Mated by Force

Chapter one:

~Layla~

“ Stop right there!, you better stop now!!” A pack guard yelled behind my back.

I hasten my step, I mustn’t be caught or else I will be in bondage forever.

I was running away from bondage, I don’t want to be with him, I don’t care if it will bring fortune to my family.

I can’t trade my happiness just because I want to make everyone happy.

During the picking ceremony where a maiden is to be chosen for the Alpha prince who will then become the Alpha, the moon goddess had picked me.

And I was meant to be happy which will be the normal thing for every girl to do, but instead I dreaded this day, I wish for it not to come.

Earlier before this moment, I was in my room planning what to do as the time was drawing near when I overhead the pack guards who must have been sent by the Alpha to come take me to the packhouse.They were discussing with my mother.

And then I heard her say she was coming to get me, that was when an escape plan I have been thinking through the night clicked in my head.

I quickly dashed through the back door with my heart pounding through my chest.

I ran as fast as I could but the pack guard sighted me and immediately started running after me.

I was tired, my knees and my whole body were going weak.

I dashed into the woods, a protruding sharp branch that has lost its flowers, with only thistle on it slit my dress and prickle my skin giving me a little scratch on my legs.

“ Ouch,” I muttered.

I turned my head and I saw the pack guards, my heart raced and I turned to another route, hastening my steps.

“ Get her! We are close,” I heard one of them say from a distance behind me.

My palm became sweaty, my heart was thudding heavily , I heard my pulse loudly and it was like my heart might burst out of my chest any moment.

I continued running, but my pace began to slow, I placed my palm on my chest and dragged my feet to a tree, I rested my back on it and my breath hitched like I was having a panic attack.

I couldn’t hear their footsteps anymore. I hope they don’t find me. I lifted my head up and gaze around, this place looks kind of enclosed. They may never find me, I thought.

Minutes were drifting and they still hadn't found me, I took a deep sigh. They may never find me, I thought.

The moon goddess is fulfilling my wish, I beamed.

I should wait longer, maybe when dusk begins to come and I will find my way out of this place and perhaps start a new life.

“ Hey young lady,” a deep baritone voice rang though my mind as he held me by my hand.

Is this real? I questioned myself. I had drifted to sleep.

“ Arrrgh,” I screamed, my heart was beating heavily.

“ Shush!” A put his finger on his lips.

My heart raced, I began to breathe heavily.

“ Who are you? ” I asked with hands shaky and my eyes sullen.

His hand was still on me, he turned his head to look behind him and then to me.

He leaned closer and then I pushed my body back a little.

“ I am here for you, don’t be scared,” he said, his voice calm.

My eyes pierced him, I looked directly into his eyes and he mirrored my expression.

My gaze shifted to his body, he was wearing the uniform of a pack guard, brown loose shirt and brown trousers.

“ Please don’t take me to the packhouse,” I begged, my eyes burning like tears were threatening to flick out.

“ I won’t , I’m going to help you,” he said, calmly with his eyes piercing mine.

“ No you are one of them,” I forced my arm away from his grip.

“ No, I was sent to help you,” he said calmly.

“By who?” I questioned, tilting my head forward a little.

“ I can’t say,” he said

Who could that be? I questioned my thought. Well, whoever that is, the moon goddess has used that person to answer my wish.

“ We need to get out of here quickly,” he snapped at me and grabbed my hands.

He pulled me by my hands and he darted his gaze across the woods before we started walking away.

We walked silently through the woods and different thoughts ran through my mind. What if he’s lying and this is just a way to lure me to the packhouse.

“Hey, what’s your name ?” I asked.

“ I’m Lucas,” he answered.

“ Lucas, can you do me a favour?” I asked.

And then we stopped walking. He turned to face me.

We were both staring deeply at each.

I heaved a deep sigh,“ Promise me you won’t betray me and take me to the packhouse.”

“ Of course I won’t,” he said, giving me an assuring look.

He walked closer to me and held my shoulders, he looked into my eyes again.

I was confused, What is he doing? I questioned myself.

“ I’m going to help you and they are not going to find you,” he said.

I nodded.

“ Look! She is right there!” The pack guards screamed.

My mind froze and my eyes widened in shock, I thought they lost trail.

I shifted my gaze to Lucas, my eyes searching for an answer on what to do.

“ Run!” He ordered me.

And I started running, I ran as fast as I could, it was like my feet were over the ground.

My heart was pounding heavily in my chest. I could hear their footsteps approaching.

My body was going weak, my legs were hurting.

I can’t let them catch me. I said in my Thoughts.

And slowly, I fell on my knees to the ground and I knew I was doomed.

“ We got her,” I heard one of the pack guards say.

He walked slowly to me and grabbed me by my arm.

“ You little brat !!” He yelled.

I coughed and I spat on his face.

“ You!!!,” he yelled again, his eyes were cold with rage, he lifted his hand up , about to slap me.

I closed my eyes tightly.

“ Just let her be, we have already caught her,” I heard the other pack guard say.

I opened my eyes slowly.My eyes widened in shock and cold shivers ran down my spine.

“ Lucas! Lucas!” I screamed.

One of the pack guards was holding him up, his face was battered, his head lowered to the ground, the pack guard could barely hold him well as his hands were dangling on his side.

The pack guard used his finger to lift his head up.

“ I’m Sorry,” Lucas said, his voice was low and I could feel the hurt from it.

“ Lucas!,” I yelled, “ What did you do to him?” I turned to the pack guard.

But they didn’t say anything, he put his hands on my back and lifted up from the ground.

“ Arrgh, that hurts,” I yelled.

“ That’s your punishment for being stubborn,” he said.

My face marred into a frown.

And then he started pulling me away.

My heart was racing, the moon goddess didn’t fulfill my wish. I’m going to be in bondage.

The other pack guard pulled Lucas away and our eyes met.

Will I ever see him again? I wondered.