Chapter One

Aria's Pov 

I had a life plan.

It wasn't the best nor was it particularly impressive, but it was simple : 

Wake up.

Avoid my annoying stepmother.

And exist in peace. 

Nowhere on that list did it say : “Get kidnapped by a rogue werewolf and discover he's your mate.”

And yet, here I was — tied to a chair in a dark room in God-knows-where, with a giant, terrifying wolf standing in front of me.

7 hours ago,

I wiped down the counter, beads of sweat forming on my forehead. 

“Go wash this in the back.” Lilian tossed a dusty rag on the counter and I nearly snapped.

What the hell!

She threw her blonde hair over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes. “Do you want to say something?” 

My face turned red but I didn't dare say anything. I couldn't speak harsh words to the wife of my boss, Justin Holloway, owner of the BlackBear Tavern.

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “Nothing.”

“Good.”

When she walked away, I slammd my fist on the counter and cursed.

Let me tell you about my life.

It. Is. Horrible.

I know, I know.

As the only daughter of the Alpha of the RedBlood Pack, I should have an easier, no, privileged life, right?

Pampering, silk dresses, with suitors lining up at my expensive feet.

No. 

That's not how this story goes.

Instead, my life was a tragic soap opera where I play the role of least favourite daughter. 

Father treats me like an inconvenience,

My stepmother hate me and

My half-brother — Don't even get me started on that walking disaster.

The cherry on top is that I'm being forced into a political marriage with the Crescent Moon Pack's Alpha, a man famous known for treating women like they were disposable napkins.

I tired to protest. Really, I did.

“You should be greatful, Aria.” My stepmother, Maria, had said to me this morning. “Not many Alpha's will accept a weak little wolf like you.” 

She wasn't wrong. I was.

I was pathetically weak for a werewolf. My wolf barely listened to me and I didn't have fighting skills. Let's just say a toddler could probably take me down.

But still. 

“Maybe, I should just run away,” I grumbled, pulling back to reality.

Across the room, my best friend, Alianna, walks to the counter. “Run away to where. You wouldn't even survive 5 minutes in the woods without getting lost.” 

I rolled my eyes. “Rude.” 

“True.”

Well, she had a point. I had the survival skills of the spoiled house cat Lady Maria carries around.

Running away would only mean me being eaten by a wild animal or worse, kidnapped and killed by a rogue.

Alianna kissed her teeth and shook her head. “You need a break, honey?”

“Yeah,” I nearly sob. Alianna is an angel. “Thank you.” 

I went to the back of the tavern, enjoying a destitute mug of warm milk and sweet bread.

As I ate slowly, I couldn't help but feel eyes on me. 

As I stared at the red pair, I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen.

The thing is something big was about to happen and it was the way worse than I could've imagined. 

5 hours later, my fate was sealed.

Literally.

The wedding was happening in a week. And father, being the absolute ray of sunshine he was, ordered me to stay inside the packhouse to “prepare.”

And me, being the obedient daughter that I was (ha), Immediately snuck out.

I wanted freedom.

Needed freedom.

There was no way I would give up my last moment of freedom before being chained to a man who referred to all women as “females.” 

I wasn't planning anything reckless but I saw it as a walk in the woods so much better than getting my fate tied to a cruel man under the full moon.

My escape was going great until —

Rustle.

I froze.

The hairs on the back of my arms stood on their ends.

Someone…

Something was watching me.

“Who… who's there?” I called out, my voice shaky.

Silence spilled into the air.

No answer.

Not even a little whisper.

I brushed it away. 

Maybe, it was just a squirrel or the wind or —

A massive, dark figure lunged from the shadows. 

I didn't even get the chance to scream before I was yanked into the darkness.

*****

The first thing I realized when I came to was that my wrists were tied.

The second thing was that my body hurt like hell.

“Ouch.” I mumbled, blinking against the dim light.

Where was I? 

I tried to sit up only to realize that my ankles were also tied.

Oh.

Oh no.

Kidnapped.

I'd been kidnapped?

A very large, very scary-looking werewolf stood near the entrance of what looked like a tent.

His large arms were crossed over his chest and his face was set inn a scowl.

He looked very … familiar.

He stepped closer and …

No.

No, no. Heavens, no!  

This wasn't just any werewolf.

This was HIM!

Xavier BlackWood, Leader of the Rogues and the Alpha of the Blue Moon pack.

No.

Hell no.

This man was a cold-blooded beast. A ruthless killer. The very enemy of literally everyone.

And I was in his camp.

“No.” I struggled against the ropes. “I have to get out of here.” 

Xavier just stared at me. “What are you doing?” 

“Trying to escape,” I said matter-of-factly. 

He stepped forward and my heart nearly stopped.

Was he planning to ransome me?

Torture me?

Feed me to HIS wolves?

Still, no reaction.

Instead, he took a slow step forward.

Something in the air shifted and then — 

A scent hit me like a brick wall.

It was warm, addictive and oh-so-familiar.

No way!

There was no way. No freaking way.

My heart nearly stopped for real.

A rough hand grabbed my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his.

His icy-blue eyes locked onto mine, intense and unreadable.

And then, he said the words that ruined my life : “You're my mate.” 

Silence.

Pure. Absolute. Silence.