Chapter 4 " Hope you die !"

Selena

I was getting dolled up to look like a princess, an Alpha's daughter. The maids fussed over every strand of hair, every fold of fabric, changing me into something I hardly recognized. My reflection stared back at me, but it felt like a mask, a façade, the elegant dress, the carefully applied makeup, the jewelled hairpin, all part of a show.

It's a show meant to disguise the truth.

Despite the outward beauty, I felt like a lamb being dressed for slaughter. Anxiety clawed at my insides, my heart pounding in my chest. I had barely ever stepped outside the confines of my own pack, and now I was being sent away, to an enemy pack, no less. I had no idea how to act, or how to carry myself in a place where I knew no one. What would they expect of me? How was I supposed to behave ?

The fear ground at me, twisting my stomach into painful knots. Maybe Hudson would force himself on me, like a beast claiming its prey. I’d expect nothing less from a man who knew no mercy.

"Finally, we’re getting rid of you. Hope you die there and never come back." Jenni strolled into the room, her smirk venomous.

"Father assigned these two maids to go with you," she continued, her tone sickeningly sweet. "They’ll make sure you act accordingly and don’t reveal any information.”

My heart sank. Spies. My father wasn’t just sending me away he was ensuring my every move would be monitored, and controlled. And if I stepped out of line. I forced myself to remain calm, even as dread tightened its grip on my chest.

"I see."

Jenni leaned closer, her breath hot against my ear as her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "They’ll also make sure you die in the Crimson Knight pack."

A shiver shot down my spine, but I held my ground, refusing to let her see the fear grinding at me. Her cruel smile widened, savouring my misery, but I clenched my fists, meeting her gaze with defiance. I would not give her the satisfaction of seeing me break.

"Who are you glaring at, bitch?" Jenni hissed, her eyes narrowing. "I’d rip those eyes out of your skull if it weren’t for Father’s orders." She extended her hand, wolf claws emerging, gleaming in the dim light.

At that moment, Beta Tylor walked in. "Miss Selena, it’s time for your departure," he said, and I was stunned. This was the first time I’d heard Beta Tylor address me with such respect. His tone was formal,  a stark contrast to the disdain and cruelty I’d grown used to.

I sat in the car, clutching my mother’s photo frame to my chest, the only comfort I had left. The edges of the frame pressed into my skin, a dull ache that was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. I looked out the window, my gaze fixed on the pack house that had been my prison for as long as I could remember. My home, though it had never felt like one.

The place that had stolen my joy, my innocence, and any hope I might have had. I had been born into this world, this life of expectations and cruelty, and for what? To be discarded like a worthless object.

As the car began to move, the reality of it hit me,this was it. I was leaving everything I knew behind. But it wasn’t freedom, not really. I was being sent to another prison, to another pack where I’d face an even more terrifying fate.

I blinked back tears.

The pack house grew smaller in the distance, but the memories lingered, each one more painful than the last. Would I ever escape this life of torment? Would I ever find peace, or was I destined to suffer forever?

With one last glance at the place I had called home, I whispered under my breath, “I miss you, Mom.”

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I swallowed hard, trying to get my thoughts straight as the car neared the border of the Crimson Knight pack. Several towering werewolf statues with glowing red eyes lined the perimeter, their stony faces cold and unwelcoming. The air had changed—it was chilly now, unnaturally so. A shiver crept down my spine, and I wrapped my arms around myself .

My stomach churned with an uneasy feeling that something was very wrong.

Then, out of nowhere, I saw them, hundreds of wolves emerging from the mist, their glowing eyes piercing through the fog. The car came to a screeching halt, and the sudden stop jolted me forward. My heart raced as I looked around, feeling completely trapped.

 "W-What happened?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

The driver kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, avoiding eye contact."It's nothing. We are surrounded by the Crimson Knight pack’s guards. I was instructed to drop you off here, Miss."

A wave of terror washed over me. "Why here? Why are we surrounded? What’s going on?" I demanded.

The driver didn't offer any more explanations. "Please get out, Miss," he repeated, his tone firm yet filled with an unspoken fear.

With a heavy heart and trembling legs, I opened the car door and stepped out. Zena and Mega, the two maids assigned to accompany me, followed closely behind. They too were visibly shaken, their eyes darting around nervously as they clutched their bags tightly.

As the car drove off, leaving me and my two maids behind, a heavy silence settled over the area. The fog seemed to thicken, wrapping us in an unsettling cloak of mist. I stood there, my anxiety bubbling beneath the surface, when suddenly, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

From the mist emerged a figure that took my breath away. A man, tall and commanding, stepped forward. His presence was magnetic, drawing my eyes to him as if by some unseen force. His golden eyes gleamed in the dim light, captivating and intense, as if they could see right through me. His sharp jawline and striking features made him appear almost otherworldly.

I had never seen anyone as strikingly handsome as him before. His gaze was so powerful that I didn't even notice when my anxiety began to go away. The warmth that spread through me was unexpected. His presence alone seemed to calm the frenzy inside me.

 As he drew closer, I was enfolded by the intoxicating scent of sandalwood that emerged from him. The fragrance was captivating, filling my senses,  washing away my fear and leaving a strange comforting warmth.