CHAPTER 2

"HAVE HER READY in 5 minutes," Katlyn snarled at the two omegas beside me. They both bowed and nodded. 

Then they hosed me down. Literally. Using a hose, the sprayed me down to wash off the dirt and muck from my body before using a soapy sponge to scrub my skin till it was clean and sore. 

While I was being prepped for the alpha's sick plan, my mind drifted back to my fellow prisoner that I had met a few days ago. Since that night, I had not heard anything from him. It was almost like he wasn't there, but I knew he was. I heard his wheezing cough slightly once in a while.

"Ouch!" I turned to look at the omega who had run a comb through my tangled hair. She sneered down at me and yanked the comb out, taking out patches of my hair. It was like they thought treating me bad was going to gain them favour in the eyes of Katlyn or Alpha Jake. I chuckled inwardly, ignoring the pain that radiated from my scalp. Suddenly the two girls stopped what they were doing and bowed. I turned to see my brother, Finn, standing at the door. 

"Leave us," He said. The two girls scurried out immediately without another word. When we were alone, he came to stand behind me. "I heard she released you," he said softly. 

I scoffed. "She has." My voice was hoarse from breathing and coughing up poisoned air. 

"Adrienne," he sighed. His hand rested at the back of my neck. "Why don't you just do as alpha Jake says?" He asks. 

I shrugged off his hand from my back and stand up. I was almost the same height with him and I looked into his blue eyes. "Easy for you to say," I snapped and brushed past him. "Afterall, you weren't demoted. You are a strong wolf, arent you? He's training you to be the future commander." 

Finn flushed red and he looked away. "I'm going to be the beta, Adrie." He reverted to my childhood nickname. "Just like Dad."

That softened my heart, and I was happy for my brother. "I'm sure Dad would be proud of you, Finn." I said genuinely. I picked up the comb and gently started untangling my wild hair. 

"But, there's a condition..." He said. "And it has to do with you."

I looked at him in the mirror. He was almost the stunning image of my father. Same sandy brown hair, blue eyes and square chin. But Finn had a slighter build and his frame had not been hardened by experience like how dad had been.

"The alpha says you must go along with whatever happens in the hall today..." he said. 

"Today is my 18th birthday, Finn," I said. "Today, I will be legal it?" I sighed. "But what am I going to do at the gathering. To their knowledge, i dont have a wolf. So what am i going to do there, Finn? What sick plan does Jake have planned for me?"

He looked away. Refusing to meet my gaze again, and I knew something was wrong. I swiveled on my seat and repeated, "What is it?"

"Well, i heard that he has found you a mate already," Finn said. 

"What?" I could not believe what I was hearing.

"It's not as bad as it sounds, Adrienne" He replied. "It's probably for the best, it would be a way for you to restore your honor."

"Restore my honor? Like how he is going to restore yours by making you the beta to the next alpha?" I looked at my brother. This was not the Finn that I grew up with. This was... a coward. "Leave, Finn!" I snarled.

"Adrie, I just..." he took a step closer. 

"I said leave," I growled. My eyes flashed bright crimson. 

He took a step back and dropped his arms to his side. "I am just trying to watch out for you, Adrienne. It's what Dad would have wanted." Then he turned and walked out, leaving me alone in the room. 

I collapsed on the seat and buried my face in my hands. Even my brother was sucking up to this alpha that was treating me like shit. I sighed. "What should I do?" I muttered to myself. 

"Leave." Thea said in my head. "As soon as the ceremony is over, just leave. Break the link with the pack and leave." 

That sounded like a good plan. But a lone wolf in these parts were hated on and hunted down savagely. How would I survive? 

Questions like that burned in my heart as I stood up and wrapped my hair in a thick bun and pinned it in place. I smoothened my hand over my dress and walked out of the room. The two omegas were just about to come in. 

"Alpha Jake is waiting for you in the pack hall," One of them said. 

I nodded and made my way to the pack hall. It was a coronation gathering. It was normally held every six months and hosted by different packs. It was the turn of our pack this time. All unmated wolves of the district were going to be there, I had never attended the ceremony with my peers because to them, I was not a werewolf. 

I walked into the hall were the elders of the pack were in. I could see some new faces, probably from a neighboring pack. I saw some of them holding hands, some were snogging. They had found their mates already, I sneered inwardly. Fucking losers, they have no idea that now, they are bound to each other. I scoffed in disgust. 

A fake smile was plastered on alpha Jake's face as he motioned me over. My gaze swept from the Luna, Ophelia, Alpha Jake's wife, she never acknowledged me. Alpha Jake stood beside her. His daughter, Trixie, stood beside her father. She was a complete snobbish bitch. My brother stood beside Trixie. His eyes met with mine briefly. 

No one else in the pack knew that I was a werewolf except him, it was a secret that we had both kept over the past 17 years, I knew he was not going to break it now. The alpha's son, Jermaine was not here. He always treated me a little better than his family did and I secretly harbored a crush on him. 

I bowed in front of the alpha and then went to stand beside my brother. The alpha waved his hands and everyone present took a seat. Most of the mates had found each other and were snuggling already. 

I rolled my eyes and looked around the hall. It was more decorated than usual. This was not merely a coronation. 

"How do you like the coolers?" Trixie had come to my side and poked my ribs. 

I was not going to give her the satisfaction of pain. So I shrugged and said, "It was alright. I would have expected it to be colder though. You know... because of the name."

Her eyes sparked in anger, but she could not do anything to me. Not here and not now. She flashed me a sweet smile and walked away. The side door of the hall opened and a group of young men walked in. I could feel Thea skitter around in my head. A sweet smeeling scent wafted up my nose and I inhaled deeply. I looked at where the scent was coming from, my eyes clashed with that of a slim, tall man with rough hair. He looked to be from another pack, but he was clearly a low ranked wolf. 

"Mate!" He mouthed at the same time Thea yelled in my head. I stood up abruptly, drawing the Alpha's attention to me. His eyes went from me, to the man rushing towards me, and he put it all together. 

I vaguely heard his growl as my mate took me in his arms. 

I always hated the idea of having a mate, but I felt very secured and complete in the brief moment he held me tenderly before Alpha Jake snatched me away roughly. 

"What do you think you are doing?" Alpha Jake snarled.

I tore my hand away from the alpha's grip and hurried to my mate's side. The hall went deathly silent and all eyes were on us. 

"But alpha... she is... my mate,"

Alpha Jake's went glowed bright red and his hands moved faster than anybody saw. My mate went down, clutching at his throat as his blood gurgled out.

"Oh no, no!" I screamed and cradled his head as his blood flowed out and pooled all around him. "What have you done?"

"Clear this mess!" Alpha Jake called to the servants hanging around. "My main guests would be here soon." 

I watched as my mate's eyes glaze over as his life drained off. He released his last breath and blinding pain seared through my heart, as I collapsed weakly, sobbing. I had not even known his name.

"Take your seat and clean your face!" Alpha Jake snarled as servants took out the corpse and wiped blood from the floor. I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder, I looked up to see Finn gently pulling me up. His face was white and pale with fear. He slid a handkerchief into my hand and whispered, "wipe your tears," 

I was suddenly too weak to argue, I could feel Thea howling and writhing in pain. I sat beside Finn, cursing the moon goddess with all of my heart. 

She made me hate the idea of having mates, then she forced a mate on me and made me enjoy it for a few minutes, only to take him away again. It was all games to her, and she loved playing the games with my life. 

I sniffled, not paying attention to what was going on around me. The hall had gone silent again and an entourage walked down the aisle. Alpha Jake was standing, welcoming his special guests as they approached. "Welcome to the North London pack," He greeted warmly. 

I felt a burning sensation on my body, and I looked up to see Alpha Jake's guest was not paying him any attention. Instead, his two jet-black eyes were pinned on me like lasers.