Chapter 02

Ariana’s POV

“How could I ever forget? Although it’s been over fifteen years now, the pain and memory are still fresh, like it was yesterday, and remember, Ariel, I wasn’t the reason we were attacked, so stop blaming it on me,” I screamed, my heart hurting more than it could take.

“You are more pathetic than I thought,” she said, looking at me with disgust before walking out.

It’s been two months since I got rejected by Xavier and faced Ariel’s confrontation. I had accepted the rejection, after all, what could an omega do?

Since then, I’ve been plotting my escape. I’d saved up enough to start a new life among the rogues with a new identity. I mastered all the loopholes and corners in the pack already. This place was a living hell, and I was done.

Ariel and Xavier had announced their wedding date at the birthday party, and preparations for the wedding had begun.

“We are going to the pack house now, by the time we come back, make sure everywhere is sparkling and you’ve prepared dinner,” Grace spat. “It’s the least your useless self can do for us.”

My adoptive parents got into the car and drove off. Ariel and I went back inside, not saying a word to each other, although I didn’t miss the irritated look she gave me from time to time.

I headed for the kitchen to begin my chores. A few minutes later, Ariel took her bag and headed to the market.

After I was done cleaning the entire house, I began packing my bag. Thankfully, I didn’t have much property to carry. I checked all the rooms to be sure no one was home. After I had confirmed I was the only one at home, I carried my bag and walked towards the back door to escape.

Bang! Bang!

I stopped dead in my tracks. “F**k! Who is that?” I cursed inwardly.

I tossed my bag into one corner and walked to the front door. The moment I opened the door, Xavier stormed in, an evil grin resting on his face.

“My father will definitely get richer by selling you off. Now come here!” he said, laughing maniacally.

“W—what do you mean?” I stammered, confused.

He grabbed my hands and started dragging me out of the house.

“What are you doing? Leave me alone!” I screamed, but he wouldn’t budge. He started dragging me towards the pack house.

Immediately I noticed he loosened his grip, I bit down hard on his hands, but he landed a dirty slap across my face.

“Are you stupid? Biting my hands? Do you have a death wish?”

I looked at my surroundings, and our pack members had gathered, pointing fingers at me. They looked at me with disdain, some of them hissing loudly at me. On the other side of the road, there were cattle, a heavily loaded cart, and some foreign soldiers guarding it.

As he kept dragging me, a wave of strong scent hit me, sending warmth through me and butterflies in my belly. This one was far different from what I experienced with Xavier.

It was strong and intoxicating. It made my knees weak and made my emotions scatter all over the place. I couldn't concentrate due to the way Xavier kept dragging me.

Then someone shouted from afar, “The Alpha King is here!”

**********************

Arthur’s POV.

Knock, knock.

“Come in,” I replied.

“Alpha,” Luke, my Beta, bowed. “Everything is ready, Your Highness.”

“Good, let’s go,” I replied in a calm yet commanding tone.

As the Alpha King, at the end of every six months, I go around packs to collect omegas from alphas of any pack willing to trade. As the most powerful pack in the werewolf world, with a landmass of over 250,000 square kilometers with 3,000 warriors, we always needed more workers to work in different sections of the pack.

Today, we are going to Crystal Pack. A week ago, the Alpha had replied to my request of needing omegas to buy.

We began our journey. Crystal Pack was one of those packs with low resources, so an exchange of weapons and cattle for at least five omegas was our agreement.

We got to the gate, and three guards walked up to me.

“Welcome, Alpha King,” they all bowed, then one of them said, “Allow us to usher you in.”

They led us into the pack, and the pack members all bowed upon seeing me. I could see fear in the eyes of some, but most of all, they all bowed in submission.

I didn’t need to say anything. My aura and controlling silence said everything.

We got to a big house, which I’m assuming was their pack house.

“Alpha Arthur, welcome to my humble pack. This is my son, Xavier.” Alpha Noah came out, bowing his head, with his son, who looked like an adult child, beside him.

I got down from the horse with my men trailing behind.

“Thank you, Noah,” I replied in a very bored tone. I knew he was all just keeping up appearances, his eyes held covetousness upon seeing the resources I came with, and I wasn’t surprised at all.

Most of the Alphas were pot-bellied, greedy old men. They were men who were willing to sell their pack members for scraps. After buying the omegas, I always ensure to give them a better life than the pack they came from.

We all entered the pack house, and my men were guarding where I sat.

“So let’s get straight to business.” He began, signalling to his men.

The silence in the room was rather satisfying. I could see Noah shift impatiently in his seat. I decided to ignore it and focus on my business.

A few minutes later, the guards came in with four omegas, dragging them in roughly. They were all young girls and looked very malnourished.

My wolf growled at this maltreatment, but I held him in. I quietly observed each of them from my seat. The hall was silent, and I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. They were all silently waiting for my approval.

I carefully observed them and saw both ruggedness and a cry for help in their eyes. It was satisfying because bringing them into my pack means they get a new and better life, and I needed to be sure they would be grateful for it.

But four wasn’t enough. I wanted five.

“Add one more omega,” I said in a cool tone. I didn’t need to raise my voice. My command was undeniable.

“Erm—but Alpha, we have only—” He shut up immediately when he saw the glint of irritation in my eyes. “We can bring in an addition, I guess.”

He turned to his son and whispered something. I watched as the adult child walked out of the room.

A loud silence fell across the room as we waited for the last omega.

A strange smell hit my nose—a scent too pure, like lavender and honey mixed. Thor, my wolf, stirred restlessly within me. All my senses became alert, but there was something else, a sense of danger and the urge to protect something that was mine.

Within a few seconds, he growled within me, daring to come out. I looked around for any threat, but everyone was sitting down, lost in their thoughts.

I tried to ignore it, gaining control. It was what I’d been doing for decades, but within a few minutes of being here, Thor pushed harder than he had ever since we became one.

The smell was getting stronger, very intoxicating, and Thor was pushing further. I blinked twice to stop my eyes from dilating, trying to gain control again.

The Alpha’s son stormed in, grabbing the hair of a girl who struggled behind him relentlessly.

In a flash, without thinking, I sped to where they were, throwing him across the room, my eyes fully dilated.

For the first time in my entire life, Thor took over and said, “Hello, mate.”