Chapter Two

He’s dangerous. Our Alpha doesn’t have to warn me of this. I know. Danger radiates off him as I join the Alpha where he waits at the edge of our territory.

I was among those who found the last pack he killed. Lily and I had been running through the forest, stretching our legs in the summer sun when we saw them. Or what was left of them anyway.

Limbs were strewn over the ground, huge chunks of flesh taken out of them.

They are cannibals, that much was clear. It’s a rumor that has been whispered about for some time now, but when I saw what they had done that day, I knew. This pack are cannibals and I can’t imagine what they will do to me and my pack if anything goes wrong.

“Glad you finally decided to join me, Katia,” the Alpha says. “Now that I’ve chosen you, it’s time for a proper introduction. My name is Brandon. It’s charming to meet you.”

It’s the first time I’ve ever heard his name. He’s only referred to as the Alpha among our pack. It’s just another one of his games he plays to keep us all intimidated.

I can’t believe I have to go with him and the awful friends he keeps around him. The thought of joining his pack repulses me. We’ve always tried to be cordial with them, but everyone knows they’re our enemies. They rule through fear and we just pray we don’t get destroyed by their anger.

“Let’s not waste time here,” he says. “I hate this place. It’s time to go to your new home.”

“I’ve got a home,” I say.

“Not much to speak of,” the Alpha scoffs. “But okay. I’m even going to be kind to you.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“We’re bringing your friend along,” he says, motioning to one of his friends as he walks forward with Lily.

“No,” I whisper, tears coming to my eyes. I had hoped that she would be spared.

“You’re welcome,” he says. “Now, let’s go.”

Before I can say anything else, we’re walking and Lily is brought near the back where I can’t see her. Now I’m terrified about what he’ll do to me and her. So, I keep my mouth shut and follow him.

“You’re lucky to be chosen by me,” he says. “Do you know why I picked you?”

“No,” I tell him. “I’m baffled, honestly. I can’t foresee us getting along at all.”

He smiles. “I know you, though,” he says. “I’ve seen you before. I’ve watched you, and I want you.”

My jaw drops in shock at his words. He has watched me?

I try to remember when he’s seen me. He’s visited our pack a couple of times, mostly to be intimidating. I didn’t think he ever truly noticed me though.

“You’re one of the few girls that isn’t a complete pushover,” he says. “I like that. I’m going to enjoy breaking you.”

A shiver of fear moves down my spine as a smile spreads across his face. He looks me in the eyes. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

It feels like a knife has been pressed against my throat. He knows. He’s realized that I’m not going to just bow down to him. That makes this all even more dangerous.

“Furthermore, you care,” he explains. “I looked for a woman who was strong enough to fight me but weak enough to care. You care so much about your pack and they care about you. That’s what makes you the ideal tradeoff.

“I know you’ll allow yourself to crumble to keep them safe. I know they’ll do as I say to keep you safe. And now I have Lily too. The two of you represent innocence, and I know you’ll do anything to protect her.

“I have a fondness for pain, for control, for order. I embrace that side of me. And now you’ll embrace that side too.

“This is your place in our pack now,” he says, motioning to his side. “And you are mine.”

“I don’t want to be yours,” I say, shaking my head in terror. “I don’t belong to you.”

“I have chosen you,” he says. “You are mine.”

He abruptly stops, grabs my shoulders, and pulls me close to him, pressing his lips against mine in a move so unexpected that I don’t have time to even think about resisting.

I try to remember how to breathe.

When he pulls away, I feel like I can breathe again, but I also feel betrayed. Betrayed by who he is, betrayed by my own pack. They want to be safe. They think that this is the best thing for all of us, but it’s certainly not the best thing for me.

“Don’t be my enemy,” he warns. “Don’t try to fight me. I know how to take over a pack, my dear.”

I turn my back on him, but he grabs my arm.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he says. “If you do, they’ll want to destroy you. And if you disobey me enough." He shrugs. "I can't watch my pack at all times. You'd do well to make sure you don't appear to be a threat."

Brandon lets go, but his words linger. I'm supposed to be his mate and he's already threatening me. How am I supposed to live my life like this? How am I supposed to function when I'm always on edge? Always afraid to step out of line?

I fall back and catch up with Lily.

“What’s going on?” she asks me, looking at me with terror.

“I hate this,” I explain. “I hate this for both of us. How can we be expected to live like this?”

“We have to,” she reminds me. I’m surprised. I thought her mind might’ve changed now she’s involved too. But she’s just as strong as ever. She’s stronger than me.

“We have to do this for our pack,” she says. “We have to be strong for them. You have to be strong for me.”

I take her hand. It’s shaking. We’re both shaking, but this is our place now. We have to make the best of it. “I will,” I promise. “I’ll be strong for you.”

Not long after, Brandon pulls me to his side again.

“See,” he says. “You should be thankful for me for bringing Lily. I know what’s best for you. I’m your Alpha now.”

I shake my head. I don’t like the way he has power over me. I don’t like the way that I can’t fight him.

“Eventually you will love me,” he says. “You’re my mate. It’s meant to be. You will learn to accept your destiny.”

“I don’t want to learn,” I tell him.

“Then you will suffer until you do," he says.

And I already know I can't live like this forever. We've only just begun and it already feels like torture. I'm doing this to protect my pack, but who's going to protect me?

I start to think of ways out of this situation that won't put the people I love at risk. The more I talk to him though, the more I loathe him. This can't be my reality forever. I won't let it be.

I'm going to find a way for this to change.

“You’ll get used to it,” he tells me, smiling.

I shake my head. It will never get easier to bow down to him. It will never be okay that he's my Alpha and I'm his pack mate.

My mind starts working, wondering if there is a way out. I can't just stay in this situation forever. There has to be a way out.

“I can always kill you,” he says nonchalantly. “You know that. I will always be your Alpha. I will always rule you.

“You're my mate. And if you try to leave, I will destroy you.”