Chapter 3

"Let's hear what you want and what you are willing to sacrifice," he said, walking around me in a circle. Chuckling awkwardly. 

"Ta, take me to the Alpha," I stuttered, but immediately found my voice. My heart is racing pretty hard.

He grinned. "I can smell your fear, no matter how hard you mask it." He stepped a few meters back, raising both hands.

I guess he wanted to make me calm, but my heart was threatening to burst out of my chest.

"Tell me what you want with the Alpha, and maybe, just maybe, I can help," he said, his eyes buried in mine as he grinned.

"I need to borrow money from the Alpha," I bravely replied.

"Aha, it can only be money problems; let me guess you lost all your money to gambling or drugs, or was it alcohol?" He whispered to my hearing. The fear I once felt slowly turned to anger. I could tell from all indications that he was enjoying the drama.

"Do you want to take me to the Alpha, or are you having the time of your life?" I snapped.

"She got some fire; I like that," I heard another voice say from behind me. I quickly turned around to see another weird-looking guy walking towards us.

What the fuck was happening and where they were all appearing was a puzzle to me.

"You think she will do for the replacement?"

"She will be a perfect replacement," the second guy replied. I was looking from the first guy to the second, confused as fuck.

They both turned immediately to me, and I staggered back in fear.

"What are you willing to offer me in exchange for the money?" the first guy asked.

"A... are you... ou the Alpha?" I stuttered,

"I would have to kill you if I ever told you," he replied, chuckling dryly.

His words sent fear down my spine; my whole body was engulfed in goosebumps. For the very first time, I realized they could both kill me in this forest, and no one would ever come looking for me. I dragged my feet backward, looking from one person to the next.

"Don't be scared; I won't kill you yet; you are far more valuable alive than dead." His voice came yet again. I stopped in my tracks, wondering who they were.

"I am all ears, scardy cat," he teased me.

"You don't even know how much I want to borrow from the alpha."

"If you think the alpha couldn't borrow you the amount you need, why are you here then?" I stared at him speechless; he did have a solid point, and besides, I heard the alpha was quite wealthy.

"50,000, and I'm willing to offer him anything he asks for in return," I replied.

"Even yourself," he whispered into my ears. I turned around quickly in fear, only to see him standing behind me. I moved away from him immediately, scared as fuck.

I kept pointing at where I saw him standing before now.

"How did you get there?" I asked him, stepping away from him. But his chuckle was the only reply I got. I immediately sprinted off, running towards the town, scared.

"I guess she doesn't need the money, Alpha," I heard the second guy say. I stopped in my tracks immediately when I heard the name Alpha.

I was in disbelief that the guy I had been talking to all this time was indeed the alpha. This rough-looking guy was actually the alpha all along. I turned around to see them staring at me. I didn't know the game they were playing, but I needed this money more than anything. Besides, if I didn't get the money, my grandchildren might not live to see the next day.

"I offer myself in return for the money if I don't pay up," I replied, trying hard to mask my fears, but his smiles were making me lose composure. This deal was a very bad idea, but I hoped to save Gramps first, sell off a few things, and pay him up before he came to claim me.

It would be a terrible idea to be indebted to a mysterious man like the alpha. He didn't say a word for some minutes but was just staring at me. I was beginning to fear that he wouldn't go through with the deal.

"Deal!" he said. I sighed in relief when I heard him say, "But you would sign a blood contract for me before I give the money to you."

Did he just say a blood contract? Who still does that? Is he old-fashioned, or couldn't he afford a good lawyer to draw up a legally binding contract? Well, I don't care; whatever he wants, as long as he gives me the money,

"Fine, I will sign the contract," I replied.

"This way," I heard the second guy say. As he gestured for me to follow him, I turned to look at the alpha, and he moved his head towards the other guy, urging me to follow him.

There must be some shaddy shit going on here, but I was too desperate to care. I followed him through the forest, and just a few walks away, we were standing in front of a gate.

I never knew there was something like this in the forest. A man in his twenties opened the gates immediately when he saw us.

"Alpha," I heard him say as he bowed his head a little. I found it odd; everything about this group reeks of creepiness. I turned around to see him behind me.

He was creeping the shit out of me, but I was neck deep into this whole shit to back out now. I followed them into the gate.

It was already getting dark; I could barely see what was in front of me. I had spent more time than I had thought at the Alpha's, but I was glad that at least I got the money.

The wind this night was chilly, and the forest was a little quiet. I hurried on my heel, clutching onto the money I had just exchanged my life for. I had decided to head straight to the hospital to hand over the money to them.

"Gramps would be alright now," I said to myself as I hurried on. I was halfway out of the forest, or so I thought, when I heard the howling of a dog. Fear gripped me.

I turned around quickly, but there was no one there. I guess the dog incident I had experienced earlier made me alarmed. I increased my pace, almost running as I tried getting out of the forest.

The howling increased. I was sure it wasn't just one dog; my heart was all over the place, and I was breathing frantically as I ran, clutching onto the money in my hands.

I sighed in relief immediately. I heard some voices, and I looked forward to seeing the light coming from the town. The howling was closer than ever now.

"Home, sweet home," I said, cleaning off the sweat from my face. I took a step out of the woods when I felt a heavy hand pull me by the hair. Before I knew what was happening, I was already on the floor.

I screamed, looking around hastily to get a glimpse of what grabbed me, but the woods were already too dark for me to see a thing.

I hurriedly got off the floor as I continued hearing footsteps circling me like damn wolves waiting for the right time to strike their prey.

I went down on all fours, searching for the purse I lost when I was thrown on the floor. I only felt the fallen dead leaves from the trees and sand, but there was no sight of the purse anywhere.

I immediately got off the floor and made a run for it when I heard the snarl of what sounded like a dog running towards me.

I ran a few meters into the forest when I fell, hitting my head on the floor.

I woke up to the chirping of birds. The light was too bright for my eyes, but I managed to keep it open while looking around like a lost puppy.

My head was pounding so hard, I could swear they were playing a parade drum in there.

I finally realized where I was and what had happened the previous night. I looked around, but there was no sight of the purse anywhere. I sat on the floor, sulking.

"Gramps!" I screamed and hurriedly stood up from the floor and made my way to the hospital. People stared at me weirdly, but I didn't bother asking why because I knew I looked terrible.

 

I got to the hospital only to find out that Gramps was no longer in her ward and her bed was empty.

"Nurse!" I called out. I was about to head to the reception area when I met the doctor in the hallway.

"Amber, we have been looking for you." I felt a heavy pang in my chest. How do I explain that I had the money and lost it?

"Where is my grandmother?" I asked the doctor, not caring about pleasantries.

"Is everything okay, Amber?" he asked, looking at me weirdly.

"I'm fine, doctor," I responded, trying hard to avoid the topic.

"Was my grandmother moved to another ward?" I asked. 

"I'm sorry, Amber. We lost your grandmother early this morning; her body is at the morgue."

I immediately lost control of my legs, and I slumped on the floor, crying.

"Take heart, dear," he consoled me.

I was lost for words as I sat on the floor, crying my eyes out. I sprinted off the morgue in disbelief, hoping I wouldn't see gramps when I got there. I was in more pain than ever seeing her lifeless body at the morgue. My whole world came to an end.

**

I got home after burrying Gramps; the house felt empty without her, I turned on the light.

"You!" I screamed as I saw him sitting on the couch, wearing all black, like the grim ripper. I was about to ask another question when I felt a blow on my head and lost consciousness.

I woke up to the cheering of the cloud; the light was too bright; I couldn't see anyone in the crowd; and I also noticed I was putting on nothing except for some white lingerie covering nothing at all. I had yet to understand what was going on.

"Let the bid begin." I turned towards the voice, and that was when I realized my hands were chained to the ground. I knew instantly that I was doomed. I could only think of one person.

"The Alpha."

"1 million dollars," I heard someone say from the crowd. I was shaken at the thought of these weird fellows bidding on me. A tremor of fear washed all over me.

"We have a million now."

"2 million!" I heard yet another.

My eyes were slowly getting accustomed to the light, and I could see the faces of the people bidding on me. I was shaken and scared, looking at their faces. I stepped backwards in fear, backing away from the light, but one of the men standing beside me pulled at the chain I was bound with, and I nearly fell to the ground.

"50 million," I heard someone from the crowd say. I noticed the crowd suddenly became quiet. I began hearing whispers, and I turned towards the voice.

My legs suddenly gave way, and I fell to the floor, seeing him standing at the end of the room, eyes as dark as the night.