Chapter 0003

AMBER

"I am sorry, Agni. I failed you. You always told me to be strong and be myself but I guess I was so blinded by my desire to get some love and acceptance, I didn't notice where it would lead us." I mumbled while rocking back and forth on the soft seat.

They had locked me up in the piano room after forcing me to sign the paper so that I wouldn't run away. Not that I had a choice. They would find me and if I rejected the pack bond, I would turn into a rogue.

I didn't want to be a rogue. There were rogue hunters assigned by the Council everywhere and if they found me, I would be sent to the Haven’s Edge. The Edge was a messed up place where rogues were beaten up or turned into slaves. Women were trafficked to other high-ranking wolves and I didn't even want to think about what was done to them. It was worse than a person's nightmare.

If I was powerful, they wouldn't have been able to force me into anything. My life wouldn't have been this terrible. I had trained hard when I was with Agni, but I put all my strength into the wrong places. It went into caring and protecting a bunch of heartless people who didn't deserve to be protected.

I was going to be with a dangerous man who might kill me. If he doesn't, his pack surely would. But I would have to survive. At least I had to try.

Suddenly the door sprang open, startling me and Cooper stepped in. He looked around the large room and his eyes found me. "Amber." He exhaled in relief and locked the door behind him.

A chill ran down my spine as he approached me. Why was he here?

"I looked for you everywhere but I couldn't find you. Finally, Abby told me where you are so I ran here." He said and before I could speak, he pulled my hand. His eyes fell on the mark on my hand, "Did they do that to you?!"

I was shocked to see anger blazing in his eyes. My jaw clenched and I yanked my hand away.

"Don't touch me." I spat and he looked taken aback by my response.

He ran his hands through his hair and spoke, "Amber look, I am sorry for what happened out there. I–I didn't have a choice."

I raised a brow, "Why? Did they threaten you?"

He exhaled and looked around, avoiding my sharp gaze on him, "It's complicated. I can't explain–"

"Yes, Cooper." I interrupted him, "You seriously can't explain why you cheated on me for so many years, that also with Abby." I said and looked away.

"Did she tell you that? Fuck!" He slammed his fist against the wall, "See, she tried to seduce me and I was–it just happened."

I scoffed, "It just happened? I don't think one person can cheat on someone for so many years. Stop trying to defend your actions, Cooper. It's not going to make it right."

I used to be naive and thought that the times he canceled on me were because he was busy training. He was the Alpha's son so he had a lot to work on. I should have been a little doubtful.

"I know, I know. I screwed up. But try to understand why I did it. Amber, you know how my pack is. I kept a good relationship with Abby because it came with privileges." His eyes sparkled as he spoke, "I finally got the power I deserved. You know, Dad said he would hand over his Alpha title to me and not to Lydia because I have managed to gain a powerful alliance!" Excitement flashed through his eyes like a maniac who had finally received the gold he was chasing for so long.

Cooper's dad, the current ruling Alpha of the pack of West, the Drevine Pack, had a bad relationship with Copper. He looked down upon his son's capabilities because Cooper always lived a flamboyant life, running away from responsibilities. So he had declared he would make his younger sister Lydia the future Alpha of the pack.

When I met Cooper, he was in a difficult place and he used to share how his dad's indifference towards him hurt him. I used to relate to him because Dad was no different and that's how I connected with him. But I made a mistake. I thought he would work hard for his position but it turned out that he took the other path, which was to marry my sister and hence create a powerful alliance with the West and South.

The West was going through an economic crisis and the alliance with the South would benefit them a lot.

"No, Cooper. I don't get it. If you were hell-bent on marrying my sister for power, then why did you approach me? You could have simply gone for her. Why put me through all of this?!" I demanded with my voice cracking a little.

"I know, I am sorry. I shouldn't have done what I have done but–" he sighed again, "It was a bet."

"What?!"

"Yeah, my friends in Drevine dared me to date you. Initially, I thought it would be just a fun dare–"

"You thought it was funny to play with my feelings just because of a dare?" I said and gritted my teeth. Goddess, how could I not see through any of that?

"No! Not at all. I would have told you before it got worse but–"

"But what?! You thought it would be funnier to watch my heart break? To mark me and then reject me?!"

"Of course not, Amber." He flinched at my outbreak. "I-I thought it would be a small affair but then I fell in love with you."

Silence.

I was speechless.

"Yeah. I fell in love with you. You were so kind and supportive. I would tell myself every single day that I would break up with you, but I guess I was getting too attached to you."

"Really? And what about marking me?" I pointed at my neck, "You knew how it would affect us both, and yet you marked me!"

"Come on, baby, it's not a big deal. My friends mark girls now and then. I couldn't just let you hold my mark while I got married to Abby. They wouldn't have let me marry her. So I did what I had to."

"Seriously, Cooper? It was not a big deal? How can you say that after all the pain you caused me!"

"Fucking shut up!" He growled and I stiffened, "I am trying to be reasonable with you and here you are, acting like some stupid schoolgirl! You forget that I went through the pain too, okay? So stop acting like a victim here!"

I was shocked at the change in his tone. What kind of person had I been dating for so many years? Was he wearing a mask all this while I thought that he was a good person?

"I am not acting like a victim! It's you who cheated on me. You betrayed me, rejected me in front of an entire crowd, and at this point, you are saying that you felt the pain? You destroyed five years of my life and all you can say is that it's not a big deal?!" I growled back. I wanted to punch him right in the face.

Cooper growled back in his Alpha tone and a cold sweat broke out across my forehead.

"Don't you use that fucking tone with me, Unlucky freak!" He smirked, "What are you even acting so entitled for, huh?" He asked.

I held the edge of the window as I stammered under his presence, "W-what do you mean?"

His smirk grew and he took a step closer to me, the heel of his shoes clicking against the marble floor, "You are just a pathetic girl who is hated by everyone in the pack. You murdered your own mother, you endangered the life of others. No one wants you, Amber."

He leaned closer and grabbed me by the chin. "I did you a favor. You should be thankful to me for eternity because no one in their right mind would love someone like you." His words cut through my heart like a blade.

"Th-that's not true. I–I…" My lips trembled.

He grinned an evil one that spooked me to the core, "You…are…just…unlovable, Amber. Accept it. And I cared for you." He ran his index finger down my neck and what used to feel like a loving touch felt like a stinging burn. I just wanted to get away from him and wash my entire body until it had no traces of him.

"Stop it. Please…" I didn't want to beg, but his aura and the way he looked at me scared me.

"I still care for you, baby. I talked with Abby and she's fine with my proposal."

"What proposal?" I felt an icy drop of sweat slide down my back.

"Once the Valeford pack learns that you are wolf-less, they would want nothing to do with you, right? I'll take you under me."

"I don't want to do anything with you," I said while pinching the bridge of my nose in disgust.

He laughed menacingly, "Don't be so petty, baby. How are you going to spend your days with your ugly husband? I know you will regret it and run back to me. I will be there for you, I promise." He inched closer to my lips and dug his nails into my lower lip.

I yelled in pain and tried to fight him, but my body couldn't move. The aura of his rank pressed over me and since my fight back at Dad’s office had left me exhausted, I was powerless against him.

"I'll take care of you after that ugly crap rejects you. You will be a good girl and warm by bed then, right?" He asked and placed one hand on the neckline of my dress. "Maybe I should make it easier. I will taint your body a little and when that beast will smell me on you, he will want to reject you immediately. Nobody likes used goods." He chuckled and my knuckles turned white.

Cooper and I had our share of intimacy when we were in a relationship but after he had unmarked me, I was pretty much like a virgin again. But if he did what he said at this moment, then anybody with good senses could smell him on me.

He tore my sleeves and I used all my strength to push him away, but I was no match for his strength.

"No! Stop it!" I launched a punch right at his face but he held my wrist and I yelled in pain as he twisted my hand, especially in the area which was already bruised. My healing was slower than others because I lost my wolf so he used that opportunity and pushed me.

I fell onto the floor with a thud and my body trembled in fear as I saw his wolf flash in his eyes.

"You are mine to ruin. It is better if you accept it already! " He stomped on my foot and I yelled in pain.

Black dots danced in front of my vision and the room spun as I struggled to hold onto my consciousness. Was there no hope left for me? Was my luck going to screw me up even if I tried to change it?

My eyes felt heavy and tears ran down my face as I witnessed my own destruction.

"It's okay, Amber. Just relax there. I will be quick–"

Just when I thought there was no hope left, the locked door shattered right in front of my eyes. Through the gap emerged a tall figure draped in a tailored black three-piece suit. My heart raced as I caught sight of his face concealed under a matching black mask.

Despite my blurred vision, the sheer force of his presence overwhelmed the piano room as he stepped forward. His powerful aura seemed to fill every inch of the space, leaving no room for any other aura. "Get your hands off my wife!" he growled, his voice a low, commanding rumble that sent shivers down my spine.