~CHAPTER ONE~

~Chapter One~

Elara’s POV

“Just do it, Elara,” Sarai whispered from behind me. “Give it to the man at the head of the table.

"I promise you, he will clear your debt to the house. You’ll finally be free from your aunt's torment.”

I sighed. This was my only chance to cover three months of rent my aunt had been piling up on me.

I could almost hear her voice in my head: “You only enjoy what you earn in this house, pay up, or leave.”

At first, I thought I could just leave. Start over. But where? The streets? cold and hungry, while my aunt would go around telling everyone how useless I was?

No. I couldn’t bear the thought.

Sarai had been the only one willing to help. We had known each other for just three months as our new neighbor, yet she proved to be a friend and confidant .

She showed up whenever I had aunty problems.

She wiped my tears and whispered, “There’s a private meeting tonight. You can make triple of what you owe. You just need to serve him in both ways.

She winked afterwards, expecting me to understand that.

“One night and you’re done with your aunt’s cruelty. Probably get a place with the money, ” she added.

My stomach twisted at her words. But I accepted without thinking.

I had no choice but to accept a cost I wasn’t ready to pay. I had realized survival didn’t ask for dignity.

The moment I arrived at the ball with her, I got disoriented as she gave me the drink meant for just him.

I carried the tray, my hands trembling. My palms were really sweaty, making it slippery.

Focus! I told myself, shaking my head.

The walls were too high, carved with strange moons and wolf-like creatures I couldn’t identify. The building looked older, but modern too.

I did not think twice about following her to a neighboring town I knew nothing about. But now my chest pounded profusely, I wondered if I had made a mistake.

High-class men and women filled the ballroom, jewelry gleamed under the chandeliers.

Yet, still different from anywhere I had ever been.

I stared at the huge men at the table. The air around them seemed to vibrate with suffocating pressure.

Their eyes were shining in an unusual way, turning at every sound I made.

I appeared like a chick in a room full of hawks.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked Sarai, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, I am. You need the money. Go now, don’t keep him thirsty.”

The words echoed in my head. I hated that I was agreeing to this. Hated that it had come to this.

I swallowed hard holding the tray tight. All I could think about was making it through without messing up.

I stepped into the ballroom, keeping my head low, trying to keep my balance from falling.

My stomach twisted so hard. With their eyes on me, I didn’t dare to look back.

Don’t trip.

Please don't draw attention. I kept telling myself.

I walked straight to the man. He looked like the most influential among them with a broad chest, sharp jaw, his Black hair falling over his forehead and his dark eyes gave me chills.

I got lost in them, my heart beat differently in a way I had never before. This time, far from fear.

“Your drink, sir,” I managed to say.

At that moment, I thought I had overcome my fear, but his gaze on me was like a weight pinning me to the spot.

He reached out. His fingers brushed mine in a way that made me gasp, nearly dropping the tray. He paused, his dark eyes narrowing as he took the glass.

He didn’t look away from me as he tilted his head back, and I watched him gulp it down in one go.

I bowed my head slightly, yet my eyes still lingered on him.

Oh my… the sight of him was beautiful to behold.

He scoffed. The sound alerted me back.

“ More,” he said with a smirk.

I swallowed and quickly looked away.

And just like that, his body went rigid.

In a split second, his hand held his throat as he let go of the glass, and it shattered on the floor, the dark red liquid splashing across his white shirt like blood.

“Alpha!” Everyone present shouted, leaping from their chairs and surrounding him.

Alpha? Was that his name? My eyes widened at the sight of him falling to the ground. Is he okay?

Many questions replayed in my head at once. My heart beat fast.

He collapsed forward. Dark foam bubbled at the corner of his mouth.

They surrounded him. Some checked his heart beat.

“Call the pack doctor!” someone shouted. The word made my head spin. Pack doctor?

Within minutes, a man in a white coat arrived, examining him quickly.

Some people’s eyes were already fixed on me.

My stomach twisted as I wished the ground would swallow me.

“Wolfsbane,” he said, with a pale face. “Someone poisoned him.”

Everyone gasped aloud, including me. My body began to burn hot in a cold room.

“Bring the healing potion,”he ordered his assistant.

“What?” One of the men beside him shouted. “Who would dare?”

All who handled the food and drinks tonight, step forward,” he commanded.”

I moved forward, gripped the tray tighter like a lifeline trying to steady my hands from shaking.

The kitchen staff moved forward into a line, their eyes widened, hands holding onto their clothes.

He moved down the line, his eyes scanning us. “Who did this ?”

“You know the rules of this pack. Anyone who tries to harm the Alpha will face punishment and double, if they don’t come forward immediately.” He added.

My heart pounded so hard when I saw the fear on everyone else’s faces as the guards questioned them but they all pleaded innocent.

My gaze kept moving to Sarai before the guards approached her. I got scared for her.

“Don’t lie. You did this” he interrogated.

No..she pressed her hand to her chest, eyes widened and teary “I don’t know anything! She pointed at me. She did it!”

Everyone turned and gasped at me.

“Wait, how?” I stepped backwards, my eyes wide open. My ears started ringing.

It all went like a drama play I wasn’t part of.

I whispered, “Sarai, cut the joke. It’s not the time.”

“Yes. I saw you, Elara! I asked what was in it and you lied to me!” She yelled.

Trying to take a step back, two massive guards grabbed my arms so hard it hurt my shoulders.

I struggled to run, but their grip on me was strong.

“What are you saying?” I stuttered, looking towards Sarai.

I was panting like I had run a marathon. I couldn’t even think.

“Why would I do that,” I said, trying to defend myself.

She didn’t look back. She was already tucked behind a massive man in a suit, her face hidden.

“Wicked bitch! You tried to poison the Alpha?” someone in the crowd yelled.

“No, no… I didn’t- ”

I wasn’t even done with my sentence when a painful slap landed on my face.

“Who sent you!” she screamed at the top of her voice.

“I have nothing to do with this!” I yelled, tears rolling down my cheeks. “I just came to work. Sarai, please tell them.”

“I can’t defend this atrocity, Elara. she replied coldly. “count me out!”

“What?”

What was happening here? What came over Sarai all of a sudden?

All eyes stared at me with hate and disgust. I couldn't believe my quest for survival would lead to my doom at the hands of a friend I trusted. It played out like a dream.

“Then explain what’s happening?” she said, pointing to him.

I turned, and all I could hear was a growl. His fingernails lengthened into black claws, and his skin folded like something was moving beneath it.

Everywhere was silent now.

“He’s.. he’s breathing,” someone whispered.

He sat up. He didn’t look like the man who had been lying almost dead. His dark eyes were now glowing gold.

Everywhere suddenly became stone quiet.

My heart stopped. What the fuck is he? What’s happening here?

He moved toward me slowly, his eyes locked on mine.

I sobbed, struggling against the guards. “Please!”

The guards stepped back, bowing their heads.

I gasped as he leaned down, his hand brushing my shoulder before gripping my neck just enough to pin me in place.

He sniffed me, his nose close to my hair, and a strange heat radiated off him, almost enough to burn my skin.

The tables shook slightly. The people around him trembled, almost losing their stance.

What was he?

“A human,” he said with a loud voice that sent heat through my chest. “Sent to kill me?”

He let out a terrifying laugh after that.

Human? What else would I be?

“No…please, I wouldn’t dare.” I stammered, shaking my head.

His beautiful face and sharp jaw with glowing eyes sent shivers down my spine. I almost forgot my agony for a moment.

I didn’t know what he was, yet I thought I had fallen into the wrong trap.

His hot breath against my ear snapped me back to reality, and a whisper that was about to turn my life into a living hell followed.

“I’m going to make you wish you had succeeded, little girl.”