CHAPTER 3 - MEETING WITH HIM

   As I slowly regained consciousness, my eyes struggled to adjust to the harsh rays of sunlight streaming through the cracks in the dilapidated walls of the shabby camp. My head throbbed with pain, and I felt disoriented, unable to comprehend what had happened to me.

     As my blurry vision cleared, I saw a group of people nearby, their faces etched with exhaustion and despair. They seemed like slaves, bound to the chairs and poles that kept them captive. Fear gripped my heart as I realized I was among them, trapped in this hellish place, my arms tied to the chair I was sitting on.

     My memory slowly flooded back, and I remembered the sound I had made before losing consciousness, the sight of my father's eyes, calm but with a chilling coldness underneath. I had hoped he would come for me, but instead, he had abandoned me once again. Where exactly is this place? That was the first question that kept echoing in my head. And how did I get here?

       Trepidation coursed through my veins as I scanned my surroundings, wondering how I had ended up here and who had brought me to this wretched place. Just as despair threatened to consume me, the room's door creaked open, revealing a man who entered with a smile that sent shivers down my spine. He was tall and definitely slender, with scars all over his face and bare arms. He approached me, patting my cheek casually, as if we were old acquaintances.

    "Oh, finally you are awake. I thought you were gonna sleep all the morning away. Good morning, by the way," he said with a twisted cheerfulness. "You don't have to worry about anything, okay? Breakfast will be ready soon."

    Did he just say I shouldn't worry because of breakfast? What about being tied to a chair in the dilapidated building? I glared at him, a silent plea in my eyes as I gestured for him to untie me.

      Being mute, I feared the communication barrier would only make my predicament worse. There was no way I could express myself better than to make head movements. However, the man smiled and nodded gently as though he understood what I was just gestured.

    "Listen to me, my name is Dragon and you must be wondering what you are doing here," He said, his voice dripping with a twisted sense of charm.

    "Do not expect me to just untie you, know... It doesn't happen that way. I need to trust you. Your father had sold you to me for a staggering sum of 10 million golden wolf coins and I can't afford to lose you after so much I have spent, do you understand?" He revealed, his casual admission striking me like a sledgehammer. My father did sell me to a brothel? Why? When? Realizing that this was something my father was truly capable of doing, tears welled up in my eyes, tracing down my cheeks as the realization settled in. My own father had truly sold me into a wretched existence, a life of bondage in a brothel.

     Dragon, seemingly unfazed by my tears, raised my head by my chin, his grip firm. "You do not have any reasons to be sad. There will be a very slight difference between your previous life and now. You will be fed and that too, regularly. You will be clothed, and given a luxurious chamber but that's only going to happen if you cooperate with us. You might be booked tonight for you are looking so fresh and hot, so I'll ask some one to dress you up whenever you are ready," He said and with a smirk on his face, he left the room, leaving me to contemplate what had befallen me.

     As time passed, desperation grew within me, fueling my determination to escape this wretched fate. I can't just sit here, helplessly. I will have to find my way out of here. I said to myself as I began to give it a try. While attempting to free myself from the restraints, a group of masked guards suddenly appeared.

   They stood in front of me and bowed slightly, "Do give us the permission to untie you," they said in unison. Initially, I thought I didn't hear what they said. I looked into their green eyes through their masks, waiting for them to repeat what they said and they did. My eyes distended in horror and surprise. I didn't know if I should be elated or scared. Why have they come to untie me?

     The duo quickly untied me, leading me to the bathroom where they provided new clothes. I had a very quick hot bath and changed into the new dress. I know I was supposed to be panicking, but instead I was curious to know what to happen next. For I believe no one was going to force himself on me. The guards then escorted me to a room where I was met with a sight that filled me with both shock and hope. 

    "Oh wait, what is going on here?" I asked myself, batting my eye lids now and then to confirm if I wasn't imagining.

    Alpha Axford. What is he doing here? Could it be that he had come to save me?

    But as I laid my eyes on Axford, a wave of shock and confusion washed over me. He sat there, calmly sipping wine, his icy eyes piercing through my soul. I couldn't help but feel that I had stepped into an even more perilous situation. Could he be the owner of this brothel? If he was, what was his plan this time??

     The guards departed after releasing my arms, leaving me alone with Axford in the dimly lit room. I stood before him, my heart pounding in my chest, unsure of what to expect. He walked out yesterday as though he never wanted to see me again. What had he come to do now? Suddenly, Axford nonchalantly dropped his glass of wine, his icy gaze cutting through me once again. I felt a chill creep along my skin as I wondered what dangers awaited me in this room. His next words shattered any hope I had left.

     "I know you must have alot you want to say. How unfortunate, you can't. I found out that you're the only one who can get close to me without being hurt by my aura. That was really surprising and I was just so shocked and confused that I couldn't even think straight at that time. This only have one meaning, okay? We're mates!" Axford declared, his tone devoid of any warmth or affection. 

    I mustered a small, knowing smile, silently acknowledging that I had anticipated this revelation. But Axford's following words stung deeply.

    "Yes, we are mates and I already rejected you. I'm not here to claim you back or something. I want nothing to do with you," he continued, his voice filled with disdain. Each word felt like a blow to my heart, the pain intensifying with every syllable. "Well, I believe you to be weak, a liability to my position as an Alpha. Your weak nature poses a threat to me. I see you as nothing more than an easy target, someone who could be taken advantage of. That's the truth and you can't expect me to accept you that way. And for your information, I am not sorry for rejecting you. You so deserve it."

   As he spoke, I fought back the tears that threatened to fall, wiping them away swiftly. I refused to show him any weakness. Not at this moment. But the question was, why did he come to meet me if this is all you wanted to say?

   At once, my silence seemed to irk him, and he took a step closer to me, his voice filled with impatience, "I still don't believe you can't talk, you have to say something before I leave. Ask me how am I?" 

     Confusion etched across my features as I shook my head, indicating that I couldn't speak. I had no voice. Axford chuckled, his amusement mocking my vulnerable state.

    "What do you mean by you can't speak? Why do my fated mate have to be different from everyone? You must say something." He yelled angrily.

    Then, in a sudden burst of rage, as I was about to shake my head again, Axford grabbed me by the neck, pinning me against the wall, his grip tightening as he forced me to make a sound, any sound.

     My throat constricted, my breath coming in labored gasps as I struggled against his hold. Panic surged through my veins, even more potent than before. As Axford's angry eyes bored into mine, my mind raced, desperately formulating a plan of escape. He had gone crazy, it seemed.