Chapter Four

Tanya's POV

 The room was quiet, save for the steady sound of Gibeon's breathing beside me.

I didn't sleep a single wink. My mind spun in endless circles. I kept seeing the fire. I kept seeing my father’s lifeless body on the ground, and that dripping blade in his hand. The rogue who destroyed my entire world was the Alpha who had just marked me.

The mattress shifted. The scent of rain and dark amber flooded the space as Gibeon sat up. He ran a hand through his messy dark hair.

"Get up," he ordered, not even bothering to look at me. 

"Starting today, you will be treated with royal respect. The pack will recognize your new status."

I sat up, clutching the sheets to my chest. "Status? I am just your prisoner, Gibeon."

He finally turned his head. 

"You are moving to the royal house. You will stay there until you have given me an heir. After that, your purpose is fulfilled, and you can leave."

My blood boiled instantly. The sheer, arrogance of this monster. He killed my family, wiped my memories, and now he thought he could use my body to breed his legacy.

"I am not a breeding machine," I snapped.

"You are whatever I tell you to be," he replied coldly, standing up and pulling on his dark trousers. 

"Do not test my patience today. Pack your things. You move at noon."

He walked out, slamming the door behind him.

I grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.

I wasn't going to run anymore. I wasn't going to beg the council for my freedom. I was going to give him exactly what he wanted, get close to him, and then I was going to tear his arrogant world apart. I would avenge my parents if it was the last thing I did.

 I dragged myself to the pack academy for my morning classes. The hallways were packed with wolves.

I tried to hurriedly walk into my class to avoid the judging stares of other wolves when a fingers dug viciously into my shoulder, yanking me backward into the secluded alley behind the old gymnasium. I stumbled and hit the brick wall hard, my books scattering across the concrete floor.

"Hey, little stray."

Standing in front of me was Chloe. She was a purebred alpha, the undisputed leader of the cheerleading squad, with perfectly styled blonde hair and a wicked sneer. Beside her stood Maya, the brunette daughter of Gibeon's Beta. Maya had her eyes set on Gibeon for years. Everyone in the pack knew she felt entitled to the Luna position.

"Look at her, Maya," Chloe mocked, stepping closer to invade my space. 

"Did you really think opening your legs for the Alpha would make you one of us?"

"I didn't ask for any of this," I muttered, trying to push past them.

Maya shoved me hard in the chest. I flew back, hitting the rough brick wall again. The air rushed out of my lungs.

"Shut up!" Maya spat, her eyes flashing a dangerous, jealous yellow. 

"You are nothing. You are a weak, pathetic little toy. Gibeon is just using you to warm his bed until he gets bored. You are a disgrace to this pack."

Chloe grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing my head up. The sharp pain brought tears to my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

"You are dirt beneath our paws," Chloe hissed. "If you ever think you belong in his world, we will tear you apart."

She slammed my head back against the brick. My vision blurred wildly. Before I could catch my balance, Maya kicked me sharply in the ribs, sending me dropping to the cold floor. They didn't stop there. The kicks and blows rained down with terrifying werewolf strength. I curled into a tight ball, biting my lip so hard just to keep from crying out. They wanted me to beg. I refused.

"Stay away from him and leave this pack." Maya growled, delivering one final, brutal kick to my stomach that made me gasp for air.

 "Or next time, we won't stop until you are dead."

They walked away, laughing as if they had just taken out the trash.

Every breath felt like swallowing broken glass. I clutched my side, using the wall to pull myself up. My legs shook violently under my weight. I could barely walk, dragging my feet as I tried to sneak out of the alley before anyone else saw me.

I needed to get away. 

I rounded the corner and slammed straight into a solid wall of muscle.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips as I stumbled backward. Strong hands clamped down on my arms to steady me. 

Gibeon.

 Gibeon's jaw ticked. 

"Who did this to you?" 

I looked away, staring at his boots. "Nobody. I tripped."

"Do not lie to me. Who touched what is mine?"

"It is nothing," I whispered, trying to pull my arms away from his burning grip. "Leave it alone, Gibeon."

If I told him it was Chloe and Maya, they would make my life a living hell the second he turned his back. The social hierarchy in this pack was unforgiving. I didn't want his fake pity, and I certainly didn't want him fighting battles I was supposed to endure alone.

Gibeon stared at me. His eyes darkened to a terrifying shade of pitch black. 

"You are moving into my room," he declared.

My head snapped up, the pain in my neck forgotten. "What?!"

 He turned his head slightly to the side. I hadn't even noticed his Gamma standing a few feet away.

"Damien," Gibeon commanded, his tone leaving zero room for argument.

 "Have her belongings packed and moved into my personal quarters immediately."

His Gamma dipped his head respectfully. "Yes, Alpha."

"You cannot do that!" I yelled, ignoring the sharp, stabbing pain in my ribs.

Gibeon turned back to me, his expression unreadable and cold. "It is already done. Walk with me. Now."

He didn't wait to see if I followed. He just turned and walked away with long, powerful strides. Knowing I had absolutely no choice, I limped after him.

The top floor of the royal house was strictly forbidden to everyone except Gibeon. When he finally pushed the doors open, I froze in my tracks.

I expected a dark, sterile cave fit for a ruthless tyrant. Instead, the room was breathtaking. It was a space built for royalty, screaming of old money and power.

I stood awkwardly by the door, feeling completely out of place and dirty in such a beautiful room.

"When you are done gaping, fix your things inside," Gibeon said, his back turned to me.

I gulped, my throat completely dry. 

"How long am I staying here?"

"Until you have carried out your primary assignment."

The words felt like a physical slap to my face. An heir. That was all this was about.

I turned to look at him, ready to snap back, but the words died instantly in my throat.

Gibeon was standing at the foot of the massive bed. He had completely stripped off his clothes. Every single inch of his deeply muscular body was fully on display. The sheer size of him, the raw, masculine power radiating from his stance, made the breath leave my lungs in a sharp, painful rush.

My face burned with intense heat. I immediately squeezed my eyes shut. "What are you doing? Why are you suddenly naked?!"

"Open your eyes Tanya,”  he ordered.

It was the first time he'd called me by my name.

I shook my head stubbornly, my heart was thumping so fast 

"I said, open them."

Slowly, hesitantly, I fluttered my eyes open, fighting the desperate urge to look down. I kept my gaze firmly locked onto his face, though the peripheral view was dangerously, wildly distracting.

A dark, wicked smirk played on his lips. It was the very first time I had ever seen him look genuinely amused.

"I will be teaching you the basic little things and duties you are required to carry out while you are here." Gibeon said. 

 "But first, let's start with you dressing me up."