Chapter Three

Gianna's POV 

I stared at the crumpled paper in my hand, tears rolling down my cheeks. 

The Alpha's guard—the one who had taken me to him—was sitting next to the driver.

His name was Karl. 

Karl glanced at me from the rearview mirror every few seconds. Like he was keeping tabs on my every move.

It wasn't like I had any other plans in mind except to see the bastard Alpha Rapha.

I stared at the window pane as I recalled my conversation with Alpha Callum.

"You can't be serious," I had muttered. "You want to give to Alpha? As a gift? Why would you do that?"

He let out a sigh as he headed for his seat. 

"Believe me, kiddo, it's not something I like either—" He sat down. "Apparently, the sensitive military information your father leaked had been used by Alpha Rapha to gain the upper hand in his battle to win the lands the lesser packs held. Now, I had to make peace with the man if I wanted to pave the way for further discussions of a possible sale."

I thought about his words, but I didn't see how sending me there made a difference.

"Okay, so what does that have to do with me?" I asked, confused.

"It's simple and beautiful," He leaned forward. "I'm tasking you with the work of getting into Rapha's house and becoming a sort of confidant for him, especially as you’ll go as an attendant to attend to his needs."

A humorless chuckle escaped my lips. 

I had to admit. That was funny.

"I don't get it. Why me? Why not someone else, maybe one of your warriors?"

His lips curved into a smirk that made the hairs on my skin stand.

"Because you offered to," He said, his smirk deepening. "Or have you forgotten? A few minutes ago, you were telling me about how you would do anything I told you to do, so you would get to see your sister and pay for what your father did."

I didn't know what to say. Especially since he was right. Those were my words. He was using them against me.

Still, an attendant? Doesn't that mean I get to do every single thing the Alpha says? Like everything?

The thought of it made my blood boil.

But wait a minute? I did hear he wasn't like other men. Rumors had it that he was gay. The first ever Alpha to be in love with other men. 

That meant I wouldn't get to sell my body and self-worth to some asshole.

"So, what do you say?" He asked, placing his elbows on the table. "Are you in...or out?"

I was silent at first before replying.

"Yeah, I'm in."

It wasn't like I had a choice.

"Great!" The Alpha continued. "You'll be leaving tonight with the other gifts. I need you all to arrive as soon as—"

"Wait! What? Tonight?!"

He gave me a cold look as he asked. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"Yeah. I do. I have to see my sister before I leave. I can't just go without saying anything to her," I muttered. "Not...even a goodbye."

Alpha Callum was silent for a while as he stared at me. Without saying anything he picked up his phone and dialed a number. 

It rang for a few seconds before the person on the other end answered.

"Bring her sister here, "He instructed and ended the call. Then he turned to me. "Are we good?"

I didn't know what to say. Instead, I nodded.

"Then I guess everything is settled."

I remained silent, not saying anything. I wasn't sure how long I would get to speak to Louisa, but I guess it was enough.

Besides, if I could figure out what exactly happened as soon as possible, then I could return to the Pack.

All I had to do was find the person who had framed Dad.

Suddenly the door behind me opened.

"Gianna!" That familiar voice called out to me.

Before I could turn completely, she flew into my arms, holding onto me with all her might.

Tears streamed down my face as I wrapped my arms around her.

The Alpha walked out, giving I and Louisa some privacy. 

At least he gave us an hour to say our goodbyes.

I wasn't allowed to go home. His men already had a bag prepared for the journey.

I was about to get into the car when the Alpha called out to me.

He didn't say anything more. He just put a folded paper into my hand and walked away.

Before I could ask him what it was I was asked to get in by the grumpy guard.

When I read what was inside, I could do nothing but cry my eyes out.

Even now, I could only cry.

"We're here," Karl said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I wiped my tears as I turned to him. "So do we get to see Alpha Rapha now?"

"Easy there tiger," He said, looking out the window pane. "First we have to get past the boundary." He turned to me. "And don't forget. You're here to get information. So don't do anything stupid."

I nodded. If by stupid he meant not harming the Alpha, then I couldn't make that promise. 

Not after what I just found out.

In the letter Alpha Callum gave to me, he stated that my Dad was killed by a poisonous dart. He also said the perpetrator might be Alpha Rapha, and that he might have killed him to cover up his tracks.

That explains it all.

Maybe my Dad found out that he was being used and wanted to straighten everything up. So he had him killed so no one would find out that he had taken hold of the lands by getting his hands dirty.

That sc*mbag!

I was going to make him pay for taking away our father from us. I was going to make him regret ever being born.

Soon, the car stopped in front of a huge mansion—the main Pack house.

It was larger and more luxurious than ours. 

I guess the rumors were true.

The idiot spent all his Pack's money on making it look prettier. 

Well, his Pack wouldn't miss him when I make him breathe his last.

I got down, following Karl's footsteps.

He spoke to a weird-looking man with tattoos and scars on his body.

The man swept a look at us and the gifts that had been pulled out from the car before turning to the others.

"Take them to the waiting room."

I was confused. "Waiting room?" I asked as I stepped forward. "What about Alpha R—"

"Sorry about that. You know little girls. They can act rather...rashly," Karl snapped, cutting me off.

He had grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him.

The man looked from him to me. "Better keep them shut before they lose their tongue."

He walked away, not saying anything else.

Karl turned to me. "This is my last warning. You better behave or else I'll rip your head off and send it as a souvenir to your sister. Understood?"

I nodded, trying to keep myself from clawing out his eyes.

Threatening me was one thing, but mentioning Louisa was another.

But he was right. I had to behave. I couldn't mess this up.

Quietly, I followed from behind as we were taken to the waiting room. It turned out the Alpha was "held up," by something.

But I didn't know how long it was going to be before I got my opportunity.

"Hey, there," Someone called out. "Yeah. You. Blondie with the green eyes. Follow me."

I was confused. I stood up, but Karl held me back.

"Where are you taking her to?" He asked the man.

But the other Black Claw warriors drew closer, so Karl had no choice but to back up.

"From what you said earlier, she's a gift from Alpha Callum, a personal assistant to Alpha Rapha. Well, I'll be taking her to his room. The Alpha will be under a lot of stress when he comes back. And—" His lips curled into a malicious smirk. "He's going to need her services."

Karl didn't argue. Instead, he let the man take me away.

I, on the other hand, couldn't help but smile. I guess the Moon Goddess was on my side after all.

"Wait here," He said as he took me to a huge room. "And don't touch anything."

Without saying anything else, he walked away.

The room was lavish. Everything looked untouched and impressive, like something out of a royal painting. But I wasn’t here to admire pretty things.

I paced slowly, trying to calm the shaking in my legs. My hands balled into fists at my sides. I couldn’t let my nerves get the better of me. Not now.

I had to be focused.

A golden letter opener rested neatly on the table beside the fireplace. I picked it up, holding it in my palm. It wasn’t much, but it would do. Especially if I drove it deep enough.

I glanced around for another weapon, but that was the sharpest object in sight. It would have to be enough.

I pressed my ear against the door. There were no footsteps or voices. Just silence... and my own quickening heartbeat.

But deep down, I was scared. I wasn't sure if I should kill him immediately or ask him why he did it.

I really wanted to know why he killed an innocent man.

Then, a sound.

Suddenly, there was a click, and the door handle moved.

Shit! My pulse spiked.

I had gotten distracted for a few seconds and hadn't heard anyone approaching.

I guess this was it. He was here. So there was no turning back.

I stepped back into the shadows beside the door, raising the letter opener. 

I didn’t care about the consequences. I just wanted him dead. 

One life for another.

The door creaked open and someone stepped in.

A man. It had to be him.

I didn't wait. I lunged forward.

With a cry, I drove the blade straight toward his chest.

It hit something solid and hard—too hard the steel in my hand bent.

Instead of a satisfying crunch of bone or gasp of pain, all I heard was the dull clang of metal.

"What the—?" I breathed, stumbling back.

He stood still, barely budged. I blinked as my eyes finally adjusted.

The person in front of me was wearing thick black body armor—layered like dragon scales, reinforced with leather and steel.

 And his hand was already gripping my wrist, tight.

I tried to yank free, but his strength was overwhelming.

Slowly, he turned his head toward me.

That was the first time I saw his face.

He had a sharp jawline, a deep scar across his brow, and dark brown hair, tousled from goddess knows where he was coming from. 

He was tall. Very very tall.

But it was his eyes—those blue eyes—that kept me rooted to the ground.

They weren’t cold or angry. They weren’t even surprised. They were just calm, calculating, and... dangerous.

It sent a chill down my spine.

"Now," he finally said, his voice low, deep, and oddly controlled. "that’s a warm welcome I didn't see coming."