Chapter Three

Aria's POV:

I lived my entire life under a father who made every day a battle. He drank, he gambled, and somehow, I bore the weight of it all. I scrubbed his debts clean, nursed him through hangovers, cleaned up the messes he left behind.

‘And now… now I was here, on my knees in a slave camp, being told I would become the breeder of an Alpha the entire realm whispered about with fear and disgust.’

The thought made bile rise in my throat and I fell forward, sobbing, and shaking violently as I pressed my forehead to the ground. “I… I don’t want this! I… I don’t want to end up being a breeder!” I cried, my voice trembling. “Please… please, don’t let this happen to me!”

I reached out instinctively, my hands moving toward the neatly dressed man who had orchestrated this nightmare, trying to plead with him, to touch him and make him see my desperation.

The sharp crack of his boot against my chest cut me off and bain exploded through my ribs, but it wasn’t enough to silence my screams.

So he leaned in and said. “You can choose between going to Alpha Draven and becoming his breeder, or getting sold to a harem or a brothel, where the physical abuse will be far worse.”

I froze, my mind spinning. “No… Please!” I whispered, tears streaming freely because the idea of being subjected to the horrors of a brothel or the dominance of an Alpha with a cursed lineage was something I will fight against even if it kills me.

The man didn’t respond immediately, he merely gestured for the five of us to rise, stating we were to be led to the stream. But I refused, collapsing to the ground again, shaking violently, refusing to move.

“Take me back home, please. Just let me go!” I wailed, chest aching with sobs.

His dark eyes locked onto mine, and he asked quietly but firmly. “What home? Your family has sold you, just as others were sold, so what home do you wish to return to when you are unwanted there?”

I swallowed hard, biting back my fear, forcing myself to think beyond the word “home.” It’s not about going back to him… it’s about not wanting to end up as a slave.

My tears continued to fall as my body jerked with each desperate sob. “I don’t care about home! I just… I cannot accept this!” I shouted, voice cracking, chest heaving with grief and rage.

The man’s patience remained, though his lips twitched ever so slightly while the guard from earlier grew impatient and angry at my continued defiance, so stepped forward and began stomping on me violently.

Each blow made me scream, but I didn’t release my hold on him. “Enough!” The neatly dressed man’s voice rang out, stopping the guard before he could crush me completely.

“Do you understand, fool? These girls are to be the best and the most beautiful for Alpha Draven. You will stop before you ruin her face.”

I gasped, bruised and trembling, as he crouched down in front of me. His eyes held an intensity I couldn’t comprehend, and he said softly, almost unnervingly calm. “I stopped him from hurting you because you are important. But listen carefully… if you throw another tantrum, I will not even let you live. I would rather you died than risk losing my sanity.”

My sobs caught in my throat as his words sank in and he added.  “When you arrive at Hellbound Pack, you have the right to throw as many tantrums as you want. But I advise you to behave reasonably, because Alpha Draven is not as merciful as I am.”

He rose and called for another guard, instructing him to lead us to the stream before the first guard lost control again. Before leaving, he gave me a final kick, hard enough to drive the pain through my chest, then stepped out, leaving me panting, sore, and trembling.

The new guard crouched slightly, his tone softer but still firm. “Stand up.” He commanded and I forced myself to my feet.

The other girls, grim and silent, followed his instructions, and together we were led to the stream then someone approached with bundles of clothing, handing each girl neat, clean garments. Reluctantly, I laid the clothes at the edge of the stream, discarding my own tattered garments before stepping into the river.

The water was icy, shockingly so, but it washed over me, cleansing dirt and sweat when I noticed the other girls staring at me, their eyes narrow and sharp. It looked like they hated me for almost ruining their chance at being the Alpha’s breeder, because they preferred it over a brothel.

Their glares were stern, but I ignored them, refusing to feed into their satisfaction as I bathed quickly, washing the dirt, grime, and sweat from the journey.

When I finally stepped out, I dressed in the neat clothes provided. Only for a sudden rush of movement to catch my attention as someone ran in, whispering urgently to the guard, informing him that the carriage from Hellbound Pack had arrived.

He nodded and immediately instructed us to follow him. We walked in single file until we reached the carriage where the guard instructed us to stand aside as he conferred with two men mounted on horses.

Coins changed hands, and promises were made that he would follow to ensure none of us escaped. Then the mounted guards fell into place, flanking the carriage, and we were instructed to step in.

The carriage rolled forward, bumping along the forest for hours, then we took a left turn, and continued the journey on the road until we arrived at the imposing gates of Hellbound’s Packhouse.

One of the men held the door for us, and we stepped out, guided to a garden where we were to wait.

My heart raced as I surveyed the surroundings, and less than ten minutes passed before two men appeared.  One walked ahead, and the moment he did, I knew from the way he moved, and from the coldness in his eyes, that he was Draven Darkmoon be it matched every story.

Draven stopped a few feet away from us, eyes scanning each girl with a mix of disgust and scrutiny. Then he walked back and forth slowly, studying us like a predator sizing up prey.

When he came closer, my wolf stirred restlessly inside me, and my chest tightened, then my body went rigid, as my wolf whimpered.

‘MATE. MATE. MATE!’

My eyes widened in disbelief because the cursed Alpha Draven, who I was supposed to dread, to hate, and to fear ended up being someone I felt an undeniable pull of the mate bond for. As his eyes narrowed on me, my wolf howled silently, and I staggered slightly, still struggling to accept that the Alpha who purchased me was my mate.