CHAPTER 02

Irish froze. She could recognize that authoritative voice that belonged to Alpha Adrian, even in her dreams.

He entered the room and flung the key backward and it landed in the hands of his subordinate.

There was something with his smooth movement that made Irish stare at his face longer. Her eyes darted to his chest and the outline of his biceps behind that black shirt almost sold her off.

Wait...was she ogling the Alpha just now?

He cleared his throat and Irish shook her head, trying to regain control of herself.

"Come out." He commanded and Irish found herself obeying, after all, she was almost freezing to death.

Two guards escorted her into a room, but Alpha Adrian followed behind, his eyes trailing her back.

'His Luna has said her bit, what's even left for him to say?' Irish asked her wolf, Elsa, who had oddly fallen silent since the Alpha stood at the entrance of that cold room.

"Sit." Another command.

Her gaze landed on a low bunk bed, but Irish was determined not to bend or break, determined not to obey a single command.

"No." Came her firm reply. "Not until you tell me what you mean by breeder."

Walking menacingly towards her, his eyes stared deep into hers, as if to bore a hole in them.

Then he gave out a short, creepy laugh that brought a shiver down her spine.

"Breeder? It means I bought you for a f*e. I own you. You'll warm my bed and bear me a child. You'll obey my every command and I'll do with you as I please."

Suddenly, his eyes lost all luster and his lips moved, "There are a few rules you'll have to abide by if you're going to stay in this Pack. You must obey my mate, your Luna. You mustn't come into my chambers unless you're sent for, and lastly, don't even think of running away. The penalty is death. Do you understand?" His bold voice vibrated in her ears and under her feet.

Every word and syllable dripped with as much warning as the last. A silent dare hung unto his words as if he couldn't wait to teach her a lesson. Making Irish wonder if he knew of the altercation she had with his mate.

Irish gulped, swallowing hard the lump in her throat as she kept her eyes on the floor. She couldn't bear to look him in the eye, now could she?

His words were fire already, his eyes might burn her to the ground.

Yet, Irish fought against her pounding chest and looked him straight in the eye.

"I am not your breeder, and I will never be."

A dangerous glint flashed across his eyes as they changed color. He snapped and grabbed her throat, tightening his hand as he reinforced, "Do you understand?"

Irish laughed mockingly. Wishing to anger him the more, she leaned closer, her eyes fixed on his, "Alpha King. Don't tell me you want to bed a lowlife like me. It's such a shame."

"Don't you dare question my decision!" His eyebrows furrowed in anger and he groaned.

"Or else?" Irish pushed her luck further, damning the consequences.

"Or I'll fucking kill you..." He was saying when strange sparkles like electricity traveled through his hand where he held Irish and spread through the rest of his body.

Groaning, because he didn't know what had just happened, he suddenly loosened his grip around her neck.

A conflicted expression flickered across his face as he wondered why he was feeling that way.

"You know, I'm not done with you yet." He fired fiercely and then stormed out of the place.

Thoughts of escape beclouded her senses as the Alpha left the room. But escaping from the Alpha, was that even possible?

Night came and Irish succumbed to sleep. She was already tired from all that screaming and challenging the Luna and Alpha.

She was woken up by a tap on her skin. She quickly arose as she squinted her eyes to adjust it to the light.

A servant brought a tray of food for her and she marveled at the sight. She had wanted to refuse but the grumbling of her stomach indicated that she needed food to survive and escape.

After that, she had her bath and went back to sleep when she heard the door creak open.

Her eyes snapped open and a naked Alpha was the first thing that came into sight.

In the Silver Crest pack, going naked was natural. But seeing the Alpha in that form made her quickly turn away.

Whatever took control of the Alpha that night, Irish couldn't fathom.

Adrian took slow, calculated steps toward her like a predator, waiting to devour his prey.

Irish began backing away from him, till her back hit the wall. There was no room for escape, but Adrian kept advancing.

He touched her cheeks and shifted a loose strand, tucking it behind her ear, his fingers tracing her jawline, his eyes, never leaving hers.

Slowly, she lifted her fingers and traced the warm muscles on his chest.

He ran a warm thumb over her lower lips as he leaned in and closed the gap between them, kissing her, his lust like that of a person from another world.

Irish swallowed hard, licking her bottom lip. He was her captor and she wasn't supposed to feel an emotion but right now, her mind was running wild with thoughts.

"Stop. Please, don't hurt me." Irish said as she suddenly remembered their encounter that evening.

He kissed her again and suddenly, all that fear disappeared.

Those scenes she'd read from romance books floated around her head.

Her lashes fluttered and she found herself leaning into his touch again.

He lowered his head, drawing it sideways, but just as their lips were about to touch, Irish snapped back to reality.

"No, stop."

"Are...are you sure," His eyes drooped low and his voice became husky.

He ran his fingers through her arm. He tasted her lips, making their attractions like magnets.

Without knowing how, Irish kissed him back. He had suddenly melted her walls of resistance.

They couldn't just get enough of each other as they ruffled through the desperate, lustful kiss.

Adrian tore her light gown, the only piece of clothing on her body before he parted her thighs, slid off her panties, and her most intimate part came into view.

Without warning, he thrust inside her in one go like a savage beast, breaking her virginity.

"Make it stop, please!" Irish cried aloud as she shook from the pain.

Her body was in pain but her wolf was happy. A noticeable wave of sweetness coursed through her wolf. Elsa could feel herself getting more excited.

His woodsy scent became more intoxicating and the parted curtains showing the full moon gave her wolf a feeling of pure bliss.

"Mate," her wolf growled while his eyes turned golden.

Irish gasped, her eyes widening in horrifying surprise.

No, this was a joke, right? Oh, no, Was the cruel Alpha the mate the Moon goddess blessed her with?

Soon, reality slapped Irish on the face and her eyes widened in realization, leading her to a glaring question.

If she and Adrian were mates, then who exactly was Ashley to him?