Chapter 3

ARIA.

And, just like that, the moment was shattered. Yes, he was sexy as hell, but he was lacking when it came to his personality. There were more important things than how good someone looked.

“It’s a gift from my sister,” I corrected firmly. “It’s her most prized possession and wanted me to have it so that I had something from here to carry with me.”

Steely blue eyes bore into me with an intensity that knocked my breath from my lungs. My legs felt weak as the moment stretched on between us.

The most insane turn of events happened, something that I hadn’t expected and completely unprepared for…

Alpha Dane was my mate. A fated mate, not a chosen one. He didn’t seem surprised at all by this, which left me confused as to why that might be. I was certain that this was the very first time that we had met before.

“Is everything in order?” he asked my father, breaking eye contact.

“Yes. If you will follow me to my office then I can give you the signed contract.”

I fell against the counter the moment that they left and was thankful that it broke my fall. My mind spun. The Goddess herself had bound us. That, in and of itself, was a mindfuck and a half. It was something that I couldn’t even fully comprehend right now.

His reputation was very clear – you didn’t want to cross him. Those who did were incapable of doing it a second time. Ruthless ambition got him anything that he set his sights on. That was what the public knew about him.

Piper above all else was the creed that I lived by. Alpha Dane above all else was his.

Did the Goddess hate me as much as this pack and my own father did? Why would I be paired with someone like him?

I spent my entire life trying to see the good in people and lending a hand whenever someone needed it, despite the animosity in the pack. Then beyond that, there was the physical aspect. His looks screamed raw power and masculinity. Sex on legs was a decent description for him.

I, on the other hand, had a body filled with soft curves on my 5’9” frame. It was the focus of many taunts, mockery, and jeering in this pack. No, I didn’t have a chiseled physique like many werewolves had. It was certainly nothing like the predator who just unsettled me with just a look.

A tug on my hand caught my attention. I swallowed hard when I looked at my sister, who was holding a beautiful white lily. My teeth dug into my lower lip as memories of giving each other flowers over the years flashed into my mind. It was something that was just for us, gifting each other a beautiful flower.

Goddess, I was going to miss her so damn much.

It was difficult to hold back my tears, but I had to for her sake.

My heart was breaking as she put the flower into my blonde curls, making sure that it was secure. She kissed my cheek and whispered into my ear how much she loved me. I could sense her sadness, but she was still trying to comfort me.

My beautiful and selfless sister.

“I love you too, Little One. I left a few things on my bed just for you. You, Piper, are my greatest love. I’m incredibly proud of you and will always be thinking of you.” I told her, somehow keeping my voice steady.

Questions burned at me. What would her life be like once I left? Would he take care of her? I prayed that the Goddess would send someone to protect her. She was still a pup who should be enjoying her childhood. She should be able to fight for what she wanted no matter how crazy or impossible it might seem.

I felt him before I saw him. The bond that connected us came to life, thrumming with energy. It pulled at me as if it was a living thing. I fucking hated it.

‘His wolf doesn’t feel as intense as he does. Jericho introduced himself to me but steered the conversation away from anything regarding the reason for this contract. Instead, he simply gave a bullshit line about ‘all in good time, My Mate.’ She scoffed and shook her head, clearly just as irritated as I was about all of this.

“I assume that your things are packed,” Alpha Dane’s baritone voice cut through the air.

I turned around to face him. There was something hidden deep inside of his gaze, something predatory that intrigued a part of me as much as I hated to admit that.

This entire arrangement would prove to be more difficult than I had anticipated.

“Yes,” I replied simply.

He studied me, slow and deliberate. Then a curt nod. His eyes glazed over in mindlink.

My father opened the door to two men, who apparently came with Alpha Dane. They looked at me curiously before turning their attention to their Alpha.

Jerome and Danny, as they introduced themselves, helped to load my things into the back of a truck. They seemed to be a little surprised that I wasn’t bringing more shit. I wasn’t someone who needed to have a lot of possessions. Memories meant more to me than things did. They held the true value of my life. I could hear Alpha Dane speaking to my father in the kitchen. I made it to the bottom stair when I felt a gaze burning into me.

I could hear Alpha Dane speaking to my father in the kitchen. I made it to the bottom stair when I felt a gaze burning into me. I looked up and saw his eyes slowly sweeping over my body. The heated look that he gave me caused a blush to creep up my neck. Never had someone looked at me like that before.

His jaw clenched as he tore his eyes away from me. I couldn’t tell if he was pissed off or annoyed. Either way, he wasn’t in a great mood. Well, neither was I. Look at us having something in common.

Thea snorted at my thoughts.

“We’re leaving. Say your goodbyes if you’d like to.”

That icy tone of his was precisely what I had anticipated from someone who was called cold-hearted and cruel. It looked like I wasn’t immune to being on the receiving end. Oh, joy!

I wrapped my arms around Piper and reminded her about how much I loved her. How she could pray to the Goddess, who was always watching over us, and to never forget to find something to be happy about every single day. We used to do that together, so she made me promise to still do it before bed. That way it was like we were still doing it together.

My heart was breaking apart, and nothing would be able to truly fix it.

“I love you too, Sissy. Never ever forget that,” she whispered with tears in her eyes.

My father just had an evil grin on his face. His gaze held a warning though, promising to fuck me over if I screwed this up somehow. I wouldn’t risk Piper like that, so he didn’t need to worry.

Then I turned and walked out of the only house that I had ever known. 

There was a truck parked on the road. Then there was a sleek black Mercedes-Benz. Jerome stood beside an open door, beckoning me over.

Walking forward, I had to wonder if this was what people who walked the green mile felt like. Was I walking to my doom? I couldn’t help but wonder if that was the case.

“Here you go, Luna,” Jerome said, tilting his neck in submission.

It took a lot of effort not to grimace when he used that title. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been forced to sign a damn contract.

My head nodded to him before I thanked him. I slid into my seat and buckled the seatbelt. My eyes swept over the interior that screamed money.

Alpha Dane was ignoring my presence as he sat there messing with his phone. Perhaps this arrangement would work out if we just ignored each other. Both Thea and I could get behind that.

Once upon a time, there was a she-wolf who dreamed about the moment that she met her mate, knowing that he would be perfect for her. He would give her the unconditional love that she’d always longed for. Fast forward to adulthood. She met her mate, and he seemed to not give a damn.

It wasn’t exactly the fairytale that I thought it would be. It had just been fanciful dreaming.

Not everybody got their own happily ever after. Some people just got screwed.

Day one of the rest of my life…