraid of dying, Williams," I said, kneeling beside him, my curiosity piqued.

"Before your men captured me, I was going to kill myself anyway. I came to the forest to commit suicide, so it doesn't matter if I do it or you do it," he confessed, his gaze unwavering.

The weight of his words settled heavily in the pit of my stomach. I could feel his pain, a void of despair that threatened to consume him. "I don't know what happened to you, and I don't really care. But I'm going to give you a gift now—a chance to be reborn stronger. I'll release you from the grip of your painful memories. I'll cleanse all the memories you have as a human, and you won't remember a thing when you wake up. The bite is your second chance at life, Williams. It's your gift."

"What... what bite?" His eyes widened with a mix of fear and curiosity, and I smiled, trying to reassure him.

I leaned closer to his neck as my teeth elongated, sharp and predatory. Then, with a swift motion, I bit into his flesh, feeling the warmth of his blood as I deposited my venom into his bloodstream.

His scream echoed in the room, a sound filled with agony and fear, before he succumbed to unconsciousness. "Welcome to the Oakwood moon pack, Williams," I whispered, rising to my feet.

"You know what to do," I said to Liam, who nodded, his expression unreadable.

As I turned to leave, a haunting howl pierced the air.

"Did you hear that?" Liam asked, concern etched on his face.

I nodded, my instincts flaring. "I think someone from our clan is in trouble."

"That is not someone from our clan; that is Maya, and it's not a howl of distress. It's a howl of hunting," I clarified, my heart racing.

"Hunting?"

"Take care of things at the mansion," I commanded, already racing toward the door. I burst into the forest, the scent of pine and earth filling my lungs as I focused on Maya's trail.

"Maya!" I called, my voice mingling with the rustling leaves.

Then I stumbled upon a horrific sight: a wolf, teeth stained red, tearing apart a human. Anger surged within me, fueling my instincts. "No, no, no!" I shouted, sprinting toward her.

Without hesitation, I kicked her hard, and she crashed into a nearby tree, shapeshifting back into her human form. 

"How dare you interrupt my hunt!" she yelled, her eyes blazing with indignation.

I advanced on her, fury igniting my every nerve. "Is killing humans in broad daylight your idea of a hunt?!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the stillness of the woods.

"I... I needed something to release my stress and take my mind off what that priestess said," she stammered, her bravado faltering.

"Maya, we have lived in this city silently and unnoticed for years! I won’t let you jeopardize that. If you want to live with me, you’ll have to follow the rules. We do not kill humans! Killing humans and leaving their dead bodies like this in the woods will only bring us unnecessary and unwanted attention. The reason for this marriage is to make my pack stronger. But if you’re now the one putting us in danger, I’ll have no choice but to break our alliance. Think straight, Maya!" I turned away, my heart pounding.

"Are you going to the company today?" Liam asked as I walked back into the mansion, my mind still reeling from the confrontation.

"Yeah. Get the car ready," I replied, my tone curt. 

Staring at myself in the mirror as I dressed, I couldn’t shake the feeling of frustration. "I should've just killed them—both the priestess and Maya. They're the pests bordering my life," I muttered, adjusting my collar, trying to mask the storm brewing inside.

I walked out of the mansion, dressed sharply, and slipped into the car Liam had prepared.

"What time should I come pick you up?" he asked, his tone professional.

"I'll call you when it's time," I said, stepping out of the car.

"Good morning, Sir," Debby greeted me as I entered the building, her smile bright against the backdrop of my dark mood.

"I have a meeting this morning, right?" I asked, seeking a distraction from my chaotic thoughts.

"Yes, with the manager of Exclusive Boutique. They want to buy some of our clothing lines. Then you'll meet our newly employed fashion designers, and finally, you'll have an interview with national TV regarding the new clothing line that was just released, along with news of your wedding that our media aid released to the public yesterday," she explained, her voice steady.

"Since I'll be having such a long day, we should get started then," I replied, forcing myself to focus.

"Yes, Sir. The director of Exclusive Boutique is already waiting for you in the meeting room," she said.

We entered the meeting room, where I met the director. The discussion was swift, the deal struck easily enough, yet my mind was elsewhere.

"The new employees are waiting for you in your office," Debby informed me afterward.

We walked to my office, where three employees were waiting, two females and one male. They bowed as I entered, their nervousness palpable.

"Introduce yourselves," Debby prompted.

"No need," I interrupted, raising my hand to silence them. 

"I don’t have the time to listen to your introductions, and I don’t really care about knowing your names. You want me to know your name? Do your job excellently, and you’ll get recognized by me. But if you don’t, be prepared to say goodbye to your jobs because incompetency is forbidden in this company." My tone was cold, and they nodded in unison, fear flickering in their eyes.

As I turned to leave, a sudden tingle spread across my shoulder. I brushed past one of the employees, and the Oakwood moon mark burned against my skin.

"Ahh!" I grunted, pain shooting through me. The employee quickly touched my arm, her concern evident.

"Are you okay, Sir?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

I looked down at her, my heart racing as memories flooded back, vivid and uninvited.

"""""""""""""""'""""""'""''''""""''''''''''""""

"My name is Ashley," the young girl said with a smile, her innocence radiating warmth.

"If you are still single by 25, I'll marry you, I promise," the ten-year-old me had said, full of naïve hope.

""""""""""""''"'"''''''''''"""""""""'''''''"""""""

I blinked, brought back to the present, panting slightly.

"Are you okay, Sir?" she asked again, still holding my hand, her touch grounding me.

I grabbed her hand tighter, the burning sensation intensifying. "Who... what's your name?" I managed to ask, urgency threading my voice.

"My name is Ashley, Sir. Ashley Green," she replied, her eyes wide with concern