Chapter Two

Aria's POV:

“That's a lie!” I yelled, staggering back, as panic clawed at me, but there was nowhere to run because the two men circling above me dropped into a crouch, blocking escape routes.

My claws itched, and a surge of werewolf strength ready to tear through them, but I knew brute force alone wouldn’t save me.

“You don’t have to lie with my father’s name.” I spat, my voice sharp despite the fear clinging to my throat.

My father was a gambler, a drunkard, and a man who had squandered nearly everything he worked for after Mother died. He had always been reckless and careless, but even in my worst nightmares, I refuse to believe that he would use me, his own daughter, as collateral.

“You could have just said you were kidnapping me instead of pretending there’s some noble reason behind this.” My hands trembled as I struggled against the man’s grip, my claws itching to tear through them, yet I remained trapped, at the mercy of a stranger.

“Oh, Aria, you really should have checked the facts before calling me a liar.” He said, pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket then he unfolded it carefully and my eyes widened as I immediately recognized my father's signature.

I wanted to tell myself that it wasn't real, but I had seen his signature countless times when settling his debts, yet never had I imagined it would be here, in the hands of a man who was holding me hostage.

My heart thundered in my chest as I struggled again, pushing at his arms with all my strength. “You… this can’t be real.” I whispered, panic sharp in my voice. “There has to be some mistake!”

“Your father took a loan from me and then he gambled all day, promising that if he didn’t win and couldn’t pay back, he would offer his most prized possession in return.” He said, and my pulse spiked at the seriousness in his tone as he let the words sink in, watching me carefully as tears streamed down my face.

I froze, unable to speak at first and my mind raced through every memory, hoping this man was lying, that I had misheard. “You… you’re lying.” I said finally, though my voice trembled. “My father would never…”

“He did, when he came to confirm it himself that his most prized possession is… you.” The man interrupted, a smirk tugging at his lips as tears sprang to my eyes before I could stop them, blurring my vision.

“No! That can’t be true!” I sobbed, my voice breaking as I tried to fight against the fear consuming me. “Take me to him! There has to be a misunderstanding!”

The two men holding me didn’t loosen their grip and every plea felt as useless as hammering against steel.

I felt my pulse hammering in my ears, my breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. “I can pay! I can pay you!” I cried, desperation clawing at me. “By the end of the month, I’ll pay off whatever he owes! Or… if you can’t wait, I can take a loan from my boss. Please! I’ll pay!”

“It’s too late already.” The man holding the contract shook his head slowly. “The slave traders have already paid me half the money, and once I send you over to them, I will receive the rest. So there’s no bargaining now, Aria.”

“No!” I screamed, fighting and crying all at the same time. “Somebody help me!” I cried, my voice echoing through the forest.

He moved fast, pressing a handkerchief over my nose and mouth before I could finish my plea. My struggles grew frantic, and my claws dug into his arms, as everything went blank.

When I woke up, the first thing that hit me was the stench of sweat, dirt, and smoke as I opened my eyes slowly, and saw myself in a large, canvas-covered tent.

My head spun as realization dawned on me that this  was the infamous slave camp at the center of the realm where anyone could purchase human property without question.

“No… no, this can’t be my fate!” I whispered to myself, and I scrambled to my feet and bolted for the tent’s entrance, my claws slicing through the fabric.

As expected, a guard was there to block my escape with his wide arms. “Let me go!” I yelled, lunging at him with everything I had.

But he grabbed me by the arms and dragged me back inside. I struggled violently, my claws scratching his armor, and began punching him in desperation. “Let me out! I… I cannot be a slave! I won’t! I’ve spent my whole life working toward becoming a physician. I… I cannot just… just…”

My words dissolved into sobs as frustration and despair coiled tight in my chest. The guard, clearly tired of my tantrums, slapped me across the face and shoved me to the ground. Pain blossomed across my cheek, but I didn’t stop. I scrambled forward, clinging to his legs, begging, crying, and pleading for release.

He kicked me, but I refused to let go even though the pain sharpened with each strike, yet I clung to him tightly with my claws scraping the dirt as his boots laded with force across my back and legs, trying to crush my spirit.

I screamed through the pain, holding on, refusing to surrender. Finally, his patience snapped, then he drew a sword, and my heart froze. The tip gleamed dangerously in the dim light, and I realized how close I had come to death

My breath came in jagged gasps as I stared up at him, trembling but defiant. Then, as if the gods themselves intervened, a man dressed sharply with authority radiating from him entered the tent, and grabbed the guard by the shoulder.

“This girl?” He said, voice calm yet commanding. “She is the most beautiful here, is she not?”

The guard blinked, some of his aggression leaving his eyes. Then he glanced around, nodded, and lowered his sword. “Yes, sir.” He said, stepping back, releasing me.

The man’s gaze swept over me, and then he gestured toward four other girls in the corner. “All five of you will be taken to the stream.” He said, tapping the guard’s shoulders.

“There you will have your bath and put on the new clothing I have prepared for each of you because someone will be arriving shortly to transport you to the Hellbound Pack. There, you will assume your duties as Alpha Draven's personal breeders.”

On hearing his words, my hands shook, and my claws flexed instinctively as I sank to the ground, tears spilling freely on realizing that everything I had worked hard for was slipping through my fingers.

Will I really become the breeder of a man rumored to be notorious for his cruelty, and for bending lives to his will?