Chapter 1

Anita’s POV:

I still couldn’t believe my father was gone. His death was so sudden, so inexplicable, that it felt like I was living in a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. I had been his only daughter, his pride, and joy, and now I was left alone, drowning in a sea of grief. The pack had always been my family, my home, but without my father, it felt like a prison.

It wasn’t long after his death that my stepmother, Evelyn, and my stepsister, Amara, began their vicious campaign against me. At first, I didn’t understand what was happening. I was too wrapped up in my own sorrow, too blinded by my pain to see the venom in their eyes, the malice in their smiles. They whispered behind closed doors, their voices like a thousand tiny knives, cutting away at my heart.

“She’s unstable,” Evelyn would say, her voice dripping with feigned concern. “She hasn’t been the same since her father died.”

“I saw her in the woods the night he died,” Amara added one day, her eyes narrowing with false suspicion. “I think she had something to do with it.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “What are you saying?” I demanded, my voice shaking with anger. “You know I loved my father more than anything. I would never hurt him!”

But the damage was done. The seeds of doubt had been planted, and soon they began to grow, spreading like weeds among the pack. I could see it in their eyes when they looked at me, hear it in their whispers when they thought I wasn’t listening. They believed Evelyn and Amara’s lies. They thought I had killed my own father to take his place as alpha.

One day, the elders called a meeting. I stood before them, my heart pounding in my chest. I tried to plead my case, to explain that I was innocent, but they wouldn’t listen. “Anita,” Elder Marcus said, his voice heavy with judgment, “we have decided to expel you from the pack. Your actions have brought shame upon us all.”

“No!” I shouted, desperation clawing at my throat. “You can’t do this! I didn’t kill my father!”

But it was no use. They had already made up their minds. As I turned to leave, I saw Evelyn standing in the shadows, a triumphant smile playing at the corners of her lips. Amara stood beside her, a smug look of satisfaction on her face.

I rushed back to my room, my mind racing. I couldn’t leave. This was my home, my family. I couldn’t just walk away.

“You’re not going anywhere?” Evelyn sneered, grabbing a handful of my clothes and tossing them into the fireplace. “This is what happens to traitors.”

“Please,” I begged, my voice breaking. “Don’t do this.”

Amara laughed, her eyes cold and unfeeling. “It’s too late, sister. You’re not welcome here anymore.”

I watched in horror as the flames devoured my clothes, my life, my memories. Everything I had ever known was being reduced to ashes before my eyes. I was left with nothing. I had no choice. I had to leave.

As I stumbled out of the house, my heart heavy with despair, I realized I had nowhere to go. The forest was dark and forbidding, but it was the only place I could think of. I had to hide, to find a way to survive. I didn’t know where I was going, or what I would do, but I had to keep moving. I had to get away from them.

I didn’t know Evelyn wasn’t done with me yet. She wanted to make sure I was gone for good. As I made my way through the trees, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me, the rustling of leaves. I turned, and two wolves emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with a fierce hunger.

“You can’t escape, Anita,” one of them growled, his voice low and menacing. “Your stepmother sends her regards.”

I backed away, my legs trembling. “Please,” I begged. “I don’t want to fight.”

The wolves lunged at me, their fangs out. I dodged the first one, but the second one caught me off guard, knocking me to the ground. I scrambled to my feet, my heart racing. I couldn’t let them win. I had to fight back.

I swung my fists wildly, trying to fend them off, but they were too strong. One of them slammed into me, sending me sprawling to the ground. Pain shot through my body as I hit the ground, my breath knocked from my lungs. I tried to get up, but they were already on me in an instant, their teeth sank into my flesh.

I screamed, the pain blinding me. I thought it was over, that this was how it would end. But then, out of nowhere, a huge wolf appeared, its fur glistening in the moonlight. It let out a deafening roar, and raced towards them.

The wolves hesitated, their eyes widening in fear. Then the huge wolf lunged at them. It tore into them with a ferocity I had never seen before, sending them running with their tails between their legs.

I lay on the ground, my body trembling from the venomous bites they’ve given to me. I stretched my hand to reach out but it betrayed me as I fell into darkness immediately.

…

When I awoke, I was in a place I didn’t recognize—a luxurious room that smelled faintly of lavender and antiseptic. My head was throbbing, and every muscle in my body ached, but I was alive. I blinked against the bright light streaming in through the large windows, trying to make sense of my surroundings. I was lying in a bed with crisp white sheets that felt like silk against my skin. Everything around me looked expensive, from the velvet drapes to the ornate chandelier hanging above my head.

A deep, soothing voice broke through my confusion, drawing my attention to the figure standing beside my bed. I squinted against the light, trying to make out the details of his face. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence. His suit was tailored to perfection, exuding wealth. He wore sunglasses, which struck me as odd, given that we were indoors.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice smooth and calming. “I was worried you wouldn’t pull through.”

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry as sandpaper. “Where am I?” I managed to voice out, my voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled faintly. “You’re safe,” he assured me. “That’s all that matters for now.”

I wanted to press for more information, to understand how I ended up here, but something in his tone told me not to push. Instead, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice a bit stronger this time.

“My name is Hades,” he said, taking a step closer to the bed. “I’m your mate.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of me. My mate? That couldn’t be possible. I had never heard of him before, never sensed any connection. And yet, as I looked into his eyes, I felt a strange pull, a magnetic force drawing me towards him.

“I… I don’t understand,” I stammered, my mind reeling. “How do you know we’re mates?”

He chuckled softly, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. “I’ve known for a long time,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment to approach you. And now, it seems, fate has brought us together.”

Fate? I didn’t believe in fate. Not anymore. Not after everything that had happened. And yet, here he was, standing before me like some knight in shining armor, offering me a lifeline when I had nothing left.

He took a step closer, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, velvet box. “Anita,” he said softly, his voice full of emotion, “I know this is sudden, and you have every right to be confused. But I want you to know that I will do anything to protect you. To keep you safe. Marry me, and I promise you’ll never have to fear for your life again.”

I stared at the box in his hand, my mind racing. This was insane. I didn’t even know this man.

I took a deep breath, my heart still racing in my chest. “Were you the one who saved me?” I asked, needing to know the truth.

He nodded, his expression serious. “Yes,” he said simply. “I found you in the forest and brought you here.”

His words sent a rush of warmth through me. I didn’t know why, but I believed him. Something in his voice, in the way he looked at me, told me he was telling the truth.

“I don’t understand why you’re doing this,” I said, my voice trembling with confusion and fear. “Why do you want me to marry you?”

“I need a wife,” he replied, his tone suddenly more formal. “And you are my mate. It’s simple, really.”

I shook my head, still not fully grasping the situation. “But I don’t even know you. How can I just agree to something like this?”

He sighed, his expression becoming more serious. “Were you not expelled from your pack last night?” he asked bluntly, catching me off guard.

I stiffened, my breath catching in my throat. He knew. Of course, he knew. I had been banished, cast out with nowhere to go. My silence was all the answer he needed.

“If you become my wife,” he continued, taking advantage of my hesitation, “you will have the right to stay in this pack for as long as you wish. You can find a better job, build a new life.”

His words hung In the air, heavy with unspoken promises. I didn’t know what to say. Could I really trust him? Did I have any other choice? My mind raced, weighing my options. Returning to my pack was out of the question. I needed protection, a place where I could start over.

After what felt like an eternity, I nodded slowly. “Okay,” I whispered, the word barely audible. “I’ll marry you.”

Hades’s eyes widened in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected me to agree so quickly. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice laced with concern. “You don’t have to decide right now. Take your time—”

I shook my head, cutting him off. “No,” I said firmly. “You saved my life. This is the least I can do. Marrying you is my way of repaying you.”

For a moment, he just stared at me, his expression unreadable behind those sunglasses. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Very well then. If that’s what you want. But you’ll have to sign this,” he said, passing a paper to me.

I glanced down at the paper in my hands—a marriage contract. My heart started racing again, but I couldn’t care less at this point. I took the paper and inscribed my signature in the space meant for it, then handed it back to him. As soon as I did, I felt a strange energy wrap around me.

He was about to say something else when a knock blared on the door. A man in a dark suit entered, whispering something in Hades’ ear. His expression shifted, a flicker of something dark passing over his face.

“I have to go,” he said abruptly, turning back to me. “Something urgent has come up. I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I am not certain how long it will take.”

Before I could respond, he handed me a bank card. “If you need anything, use this,” he said, his voice softer now.

I wanted to refuse, to tell him I didn’t need his charity, but something in his eyes stopped me.

“This is what a wife deserves.” he added gently, and with that, he was gone with the man in suit, leaving me alone in the vast, unfamiliar room.

I watched the door close behind him, my mind swirling with questions and doubts. Who was Hades, really? Why was he helping me? And what was I getting myself into.

I lay back against the pillows, staring up at the chandelier above me, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. My father was dead. Evelyn was trying to frame me. And now, I was about to marry a man I barely knew.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I wanted to be strong, to be brave like my father had taught me. But I was scared. So scared. I had no idea what the future held, no idea if I had made the right choice. All I knew was that I was alone in this, and I had to find a way to survive.

…

Three years had passed since I woke up in that luxurious room, disoriented and alone. In that time, I had found a place within the pack, though not the one I had envisioned. With Hades’s help, I had secured a job doing cleaning work. It wasn’t glamorous or prestigious, but it was steady, and it allowed me to stay. To survive.

Each day was a routine—a mundane cycle of sweeping, mopping, and dusting. The pack’s headquarters was massive, with long hallways and countless rooms that needed upkeep. It gave me something to focus on, something to do with my hands while my mind wandered to the uncertainties of my situation.

I had come to know the faces of the pack members, even if I didn’t know all their names. Most of them kept their distance, perhaps unsure of how to treat me. I was an outsider, brought in by the mysterious Hades, who rarely made appearances himself. But they tolerated my presence.

On this particular day, I was scrubbing the floors of the main hall, lost in thought. Suddenly, a commotion broke the quiet rhythm of the day. Voices rose in excitement, echoing off the walls of the hall. I paused, looking up from my work. Pack members were gathering in clusters, their faces lit with anticipation and joy.

“Alpha has returned!” someone shouted, and a cheer went up from the crowd.

I straightened up, my heart skipping a beat.

Alpha?