Chapter 3: Survival among the fittest.

Present day...

Iris'POV

Seven years passed in quick succession. It was my twenty-third birthday with no one to celebrate it with me. I stood before the broken mirror in my room in the Alpha Payne's palace, surprisingly elated. I slept in what may pass for a wreckage. Beside the miniature bed at the edge of the wall, and an old slanted warbrobe propped against the wall, the room screamed empty.

One would have thought living with the Alpha and his family would make me an adopted princess, but I love to burst that bubble. Somehow, it was rumored that I killed my parents and burned down the duplex to destroy the evidence. For years, I'd cry my eyes out, till there was no more to shed.

However, today was a different day; and I was determined to be happy against all odds- parent killer or not. It was an alias I wore like a second robe in the pack. Even the newborn pups knew my story.

I did a quick twirl before the mirror, and realised I had become more beautiful and appealing as a lady.

"My mate would have all of me to himself," I muttered to myself, kneading my breast in the most sensual way, spanking my well-rounded ass simultaneously. The mere thought of having my mate in my arms turned me on.

My ample breasts, curvy hips, curly auburn hair, and pointed nose were moulded just right for me. I jumped into an old pair of black boots, a denim jean pants, and a faded blue hooded sweatshirt, encouraging myself to start the day with an optimistic mind.

I rushed into the busy pack cafeteria, grabbing my apron from the old hanger beside the serving counter. The sight I saw almost made me choke on my saliva. Amelia was seated behind the counter with her friends, chattering endlessly as if they had nothing profitable to do than wearing my patience thin.

"You're late!" She barked. Her friends quieted down, turning to face me.

“What would you like me to serve you?” I asked, with a smile, deliberately waiving the question aside. It's my birthday, and no one, not even Amelia and her bag of troubles would ruin it for me, I swore.

“Just so you know, I hate seeing your face around here whenever I'm here. But my father has ordered that we should not stop coming here because you work here."

I had heard those unkind words said to me the upteenth time, and it's a wonder the harshness still managed to get to me. I wasn't strong enough to shield myself against them, but I hid the pain quiet well. I sighed, then smiled.

Amelia Payne, the only daughter of Alpha Payne was indeed a beauty to behold. She never stopped flaunting her conspicuous curves at every turn of her waist. Everywhere she went, a throng of friends trail behind her.

Of course, she was the glorified queen bee of her little pack of sadistic spoilt brats in the Dark Moon Pack.

“What may I offer you?” I asked again, trying frantically to veil the impact of her words gorging my heart out.

“Get me the usuals. ” She ordered with a waive of her slender hands.

I need not ask her what she meant because I knew exactly what she meant. She drinks her coffee with a measure of whisky in it without the knowledge of her father. And for my own safety and sanity, I dare not tell on her.

I brought her the mug on a golden tray with a tea spoon lying beside it. She brought the cup to her mouth and made a disgusted face after taking a sip. Without warning, she emptied the content of the cup into my face.

I cried like a child, and made for the faucet.

"That's for being a bitch and a wolf... and... and... and a bitch again." She stammered.

I knew I was wolfless, but a constant reminder hurts as hell. I spirited back to my room, bolting the door behind me with a bang. It didn't stop me from hearing their mocking laughters and jokes they made about me. That night, I cried my sockets out, and prayed to the moon goddess to bless me with a mate the thousandth time.

___

A few days later, I was called to Alpha Payne's quarters, hoping I hadn't gotten into a mess.

“The Alpha from the Gray Moon pack is interested in you and in a few days, you would go over to his pack as his mate and live with him as his Luna.” He said, with a tone of seriousness.

"But dad," Amelia protested, "why is she getting mated before me?" Amelia couldn't take the surprise in full support.

"Yours will come in it's time." Alpha Payne submitted calmly.

"She can't be mated before me," she cried, darting me a gaolish stare. "How can this... this... this thing get mated before me? And to make matters worse, to an Alpha of all werewolves.

"I've made up my mind." Alpha Payne thundered. " She's leaving to Alpha Gustav's mansion after the next waning moon." He rose up and stormed out of the palace with his daughter at his helms.

"This is so unfair dad!" She buried her face in her palms. " Am I not better than she can ever be? I'm royalty for Jupiter's sake!"

I couldn’t believe my ears as I had never thought that the day I would be betrothed to my mate was near. Best of all, he was an Alpha and I was going to be his Luna. I worked both in the cafeteria and palace happily, counting the days as they passed by slowly.

The long awaited day came. I smiled out of sleep as the first ray of sunlight kissed me awake, buzzing with excitement for the day. My heart was racing with anticipation as I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling of my small, cozy room.

I jolted out of bed and danced into the shower. Few maids came in to adorn me with jewelries and a black champagne gown that preached my curves. I slipped into a black strap shoe that shone brightly in the daylight, and it fitted perfectly. My auburn hair was retouched into waves, with glittering stones attached to it.

Looking into the broken mirror, I didn't see a broken neglected orphan, but a beautiful Luna-to-be. I was finally going to be sent off to my mate.

The journey down to the Crescent Pack was steep, long, and tiring. It was a seven hour drive from the Dark Moon Pack in the royal limousine.

When we arrived, I expected my mate to have prepared a red carpet to welcome me with him waiting at the end of the carpet, but none of that happened. I thought it odd, but I smiled the thought away. Maybe he had other surprises waiting for me in the mansion.

I climbed out of the car and took the few stairs unaided and unaccompanied. Not even the driver deemed it fit to escort me into the mansion.

The magnificent door opened before me as I was ushered into a large sitting room that could be mistaken for heaven. The domed sitting room was flamboyantly furnished with antique furniture and paintings on the wall like an art gallery. Every furniture and fittings had a tough of gold on them.

I saw the monet and I was totally flushed. I knew for sure that I would be happy there.

"This way, please." A voice from behind me jolted me out of my day dream. She was a rotund woman in her early sixties in purple flaired gown. She stood at the end of the flight of stairs that lead to the rooms from the sitting room. "I'm Madeline, the headmistress. And you'll be careful not to call me Maddy for your own good." She cast me an unwelcoming frown.

At a single clap of her hands, two shy maids with a bonnet and a peasant gown rush into the open from behind her. "Follow them. They'll lead you to your quarters." She ended and left, with the maids bowing to her.

They led me into a damp and dusty room and left without saying a word; a treatment I never expected. The room was crampy and dingy. It had a stark similitude with the room I was confined in at the palace from where I came.

I was going to be mated and marked by my mate very soon, and this was no way to treat their future Luna. But I smiled my way into the room instead, too tired to complain after the long hours on the road.

“I am going to tell Gustav his maids gave me an unhealthy welcome.” I pouted, feeling a sense of uneasiness I couldn't shake off.

___

The next day, I was awoken by the sound of a knock rapping against the brown cedar door. I stood up in a half conscious state, stifling a yawn. Slowly, I opened the door to be greeted by a tall handsome man, with the sweetest pair of brown eyes staring down at me.

“You must be Iris.” He said, coldly, not quite what I expected. He leaned his muscular frame against the doorpost, with one of his fingers caressing his brown moustache. His hair was permed into a side part, giving him away for a model. The short sleeved shirt he wore accentuated his biceps in a way that made me want to shut him up with my lips draped over his.

“Yes.” I responded with a smile, thinking of possible ways to pleasure the sex doll that stood seductively before me. 'We're gonna make beautiful pups someday,' I thought within me.

"Do you know who I am?" His face was vague and expressionless, Making it difficult to decipher his thoughts.

"You must be Alpha Gustav, my ma..."

“Don’t you dare say that word." He dragged between his teeth. " A wolfless weakling like you cannot be mated to an Alpha like me. You're a bad omen to me, and I can never make you my Luna.” He lashed out at me and all I could do was stare in shock.

“You want to know what’s worse?" He forced his way into the room, brushing past me rudely. "If you had the balls to kill your parents what assurance do I have that you won’t kill me too in my sleep someday?” He barked at me and pinned me harshly against the wall, making my weak clavicles squelch in protest.

When he saw a lone tear dropping from my eyes, he left me to run his fingers through his hair. He paced around the room, clicking his fingers rhythmically in unabashed annoyance.

In a flash, he punched a flower vase into the wall, and left the room without saying a word. Only a whiff of his shampoo and cologne filled the room in his absence.

Immediately he left, I fell to my knees, heartbroken. I thought I had found a mate who would love and protect me; but no, he also despised me like everyone else.

A few days later, I was still in my room, ashamed to come out because it felt as if the whole world knew that Gustav had rejected me. Although, the maids brought food to my room, my mood never improved since the humiliation I suffered.

That evening, Gustav came into my room without knocking and I was shocked, but also hoping that he came to apologize.

“I see you decided to stay in your room, and for how long would that be?” He asked as he moved closer to me on the bed, staring at my exposed cleavages seductively.

“I… I just feel tired.” I lied, feeling awkward at the sudden change of his character. I bowed my head in embarrassment, avoiding his lecherous gaze.

He stroked my hair slowly and pinned them behind my ear, bringing his face closer to mine.

"You're mine, after all." His brown eyes bore into my grey eyes sending goosebumps all over me. His eyes were charming and anyone could fall for it in a second, but I came back to my senses and backed my face off, fumbling uneasily with my hands.

“W…what are you up to?” I asked, fidgeting.

“I know you don't pass as my mate. I can't claim you to be mated to me. But one thing I'm sure of is that... " His eyes abandoned mine and travelled down my neck to the exposed part of my breast. The way he feasted his gaze on them told me for sure, that be wanted me. "Come closer.”

He slanted his head upward and sealed my lips with his, drawing in a long rough kiss. The kiss was wild and hard.

Although, I was yet to experience my first kiss, this douchebag sure knows how to make a first experience irritate a first timer.

He suckled ravenously at my lips like he was sucking the life out of my lungs, making me gasp for breath.

A mixture of fear and anger enveloped me, and I didn't know when I kicked his little man down there. He dropped painfully to the bed, groaning and muttering inaudibly.

Fuck! it was the most stupid thing to do.

When it dawned on me that my stupid head was as good on a spike as on a silver platter, I ran out of the room, past the maids, and the stationed guards at the large doorway into the woods adjacent the mansion.

“I am going kill you, Iris.” He blurted, still holding on to his member. "I swear by the Moon, I will!

***

Author's note: Hello beautiful reader, this story contains lots of cringy graphical contents ranging from bloodshed to torture and fiery sex. This is my first book, and I'll love to read your comments and reviews on it. Don't forget to gift a gem as a token of encouragement. XOXO : )