Chapter- 2

Averine

When I opened my eyes as sunrays fell on my face through the window, I was alone in the bed, there was no sign of my mate but his scent lingered in the air.

My heart sank with all the negative thoughts. The soreness in my body was the evidence that I had given myself to the man who was my mate. I collected my dress and wore it. I had to search him.

“Averine, I can’t feel him. He is gone.” Zora howled in agony.

“No, he must be around. Perhaps, he is gone for running or hunting.” I tried to consol her but

I tried to slip out of the bed when the doors burst open. I was startled and Zora was quickly in her defence mode but when my father along with Amara and other pack members walked through the door.

“Father..”

 I bowed my head but a harsh slap landed on my cheek and the intensity threw me on the floor.

A low guttural sound escaped from his throat. Shame and disgust were what I saw in his eyes and Amara smirking beside him.

“You brought disgrace to my name, Averine. You proved that you are your mother’s child, a pathetic human.” He growled.

I was left in tears and unable to raise my head because the picture was clear.

“Father, I was with my fated mate. He must be gone for a run. I swear on the Goddess.” I said in my defence and uncontrollable tears streamed down from my eyes.

“Where is he? We have come all our way here and we didn’t see anyone around. You slept with someone. How could you let yourself drive by your primal desires, Averine? You could have waited.” Amara said with a shake of her head.

The cunning bitch!

It was all her plan to defame me and she succeeded in her dirty tricks because everyone was giving me loathful stares.

“I am not lying, he was my mate otherwise I wouldn’t have allowed any other man to touch me.” I sobbed.

“Averine, I don’t want to hear a word. You have brought shame upon us and you must face the consequences.” He said in his alpha tone.

I froze with fear, his eyes were dark and it was clear that I’d be punished severely.

“Father, I haven’t done anything wrong. I swear.” I fell on his feet to beg him.

“Father! She bears his mark!” Amara exclaimed.

I was startled and touched my neck, the mark sent a tingling sensation in my body and a wave of immense energy flowed through my cells.

The man marked me!

My father’s eyes darkened and his claws came out.

“I will kill you, worthless mutt.” He launched towards me but his beta blocked him.

“Alpha, let’s talk at home. We need to find the person who did it, who tried to play with your reputation.” Beta Paul said to him.

He always had a soft corner for me and I was grateful to him as he saved me from an untimely death.

“Drag her to the packhouse. I will deal with her personally.” Father threw me another disdainful glance before rushing out.

“She is a curse for our alpha.” Someone from the crowd said and it sliced my heart.

“Averine, you can tell me who was he?” Amara’s sweet voice infuriated Kira and in the next second, I grabbed her neck.

She wasn’t ready for this blow.

“How dare you to play this cheap game with me, Amara?” I sunk my claws in her neck, she was chocking badly.

“Leave her!” The guards shouted and freed her from my clutch. She looked completely terrified. They helped her out whereas I was cuffed and dragged to a dark basement in the packhouse.

The news spread like a wildfire.

Someone claimed the alpha’s illegitimate daughter and also marked her. He wasn’t from the pack.

“You shameless wh*re! How dare you to hurt my daughter?”

The Luna whipped me with a silver whip. I cried and coiled on the floor but she didn’t stop.

“First you invited someone in our pack and slept with him. You are just like your mother, a wh*re with no shame. You even bear his mark.” She grabbed my chin and forced me to look at her.

Her sharp nails dug in my skin.

“You have no idea what I have planned for you, girl. You’ll see the real hell from tomorrow.” She smirked. I saw real evil in her dark hazel eyes.

“Luna, if you want to kill me then go ahead. I didn’t do anything wrong.” I stuck to my honesty.

“Really? Where is he? We didn’t find him anywhere.” She laughed wickedly and it was like a harsh slap on my face.

The mysterious man abandoned me. His words, his promises, everything felt so comforting and surreal.

“Wait for tomorrow, Averine. We’ll get rid of you forever.” She said, “Don’t give her any water, food or blanket. Let her rot here until her the alpha’s next order.” She ordered the guards and left.

As per her orders, I was beaten even more until I passed out.

The next day, the guards came inside and threw icy cold water on me to wake me up.

“Wear these clothes. The Alpha wants to see you now.” The female guard roared at me.

I winced as I moved my aching bones, if it wasn’t for Kira, I’d be dead with the torture I received.

I was taken to my father’s office. I couldn’t miss how everyone was cursing me, some mocked me so I kept my gaze lowered until we reached at my father’s office and the air inside the closed chamber was more tensed and filled with the scent of powerful wolves.

“Averine, Oh My God!”

Sophie gasped and rushed to me.

“Averine, I have fixed your marriage.” I heard my father saying and a cold shiver ran down my spine.

“Father, this is unfair. I already have a mate.” I found my voice to retaliate because I was ready to die but having another man as my mate, I’d never accept such punishment.

“Averine, you can’t defy your alpha’s orders.” Luna said with a glare.

“Father, please, don’t do this. I beg you. I can leave this pack and never come back.” I knelt down in front of my father but the hard expressions on his face didn’t give any sign of mercy.

He had made up his mind.

“You have left me with no option, Averine. The news had spread to other packs, it means no one accept you as their mate. I can’t let you be a rogue either and put my pack in danger. Only Alpha Hayden Croft of Blackville Pack proposed to marry you.” My father said in an emotionless tone.

The name of Alpha Hayden Croft was enough to freeze me.

I saw the Luna smirking beside my father. So, she was talking about this punishment.

“Father, no! Please.” I broke down in tears.

Suddenly, the doors opened and I felt an intimidating, powerful aura filling the room.

“Alpha Hayden.” My father’s face welcomed a smile while my body froze.

“Alpha Gavin.” The man’s voice was deep and dark.

I didn’t dare to turn around and come face to face with the incarnation of devil. He was ruthless and a slayer. Women were his weakness and I was the first one he wanted to marry.

“Where is my bride, Alpha?” Hayden’s words were enough to shake me.

“In front of you, Alpha Hayden.” Luna pointed her finger at me with a sly smile.

I felt him coming close to me and I found myself unable to move in absolute fear.

“She is scarred but I can her beauty behind these tears.” Alpha Hayden spoke and in the next moment, I felt his fingers under my chin.

My heartbeats rose.

“Averine, you’re mine.” He said and I saw him smirking.

“No, I am not.” I refused to surrender.