CHAPTER 2

Mila blinked as men approached her from all sides and she knew it was now or never.

"Don't you wonder why they were there to force me back?" Mila shouted.

The alpha raised his hand to stop his men.

"I don't care if they were they fucked you or ate you alive. You are too pathetic for my another minute," the alpha spoke without interest.

"If it is my last day on Earth, I want to know what that smell is," Grace moaned.

"Twelve times I ran away, twelve times they dragged me back," Mila continued.

"Just proves you are utterly useless. Couldn't even learn from your past mistakes, got caught every time," the alpha brushed his hand airily.

"Take her," the alpha announced and two men picked up the chains and started to drag her away.

She was at the gate of the big room when the smell that was tantalizing Grace hit Mila's nostrils too and Mila stopped. For the first time in her life, her mouth watered and her knees gave in.

"What is it?" this time it was Mila who cried, while Grace was doing a hula-hoop in her head, trying to find the source. She fell on the floor and looked up and down the long corridor. Where was the smell wafting from?

"STOP!" a demanding voice came from behind her. As she turned quickly to find the source, she noticed that the men who were dragging her were now practically on her head, ready to heave her to her feet.

Both men retreated slightly and a boy, no a young, blonde, gorgeous man, was standing a little away from her, staring down at her curiously.

"Father," the man turned and addressed the alpha.

Mila's heart sank as she realized that the tempting smell was wafting from not some food but from the man. As the man walked to the alpha, the smell too drifted with him, confirming Mila's doubts.

"I want to eat him," Grace spoke sensually. "No, I want to serve him on a platter, garnish him with all the flavors, and savor every inch of his skin, while he writhes, naked," Grace added.

As Mila pictured what Grace was saying, a giggle escaped her lips.

The man, who was talking to the alpha seriously, stopped and turned to look at him.

"You have a death wish?" he asked Mila seriously.

Mila shrugged.

"Arthur, why are you bothering with her?" the alpha demanded.

"Arthur, what a delicious name. It's like it dissolves in the mouth," Grace moaned.

"Father," Arthur was saying, "Keats clan were practically invincible. Yes, we defeated them but we couldn't find the source. They were protecting her, aren't you a bit curious why?"

"Look at her, she is pathetic, she cannot be a weapon. She is not even a wolf," the alpha barked.

"I think we should wait and observe her," Arthur suggested.

"You know our rules," the alpha spoke and it was clear to Mila that the alpha never said no to his son.

"Can you cook?" Arthur asked Mila.

"No," Mila shook her head.

"It is 'no, my lord'," another voice boomed.

Arthur shook his hand to the man and added, "Can you clean perhaps?"

"No, my lord," Mila replied.

"I think she was their whore," the alpha laughed.

Arthur's fisted his hands and exhaled, then smiled and asked, "Were you?"

"No, I am no one's whore," Mila directed her answer towards the alpha, who scoffed sarcastically.

"What did you do then?" Arthur requested.

Mila was about to reply when three girls entered the hearing room. A hush fell as they made way towards Arthur.

"Arthur, what is your mate doing in these chambers?" the alpha demanded.

Arthur looked uncomfortably around, then at the girls. Was Mila imagining it or did his eyes flicker towards her too?

"My apologies, my lord," a girl draped in a yellow floral dress bowed in front of the alpha. "Arthur was spending time with me but then suddenly, he started getting, well, itchy," the girl looked apologetically towards Arthur, who shot her a dirty look. "He wouldn't stay and left to be here. I just came to see what pulled my mate's interest more than I!"

Everyone around stared at each other. Even Mila found these words disconcerting. When a wolf is with his/her mate, nothing else can draw him/her away, not like this at least.

"Is this true, Arthur?" the alpha demanded.

The girl in yellow floral dress was now glaring at Mila, and so were two handmaiden - who were standing two steps behind the girl.

"Chloe is just acting fanatically, father," Arthur started, stealing yet another glance towards Mila. "I heard the news of defeating Keats clan and the capture of sole survivor. I was curious. After all, Keats clan is, well was, our biggest rival."

Everyone was eased by these words but Mila knew he was lying. Where Mila was enjoying the way Arthur was stealing looks in her direction, Grace was growling and was ready to pounce at the girl who was Arthur's supposed mate.

"Chloe, please wait outside," Arthur requested. Chloe's eyes widened at this request.

"What do you want to do with the girl then," the alpha added hastily. He could sense Chloe was upset with his son and didn't want trouble in paradise.

"What is your strength?" Arthur demanded.

"You," Grace stretched and moaned in Mila's head.

A smile spread on Mila's face and Arthur's face hardened. A few lumps of black mud peeled off and dropped on the floor due to Mila's smile and Chloe groaned.

"She is filthy," Chloe muttered, grabbing Arthur's hand. 

"What is alpha's verdict?" Chloe demanded.

When no one answered, Chloe turned to the man with the book, who said, "Death."

"It's settled then, Arthur let's go," and she rose to her toes and crooned something naughty in his ears. 

Arthur cleared his throat at her words, and as he allowed her to be led outside, Mila spoke, "I fight."

Arthur turned in horror.

"What?" Arthur asked as he laughed at her words.

"I FIGHT."