Chapter 2

“This one looks healthy, nice, and petite. She will  serve me well in bed tonight,” one of the Lupari soldiers sneered, his disgusting voice making my stomach hurt.  

His eyes roamed hungrily over my bare body, and I fought the urge to spit at him. He stroked his scruffy chin, flashing a set of brown, rotting teeth that only added to his repulsiveness.  

“Not that one, Arzreal. Commander Kael has his eyes on her,” another soldier said, stepping forward and blocking his path. His voice carried authority, his arms stretched out as if warning Arzreal to back off.  

“Shame!” Arzreal whined, pouting like a child. “The commander never lets us have the good ones.” With a huff, he turned away, moving on to the other entertainers—women who seemed eager to throw themselves at them.  

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away with the back of my hand. It had all happened so fast—my father offering me to the Lupari like I was nothing more than livestock.  

I always knew he hated me, but I never thought he would actually do this. I was his blood, his daughter. How could he trade me so easily?  

Now, here I was, standing naked in the middle of the Lupari army camp, their newest “prize.” Their eyes crawled over me, their laughter echoing like a nightmare. Some reached out to touch, their hands rough and unkind. I felt sick, terrified, and powerless.  

I wanted to disappear. I wanted to die. If I had the strength to grab one of their swords and end my own misery, I would have done it without hesitation.  

“Where’s Commander Kael’s whore? He will  be needing her now,” a woman’s voice called out. I didn’t lift my head. I didn’t want to meet her gaze or anyone else’s. My body trembled as I tried to hold back my sobs.  

“Oh, there you are,” the woman said, stopping in front of me. Her voice was sharp but  with mockery.  

Reluctantly, I raised my head. She stood before me, her outfit doing almost nothing to cover her body. She looked like one of their entertainers—a willing one. Her lips curled into a cruel smile as she looked me over.  

“Oh, you poor Venari,” she said with pity. “Commander Kael’s… member is rather large. It scares me to think you might not survive the night.”

I grimaced openly, my expression disgusted, which seemed to amuse the woman standing before me. A small chuckle escaped her lips. “Here, wear this,” she said, handing me a piece of clothing. “These men don’t deserve to see your gorgeous body, do they? You may call me Kaida, by the way.”

Without hesitation, I grabbed the clothes and quickly put them on. But as I glanced down, disappointment sank in. The fabric was so thin and light that it clung to my skin, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. I cringed, pulling the material in a futile attempt to cover myself better.  

The sound of a low whistle cut through the air. “Maybe when Commander Kael’s done, we can all take turns,” one of the men jeered. Laughter erupted around him, the kind that made my skin crawl.  

“Ignore them,” Kaida said softly a .  

I nodded, my face burning with shame as I took a step forward. I was beyond disgusted, and every fiber of my being wanted to disappear. Still, Kaida’s presence, though small and fleeting, felt like a sliver of light in this endless darkness. At least there was one face here that wasn’t entirely cruel.  

But even her kindness couldn’t shake the pain and fear in me. My father’s betrayal, the soldiers’ leering stares, and the knowledge of what awaited me—it all felt unbearable. I walked forward, each step pulling me deeper into this nightmares.

I stepped out of the tent, my feet dragging as I hesitantly made my way toward the commander’s tent. Each step felt heavy, my body trembling with fear. My heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the sounds of the camp around me.  

I glanced around, searching desperately for any means of escape, but there was none. All I saw were rows of tents and hulking men laughing and chatting as they tore into chunks of roasted meat, their behavior more beastly than normal. I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to keep moving.  

“Where are you taking that one?” a a familiar voice called out.  

Kaida and I froze, turning to see Commander Kael standing tall, his gaze locked on us. His presence was overpowering, his glare cold enough to pierce through me. I quickly dropped my eyes, unable to look at the man who would soon defile me.  

“To your tent,” Kaida replied. “You summoned her.”  

Commander Kael shook his head. “Not necessary anymore,” he said, his voice curt. “The Generals wants a woman tonight. Something new. Claims he’s tired of screwing the whores here. Take her to him.”  

The General? My stomach dropped. My mind raced, replaying all the stories I had heard about the Lupari General. Ruthless, brutal, and utterly terrifying—a man known as a beast both on and off the battlefield. Suddenly, the idea of being with Commander Kael didn’t seem so bad.  

“The General?” Kaida’s voice wavered. “On her first night? That’s… intense. He’s rough, Commander, and” she hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper, “impossibly large. She might not survive.”  

“And?” Commander Kael said with a shrug. “I wasn’t planning on going easy on her anyway. What difference does it make?”  

His eyes raked over me, cold and calculating. Without warning, he tossed a small bottle my way. I caught it, my hands shaking.  

“That’s blood honey,” he said. “Drink it. It will  help you handle the General… in bed.”  

Kaida’s expression tightened, but she said nothing. Commander Kael turned to her as he walked away. “Escort her, then join me after.”  

My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I looked down at the small bottle in my hand.  

“You should drink it,” Kaida said quietly. Her tone was softer now, almost pitying. “It boosts… your endurance. If you know what’s good for you, just submit to the General. It will hurt less.”  

I took a deep breath, my hands trembling as I unscrewed the cap. Closing my eyes, I downed the liquid in one gulp. The taste was bitter and foul, and my face twisted in disgust.  

Kaida led me to a large tent, her steps slowing as we approached. “Go in,” she said softly, her voice didn’t have  the teasing tone she had  used earlier.  This made me know this was serious.

I hesitated, staring at the dark entrance. My body screamed at me to turn and run, but there was nowhere to go.  

Kaida placed a hand on my shoulder, urging me forward. “Go.”  

Swallowing hard, I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The tent was pitch dark, and a cold draft brushed against my face, sending shivers down my spine. I hesitated, my voice almost a whisper as I called out, “Hello?”  

No answer.  

The silence unsettled me, and my wolf stirred within me. Though our bond was weak, like most Venari wolves—she seemed more alert now, sensing my fear.  

“Is someone here?” I asked again, my voice shaking.  

A low, cold voice answered from right behind me, making my blood run cold. “You are  not much to look at. Let’s hope you are worth my time.”  

I screames,  spinning around so fast that I collided with something, or  someone. The impact sent me stumbling to the ground, landing with a hard thud. Pain shot through me, but fear quickly took over.  

My wolf surged, she was stronger than usual, but I was too overwhelmed to pay her any mind. Disoriented, I struggled to make sense of what—or who—I

Had  just bumped into.  

Suddenly, fire torches lit up the tent as if put on  by some unseen force. The flickering light revealed the man standing before me.  

I gasped, the air leaving my lungs as I took in his towering figure. He was massive, every inch of him screaming power and dominance. His ailver  eyes pierced through me, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell if I was more terrified or… awestruck.  

Then, my wolf whispered a single word that made my heart stop.  

Mate.