Chapter 2

Darrel’s POV 

I never thought it would come to this. All night I had been bawling my eyes begging to see my parents but the look of disappointment and hatred while they stared at me haunted me.

I could only obey silently as they loaded me up to the wooden wagon along with other slaves.

My wrist was blinded with a rope, like a wild beast. I had been reduced to nothing, lower than an Omega.

One moment I was a titled princess pampered and the next I am now an omega, worse a slave being transported to be sacrificed.

The wagon lurched beneath me, the wooden wheels creaking with each turn.

The sun glared down as we passed through the barren roads toward the northern border.

All I could feel was betrayal. My parents never stood up for me, instead they cast me aside believing a complete stranger over me all because I did not have my wolf yet.

And Damein. My childhood friend. My mate. The boy who once promised to protect me even if the world turned against me, but he stood there in silence watching everything happen, his arm around Seraphina’s waist. 

His betrayal felt more heartbreaking. I wanted to cry so bad but I was tired, I had no strength to do anything.

I had lost a significant amount of weight from barely eating anything and my once luscious hair was now like a greasy paste platteree in my head.

My family had handed me over to be sacrificed like I was nothing. Like I wasn’t once their daughter who had shared so many memories both happy and sad with them.

The northern border of Black River Pack is a desolate place, but it was originally my home town.

Although I was fairly young when I stayed here, I could still remember how my father had always taken me riding on his horse to explore the hills and streams.

At that moment I missed him deeply.

I thought being back to my hometown might give me a sense of peace but that was far from it. Everyone hated me.

The news of me being a liar and an imposter had spread and people threw hateful words at me every time I walked by. But I keep my head down and my shoulders squared, not giving them the satisfaction of seeing me break down.

Even though my title had been taken away. It was mine and will always be mine, I will always be a Princess. 

Although they made me clean the latrines, haul firewood heavier than my body can handle, scrub floors until my hands blistered and gave me no food unless I earned it and no rest unless I collapsed.

I vowed not to give up. I would find a way to escape this fate and I will expose Seraphina and the high priestess. There is no way I will give up my life so easily. Never.

*****

It was two days before the full moon and still there has been no opportunity for me to escape. 

Suddenly, before the break of dawn, under the night sky, screams and a sea of fire engulfed the northern border.

We were being attacked 

I woke up to the clash of wolves fighting one another and the howls of warriors. The scent of blood fills the air.

The Shadow Moon warriors had breached the northern border gates.

I tried to run, seeing this as my opportunity to finally escape, but I was suddenly yanked by the hair and thrown into the dirt. 

For a moment my vision became blurry and my brain took some time to process what was happening around me due to the impact. 

I tried to fight back but I was too weak and I was taken away along with others. 

I was now a prisoner of war.

We were all dragged like animals into unfamiliar lands, deep into Shadow Moon territory, where the nights are longer and the people crueler.

There, I’m no longer just a slave. I was a prey.

Their warriors leer and sneered at me, some tried to corner me and tear my clothes but I would fight like hell. 

Every day was a battle to preserve what little dignity I had left. My body ached from the intense labour we were subjected to but my spirit did not wither. 

Another day meant another hope, I vowed never to give in.

I never let them take what I have left, my innocence, I will protect it until my last breath.

One night, I was dragged from the cages and presented to Alpha Argon of the Shadow Moon Pack.

He studied me like I was some rare jewel. I could see the question in his eyes. 

I don’t look like the others. No matter how long I have been subjected to hardship, one look at me you would guess I was never a slave.

“You’re not like the rest,” he says.

“I wasn’t born to be a slave,” I answered.

“Tell me who you really are,” he asked.

He seemed like a nice man, who might understand my situation and maybe with his power he would be able to help me with my revenge.

And so I told him everything.

When I finished, Alpha Argon leaned forward, his dark eyes gleaming.

“You want justice? I will give you that and more. Help me bring Black River to its knees. Help me destroy them all and I will make you the ruler of the black River pack.”

My heart stoped.The thought of revenge… was tempting. So, so tempting.

But…

I shake my head slowly. “I don’t want death. I only want my parents to know the truth and accept me back. I want my parents to see through Seraphina and know I was never the enemy.”

“You fool. You have been abandoned and almost sacrificed by them and you still care.” Alpha Argon spat angrily.

“I know they still love me. They are just confused and brainwashed.” I argued 

He slams his cup down and stood up from his seat abruptly. “You are of no use to me then.”

The next morning, I was sold to a brothel.

A brothel.

From a princess… to courtesan.

I was forced to wear heavy makeup and dress in clothes that barely covered my body so I could entertain men. 

But every time a man tries to touch me, I would scream, scratch and throw whatever I could reach.

I was constantly beaten and starved because of this. I started to think if this truly is the end of the road for me.

“You have been bought.” The brothel manager told me as I prepped up in the makeup room.

“What?” I asked, panic rising in my chest. 

“You will no longer be working in this brothel. You were a loss anyway. I have made no money from you you are just a useless beauty at least from now on you will be another's man's problem.” She snapped.

I didn’t know if I should be relieved or dreadful but I could not help but wonder who bought me.

I walked out to see a man who seemed to be middle-aged my heart dropped.

Did he buy me so I could be his lover?

“We will be travelling north, the journey ahead is going to be long and brutal.” He says before guiding me out of the brothel.

I don’t ask questions. I’ve learned it doesn’t matter. My life is not my own anymore. I can only hope that wherever I end up… it won’t be worse.

We travelled for days, on foot, In carts. Through hills, forests, and winding rivers. The land grows colder and more majestic. I felt like I was crossing into another world.

And then we finally arrived. 

It was the Blood River Pack.

The gates were enormous, carved from dark wood and silver with towers so high it felt like they were reaching for the stars.

The roads are paved with clean stone. The people were orderly, well dressed and spoke in a foreign language.

It was a place unlike anything I have ever known.

The palace was beyond breathtaking. It was shocking to find out that the broker lived in the palace and was actually a lord.

The broker had me bathed, clothed in silks the color of moonlight, hair brushed until it shines. My reflection stuns me as I almost looked like a princess again.

But I was not, I was a gift the broker had bought for the Alpha.

My stomach turned with discomfort. I was back to square one. 

I have heard stories of the Blood River Alpha, Alpha Kane. 

He was known as a ruthless man. A warrior king with no mercy in his veins. I braced myself to be thrown at his feet like an offering. 

I stood silently beside lord Vincent, the broker waiting for us to be called into the throne room where we were to meet the alpha.

The magnificent golden door of the throne room was opened and I meekly walked behind lord Vincent.

I looked up hoping to get a glance at my new owner and in that moment my heart stopped beating and I forgot how to breathe.

He was… beautiful. He looked so regal and so ethereal.

His broad-shouldered , sharp jawline and silky hair made him look like a god. His presence was commanding, dark and magnetic.

His grey eyes fell on me and for a second I thought the world stopped spinning 

I wait for him to look away.

He doesn’t. Instead his brows furrowed In confusion.

The room fell silent as everyone observed the alpha.

He slowly mad

e his way down the platform, his eyes still on me like he was in a trance.

“Mate.”

The words echoed across the marble floor and my body immediately stiffened.

“What?”