Chapter 2

Amara’s POV

The world outside the car blurred as the tires creaked against the uneven road. Trees whipped past, their dark silhouettes a stark contrast against the pale glow of the moon. My fingers twisted into the thin fabric of my dress as I fought the urge to cry.

This was it.

The ride out of Blue Moon felt surreal, like I was suspended between two nightmares. I couldn’t decide which was worse, being under Alpha Derrick’s control or being traded off like cattle to Alpha Magnus.

I clenched my fists tighter and lowered my head, murmuring a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess. “Please,” I begged. “Let this be the beginning of something better. Let me survive.”

But survival wasn’t a guarantee.

The car came to a jerking halt, nearly sending me tumbling from my seat. My heart leaped into my throat as the driver climbed down and threw the door open. “We’re here,” he grunted.

I hesitated, my legs feeling like lead. The towering gates of the mansion loomed ahead, their iron bars twisted into intricate designs that did little to soften the sense of foreboding. Beyond them stood the estate, massive, cold, and unwelcoming. Its sharp edges and dark stone felt more like a fortress than a home.

The driver’s impatient growl snapped me back to reality. I climbed out of the car, clutching my meager bag to my chest like a shield.

“Move,” a voice barked from behind me.

I spun around to find Alpha Magnus standing there, his broad frame dominating the space. He wasn’t what I expected. Where Derrick’s cruelty was brutish, Magnus’s was calculated. His gray eyes were as sharp as a blade, and the cruel twist of his lips told me he enjoyed the fear he inspired.

“Get the hell down, you slave girl, don't make me repeat myself,” he commanded.

I stumbled out of his way, my heart pounding. Before I could steady myself, his hand shot out, gripping my arm like a vice. The bag slipped from my grasp, forgotten as he yanked me forward.

The coldness of his touch seeped into my skin, chilling me to the core. “You’re slower than I expected,” he sneered, his gaze raking over me with a mix of lust and disgust. “Pathetic.”

I bit my lip to keep from crying out as his fingers dug into my arm, but my years in Blue Moon had taught me one thing, complaining only made the punishment worse.

He dragged me through the grand entryway of the mansion, the marble floors gleaming under the flickering chandelier light. Maids and servants bustled about, their heads bowed as they murmured greetings to him. None of them dared look at me.

Their indifference cut deeper than the Alpha’s grip. “Am I invisible to them? Or do they just not care?”

When we reached his office, he shoved the door open and threw me inside. My back collided with the wall, knocking the breath out of me.

“Stand up,” he ordered, his tone devoid of patience.

I pushed myself upright, trembling. The air in the room was heavy, suffocating. Marcus stepped closer, his shadow swallowing mine as he leaned down.

His hand shot up, his fingers tracing a slow, deliberate line from my cheek to my shoulder. My stomach churned at the intimacy of the gesture, bile rising in my throat.

“You’re perfect,” he murmured, his lips curling into a cruel smile. “Perfect to bear me a child. A real heir. Not some spineless, useless Beta like I already have.”

His words dripped with disdain, and the venom in his tone made it clear he wasn’t just speaking to me. There was someone else behind his loathing, someone I didn’t dare ask about.

He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my neck. “You’ll be my sweet little breeder,” he declared. “A vessel for a strong, perfect child.”

“Please,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Don’t do this, Alpha. I’ll serve you in any other way, but not this.”

He chuckled darkly, his hand trailing lower as my body stiffened. “You don’t get a choice, girl. You’re mine now.”

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as I fought the rising panic. My body screamed for me to run, but where would I go?

Just as he leaned closer into my neck, the door creaked open.

“Father?”

The voice was calm but laced with tension. Magnus sighed, stepping back with obvious irritation. I blinked, my vision clearing enough to see the man standing in the doorway.

He was young, barely older than me and his features were a stark contrast to Marcus’s harshness. Where the Alpha’s presence felt like a storm, this man’s was like a quiet, steady river. His dark hair fell just above his piercing green eyes, and his jaw clenched tightly as he looked between us.

“What the hell are you doing to the poor girl?” he demanded.

Marcus scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. “Relax, Kael. This is my new breeder. Finally, I’ll have a child worthy of the Alpha title.”

Kael’s eyes widened in disbelief, his gaze snapping back to me. “Breeder? She’s an innocent girl, not your damn plaything.”

“She’s whatever I decide she is,” Marcus said coolly. “And don’t you dare forget that.”

Kael’s fists clenched at his sides, the tension between father and son thick enough to cut with a knife.

“She’s old enough to be your daughter,” Kael said, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t you find this disgusting?”

Marcus laughed, the sound cold and mocking. “But she isn’t my daughter, is she? Too bad for you. Now, if you’re so concerned, you can show her to an empty room. Make yourself useful for once.”

The dismissal was clear, and Alpha Magnus didn’t wait for a response. He brushed past Kael, his heavy footsteps echoing down the hall.

I pressed myself against the wall, my legs trembling as Kael turned toward me. His expression softened, but the anger in his eyes lingered.

“Are you okay?” he asked gently, taking a cautious step forward.

I didn’t answer. My body felt frozen, my mind racing. Was this a trick? Was he luring me into a false sense of security?

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Kael said, his voice firm but kind. “Let’s get you out of here, alright?”

I nodded stiffly, but my feet refused to move. Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I know you’re scared. My father… he’s…” He paused, searching for the right words. “He’s a monster. But I’m not him.”

His words were like a lifeline, but I didn’t dare grab hold. Not yet.

Kael took another step closer, his hands raised in surrender. “I’ll take you to a room where you’ll be safe for tonight. Just… trust me, okay?”

I wanted to trust him. His green eyes held no malice, only concern. But years of abuse had taught me better. I stayed where I was, my back pressed against the cold wall.

Kael exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping. “Alright,” he said softly. “Take your time. I’ll be right here.”

His kindness was disarming, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of something I hadn’t felt in years, hope. But as I glanced at the door Alpha Magnus had disappeared through, that hope was quickly overshadowed by the crushing weight of reality.

I was stuck, trapped in a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. My body refused to move, my mind screaming at me to run or fight, but I was paralyzed.

And as Kael took another cautious step forward, his voice gentle and coaxing, I couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter what came next, doom was waiting just around the corner.