Chapter 3

Ellie

"I am right beside you, don't be nervous" my mum whispers and gently squeezes my hand. I can't help but feel dread for what is about to come.

The room is so quiet. Everyone is seated and waiting for the so called king to arrive. I can't help but steal glances at Zane and wonder what is running through his mind right now.

We are surrounded by complete strangers. Huge, masculine men and petite, beautiful ladies on their arms.

The man, I assume, is my father, hasn't stopped staring at me and my mum like some creep, despite the woman desperately clutching at his arm as if he's going to fly away. That must be his wife.

Zane is quiet and hasn't looked at me even once and beside him is a girl I assume is his fiancée.

Ouch.

I don't want to admit it but it makes me feel so uncomfortable.

There is also an old lady who has a smug look on her face as if she just achieved something important.

Generally, these people look miserable and fake as hell.

If you could have told me the other day that shapeshifters exist, I would have called you crazy. Don't even start to mention that I am one of them.

My mum is a genius at keeping secrets.

The so-called king finally enters the room and my eyes find his instantly. So dark. The man has a hard face, and I don't get why Lisa warned me not to look into his eyes. I mean, I find it ridiculous to bow to a man just because of some weird title.

"I must say, you are beautiful." his compliment doesn't go with the deep scowl on his face. Zion's father takes the seat reserved for him and pulls the woman he is with on his lap. Wow! so he is also affectionate?

"However, rules are rules. You give us babies and walk away with a huge sum of money that's gonna last you a lifetime." his words are accompanied by countless low angry growls.

What does he mean by give them babies? I stare at my mum in confusion but she isn't looking at me.

I am only seventeen. Is this the breeding sh*t they were talking about yesterday? They want to turn me into a breeder?

F*ck,no.

I squeeze my mom's hand when I feel her anger rising.

"And what if I don't?" I look at the man square in the eyes and sneer. I don't have to bow to him. I am not one of his minions.

The king chuckles, too. He leans in the seat and stares at me as if I just made a sad joke. " Do you think you have a choice?"

"She does." My mum noisily pushes her chair back and gets up. I don't stop her this time. "She has a choice to refuse to be a f*ck*ng breeder. Everyone has that right. Just because you are king doesn't give you the right to make decisions that affect the people beneath..."

"F*ck*ng watch your mouth," the man growls, and his deep voice shakes everything in the room. Everyone instantly gets on their feet and lowers their head in submission but I remain in my seat. Calmly watching. I don't know why my hands are shaking, but they are. I feel a dull ache in my chest that I don't know what it means, either.

"No. Not anymore. After the hell you put me through? I will be dead before I let any of you touch my baby. You want pups, let the witch perform the magic and give you pups."

"And for you," Mum points at Zane and I look at him too. He said he would protect me. Is this what he meant ? " Have some humanity and just let her go."

"Sara," the King's voice angrily growls again."It isn't a matter of discussion. This girl will give us heirs and Zane will go ahead to marry Kelly, as it was arranged from the beginning." The man slightly laughs as his eyes flash dangerously. "No one goes against my ruling, not even a mere rogue," he whispers and instantly turns around to leave.

I watch their departing backs and my fists clenches. This can't be how my life turns out.I won't be reduced to some stupid breeder for these beasts.

Oh God. What kind of sick fate is this?. Mum said the breeders die mysteriously afterwards.

The twins' father walks away too and so does Zane. F*ck, he didn't even say a word. Maybe he doesn't want his fiancee to see him talking to me.

My heart has never ached this badly.

The two women and the girl, Kelly, remain standing and watching my mum and me like we are some kind of entertaining TV show.

"Oops, what bad luck you were born with, Sara? Goddess! It's perfect to watch as history repeats itself. " The older woman laughs, and the two bitches behind her smirks.

Isn't she too old to be a bully?

"Turns out the baby you ran away with is nothing but a breeder, too. Didn't I tell you from the beginning, you are worth nothing? It's even luckier that the King wants an omega to produce his heirs." the old woman continues to taunt and I can only imagine what my mum went through before.

So she was used as a breeder too? Is that how she got the twins? What about me?

"Are you done talking?" my mother impatiently asks. " You are too old for this, Miranda, go take care of your wrinkly skin or something." The old woman angrily turns to the door, and the older woman follows her. Zane's fiancée doesn't move, and I figure she also has something to say.

Perhaps add salt to the wound.

"Well, I am honored to be the mother of your kids. Zane and I will take good care of them." Kelly flashes her extravagant engagement ring in my face, and once again, the world around me fades. All I can hear is the click of her heels on the floor as she walks out.

I remain seated. Eyes fixed on one tiny spot on the table. I lack the strength to get up and do anything.

My life just turned upside down.

"Listen, baby, my mother lifts my chin, and I meet her green eyes. I always admired them. I wondered why I got everything from her but her eyes.

The eyes that not only hold her beauty, but also extreme love and care. But today, I notice something I have overlooked for a long time.

A deep, deep fog of pain beneath them. What happened to you mother?

"I knew this would happen at some point. I assumed you would be mated to an alpha who would be thrilled to have you. The reason I moved here is because I wanted you to experience the other side of you. I didn't want to keep hiding the fact that you are a wolf."

"I love you, baby, and I will use everything I have to protect you. No one will touch you, I promise." My mum tucks away my hair and gently rubs her thumb on my cheek.

As if she just remembered something, my mum digs her hand in her handbag and pulls out a gun.

"You haven't shifted yet, and before your guards arrive, hold on to this. If someone approaches you, aim it between their eyes and shoot."

I stare at the heavy metal in my hands, and my eyes slightly twinkle.

Unknown to my mother, I have a secret. Something no one will ever find out about me.

They want babies, right? Let them come and get them. I slightly smirk and finally get up from my seat.