Chapter Three: Postponing the investment .

They were scars on different parts of Maya’s body, wide and narrow scars, some were fresh, and some had dried up.

“Who did this to you, Maya?” The healer asked her in a trembling voice.

“If I am to tell you, will it make a difference?” Maya fired with bitterness in her voice.

“I’m sorry, Maya… I’m so sorry for all you might have gone through in the hands of the pack” the healer said.

“I’m used to it, so it doesn’t matter” Maya replied her voice laced with indifference.

The healer kept quiet on sensing that Maya wasn't ready to talk about it. She wrapped up Maya’s wound and gave her herbs to make her sleep.

As Maya placed the cup to her lips, she had a flashback.

One morning, she was in the backyard humming softly while washing the heap of clothes Zara had assigned her to wash. Her stomach rumbled but she dared not move an inch till she was done with the clothes.

She was still engrossed in washing the clothes when a high-pitched voice called out.

“Maya!! Where the hell is that bitch?” She heard, followed by the thumping of footsteps.

“Maya you are not done washing my clothes yet, how foolish can you be?” she asked voice laced with irritation.

“I'm sorry the clothes are so much I couldn't round up on time” Maya pleaded.

“ I gave you an hour this is fifty minutes, you are so lazy gosh,” she said, and Maya gasped in fear.

“But sister, one hour is too small the clothes are much” Maya said clenching her teeth and secretly balling her fist.

“How dare you talk back at me?” Zara snapped landing a slap on Maya’s cheek. The sound echoed in the air as pain flooded Maya’s chin. She could feel her eyes roll back as she staggered and held the wall for support. She looked murderously at Zara her face red with anger but she couldn't do a thing her strength was no match for Zara. She gently went back to the clothes she was washing ignoring Zara.

Zara stood there for some minutes before leaving with a mischievous smile on her face.

Maya finished washing, and walked into the sitting room she saw her father with a huge cane and her heart did a Backflip, Zara was beside him a cunning smile dancing on her face.

“Good day Dad” Maya greeted nervously.

“Hold your greeting you Jezebel!, How dare you go to my study and touch the sacred book of the BloodMoon pack! Didn't I warn y'all that it's forbidden to touch?” Beta Atheus yelled veins visible on his neck and forehead.

“I…I never did, Father I just finished washing clothes,” Maya stammered fearfully.

“Aha... Are you still lying? I will make sure you see hell today.” He replied, venom dripping from his tone.

He dragged her hand, leading her to the attic.

“It's not me, Father; please listen to me.” She pleaded but all her pleas fell on deaf ears she looked back and saw a triumphant smirk on Zara’s face.

Her father threw her into the attic.

“Pull off your shirt and lie chest down” he ordered. She obeyed with shaky hands.

And he began lashing her; she didn't plead because she knew it wasn't useful. After lashing her for thirty minutes he walked out of the attic without a word, and Maya lay there too weak to stand up, but her father was not done; he came back with an electric iron, plugged it in the attic, and pressed it on Maya’s back.

“Arrrggghhh.”

“This will teach you a lesson, you will remain here till further notice” and with that, he walked off. Maya heard the lock clinking shut; a fresh wave of tears cascaded down her cheeks.

Her back seemed to ache all over again. She set the cup down, breathing slowly, forcing the tears back before the healer noticed.

- ⁠- - - -

-

The walk to Alpha Zane’s palace was quiet until Beta Gavin spoke up.

“Alpha, don’t you think that girl should come with us?”

“She will come with us, but not now, Gavin.” Kane’s mind was elsewhere.

Gavin sensed it and kept quiet.

Why would an Alpha reject his mate? That’s ridiculous. I think I need to put the investment I brought here on hold, Kane thought to himself.

The rest of the walk to the palace was wrapped in silence.

When they arrived, Zane greeted them cheerfully and ushered them inside. The guard who had escorted them returned to his post.

Inside the palace, Gavin looked around, impressed by what he saw.

The walls were a mix of glass and stone, catching the soft glow of light from above. On each side of the room stood a tall wolf statue, carved so well it almost looked alive. The marble walls shone faintly under the golden light, giving the place a warm but powerful feel. Maids moved about, some carrying trays, others dusting, each busy with one thing or the other.

Alpha Zane led them to the dining area, and this part of the palace was just as grand. The tables and chairs were made of pure gold, the edges decorated with tiny pebbles that sparkled when the light hit them. The curtains were thick and heavy, made from a blend of cotton and silk, their folds swaying gently with the breeze from the open windows.

Alpha Zane dragged a chair out and sat down others followed suit. Once settled he cleared his throat addressing them.

“Once again, welcome my Alpha and Beta” he greeted trying to sound nice.

He was about to say something else but the maids came in with trays of food, fruit, and drinks. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meat making Gavin’s stomach growl in excitement.

The maids finished setting the table and left with their heads bowed.

“Let’s eat.” Alpha Zane said pouring wine into three cups.

Gavin immediately dug in he has always been the one with a large appetite.

Alpha Kane only sipped his drink.

“I came with a proposal,” he said making Alpha Zane look up. “ I wanted to invest in your gold business then you will be giving me thirty percent annually” and Alpha Zane beamed.

“But I will have to postpone it for reasons best known to me,” he said and the smile on Alpha Zane’s lips was wiped off replaced with a scowl.

“But.. why I thought that was the reason you came here today?” Zane queried.

“Are you questioning me Zane?” Alpha Kane replied sitting upright.