Chapter 1

MAEVE’S POV

I knelt with teary eyes, fighting the urge not to tremble with fear as I pleaded my innocence. The rate at which my heart pounded was enough to give me a heart attack. I was afraid of dying and I was also confused and angry at the same time.

“ I'm being accused wrongly, please!! “ I pleaded with teary eyes as I looked at Patricia Allen. When I first saw her a few hours ago I didn’t even know the bitch. Yet, she expected me to know her and even wanted me to greet her as though she was the goddess.

It was my colleagues in the kitchen who told me her name and also that the late Alpha King took her in and became her guardian after her dad died. Here she was accusing me of stealing a ring that wasn’t even in modern trends.

“ She’s lying! I saw her steal it with my own eyes. If you think I am lying, search her, I saw her put the ring in her bag, “ Patricia said to the pack warriors and staff working in the pack house that had gathered to watch the scene.

Could my first day at work get any worse? I thought to myself as I closed my eyes to brace myself before I defended.

“ I swear by the moon goddess that I didn't steal anything. I have never stolen in my life. Please believe me, “ I said with fear because, in the Shadow Moon pack, the punishment for anyone who was caught stealing was death.

That was the first law my mom reminded me of when I came to Shadow Moon Pack after graduating from college a few days ago.

“ Search her bag! “ A high-ranked pack soldier of our pack commanded one of his subordinate pack soldiers who was there.

I instantly began to regret why I accepted to work in the pack house. My intuition told me not to agree. I wanted to accept the Job offer from Galesville Bar but the pay as a cook in the pack house was enticing and too tempting to reject.

Most of all, I needed the money to support my mom who is the pack healer of Shadow Moon Pack in Galesville. Since the coming of modernization and technology, Pack healers have been reduced to nothing because they work with natural herbs.

Our pack inhabited Galesville, a developed city located in the countryside situated in North Wales. Our pack’s territory was the largest of all the other eleven packs, I guess it was because our pack was the pack of the Alpha King.

“ I have found the Alpha’s ring in her bag, “ The pack soldier who searched my bag brought out the ring and my eyes widened in shock wondering how it got into my bag.

Everyone who had come to witness what was going on gasped when they saw the Soldier raise his hands to show his superior the ring.

These confirmed my suspicions that I was being set up by someone within the confines of the pack house. I just came to the pack two days ago and I’m already being set up. I didn’t have any enemy in Shadow Moon Pack that I could think of, so who would do this to me?

“ Take her to the execution stand and behead her, “ The high-ranked pack soldier ordered his subordinate.

“ No!! No!! No!! Please, I'm innocent. I didn’t steal it. This definitely has to be a setup. I have never stolen anything since I was born!! “ I pleaded with fear, while the pack soldiers forcefully held my arms and began to drag me away to the execution Stand which was behind the pack house.

Galesville was developed, and we had everything a modernized city had. But even when our town was being restructured, they still left the execution stand that had existed long before we were born.

Legend had it that our pack was the first pack created by the moon goddess and the first Alpha King of the Shadow moon pack, who personally set up the execution stand when he brought the law of Zero tolerance to stealing.

I had always found the execution stand fascinating because it was carved from a rare kind of stone that I’m not sure still exists in the world.

I never knew a day would come when I would be beheaded on the same execution stand which I found intriguing, nor did I think that it would be because of a crime I didn’t commit. At least the Gamma should have given me one last chance to say goodbye to my Mom.

“ Wait!! “ A deep baritone voice said loud enough for everyone to hear.

From just the voice and the aura that commanded respect, which instantly filled the place, I knew it was our Alpha.

I turned to the direction which the voice and aura were emanating from only to behold the most breathtaking taking and handsome man I had ever seen in my entire life of existence.

“ What the fuck!! “ I muttered in shock and admiration forgetting the situation I was in.

Even with a frown on his face just looking at him made me dripping wet. He had broad shoulders and all I wanted to do was know how they feel when I touch them.

I had heard a lot about Alpha Zane while in high school and college which was located in Red Moon pack. All the girls there couldn’t keep their mouths shut whenever he posted a picture or video on social media. Looking at him now, those pictures and videos didn’t do enough Justice to his good looks.

The Soldiers instantly halted. He walked towards me with a frown on his face and all my hopes that he would temper Justice with mercy were crushed when I saw that look on his face.

“ What's going on here? “ Alpha Zane asked with his usual cold look as he looked at everyone present until his gaze settled on me.

My breath hitched when I heard his voice and I felt a sudden chill run down my spine as his gaze lingered on me. His eyes never left mine and I wished it were his hands that never left my body.

I shook my head to regain my composure from the dirty thoughts I was having. But I knew one thing was for certain with how wet I was, I would definitely have to use my Dildo tonight.

“ Alpha, this young lady here stole your ring, “ The pack warrior said to Alpha Zane with a scowl on his face. That was when I noticed another hot guy standing next to Alpha Zane.

“ Yes Alpha Zane, I saw her steal it and she wanted to go home like nothing happened. So I reported her immediately, “ Patricia said, trying to make her voice sound sweet.

Wait, was that a tone of flirting I noticed just now? I thought Patricia and Zane were supposed to be like siblings since his late Dad practically raised her from childhood. I frowned as I titled my head a little with furrowed brows and thought to myself.

All the while they were talking I could feel Alpha Zane’s intense gaze on me and each time I raised my head, I made eye contact with him and immediately looked down because his gaze was alluring.

“ The ring is always in my room, so how did you get access to my room? Tell me the truth and I might spare your life, “ He said to me with a neutral expression on his face, which I found strange. In the aspect of him saying that he might spare my life, I knew that was a lie because the tradition demands that I be beheaded.

“ Alpha Zane, I swear by the moon goddess that I didn't steal your ring. I don't even know how it got into my bag. My job is to cook in the pack house, I don't even clean the pack house, let alone think of stealing your ring. Also, today is my first day at work, “ I defended myself with my tear-streaked face feeling embarrassed that he was seeing me in this condition.

“ She’s lying Zane, she stole the ring, “ Patricia accused me with a high-pitched voice as she glared at me. I watched as everyone who was witnessing this scenario looked at me with judgemental eyes.

“ Enough!!! You would address me as Alpha Zane because that is who I am to you in situations like this. I am your Alpha. I won’t warn you about this again Patricia, “ Alpha Zane angrily thundered at Patricia. It was an older brother scolding his younger sister.

“ I'm-I'm sorry Alpha, “ Patricia apologized to him, and from her countenance one could tell that she was embarrassed.

Serves you right bitch!! I so much wanted to tell her and laugh at her but I couldn’t. At least not in the situation I found myself in.

Alpha Zane then turned to me and looked at me for a long time as though he was contemplating. While doing so, he stretched his hands to collect the ring from the pack soldier. When he did, the blue crystal on the ring glowed brightly.

We were all stunned by the way the ring glowed. Alpha Zane was surprised too and he frantically turned to look at everyone present at the moment the ring glowed. I found that act suspicious. There was more to Alpha Zane’s ring than meets the eye.

We all stared at him and his ring in bewilderment as he slipped the glowing ring into his pocket. He paused for a while trying to regain his composure before he cleared his throat and turned to me.

“ What is your name? “ He asked me with a straight face and acted like nothing just happened. Well, that’s one thing with those in authority. They always feel like they owe no one any explanation.

“ I am Maeve Barlowe, the daughter of the pack healer for the lower borns in the pack. “ I answered him with a shaky voice.

“ You’re Madeline’s Child? “ He asked with a bit of surprise on his face.

“ Yes, “ I said without meeting his gaze. He then nodded and sighed. But the look on his face told me there was no hope for me. I knew I was going to be killed for sure.

He looked down as if in deep thought and when he looked up he turned to everyone and said what shocked the hell out of us all.

“ I believe her. She didn’t steal the ring. First of all the ring isn’t even the modern trend and second of all. She is very confident and lacks the little gestures liars do when lying. There is a mix-up somewhere and I promise you all to get to the bottom of it. Therefore there would be no execution. She is free to go, “ Alpha Zane said with finality and turned to head back into the pack house but not before glaring at Patricia. Which I wondered why.

The pack soldiers freed me and the crowd which gathered to witness what was going on dispersed. Alpha Zane walked into the pack house while the guy standing next to him began to talk to the pack soldiers.

I hurried to catch up with Alpha Zane so that I could thank him before heading home. By the time I did, I met him standing in the middle of the passage which led to his living room in the pack house. I found him standing in the middle of the passage. That’s Weird.

“ Excuse me Alpha, “ I called out to him to get his attention and when he turned to look at me with those blue eyes of his, all I wanted was him to pin me against the wall and fuck the senses out of me.

“ What is it this time around, “ He said with annoyance.

That’s rude, I thought to myself.

“ I just wanted to thank you for what you did back there. You are truly a wise and just Alpha. I’m done for the day so I’ll head home now. Thanks again, “ I said to him gratefully and wanted to walk out but he stopped me.

“ What’s that your name again? “ He asked, pointing his fingers at me.

Rude again, I thought to myself with all the admiration I had for this Alpha slowly turning to dislike because of his attitude. But I kept calm. I had to because he just saved my life.

“ Maeve. My name is Maeve, “ I said calmly, trying to keep my cool. His brows furrowed as he tilted his head a little bit to the side.

“ What kind of Barbaric name is that? It actually sounds like Mayonnaise to me, “ He said with an amused look on his face.

While I stood silently fuming in anger as he made fun of my name. It was clear to me now that his good looks were top-notch and the only nice thing about him aside from that, his attitude was trash.

“ And who told you that you could go home? “ He asked me with a stoic face which made me confused.

“ I don’t understand. I’m done with my work for today so the normal thing for me to do is to go home and rest, “ I said to him slowly losing my temper and patience to condole his demeaning talks and attitude so far.

“ You aren’t allowed to go home until I deem it fit for you to go home. Madeline will bring your belongings here to the pack house. Where a room will be prepared for you because henceforth you’ll do anything I order you to, “ He said with a straight face.

How could he sprout out rubbish from his mouth with such a straight face? He must surely have no emotions or human sympathy at all, I thought to myself afterward losing my cool.

“ You know what? Your name sounds like a pain in the ass to me. Your attitude and character are so disgusting that it makes me want to puke. What even makes you think you can hold me here against my wish? “ I asked him with a raised voice and an angry face.

He looked shocked at my response for a while. Then, he looked at me with a blank look on his face.

“ You want to know why I think I can hold you here against your wish? “ He asked still with a blank look and began taking steady steps toward me while in response I took a step backward until I felt my back on the wall.

I wanted to move to the side because he was directly in front of me, but he inched closer and placed his hands above my head making it impossible for me to move.

Then he began to inch closer to me and his face was just a few inches from mine. Was he going to kiss me? I waited in anticipation even though all I wanted to do was push him away.

I thought he was making a move to kiss me but he ended up whispering into my ears in a way that I found highly seductive.

“ Because I saved you from dying. I own you now Maeve, “ Alpha Zane whispered into my ears in a deep and husky voice after which he stared at me for what seemed like ages.

I was unable to utter a word because his eyes captivated me and all I could think about was how it would feel if I held his cock which hiding underneath his pants.

A sound from someone immediately made Alpha Zane move away from me and we turned to see who the person was.