Chapter 1

Vynessa;

Have you ever locked yourself in a bathroom, cried, washed your face, and come back to join the others as if nothing happened?

That’s me right now as I sit at the dinner table with my father and his family after just losing my fifth mate, to the cold hands of death. And my wedding was to happen in three days’ time.

I don’t know what to make of life anymore. but I know to keep my late mother’s name alive, I have to survive this dilemma. She has been the only one who has truly cared for me. She made me promise to bear her a pup. And the pup is to be named after her. That was my promise to her before she took her last breath.

That’s the gift I owe her for exchanging her life for me that night. But looking at the way the Goddess keeps playing tricks with me, by killing any male wolf who dares to put a ring on my finger, and plans on taking me to the wedding altar, I feel I'm truly cursed.

Earlier this morning, the Goddess succeeded in killing the fifth male wolf. The last man who wanted to take a 25-year-old Gamma Wolf like me, away from the wings of my evil stepmother and step-sister.

The two evils who have full control over my father.

I'm fighting to stop the pain in my heart, and the tears that dare to flow down my cheeks because I can’t let them see me as weak. That is what they desire, and I would rather die than give them that desire.

“Vynessa!” Father calls out, sliding a document through the dinner table, toward me. “I know you just lost the only man who had considered you worthy to be a wife, but right now, you have to focus on being useful to the family,” he announces, standing up from his position.

Without thinking of my actions, I also sprint up from my seat, “What is this document, Father? And I think this is not the right way for a father to speak to his grieving daughter,” I rush toward him, the document sitting perfectly in my hand.

His angry gaze sizes me from my forehead to my toes as his nose scrunches up in disgust. Immediately, I bit my tongue. I’d spit the wrong words. But I'm not moved by Father’s angry stares. At least, not anymore. This has been his usual stare at me after the death of Mother, and his concubine-turned wife taking hold of him.

“That document in your hands is a contract marriage between you and Alpha Kryptos. It’s already signed. Get ready, the wedding is in a weak time,” his voice low, but powerful. Father makes to leave, but I grip his hand. My knees fall right before him.

“Please… Fath…er,” my lips quiver even as I try to stop them from shaking. Tears filled my eyes.

Alpha Kryptos is one of the deadliest, and oldest Alphas in all the kingdoms. He’s cruel and heartless. One who hates women so much. A lot of she-wolves have died in his hands after their fathers married them off to him. Only two old ones survived, and are still married to him.

I heard the things they had to go through to survive. Terrible things that will kill me just a few days with him.

Father snatches his hand from my hold, “Don’t, Vynessa. Staring at you, I hate the fact that I’m your father. You look pathetic and weak.”

My jaw tightens as I gaze at him, trying to understand when the once lovely father I had, turned into this. How did everything change so fast? Why?

I let out a breath of frustration, pushing my tears to the back of my head, “How do you expect me to marry a man who is older than you and already has two wives, Father? If Mother was to be alive, would you do this to me?” My voice is soft. I dare not raise it at him.

He immediately throws his face to the side, “You have no say in this. Alpha Kryptos has already sealed the business deal with the family. You either get married or he will have you banished from the pack,” and with his cold words, he walks away.

My heart rips, beating faster than ever as my tears blur my sight. Slightly, my body trembles as sadness washes over me, and I grind my teeth hard, fighting my emotions.

The giggling coming from the side of my step-mother, Loxley, and step-sister, Camilla, is making my blood boil even more. I know they planned it all. My father would never have made such a decision of sending me off to the home of an old man, if these evil females didn't have their fog over him.

“You should be grateful that a cursed she-wolf like you, who has every male Wolf fleeing from her, finally found an Alpha. At least, he is powerful, and can’t be killed by the curse you got from killing your mother,” the annoying voice of my step-mother, Loxley Gravus, comes flooding into my head, causing my claws to bear forth in rage.

I bite hard on my tongue as I rise from the floor. Without uttering a word, I storm away from her and her mini-evil, because if I don’t, I promise I will tear off their flesh. And I wouldn't mind facing the consequences of being banished.

Leaving Father’s house, and running through the woods, the sorrow that destroys my heart feels like a relentless storm, tearing me apart from the inside out. My father’s words, like a dagger, pierce my soul, leaving me gasping for air. The thought of that old, ruthless Alpha having me, makes my skin crawl.

My feet suddenly halt in front of the flowing river, which is surrounded by green grass, and I allow my tears to stream down my face. I grip my hair, screaming and tearing through my flesh as the weight of the forced marriage settles upon me, suffocating me.

I hear my Wolf whimpering in pain even as she keeps healing my physical wounds. And I know if she wasn’t born mute, she would say some words to fix my bleeding heart. Maybe I'm truly cursed, and my precious Wolf is also suffering because of my curse.

Just then, a loud, powerful howling approaches me from inside the woods. My eyes sprint through, trying to catch a glimpse of what is to come.

My whimpering Wolf suddenly begins to spin in excitement as the howling approaches even more. A whiff of nice woodsmoke welcomes my nose, filling my body with passion I've never felt before.

The howling stops but the scent becomes more prominent. For the first time, I feel my Wolf, Vance, forcing herself to speak but can’t because of my curse.

The wind suddenly comes alive, blowing heavily on the trees, and I know it’s time for me to return. Turning on my heels, I feel a hard grip on my waist, pulling me closer. My boobs rest against a broad chest.

My trembling eyes travel up, to take a look at the 6 '3 figure man standing in front of me. My heartbeat increases. The passion within me becomes intense. My gaze locks with his.

The thought of how a man can be this tall, with a perfect body build, light blue eyes, chiseled features, and dark messy but unique hair, fills my mind.

He is the most handsome man I’ve set my eyes on, but the cruel smile playing on his lips sends a chill down my spine.

I push onto his arms, trying to free myself from his hold. He grabs me tightly, pressing me into him, and I find myself melting into his arms.

His finger runs through my face to my chin, he lifts it up, looking over me. “Finally, I've found you,” he utters. His voice, deep and perfect. Also filled with authority.

The whole of me becomes vulnerable right before this handsome stranger.