Chapter 1

Ellie.

“Oh, baby! You’re taking it so well,” Alpha Vito, my mate groaned with a thrust, but the she-wolf underneath him wasn't me. I was forced to watch, as he made love to another she-wolf.

My heart jacked, intense pain washing all over my body as I watched them once again, wondering when this torture would end.

“You fuck me so good. I think I’m about to…” he groaned louder, this time taking a fistful of her blond hair, pulling it back. There was no sign of guilt for me at all on his face.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. A mate was supposed to cherish and respect you regardless of background or status, but mine hated me with passion, all because I wasn’t what he wanted, and She was.

A rather loud cry of pleasure filled the room, and I momentarily shut my eyes in anticipation of the increased pain I knew would follow. As anticipated, my blood ran cold and my body went limp as I fell to the ground, groaning in agony; weak, tired, and completely done with the misery that was my life.

“This bitch!” I heard Vito growl, and I instantly knew he was referring to me, but I couldn’t move, couldn’t run to save myself, or cry for help. That was the consequence of a toxic mate bond, pain, and weakness that was enough to render a strong human dead. In my case, it was worse because my mate was an Alpha, far bigger and stronger than regular wolves.

“How dare you close your eyes?” His thunderous voice and heavy footsteps approached me, hovering just above my collapsed body.

“I told you to keep your stupid eyes open, did I not?” His question arrived with a kick in my ribs, cutting my air supply.

“Answer me! You retard! Did I tell you to keep your eyes open or not?”

My lack of a reply seemed to anger Vito even more than closing my eyes did, as in the next moment, I felt a stinging pain on the side of my body, and the sound of a whip echoing through the room.

“Vito please,” I begged weakly, forcing my eyes open as much as I could to look at him. She giggled from the short distance between us on the bed, and anger washed over me.

“Get up!” Vito ordered, but I couldn’t do as he said because it would take a few seconds more for the pain of his actions to subside.

“I said get up, you freak. Don’t make me repeat myself!” He warned, his dark brows furrowing with intense madness in his dark eyes.

I forced myself up, knowing very well that it would be better to stand up now than to receive another kick in my ribs or worse, another beating.

Rage burned through my gaze as I took in my mate's appearance; angry and completely naked, like the wolf on his bed, Nadia, and I was unable to control myself. Mustering all the courage and saliva I could manage, I spat on him.

“Just end this! Reject me so I can go my way!” I yelled with hot tears roaming down my face, hoping he would snap and do as I said. I had had enough of living as a slave in a pack I should be anything but, tired of being deprived of basic life amenities, and even the opportunity to go to school because Vito thought I wasn’t worth it.

“Shut up! How dare you command me! You weak bitch!” Vito couldn't believe what he had heard. He took the whip again, but this time, it was caught in Nadia’s pull.

“Be careful Vito. Don’t you dare do it! You know the King’s command. You can’t reject her,” she emerged from the bed with a sly smile, her naked body glistening with sweat under the ray of sun that infiltrated the room

“Don’t forget he’s coming tomorrow. She has to appear unharmed,” the words rolled off her lips lazily, but her brown eyes burned with anger.

And again Vito's angry eyes turned to me, he had to admit that Alpha King hates werewolves who don't take their mates seriously. When Alpha King found out how Vito had abused me, I was sure that Vito the asshole would lose his Alpha title.

I laughed, mocking his cowardice, but Vito no longer fell for it as he pinched my chin and spat at me. “Bitch, you should be grateful for your luck.” He said angrily.

“Come, darling, let’s get out of here. I know a great place that will make us more comfortable.” Nadia came over to where we stood to calm him, her tongue sliding over his chest, and as Vito tried to enter her, she pushed him away and walked over to me.

“And you, make sure to clean this place. Make sure it sparkles, or I will make you wish for what's worse than today's.” She said in a threatening tone. picking up her clothes that lay on the ground, along with Vito’s, hooking her arms around his as they exited the room.

I fell to the ground as more tears rolled down my face. I might’ve been brave enough to spit on Vito, but I knew deep down that if Nadia had not said something, I’d be lying in the pool of my blood, wishing I had kept my mouth shut.

I hated Nadia with everything in me, but I was grateful to her that I got to live through another day.

I moved slowly, wiping my face as I started cleaning the room, taking out the messed up sheet filled with the releases of both their desires, telling myself it didn’t matter since I did not love Vito, but it did matter.

I wish I had the guts to betray him, to get mixed up with another wolf so our bond would be canceled, but I couldn’t. I was not brave enough, plus I didn’t know the type of punishment that I would face if I did that.

When I was done cleaning, I headed back to my house. The door creaked loudly when I opened it, the missing parts of the house greeting me as I walked in. It used to be my favorite place on earth. It belonged to my parents who built it with their hard-earned money and love, but since Vito took over our pack, he ran it to the ground, destroying everything precious about it. Even so, I still held a deep affection for it because it was the only place I could truly call home.

I went up to my room, which used to be my parent's room, and took the last surviving portrait of them, hugging it tightly to my chest as fresh tears graced my face.

“I swear to you, Mother, Father, I will not die. I will live and seek revenge against everyone who has harmed me. I’ll do whatever it takes to rebuild this pack. Just watch,” I sobbed the words. Then I remembered Nadia said something about the Lycan King visiting.

The tears dried from my face almost instantly as a plan formed in my head. This was the perfect opportunity to expose Vito’s misdeeds and hypocrisy to the Lycan King.

“Just watch…”