CHAPTER 1

(Prologue)

Soren

“Take me away please.” I cried with desperation, my hand tugged on Vladimir's shirt. He looked at me with furrowed brows but then he drew me closer by my waist and moved his face closer to mine. My legs almost turned jelly under his scrutinising gaze.

My lips parted in their own accord, waiting for him to kiss me but it didn't come. 

“You are drunk” He said, his voice sharp but warm, as if he just found out about the reason I am clinging to him as if my life depended on it.

“Yes,” I admitted. “Just…just take me away,” I said and quickly looked behind me to see if the man I had run away from was still coming after me. It won't look good if he catches me with Vladimir and eventually takes me away.

Though no one will find it suspicious that I am clinging to my protector, I know that it is not entirely true. I have a huge crush on Vladimir despite him being six years older than me. He has been my protector since I was just fifteen years old, maybe that is why I couldn't stop falling for him because he has been there with me all the time.

Father has always seen me as a weapon to wield to gain more power because I am the only child he has. He sees females as a weak wolf and when my mother died while trying to birth another child which turned out to be male, Father's hatred only intensified because the child died. I was mistreated and abused by him until I grew up. 

It was when Vladimir came did father changed. I still remember when he got hit in my place. I have an Alpha wolf but father didn't care. He has always let me know a female will never become an Alpha and this is why he has promised to marry me off instead.

Vladimir pulled at my hand and dragged me away towards where he parked his bike. Even today, he came with his bike after Father insisted that he shouldn't come with me and Alpha Kayden. He has always come to my rescue whenever I get bullied by males in the pack.

Vlad climbed the bike with ease and beckoned to me to do the same. Releasing a breath I didn't know I had been holding, I held on to his shirt and climbed up it. I looked at the entrance of the hotel, hoping Alpha Kayden was not here yet.

“Hold on tight.” He said and he started the engine.

The engine roared to life and the sound sent tremors down my body until it settled in my intimate area. 

“Where is she? I said you should find her!” I heard Alpha Kayden's voice and my lips trembled in fear that he would catch me.

Thanks, Goddess, because Vlad rode the bike away just in time and I wrapped my hand around his waist, loving the feel of his broad back against my cheek. 

And his scent sent tantalising shivers down my spine. The drug is actually kicking in and I became more aware of what my body actually craved for more. I looked at the cold night and watched as the beautiful light beautified the city.

Vladimir is not asking me anything. He is not asking me why I am running away from my 17th birthday, even after Father has already introduced my potential fiancé to me in front of everyone.

I had wished Vladimir would come up and suddenly tell everyone that I belong to him but he only thinks of me as the naive princess he has to guard every god damn time because that is his duty.

“You are not even asking me why I am running away from my birthday,” I asked him.

“It's not my duty to ask you such questions, Princess.” He said and I wish he could just stop calling me that.

Everyone believes I am spoiled but the truth is, I don't wish Vladimir would think the same. He is only doing his duty but I wish he could just ask me.

My plan was not to run away, even after Father told me Alpha Kayden would be my husband in a few days, and I should prepare to leave his pack. I am just seventeen, so I had thought I would go home and talk to him about this later tonight, just like I have always done but tonight was different. 

Father left me with Alpha Kayden in a room all alone. Alpha Kayden seems to be nice at first but then when he offered me the drink that changed everything. I should have told him I don't drink but I am afraid of what he will tell Father. He is twelve years older than me and yet, he insists he has never wanted any woman as much as he wants me.

All I wished for was to get Fated to Vladimir. At least, I know he would have no choice but to accept me, even if Father protested. I know he will save me.

However, the moment I drank the wine, my body changed and no one had to inform me that the worst was happening. He took off his clothes, ready to pounce on me and the only thing I could use to fight him was my shoe. I hit his eyes with my heel and he let out a loud scream. That was how I escaped.

“Take me to your place,” I said, with the last bit of strength I have in me.

“Princess, you can't..” he began but I cut him off. I knew he was going to reject me but if any man was going to be my first, it would be Vladimir.

A lone tear escaped my eyes as I held on to his waist. I am afraid I am going to tear off his clothes before we even arrive at his place. My intimate area kept throbbing for something and the only friction I could get was when his bike passed the speed bumps on the way. 

“It's an order, Vlad. Take me to your place.” I croaked out and I wish he wouldn't notice how weak I sound. He didn't say anything else and I know he will have to obey my command.

Vlad took me to his place and parked the bike in his garage. I get down from the bike and use my dress to cover the fact that I am barefoot.

Before he could ask me any more questions, I walked inside his place and turned on the light. I have sneaked here a couple of times and I know he always has his door open. Even today, it was open.

I heard the door unlock and I took off my dress, revealing the red thong I wore with no bra.

“Soren, what are you doing?” Vladimir asked and I watched as he struggled to breathe well. I couldn't fail to notice that. He is affected just like me but he will keep on denying it.

“Take me, Vlad. This is all I wish for on my birthday.” I said and forced the tears back. 

He looked at me as if he was in denial but watching the way his chest rose and fell. I know he was going to push me away at the end. But I won't survive this if he doesn't help me out.

Kayden will take me and I know he will be brutal if he learnt that I escaped the party. I walked towards Vlad and tiptoed, kissing his lips. I tried to take off his belt but he stopped me.

“You sure you won't regret this?” Vlad asked, his eyes boring into mine and I smiled between my pains as beads of sweat coated my forehead.

I wish I could tell him yes because the truth is, I want our first night to be memorable. Something we will both enjoy but Kayden ruined everything. I can't tell him I am drugged because I am afraid he will accuse me of lying. I don't even know how I am feeling.

“Yes.” I breathed out. “I won't,” I added and that was all it took for Vladimir to claim my lips.

My brain short-circuits the moment he devours my lips. The kiss was passed with raw hunger, obsession and anger which got me confused. He wasn't gentle as he carried me up in his arms and darted towards his room. I never had time to process what his room looks like because Vlad placed me in his king-size bed.

He came with me and his hand tugged at my thong. He looked at me as if contemplating in his mind whether this was the right thing to do. 

“You don't have to be gentle. This has been on my bucket list for a while,” I said and it was such a cheap lie. It was indeed true that I had a bucket list but having sex with Vlad in this way was not part of it. 

He pulled off my pants and I was stark naked before him. When I gazed at him again, I couldn't decipher what he was thinking. He took off his shirt, followed by his blue jeans and shorts. My eyes flashed open when I saw those tattoos. I imagine tracing my hands over it but that is not happening today. My gaze travelled down his waist, towards his…

I gasped in shock when he climbed onto the bed. Vlad claimed my lips and all reasoning to make this stop vanished into thin air. I could only feel his touch sending my body into fire.

Our breaths mingled together, slow intake of air but then I felt his hand prying my legs open. I wish I could tell him to be gentle. To take me slow but then I already gave him mixed signals that I am not a virgin. 

Vlad locked eyes with me as he rammed into me like a feral beast. A scream threatened to fall from my lips but I swallowed it back. He must have noticed how tight I am but he didn't stop. With every breath and every grunt against my lips, I allow him to take me as he wants. The tension builds up and the aching stops, making me moan softly, the bed creaking beneath us.

****

"I shouldn't have done that Soren. I shouldn't have been the first man to take you. I don't deserve it. Wear your dress, I will take you back to the Pack." Vlad said, his voice losing the warmth that was always there.

"Father is trying to sell me off. I should have told you." I cried helplessly.

"Just wear your dress. I will never forgive myself for this." He said and shut the door in my face.

"Vlad! Please listen to me" I cried knocking at the door as tears kept pouring down my face.

And that is it 

Our first kiss.

First night together.

First sex.

And it ruined everything. It ruined me because after that night, Vladimir never looked at me and my life fell apart.