Chapter 1

[SYLVIE’s Point-of-View]

I traced my index finger to the smoothness of his shoulder.

His eyes were locked on mine as I made circles on his milky white skin. His plump, rosy lips opened slightly. His brown eyes glimmered under the soft, dim light from the bedside lamp. His brown, disheveled hair was silky between my fingers as he pulled aggressively into a fervent kiss that almost left me breathless.

A low moan escaped from my throat when he forced his tongue to explore my mouth. To taste me as I tasted him deliciously. Our tongues played ferociously until he couldn’t take it and pushed me to bed, pinning me with his hands gripped tightly on my wrists.

I saw the desire burning in his eyes, and I melted like butter underneath him. He leaned and pressed his ripped body against mine until I felt his hard length against my thigh, giving me a hint of how badly he wanted me.

“You are so beautiful, Sylvie. I can’t stop myself when I am so close to you like this,” he murmured hoarsely, his brown, sexy eyes glued into mine, “You destroy all the self-control I have.”

“Then don’t…” I whispered breathlessly, “...don’t stop. I don’t want you to.”

The tension in his eyes softened as his lips pulled into a smile and turned into a grin. The amusement on his face made my cheeks flush red. I was embarrassed if he got me wrong, thinking I was too desperate for his love. Too desperate for his touch.

But he chuckled. He chuckled, and all my worries disappeared as I adored his smile and perfect white teeth. “Are you sure you won’t regret this, Sylvie?”

I smiled. I knew what we had was a whirlwind love story, but I was sure in my heart that I loved him. He had been the only guy that had caught my attention since I joined the training camps, and I couldn’t believe that the Moon Goddess heard my prayers and made him notice me. His gaze, smiles, and laughter were everything to me. I wanted him since our eyes locked in that training campsite the first day.

“I will be eighteen soon,” I murmured, not wanting him to feel frustrated. “I don’t care who will be my mate. All I want is you, since the day we met at the camp. You are always who I wanted.”

His face turned serious as he stared into my face, like he was memorizing every inch and detail of it. His jaw clenched and unclenched until he reached and cupped my face with his big hands. “And I always want you, Sylvie.” His voice was husky as desire ignited in his eyes. “I want everything about you,” he said. He kissed me with a passion that set me ablaze.

It was my first time being with a man in bed, and I was scared and excited to be with him at the same time. I didn’t know what would happen next, but I didn’t care. I have already made a decision. It was him who I wanted to be with, and no one else.

He positioned himself between my legs, ready to take me. He gave me another look, as if asking if I was sure. “Relax your body, Sylvie,” he whispered, leaned, and kissed my neck below my ears. His lips brushed on my skin, and my back arched as I inhaled his scent.

I didn’t know it could be painful as hell.

But he was good at it. He kissed me deeply as he started moving slowly, drowning my whimpers and cries with his kisses.

Until the whole room was filled with our moans and cries.

That night, I lost my virginity to the man I loved.

After he made me experience that small peace of heaven, he rolled down to my side and pulled me closer to him. Both of us were almost out of breath, still high from the bliss that both of us found in each other’s arms.

“After my dad retires from his position, I will become the next Alpha of my pack,” he murmured hoarsely, still catching his breath. “And I promise I will make you my mate, Sylvie. You will be my Luna.”

My lips pulled into a huge smile as I cuddled closer to him. I was afraid my heart would explode from the extreme happiness I felt as I lay in his arms. I lifted my face and he kissed me softly on the lips.

“I’m looking forward to that…” I uttered and he pulled me closer into a tight embrace.

*****

I frowned and woke up from the uncomfortable and searing pain between my legs.

My arms automatically reached for him but my frown deepened when the side of his bed was cold and vacant. Maybe he went to the bathroom? Or went somewhere to order breakfast for us?

I groaned and pushed myself into a sitting position. I was sore all over. I went in front of the full-length mirror to look at my naked body and found bruises on my arms, shoulders, and legs.

“Maybe some foundation makeup can hide all of this. I can’t let Dad see these bruises.” I whispered to myself as I scanned every inch of my skin. I even poked them to see if they were still hurt.

One hour passed, and he hadn’t returned yet. I went to check on the bathroom, but he wasn’t there, so I took a bath instead and took a white shirt and jeans from the closet. We were in a hotel suite, far from the city, and it was my first time in the place, so I was a little anxious to explore and ask the personnel if they found a tall, handsome guy who went out of the building.

But where would he go? We had everything we needed, and if it was about the food, he should have just called hotel personnel and ordered it.

I started to feel worried.

Alarmed by something, it felt wrong that he had been missing for two hours already without even calling me to ask where he went. Did he leave the hotel? Did he change his mind after he took my virginity last night?

Were those words he said just empty promises?!

I slumped on the side of the bed, my eyes wide, and my knees trembled. I couldn’t breathe. It was as if something heavy dropped on my chest, and my lungs just couldn’t function from the pain of the realization that the man I gave everything to just tricked me.

“N-No…” My lips quivered, and I covered my mouth with my hand as tears started to stream down my face. My other hand was on my stomach as it tightened.

“No! This is not happening! He couldn’t do this to me!” I screamed in anguish as I paced back and forth inside the room with my hands clasped on both sides of my head, pulling my hair until my scalp hurt, reminding me I wasn’t dreaming. That it was all true!

That f*cking guy left me in a place I was not familiar with!

Goddess, No. No. NO!!!” I screamed as I sobbed. I couldn’t accept it. He would never do this! Maybe I was just overreacting?

But it had been two hours.

I was distracted when I detected that someone was trying to reach out in my head. I thought it was him so I scrambled up the floor and froze when I recognized Dad’s voice.

My heart pounded hard against my chest. My mind was in panic, and I didn’t know what to do or what to say to him.

[Dad?] I held my breath just so he wouldn’t notice the chaos that was happening inside my heart. [I-I’m just with a friend. I will go home later—]

[No. D-Don’t go home, Sylvie! Something happened.] Dad sounded panic-stricken and I frowned, confused.

[Dad! What is happening?! Are you—are being attacked!? Why are you feeling so scared?!] I started to panic as well, feeling that my Dad was in danger and I wasn't there to protect and fight with them. [Dad! Just talk to me!]

[Run, Sylvie! The pack is being invaded by our enemies! Just stay wherever you are and don’t ever let them know your location!]

[What!? Who’s enemy Dad?! I don’t understand what is happening! Who attacked the pack, Dad!] I screamed in my head, my eyes wide with horror, as I felt Dad’s dread all over my head. My whole body shuddered and my knees buckled until I couldn’t hold myself together and slumped on the cold floor.

[Just don’t—] That’s what I heard from Dad until his blood-curdling scream echoed in every corner of my brain.

“NO, DAD!!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as tears trickled down my face. I didn’t know what to do! I didn’t know if I should go back to the pack to rescue my family or do what my Dad told me—run and hide from the enemies.

I was petrified. I was shocked by the sudden horror that struck my whole being.

Then I realized the huge mistake I had made. It was not fate that led us both to each other. Oh, Goddess! He used me! He used me to destroy the pack and kill my dad!

My eyes sharpened as tears fell from my eyes. My whole body trembled as I curled my hands into fists until my knuckles were white.

He deceived me! And he will pay for it!