Chapter Three

LILIENE has gotten to realize that her stepmother pretended to be caring and kind to her since this morning to make up with the biggest wickedness she has committed to her this time. She sold her to someone she doesn't know. An Alpha?! What the hell is that strange man talking about?

“Miss,” a relaxed voice has snapped her out of her deep thoughts. Then three consecutive soft knocks followed.

Upon looking, she saw an old woman wearing a maid uniform standing next to her half closed door.

Well. She’s now currently resting in her bedroom after the butler ushered her here when her stepmother left. It was ordered by the man who bought her.

“Yes, Ma’am? What can I do for you?” she politely responded.

“Please, Miss. Just call me Sylvia. I am the head housemaid of the Walton's mansion," the old lady introduced herself to her. "May I please come in?" she asked for her permission.

Her body stiffened. She's not used to this. People asking her approval. She kept quiet for a moment as she is figuring out how to react or gave her response. It's just a simple Yes or No answer to the question, but it seems so hard for her. Her stepmother and stepsister did leave a deep wound and trauma to her whole being that it's difficult for her to adjust in her new surrounding - or will she be able to call it new home soon?

"Miss? Are you alright?" Sylvia spoke again. She's been observing her while waiting patiently for her consent.

She blinked twice and forced a smile. "Yes. P-Please come in," she finally did give a response. She let the old maid enter her room.

"Should I help you comb your hair?" Sylvia walked near to where she is sitting, on the vanity chair in front of the luxurious vanity table.

"I am pleased to accept your offer," she replied and lightly picked up the hair brush to hand over to the old maid.

Sylvia gladly took the hair brush from her. She started to comb her shiny brown hair that dangles down to her waist. "You have a lovely lustrous hair. It's soft too! What a natural beauty that you are, everything about you screams elegance," a compliment came out unmistakably from the old maid’s mouth while very focused on combing her hair with care and admiration. She made her feel so much appreciated with all her amazing words, it means so much to her.

"T-Thank you, Sylvia. You are an incredible person," she found her voice replying and it somehow felt at ease. Now, she's comfortably having a conversation with one of the maids even if she just arrived an hour ago. She is looking at Sylvia who’s still combing her long hair.

Suddenly, Sylvia cleared her throat. "We trust Mr. Walton on picking his soon-to-be wife. And we are genuinely happy to know that he picked someone like you. I feel that you'll be a suitable wife for him and a worthy madam of the mansion," the old lady shared her thoughts about her, and how she perceived her to be.

That made her heart jump in happiness. She never felt so accepted and hold in esteem her whole life living with her stepmother and stepsister not until at this very moment. Sylvia made her feel valuable of a person.

She turned to face her, embraced her tightly by the waist and buried her face on her abdomen. “Thank you,” she expressed her gratitude, teary-eyed. Eyes shut close feeling the warmth of Sylvia. Her upset mood had lighten up and is now delighted.

The old housemaid was taken aback. “W-What happened, Miss? I don’t understand what thankful about?” Sylvia raised her query, hands up air and the other one holding the hairbrush. But then she hugged her back after seconds of silence.

“You made me feel better. Your words hold weight and power upon encouraging me,” she looked up at her. Eyes glimmering were exposed and that made Sylvia’s disbelief look to ease off. “I will try to give Mr. Walton a chance. You are treating me nicely which can somehow mean that he’s a good boss to you.” A smile made way to her lips.

Sylvia caressed her head and then her cheeks. “He’s truly a gentleman. Please, don’t refer or trust the twisted statements the public are throwing at him.”

Their touching moment is disturbed by another knocks on her door. They both, she and Sylvia, looked at who has arrived at her doorstep.

“Nita?” Sylvia called out the name of the person outside her room, who’s also wearing a maid uniform.

The person named Nita is obviously astounded to find them hugging. She knows that this is an unexpected and unusual occurrence between a madam and a maid. But she knows very well that she’s no madam because of how she grew up with a maid’s life, she’s no different from them.

Sylvia realizes the reaction of the upcomer and dropped her gently from embracing her waist. She silently watched as the old maid stood a meter away from her before facing the fellow maid who’s still standing by the doorstep. “What brings you here, Nita?”

“Please come inside,” she also spoke and she gestured her to enter.

The latter walked inside her bedroom but just enough to stand behind the door. Then Nita bowed to her to show respect, greeted her before relaying a message. “Good evening, Miss. I came to inform you that a woman named Ayesha who introduced herself as your stepsister is waiting for you downstairs.”

Her eyebrows furrowed and she is puzzled to why she came here? Didn’t she wanted her to get lost? Why is following her this time?

“A PLEASANT evening, my dear stepsister,” a sarcastic greeting from Ayesha as Liliene was walking down the staircase leading to the living room.

Liliene crossed her arms on her chest. She couldn’t help but to raise an eyebrow. “You wanted me out of the house, right? Then why are you following me here?” She didn’t waste any time for greeting back or welcoming her visit, she asked her right away.

Ayesha smirked devilishly before forcing the man sitting on the couch to get up. She clings her arms around the familiar man’s arm, while doing it, her stepsister didn’t lose making eye contact with her. “I am announcing my engagement with Joaquin. You may not be informed. So we came here just in case,” she replied to her question and handed over a box wrapped into a gift.

It was Sylvia who took the box then went to her side to hold it and presenting it in front of her.

“That’s a small gift for your upcoming wedding. I am certain that me and mother will not be invited so I came here to give it to you,” she clarified what’s the box supposedly.

She didn’t gave any response. She’s focused on Joaquin, her childhood sweetheart. She thought that someday it will be him she will be marrying and build a family with. Everything turned out differently. Future is harsh sometimes, it never works according to the plan. She admits that she is hurting to see him marrying someone else – worst part is that it’s her stepsister.

“You should get married as soon as possible, Liliene. You know how mother and our clan is very traditional, the eldest child should get married first before the next one can wed too. Make it quick so I can marry Joaquin by next month,” Ayesha won’t stop talking, has the nerve of giving a demand.

That irritated her.

“Enough!” She bawled and her eyes dueled on with Ayesha’s eyes. This time she will not show any fear. Her eyes full of rage however her body maintained composure and calmness. “Leave now,” her controlled angered voice spoke again.

She saw how Ayesha’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Y-You! How dare you shout at me?” Knowing her stepsister, she’s the type of person who doesn’t want to be bullied.

“I said leave!” She repeated with her voice raised. Her tone still sounded exasperated.

Ayesha snapped out of acting like a good little sister and transformed into a bad bitch as she is. She’s about to attack her, the little monster going wild, but Joaquin immediately stopped her and hold her wrists.

“Let’s go, Ayesha. You said you just want to give the gift. You already handed it over to her. Now, off we go back home,” Joaquin scolded her while trying to pull her to stop from waggling.

“Your violence is not welcome here, Ayesha. Remember that you are in my territory,” she warned her.

Her stepsister stopped trying to free herself from being hold down. Faced her with her chin up. She tsked, gave out a smirk then moved her jaw. “This is not yet your territory. You are still not a wife of Mr. Walton so stop being arrogant, claiming what’s not yours.”

“Mr. Walton purchased me, remember? It means he already claimed me. I already secured the title of being his wife, so what’s his is also mine technically,” she didn’t back off and retorted. “It’s your own mother’s doing.”

Ayesha showed how annoyingly mad she was. She gave a final push to Joaquin to free her wrists. “This will reach mother!” Had blowed final words before stomping her heels on the floor to leave. Her fiancé followed her, and the two disappeared.

Liliene was comforted by Sylvia afterwards and supported her carefully back to her bedroom.

IT IS TIME. The full moon shone brightly in the vast dark sky. Dylan whose watching it on his balcony sipped from his rock glass.

“Miss Liliene had her dinner and is now back to her room,” the butler, Randy, came to him to report. “I asked Sylvia to get her ready for the mating phase.”

He faced Randy. “Bring her to my bedchamber in the basement,” he ordered in his authoritative tone. Deep and hideous.

Randy nervously swallowed a lump from his throat. He seems concerned of what might happen to Liliene. “Y-Yes, Alpha Dylan. We will take her there,” he acknowledged his command.

“I expect her to be there in thirty minutes. You may take your leave.”

“As you wish, Alpha.” He bowed to him before leaving the study room.

He sipped again from his drink and looked up to the full moon one last time. He went to his office table, left the rock glass there and walked out of the study.

He entered his bedroom in the second floor of the mansion. He took off all his clothes then gone straight to the shower room.

A preparation is needed. He wants to be his most gorgeous looking self with his Luna.

A KNEE LENGTH white dress given by Mr. Walton perfectly hugged Liliene’s body. As well as the soft like cotton slippers she was wearing was given by her soon to be husband.

Sylvia put a light make up on her face and helped her comb her hair while drying it with a blower. She just took a shower because she was asked to prepare for a weird thing they called mating phase.

“You have to prepare yourself, Miss. Tonight, Alpha Dylan will mark you as his Luna and you as well has to do it. After the marking, it is up to the both of you to continue mating tonight or may decide to consummate it after the wedding,” Sylvia advised her. They are still both busy drying her hair.

She stopped what they doing. She looked at Sylvia through the vanity mirror. She needs clarification right now! “I need to know everything.” She breathed out to get herself together. “Why are you referring him as Alpha Dylan and keep calling me his Luna? Help me understand. Please,” she earnestly plead.

“Your stepmother really did not tell you anything?” Sylvia asked.

She nodded. “All she said to me is I am purchased to marry Mr. Walton in exchange of saving my late father’s company that’s facing bankruptcy.” Saddened voice sparked due to a heavy heart of having her father crossed her mind.

“Brace yourself, Miss,” the old housemaid told her first before she proceed with the explanation.

“Werewolves exist in our world. Secretly living and blending with the human race. A few knows our existence but only the trusted and chosen humans depending on the situation. Werewolves are divided into packs lead by the Alphas. Our pack is called Bloodfury and it is Alpha Dylan who reigns supreme. An Alpha need to choose a mate which is called as Luna.” An informative short statement gave out to clarify her thoughts.

“It should be clear to you now. Alpha Dylan has chosen you to become his Luna, his mate and the woman she wants to produce an heir to his throne. To continue our pack’s bloodline,” Sylvia added.

“Your patience of telling me the truth should be rewarded with gratitude. I will ask Mr. Walton to grant a wish you have been wanting to acquire.” Even though her head is about to explode of what she found out. She still managed to act calm despite of it. “And as for myself, I have to attend to my Alpha now. I need to be there before 12 midnight as per his request. Don’t worry about me, Sylvia. I accept my faith and I am proceeding to the marking phase.” She hold Sylvia’s hand sitting on top of her right shoulder and tap it lightly.

Everything will be okay. They trust Alpha Dylan, then she should too.

LILIENE MADE her entrance inside the gloomy bedroom in the basement. It is painted with a red and dark blue color. The only furnitures were a round table with a chair near the door, a cabinet below an expensive painting and a bed with four-poster bed frame.

She panicked and uncontrollably shrieked upon hearing the loud bang of the closing door. She immediately swirl around to look behind her and to behold the intruder.

“M-Mr. Walton,” her shaky voice muttered the name of the man who intrudes the room, towering her and looking at her with blank expression on his breathtakingly handsome face.

“Under the full bright moon. As the clock ticks 12 of midnight. I will mark you as my Luna. But before we pursue the marking, I respectfully ask you to state whether you accept me or reject me as your mate?” His husky voice had uttered.

She blinked twice. She heard the sudden loud thumping of her heartbeat and how it beats fast with the mere fact of seeing her fiancé again. This man consumed her sanity just this whole night of stepping into his mansion.

“Liliene?” He called for her name. Waiting for her anticipated decision.

“I-I Liliene Rose Denver, your purchased bride, Accept you Dylan Wayne Walton as my mate and future Alpha,” she followed what Sylvia taught her and formally profess her declaration.

In a flash of light, Mr. Walton is already in front of her and holding her hands. His bulky built towered her small petite figure. “I Dylan Wayne Walton, Alpha of the Bloodfury Pack, Accept you Liliene Rose Denver as my mate and future Luna.” He declared with confidence.

The next thing happened quickly. She couldn’t even find herself time to react.

Mr. Walton’s eyes turned red. His fangs grew, flashing out of his mouth. His nails transformed into claws. A half-transition of becoming a werewolf. She is seeing it for real. She stood there froze. Even until he buried his face on her neck.

All she remembers before passing out is the extreme pain from her Alpha’s fangs buried on her supraclavicular fossa, his tedious bite that will soon become a marking.