CHAPTER THREE

It was an old tradition. Anyone who was becoming Alpha and he was not related by blood to the previous Alpha, must undergo a ritual that sacrifices a mateless werewolf, where it would be certain that the moon goddess approves of that person to be Alpha.

Now, what becomes of the fate of that mateless Wolf sacrificed is that she would never be touched by any man. She had sacrificed her supposed mate bond to the crowning of that Alpha.

And she, in this context, I, would be put the death if I seek out any man to be intimate with.

I guess Damon was right about keeping my stance because, if I was still in that previous stance, I would have lost my posture and fell flat on my butt.

I simply couldn't believe what was happening.

It felt like a dream or a hallucination. 

Father still stood on the podium, proceeding with his speech like he hadn't just spoken about sacrificing his daughter for some silly crowning.

I saw Glynndon trying to walk up to me, her face scrunched in a pity gaze at me but, I walked out of the party before she made it towards me.

I didn't know where I was going but, I just kept walking. I continued walking until I was in the woods, in the spot where Tristan was found dead.

That I was trembling terribly was an understatement. It felt like I was in a city built with ice blocks. And, it had nothing to do with my armless bodycon gown. But, it had everything to do with the adrenaline shooting through my body from the information my Dad just dropped on me and the fact that I stood in the exact spot Tristan got murdered by God-knows-who.

I stayed, sitting against a tall tree, all through the night. And, when they found me at dawn, I was blue, my lips pale, my face pale. And, I was half-conscious. 

They had immediately called for the Pack doctor and I got admitted into the clinic.

I stayed there for an additional three days but, Father was nowhere to be found. He didn't come looking for me when I dashed out of the party after his ridiculous announcement. He didn't come to check on me when I got admitted.

To say I hate him was an understatement. Not only did he replace my mom with some strange woman, but he planned to erase me from his life as well. His miserable life, if I might add.

His plan all along was to erase any trace of us. 

I was discharged on the fifth day and still no trace of him. The Packhouse was still and there was no sign of anyone.

The perfect time to escape.

I sneaked into my bedroom, grabbed a duffel bag under my bed, and stuffed the most important things into it. Few pieces of wear, gadgets, and snacks.

I don't know where I was headed. I don't care. I just want to be out of that man’s life as fast as I can.

It was dusk. So, I waited for the sun to be replaced by the moon before sneaking out of the main packhouse through the back door.

Thankfully, I wasn't seen and until I was almost at the border of the pack house, I felt no need to hide.

It wasn't until I heard footsteps approaching that I quickly ran behind branches to take refuge.

The footsteps paused and I was forced to peep out of the branches to see who they belonged to.

It was Damon. Shit! I began to retract, hoping to slip behind the other branches and head towards another route.

But, before I took four steps backward, a hard grabbed me, hurling me out of my hiding place.

I winced as he shoved me to the ground.

When I looked up, a pair of menacing, electrifying green eyes, stared back at me.

I couldn't see much of him in the dark but, at least, I could see his good looking features.

“What are you doing here?”

It was a stupid question to ask but, I desperately needed not to feel awkward. 

“Patroling. Until I saw someone headed towards the border with a duffel bag.”

Oh, so I was seen after all?

“What were you thinking? That you would become invisible as you sneak out of the Pack?”

“Yes, I admit. I was foolish. Now, can I go?”

I didn't catch them but, as they slipped out of my mouth, I realized how stupid my words were.

He was to be crowned Alpha in a few days and it wouldn't happen until I was sacrificed. What made me think he would actually let me escape?

“Your father asked me to keep an eye on you. He definitely didn't ask me to grant you permission for an escape.”

Wait, what? Father wasn't at the Pack?

“Wait, where is he?”

Damon furrowed his eyebrow.

“I mean, my father. Where is he?”

“He went to North Gladin.”

North Gladin. That was my mother’s Pack territory and where she was buried. Did he actually think he would gain sympathy from me by doing that? To hell with him. If he really does care for me or my mother, he wouldn’t sell me out to the crowning of a man who isn't even his son.

He is cruel and evil. Period.

I followed Damon back into the Pack. And, it seemed his mother wasn't around as well. So, it was just him and I in the enormous main pack house.

He said I was to stay in his bedroom so as not to sneak out of the pack house again.

I couldn't sleep on the floor because it was cold so, he agreed to accommodate me on his bed.

We stayed there, in the dark, for a while.

“What happened to your past mates?”

His husky voice suddenly echoed in the darkness of the room.

“Well, except the last one, of course.”

I rolled my eyes.

I hadn't really told anyone about my past mates. Whenever they asked, I simply dodged the question or bluntly told them to mind their business.

But, somehow, I found myself wanting to share the story with this handsome stranger that happened to be my step brother.

“My first mate was when I was 16. Vincent. We dated for six months until one day, he disappeared. I didn't hear of him again and a few weeks later, it was discovered that he ran away with an omega from another pack.”

I paused, staring at the ceiling.

“He was my first heartbreak but, I quickly got over it when Jackson came into my life a few months later. Jackson asked me out and I discovered later that he was my mate. He was really in love with me and I could hardly decode that it was a ploy to get approval from my father.”

I hadn't really fallen deeply in love with Jackson so, his didn't really break my heart.

“When my father announced his disapproval of him, he confessed that he was only with me to swindle my father and rob him of any penny he owned in his safe.”

I breathed, checking if Damon was still awake, listening to me.

His eyes were wide open and he was staring at the ceiling as well. 

“Don’t you have a blanket? Before I proceed with my depressing story, can you help me with a blanket?”

“The help came to take everything for laundry earlier. Come.”

I didn't realize he was referring to me until I saw him open his arms to receive me.

Did he really want us to cuddle? Is he crazy?

“You are kidding right?”

I chuckled anxiously.

“My Wolf can stimulate warmth when it's icy cold. Or else you want to freeze through the night, come over.”

Swallowing hard, I scooted closer to him and placed my head gently on his arm and he wrapped them around me, drawing me closer to him.

I don't know why I felt butterflies when he did that. 

“Now, proceed.”

Is he insane? How can I continue in this position?

I cleared my throat anxiously, trying not to sniff in his intoxicating scent. Oh, he smelt so heavenly. 

Someday, I would ask what Cologne he used. Maybe when our bond got better than this because I wasn't sure I would face him in the morning. During the sick ritual!

“So, ehm, where did I stop?”

“Jackson, the swindler.”

His voice vibrated through my whole body and I tried to shake off how that made me feel.

He was my step brother, am I crazy? Why should I feel that way towards my step brother?

I swallowed.

“So, I met Thomas, who happened to be Jackson’s brother. Thomas was genuine. I think after Tristan, he was the one I fell deeply in love with.”

He nuzzled me closer to him and I found my leg resting on his. My heart skipped at that touch.

This is insane. Am I the only one feeling this? What if he heard my heart pounding faster than normal?

“T-thomas and I had the longest relationship and it happened when I was a day over 18. I discovered he was my mate and we discussed our future together. We even planned how many kids we were going to have.”

“So, what happened with him?”

His voice is not helping in making me concentrate.

“H-he discovered I was the Alpha’s daughter. Apparently, he came from another pack and I didn't tell him my identity as the Alpha’s daughter.”

I paused to gather myself. 

“He was scared of becoming an Alpha in the future. He was terrified of the pressure that came with handling the position so, he broke up with me.”

Should I tell him that was enough for the night and save myself this torture?

“And Tristan?”

His voice vibrated through the room.

“He is the love of my life. He was my final stop. His death wretched me.”

“I’m so sorry.”

It sounded so sincere yet, sexy.

“Also, I'm sorry if I subject you to a life of loneliness by making you the sacrifice.”

Oh, thank goodness he knew he was subjecting me to life-long loneliness.

“But, I'm always here for you. I would always be a shoulder for you to lean on.”

He whispered into my ear, his harsh breath brushing my skin and causing me to shudder.

This is insane.

“You can come to me when you need help, mentally or…”

He trailed off then, lowered his husky voice to a harsh whisper.

“Sexually.”

My heart skipped and I stayed frozen, cuddled into him.

What a creepy bastard.

I was almost deceived right there.

“If you are starved sexually, I can help. I can touch you if you want. I…”

He trailed off again. And, I swallowed. I know we both swallowed.

“…can be your sex partner, if you need me to.”

He lowers his voice even more, below a whisper.

“Of course, no one would know about this. It is going to be our dirty secret.”