Chapter 3

MELISSA'S POV

 

The air was cold and moist, filling my skin with goosebumps as I sat at the pack royal garden exclusive to only the pack's blue blood. Luna Dahlia  would rather dine with the Omega than see me here.

 

I walked out of the garden towards the hallway. The ruckus coming from the entrance of the throne room caught my attention and against my will, I started towards the–

 

"You shouldn't be here," Alpha Luther gritted. His eyebrow furrowed with what seemed like anger when he saw me.

 

My gaze fell on the reason for the commotion– I inched closer to get a clearer glimpse. He was tall… a few inches taller than Alpha Luther, disheveled brown curly hair that needed urgent attention– thanks to how the guards handled him. He was bound with a steel chain that clung around his wrist and ankle, I feared they were too tight they might break his skin.

 

His clothes were tattered, they exposed scars and a tattoo that coursed from his biceps to the side of the neck. My stomach twisted at the sight not in a cringe way.

 

"You shouldn't be here," Alpha Luther cut through my momentary gaze.

 

I'd been moping at a stranger.

 

He covered the distance between us, blocking me from the stranger and vice versa. I squared my shoulders, I shouldn't be mopping at another man, let alone a prisoner– I was the Alpha's surrogate. I was his to claim and do whatever he pleased.

 

"I-I-I…" I stuttered, not sure what to say first. The vein in my neck pulsed and I bowed slightly at Alpha Luther partly because I didn't want him to see through me.

 

I lifted my head and my eyes locked with Alpha Luther's. His blue eyes darkened with anger causing my body to tremble with fear, except that this time I sucked it in because of a certain brown haired, chained man with torn clothes and tattoos on his biceps.

 

"I was taking a walk," my tone was calm but etched with a certain kind of confidence I just found within the depths of my bones. Perhaps, it had always been there.

 

"I see…" Alpha Luther said, his tone even but his expression dark and insufferable.

 

He was insufferable.

 

Luckily for me, He turned to face the prisoner. I followed his gaze and took in his features. Despite being held in chains, bound and tortured, he seemed different not off…different in the kind of way that made my body tingle with unspoken emotions that I'd never thought I would feel.

 

"He…" Alpha Luther took three strides and inched towards the captive. I took two steps but my body wanted to cup his face in my hands and clean off the dry blood that clung on the crease of his brows.

 

The thought of Luther giving the order made the vein in my forehead pulsate harder. I struggled to keep my demeanor and not smash one of the porcelain potted plants on Luther's head.

 

“Torture him. Bathe him in his blood. Make him suffer till he begged for death.”

 

I imagined those words roll off of Luther's tongue in a growl. He seized any opportunity to send fear down the spine of his captive.

 

The vein pulsated harder, I feared it would pop if I didn't walk out.

 

But that was the problem. Asides Luther's presence, my legs felt stiff. I doubted if I still owned it. Being here with this stranger no matter how weird it seemed felt…right.

 

"He is our…," Lucas said and paused. He tipped the corner of his lips and began, "My bad, he's my prisoner. A traitor to the pack," he chuckled darkly. Luther turned to me, his left eye twitching– his eyes only twitched when he was angry and right now it was twitching so much I wanted to place my hands on his shoulders to calm him down.

 

“Learn your place. You're a surrogate and nothing more.”

 

Luna Dahlia words coursed through my mind, reminding me that it was her place to calm her Alpha. I rolled my fist in a ball.

 

I nodded, avoiding the gaze of the prisoner whose eyes was coursing deep holes in my flesh. "What's his penalty?" I regretted immediately I said that. If Luther was surprised by my question he didn't show it.

 

He smiled through the corner of his lips. "The Moomicrant had decided,"

 

"What decision did they make?"

 

Another question I should regret, but felt right.

 

Luther reached for my hair and tugged at it gently. "You shouldn't disturb your pretty head about this," he said.

 

I still wanted to know. His eyes twitched more.

 

I turned to look at the captive who was by now staring at me– deep blue masculine eyes that had the emblem of the sea boring into mine. I parted my lips to say something but thought against it, as insufferable as Luther was, nothing passed his nose unnoticed.

 

"I'll be going to my chambers now," I bowed slightly, finally breaking out of the hypnotic spell those blue eyes placed me on.

 

My chest tightened as I walked through the space between the captive and the ruthless captor. I muttered a prayer to the goddess–

 

“Melissa, he's a stranger!” I mumbled inwardly  

 

"Melissa," Alpha Luther cried, stopping me in my tracks. I turned to face him, hoping he wouldn't notice my flushed cheeks. He gestured for me to come closer.

 

I came closer, cursing under my breath. What would really make me happy was to spit on his face and watch how he would squeeze it with disdain before he ordered his good for nothing guards to lock me up– preferably beside the prison of a blue eyed man.

 

He pulled me closer. His steely gaze lingered on my face. I let out a soft whimper. "You're mine. Mine to claim, to do as I–" struggling movement distracted us– the prisoner was trying to break free. He might be bound but he was full of strength and something else I didn't have a word for.

 

Luther scoffed as he glared at him. "Easy now Benedict–"

 

Name of prisoner: Benedict.

 

I curled my lips concealing the smile of relief that threatened to pop out of my lips– I had crossed one hurdle; knowing his name. My body itched to ask but I'd thought against it because of the man whose hands firmly gripped my waist as he pulled me closer to him not minding my bump.

 

You're mine. Mine to claim…to do as I please.

 

Luther stroked the stray strand of hair that covered my face and lifted my chin.  I was face to face with him. He crashed his lips into mine and I could swear I heard a scoff. My body stiffened and bile rose at the back of my throat as Luther's words resonated through my being– for once, his hands wrapped around the small of my back felt inappropriate.