Chapter 2

Valerie

“We can decide to run in our human form, huh? That way; you would feel better.” She cajoled me, cupping my face with both hands.

I nodded my head in agreement, she smiled softly as she interlocked her fingers with mine.

We walked to the training ground, in silence.

“1,2,3,4…run”. Xandia counted as we ran off; the first to get to the crossed line became the winner.

“I won!!”. I announced as I ran past the line, my heart thumping.

“I'm happy for you!!!”. She shouted, trying to catch her breath.

We did that over and over again till we were out of energy, so we decided to head back to the pack house.

Xandia kept on smiling brashly at me as we headed back to the pack's house. We just had a strenuous training which drained our energy. Xandia was quick to get tired but I continued to practice because my parents taught me so well when they were alive.

Xandia is the alpha's daughter and my best friend; if there's only one person I'm grateful for having in my life, it would be her. Though her father, the Alpha doesn't like our friendship in any way but couldn't do a thing to stop us, I'm her daughter's only friend.

He would do anything to make his only child and future alpha happy.

“I will head back to my chambers now”. She said, bringing me back from my reverie as she tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear with her amber eyes boring into me.

“Ohhh. You'll need to shower and get some rest”. I said, squeezing her hands gently. We have got to the juncture where we would go to our different quarters.

“I will, my queen. I'm certain Claven would be mad at me”. She feigned a frown while I laughed softly. I caressed her cheeks gently, making her blush.

Hearing his name makes my heart skip a bit.

“Of course, he will, but trust me, he won't do a thing,” I assured her, retracting my hand from her beautiful face.

My beautiful princess.

“Everyone knows he fears no one, Luci…..but”

“He won't harm the Alpha's daughter”. She smiled widely at me before pulling me into a tight hug, as we inhaled each other's scent.

“We will meet soon, have a good day”. She said, breaking the hug, her gaze fixed on mine.

The only person I can fight for.

“You too, bye!”

“Bye!”. I watched her as she walked away until she disappeared from my view. I fastened my steps towards my quarters, my parents' quarters when they were alive.

“I can't wait to have a warm bath”. I muttered to myself, my clothes stuck on me like a second skin.

A cold shiver ran down my spine when I saw the door wide open; I began to wonder who could have had the spare key.

My eyes widened in shock when I saw someone had broken in.

“Gather those letters! We will submit them to the alpha!”. A voice said, making me swallow nervously. I walked to the door in anxiety, my heart beating wildly against my ribcage.

Which letter are they talking about? I don't write letters to my father either.

“What's going on?”. They looked at me sharply, giving me a scrutinizing gaze.

“Daughter of a traitor”. One of the guards spat venomously as he rummaged through my father's bags, spilling his clothes on the floor.

What are they talking about?

A traitor?

A wave of confusion washed over me as I stepped inside my room, my legs shaking fervently; they ignored my presence and continued turning everything upside down, looking for what I had no idea of.

“Please what's going on?”. My voice was barely above a whisper as I tapped one of the guards frantically, who quickly moved away from my touch as if it were poisonous.

They're not to be blamed, if my parents weren't murdered that night, they wouldn't have broken in.

“Your parents are traitorous children! They have been receiving letters from our enemies!!”. He spat, giving me a cold glare.

Our enemies? I know we have a lot of enemies but one that had attacked us two years ago, was dark crescent pack.

“Dark crescent pack?!’. I asked, my eyes scanning the room nervously.

“Yes!!. How dare your parents betray the alpha??!!”. One thundered, piling up the letters.

My eyes stung with unshed tears as I swallowed the growing lumps in my throat.

“Please, my parents would never betray the alpha”. I swallowed hard, looking at them hopefully. I wish they would believe me and take back their words.

“I know my parents. They have served as the pack's beta all their life….they would never do such a thing….. they're framed…. please”. I sobbed profusely, my voice breaking vigorously.

“Who knows, the alpha might decide to banish you from the pack; no one would give room for a traitor's daughter.” One spat, walking past me and ignoring my pleas.

My eyes were blurry; I felt my world crumbling before me as I leaned on the wall and placed my hands on my chest to calm my racing heart. I wished I could wake up from this nightmare…..a nightmare.

“Please believe me, my parents are innocent”. I said with every ounce of energy in me, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Three had left with the letters, probably heading to the alpha's chambers to present him the evidence they claimed to found.

The two guards who were still in my parent's room looked at me coldly as if they would devour me if I said one more word to them.

But I won't be quiet. I will talk sense to them, and they will believe me. My parents will never betray the alpha; even in their last breath, they had made me make a promise to them to protect the princess with my life. The heart of the Malroux has to live, and I wouldn't mind putting my life on the line for it.

They would never hurt the alpha who had trusted them, nor would they betray the pack members.

“I need you all to believe me!!!!”.I yelled as I sniffled, brushing away the tears on my cheeks. “I promise you all that my parents will never do such a thing!. They're framed!!”. My heart beat wildly against my rib cage as I spoke; I knew I had just walked into the lion's den by yelling at them.

They're high ranked guards, respected by almost everyone in the pack.

Their eyes flashed angrily at me as one charged towards me, shoving me roughly to the ground.

My knee hit the ground, an intense pain traveled through me as I used my hands as a support with my knees on the floor.

“How dare you talk to a high-ranked guard like that???”. He said with contempt, his eyes blazing as he took a step toward me. My chest was heaving, my knees screaming in agony as I was still on the floor, holding their gaze to mask the envelope of fear that had consumed me.

One stayed back, watching us as if we were some kind of entertainment to him.

“My parents would never do such a thing”. I repeated, ignoring the cold brown eyes that were traveling through my skin.

He crouched before me and moved his hand to my jaw, forcing me to look at him; his eyes were glimmering red, boring into my blurry eyes.

No one is coming to save me; it's just two against one. I would have fought to defend myself, but that would have attracted a severe punishment.

I wasn't as weak as they thought.

“You're a daughter to a traitor, and sooner or later, you will be banished from the pack”. He smirks coldly, squeezing my chin painfully. “You'll be punished forever talking to a high-ranked guard that way.” He looked at his colleague, who nodded his head in agreement with what he had said.

He turned his cold gaze on me, holding a wicked grin on his face.

“But now you'd have to choose the kind of punishment you want for yourself: either we report you to the alpha for disrespecting us, or……we punish you here”.

He whispered into my eyes, his hot breath fanning my earlobe; I flinched and tried to crawl bbackward My grip on my chin wasn't helping matters.

Goddess!.

“Let me go!”. I said softly, trying not to anger them anymore,they don't believe me, there would be no need to defend myself nor my parents.

“So what's your preferred punishment?”. His eyes was full of lust as his right hand traveled through my thigh,I looked at him sharply as I pulled free from his grip forcefully.

“Don't touch me!”. I warned,ready to attack, ignoring the bruises on my knees.

He approached me with a smile, hitting me hard on my face. I gasped for air as a pain traveled through my body,I stepped backwards till my back hit the wall.

I opened my mouth to say something but it felt heavy,my cheeks hurt so bad as I placed my palm on it to suppress the pain he has inflicted on me.

My chest was heaving,my body shaking fervently as I looked at the two callous wolves before me,he didn't step back as he tore my shirt roughly exposing the transparent singlet I wore.

My nipples were prominent, seeing how he raised his brow skeptically. I ran toward the door but he pulled me back aggressively, pushing me to the floor as he unzipped his trousers as quickly as he could.

I tried scampering on my feet but one pinned my hands above my head,with my back on the floor.

“We made a great choice for you!!. We would punish you, instead of the alpha's”. He parted my legs roughly, thanks to the moon goddess I was still in my leather trouser which I wore to training this morning.

His hands traveled to my nipples,he pinched it before he tore my singlet,my breast popped out before him, with my nipples pointing at him.

I pulled free from the hold which has pinned my hands to the floor,I pushed him off me as I winced in pain,these are strong werewolves while I'm here,a wolfless omega.

They didn't back down,one slapped me hard on my face before squeezing my breasts roughly,I whimpered in pain as tears streamed down my cheeks.

“How dare you touch what's mine?”. A voice growled,

they looked at the door sharply, scampering to their feets.

That voice, I recognized it, the only voice I wished I could listen to all day.

Claven.