CHAPTER 2~ HOW IT BEGAN

With not much strength in her legs, Denae walked back to her quarters, trying to be as silent as possible. She lived amongst four other girls, all of them belonging to Jerald; the man who had taken her father and mother’s life.

He had raided and taken over their packs as well, but the hate that Denae felt towards him was not the same shown in those girl’s eyes. It was as if they had given up on life and were now hanging onto anything they could…why else would they be so happy when the alpha called for them? And why would they hate her for being his favorite?

Adjusting the night gown she wore, she slowly shoved the door open, tiptoeing inside of the silent house. The door creaked as she slowly closed it and she hoped to the goddess that no one had heard.

Her legs took her towards the stairs, and she climbed up each as slowly as she did every time she came back after her nightly meetings with Zaid.

She headed towards her room, sighing out in relief when she made it inside. If she ever got caught, her life would be in grave danger.

She belonged to alpha Jerald, nobody else was supposed to touch her but him, not even his son. He had killed two of the girls that had been here because they were caught f*cking another man, and killed another when she asked him for freedom because she had found her mate.

He was a cruel man, Denae didn’t call him the heartless alpha for show, and if there was anybody she feared in her life, it was him.

It wasn’t a secret that he treated her better than he did the other girls, he had claimed he loved her many times too, but she knew that if he found out about her nightly sexcapades, he’d have her head.

But despite knowing how dangerous it was, she couldn’t stop. Every time Zaid called, she just had to answer. That boy was her weakness, mere words from him had the potential to kill or rejuvenate her.

He was just 18, but he was more of a man than his father ever could be. There was always this fierce look in his eyes…that look that showed up the very night he found out that she was his mate.

His birthday party had started even before the clock hit 12:00 and Denae had made it her point of duty to stay away from it. She had known he was her mate, but dreaded the act of him finding out.

Though she had been young, as his father’s favorite wife, it was her duty to treat him like a mother did a son, and she did. She’d stay with him, read him books, but as he grew older, they drifted apart.

He became cold, he’d barely even waste his breath to tell her ‘hi’, and would look away as soon as their eyes met. There were times when Denae thought it was because he found out about them being mates, but on the night when he traced her into the woods and f*cked her against that big oak tree, she knew that he hadn’t known it before.

She had run until she was out of breath, but he had caught her and as soon as he did…

Denae shook her head, trying to get rid of the memories…that night she had begged him to let her live…if not as his stepmother, then as his mate…

But he had declined both offer and instead said…

‘Live as my whore…show up at my beck and call. If not, I will tell my father about this and let him decide your fate.’

And what better could Denae do? She was trapped, one mistake and her life was at stake. His offer, she had accepted it and braced against the oak tree; legs apart, back arched…just as he demanded.

And he had f*cked her…once, twice, thrice, then left her against the cold, moist grass to grovel in self-pity. His cum had been dripping in large quantities down her bruised thighs and her breasts which he had twirled, sucked and bitten were sore.

Her skin was damaged by his rough touch, her eyes had been welled with tears and her heart with fear.

Back then; exactly one week ago, she hadn’t been sure of her own outcome. She had been sure she’d die, but then again, what was living if she had to live like this?

Sighing, Denae laid back against the bed, curling in on herself. It was foolish, but she couldn’t help but hope that one day her life would turn around and Zaid would be the lovely mate she always wanted…

A mate who’d care about her feelings, one who’d actually love her without bound and without end, one who’d always be there…

But that would be after she finally succeeded in getting rid of the man who got rid of her family; his father. Whether or not he accepted her after that was his decision, but she prayed he would.

Denae’s eyes fluttered shut as she pulled the sheets over her trembling body, the night was long, but she knew the day would be longer…