Chapter 3

_Astrid’s POV_

I glanced at the door which had been closed shut before me, feeling perplexed. What now?

I had blatantly rejected that dress just now and if that maid hated me to her bones, she would definitely tell a lie to the Alpha about me.

I bit my lower lip and moved to take a seat on the squeaky bed, letting out a sigh of exhaustion.

“Goddess, what’s going to happen to me now? Please protect me." I begged, palm cupped in an apologetic way. If only she would help me get out of this place, I would do anything she requested of me.

Taking in the sight of the room, I felt mortified and somewhat comical, who would have thought that I would ever make it to a bedroom without leaking roofs?

“The irony." I murmured and released a small smile.

The house I lived in with my stepfather was owned by my mother. She had given it to him a few years before she died and requested that he pass on the house and trust fund she had left behind for me.

Eventually, when it was time to give it up, he connived with his new wife to sell me off to the auction house in order to clear his debt.

If I was ever going to get the trust-fund from my stepfather, then the goddess be praised. Otherwise, I had to let go for now.

Just then, heavy footsteps echoed outside my door as someone approached.

A part of me wanted to find a place to hide, but the other part of me knew that if I tried that, I'd be dead in a matter of minutes.

My breath clogged as I glanced at the door, the handle suddenly being twisted slowly and the next minute, the door was opened with a loud bang.

Zarek barged in the next second, an irritated look flashing in his eyes when his gaze met mine.

He slowly turned to take in his surrounding, and I saw a frown of what seemed to be anger settled on his face briefly before it vanished without a trace.

My heart beat accelerated, also making my blood pump faster than usual.

“Alpha_" I began, but he gave me no chance to continue before he tossed the black dress which I hadn't noticed he had in his hand towards me.

The dress landed at the feet at the same time his command followed. “Put this on,”

I glanced at the dress, and with shaky hands, picked it up and examined it. Immediately, I realized it was the flimsy dress the maid had brought earlier.

I looked up at Alpha Zarek and shook my head at once. "I already said I can't wear this.” I was tempted to slap a hand over mouth for speaking out of it’s free will. I would surely get myself killed before I get a chance to leave this place.

“And what makes you think you have a choice, Astrid?" Zarek questioned, an amused expression crossing his features. “You belong to me, Astrid, and whatever I say is law to you. You must obey or else….” He paused, leaving the rest of the words lingering in the air and sending shivers down my spine.

But that dress was too revealing for me. I couldn't wear it to a party….

When I didn't move a muscle, he looked down at me again and raised a brow. “Astrid!"

I flinched, still, I couldn't move from there. “Please, Alpha….”

His lips curled up almost immediately the tears pooled at the corners of my eyes.

" Disobedience is something I would never accept from anyone, especially not a powerless human as yourself.” he paused and continued. “You've disobeyed me twice and I did nothing, but this time, I would punish you. I do not accept disobedience!" He yelled and before I could go on my knees and apologize, Zarek reached out to grab my hand, pulling me up harshly.

“Alpha….” I cried bitterly as he dragged me towards the door and out of the room. Thrashing around, I kicked and jumped severally, just so I could escape his grasp. But what exactly could a powerless human do against an Alpha Wolf as strong as Zarek.

“I bought you with my money, so I own you! You don't get to disobey and walk away unscathed!" He bellowed as he hurled me forward into what looked like a training room.

I lost my balance and collapsed to the floor, my weak hands supporting my small form from crashing to the floor.

“You," he pointed at the guard standing by the corner. “Get a bucket of dirty cold water. I don't care where you get the water from, it could be from dirty laundries or dirty dishes.” He instructed firmly, a crazed look in his eyes.

I panicked at once. Dirty water? Chilled?

I wouldn't be able to survive it. I was allergic to cold, or no, I easily caught a flu each time I was exposed to a cold weather.

“No please…please don't.” I pleaded, the tears falling from my eyes one after the other.

The guard soon returned with the bucket of water and Zarek didn't think twice before grabbing it from him.

He turned to me and gave me a cold look. " You dare to disobey your master, huh? You don't know who I am, do you?” He quizzed, no traces of smile on his face.

I shook my head, " I'm sorry, I would never do it again_”

"Of course you would never do it again because I wouldn't give you the chance to.” He cut me short with a smile and before I could plead my way through this mess, Zarek raised the bucket of water and emptied it’s contents on me.

He tossed the bucket aside and turned to look at me, running a hand through his head while I sat frozen in place.

“You don't get to deny me, Astrid. You belong to me and you must obey me no matter what." He lowered himself to my level and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up as him as a pain assaulted me. " You'll wear whatever I give you, or you'll spend the night like this—wet and freezing each time.”

I pushed his hand off me and hugged my knees to my shoulder. What sort of a life was this?

How did I jump from frying pan to fire?

I'm glared at him, but he remained calm, not in the least bothered by my intense glare.

“You either walk into that party on your own, wearing the dress….or I’ll have my men carry you in, drenched and humiliated.”

Knowing he was dead serious, I realized i had no real choice but to obey him.

With pure hatred in my eyes for this monster, I finally muttered, “Fine."

He slowly stood up straight with a satisfied smile. “Good girl."

He then turned to receive the dress the maid had brought in awhile ago, turning towards me to hand it over to me.

“Don't make me repeat myself next time." Was his final words before he turned to leave the room.

Asshole.