Chapter 1

Tears streamed down my face as I clutched the pendant around my neck, a treasured memento from my family. It was the one thing that had kept me going through all the tough times, but now, it felt like a cruel reminder of what I had lost. 

"Shit!"  

Cursing softly to myself, I tried to will the tears to stop, but they came faster, blurring my vision and making it hard to see. I must look pathetic, I thought, biting down hard on my trembling lips to try and stop the sobs that threatened to escape. As footsteps echoed down the hallway, my heart sank. 

It was a cruel reminder that I was no longer in control of my life. I had been taken from the orphanage in the dead of night, forced to flee for my life from raiders who had set fire to the place. Now, I was trapped in this dark, smelly room, waiting for whatever fate lay ahead. 

The door creaked open, and a towering man with enough body hair to rival a grizzly bear stepped inside, scowling at me. I kept my head down, avoiding his gaze, knowing that looking him in the eye would only invite trouble. 

He sniffed the air, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "You smell like ass," he growled. I couldn't help but notice the stench of garlic on his breath. 

"You're not exactly a rose garden yourself," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to him. 

"What's your name?" he demanded, taking a step closer. My heart raced, knowing that this was the moment of truth. I had heard enough horror stories to know that this question could mean the difference between life and death. But as much as I tried, I couldn't bring myself to answer. Fear had a tight grip on my throat, choking off any words that might have escaped. 

"Are you deaf? What is your fucking name?!" he bellowed, his face contorting in anger. I stood trembling, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. I knew I should answer, but my body refused to cooperate. In a sudden burst of rage, he lashed out, his fist connecting with my stomach. 

I gasped for air, feeling like I had been hit by a freight train. He slapped me hard across the face, and pain exploded in my head, making me see stars. He wasn't done yet. With a swift kick, he sent me hurtling across the room, my ribs creaking in protest. I prayed silently, hoping that I hadn't suffered any serious injuries. 

"You're lucky I need you in peak form," he sneered, flexing a whip in his hand. "I'd have taken the skin off your back with this." The pain was excruciating, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. 

I held back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes, refusing to let him see any sign of weakness. 

The smirk of satisfaction on the man's face was twisted, almost grotesque. His lips curled up on one side, revealing crooked teeth. His eyes narrowed into small slits as if he was savoring a particularly delicious meal.

He left the room and returned with two women, who exuded an air of healing energy. He ordered them to heal me on the spot. Relief washed over me as I felt the sensation of my limbs slowly coming back to life.

In less than five minutes, the man left the room with the healers. As much as I wanted to make a run for the door, I knew it was a trap. He must have anticipated my escape attempt and set this up to catch me off guard.

The sound of clicking heels on the concrete floor interrupted my thoughts. A woman, who looked like she was the epitome of elegance, walked in. Her cologne and poise were indicative of her wealth. What was someone like her doing in a place like this, I wondered as I became self-conscious of my dirty appearance.

She smiled softly, but there was a hardness in her eyes that revealed her ruthlessness. "Get up," she commanded me in a gentle voice.

I took a deep breath and rose to my feet without much effort. She scrutinized my features, and I could sense the intrigue in her expression. She retrieved a red scarf and deftly blindfolded me before leading me out of the room.

We walked down several corridors before I felt the chill of the night air on my skin. I hadn't felt such a sensation in months since being taken from the orphanage. One of the older slaves, Rael, had told me about the comfort of the night air, and now I could feel it once again.

A car door opened, and she ushered me inside. Being blindfolded in the compact space made me feel claustrophobic, but it was an upgrade from the slave den.

"Relax. Your life is about to change for the better," she assured me, but her words didn't have the desired effect.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm my racing heart. "Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"I'm Oma. I work for Alpha Colt," she replied confidently.

I flinched, half expecting her to strike me for questioning her. However, she placed her hand on my shoulder and tried to soothe my fear. I didn't know how to react to her kindness, so I simply shivered in fear instead.

"Relax, young wolf. Alpha Colt will take care of you from now on. You're safe."