PLEASED TO SEE HER

NORA’S POV.

I groaned, struggling to pry my eyes open. “Our Luna decided to grace us with her consciousness.” A stern voice cut across the room.

I made to sit up, but all my bones felt like they were crushed under the weight of a boulder. My eyes lingered around the room. It wasn’t like my room in Riverstone.

The ceiling was frescoed with the paintings of werewolves. It should’ve scared me but a part of me found it so fascinating. I managed to sit up, and a gasp escaped the tip of my tongue when my gaze descended on three faces etched with deep frown.

They stood across the room, staring at me. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet below right now.

The oldest one, was the woman who’d sealed my fate with the Virelli twins. She’d done it under the guise of bidding time.

Was it the secret curse of the Virelli dynasty nobody talked about? My heart thumped against my ribcage. Memories of what happened after I left Riverstone pack slammed into me.

After I left my pack, I wandered for a long time. Until I ran into a group of drunk rogues. They were ready to tear me apart even though they couldn't catch the scent of a wolf on me.

I darted into the bush, running with all the strength my legs could exert. We got to a strange place, and the rogues suddenly stopped. They snarled, but didn’t come close. I couldn’t wrap my head around what had happened. Until four six foot plus men emerged from the tall huge trees.

Their faces wore a deep scowl that almost made my legs give way to the ground.

I wanted to run, to scream when I realized who they were. But my legs were firmly fixed to the ground, no matter how I tried, I couldn’t move them. The rogues backed off, cussing under their breath.

One of the men whom I presumed was their leader turned to face me. “Do you know where you are?”

A lump gathered in my throat. I’d shaken my head, my entire body trembling in terror.

A shadow crossed his face. “Welcome to Blackcrest pack.” His voice spread like poison through my entire body. Then, he gestured to the men standing behind him. “Chain her. Our Alphas need to see their new catch. Maybe it’ll help lighten their mood.”

In that second, I snapped out of the tension. I threw my legs, and ran a good distance. None of the men went after me.

I soon figured out why. I’d stepped onto a land mine.

My entire body prickled with goosebumps. The leader, who had a permanent scowl resting on his face, sauntered towards me. “You move an inch, you die.”

A large lump gathered around my throat. “I-I-I-”

He grimaced. “You’re too weak to play this game. You can barely carry your frail weight,” his eyes swept over my body. “Yours is going to be faster than I thought…”

Somehow, he disarmed the landmine. And one woman, who had the build of a warrior, covered the distance between us.

“Todd, since you lots are gentlemen and would rather kiss a toilet seat than hit a woman, why don’t you give me the honour of picking on someone my size.” A mischievous glint lit her eyes.

Todd groaned. “As you wish, Betty.” He’d barely gotten the words out, when she hit me so hard across my face. I let out a loud cry, my nose became wet as liquid trickled down my nostrils. It touched my tongue, and the ferrous taste of blood filled my mouth.

I’d barely gotten over the pain, when her fist landed on my chest. This time, my scream was louder than the first. “That’s enough Betty,” Todd had said. “Chain her up, the Alphas would be pleased to see her.”

I was chained and led into the Blackcrest packs. We had a rift with them. One that would transcend through generations. I’d tried to ask Aiden, but he shut me down without an answer.

The Blackcrest pack was impenetrable, ruled by twin Lycan kings, Halil and Kai Virelli.

They were not only wealthy, they didn’t need the alliances of other Alphas to build their pack.

They were feared for their special wolf abilities. One Blackcrest gamma wolf could take down about five hundred Beta wolves in the Riverstone pack. And their Lycan kings were ten times stronger than their warriors.

“Collapsing just because you saw your fated mate is embarrassing, don't you agree with me?” A masculine voice reached my ears, snapping me out of the flashback.

I pressed my lips together unsure of what to say. “Take me out of here!” I said, surprised at my own confidence.

The room descended in silence. One of the twin Lycan Kings scoffed. “Little frail, you’re in no position to dictate to us,” he began, in a lethal tone that sent chills through my spine.

Kai scoffed. “That doesn’t excuse her punishment. Since she got the moon goddess to approve the mate bond, she’ll pay dearly for it.”

I clutched at the blanket. I wasn’t going to allow these men to toss me about. With Aiden, the mate bond was irresistible. The harder I tried to push him off, the more I felt closer to him.

Yes, something was different. I felt drawn to them because we were now linked as second chance mates. I wouldn’t allow myself to walk through that hell again.

Once was enough, twice would make me a fool.

I needed to leave the Blackcrest pack.

Halil inched closer to the bed. “Don’t even dream of trying to escape,” his voice sounded casual, like the kind of voice you use when asking for a slice of pizza. “We’ll catch you, and you’ll wish for hell but it’ll be really far from you.”

It didn’t sound like a threat. It was more like a promise for what he was going to do. I tilted my head sideways, and looked away not uttering a single word.

The older woman spoke again. “Alphas, can I have five minutes with my daughter in law?”

Daughter in law?

That title brought vivid nightmares to my mind. Doris hadn’t seen me as one. Someone from an enemy pack wouldn’t. Soon, the sound of the door closing shut entered my ears.

“I don’t know how it happened. I hate that the moon goddess chose an inadequate stray for my grandsons.” She spat. “You’ll never be accepted here, no matter how much you try.”

I sniffled, and laid back on the bed. I just needed a plan to escape from this hell, before I got deep into it.