Chapter 02

**Audrey’s POV**

I woke up with a start to discover that I had slept on the cold tiled floor over the night with my door still left ajar from when Dad and Raquel had walked out of it the previous day.

Speaking of dad and Raquel, I remembered what they had said yesterday about selling me off to become a slave to Alpha Valentino of Blood crest pack. The thought of it made my blood run cold. I couldn’t go there, I wouldn’t go there! 

That blood sucker of an Alpha would have me killed even before dad would ever consider killing me! I wouldn’t allow this to happen to me.

My body ached tremendously as I slowly got up from the floor on wobbly legs and practically dragged my tired body into my bathroom. I didn’t try to look at my reflection today because I knew I would look way worse than I did yesterday.

Closing my eyes, I quickly got in the warm shower, stood still in it until all of the blood dried on my skin had been rinsed out and got out to quickly dress up. 

I had made my decision. I didn’t care if dad gets into trouble with the dreadful Valentino when he finds me missing, but I knew I wouldn’t be here when Alpha Valentino comes for me. I knew it was cowardly to run from your problems, but in this case, I would run. I would run for my life.

I was done being trampled upon, done being pushed around by members of my family, and even the entire pack, done with practically being a slave in my father’s kingdom simply because I am an omega.

I quickly tied my hair up into a tight ponytail, dressed up in black overalls and hid my face under a disguise as I slowly crept out of my room. 

“Protect me, moon goddess.” I whispered to myself as I made my way out of my room, and down the corridor, praying that no one walks in on me trying to escape.

It took me about thirty minutes to successfully creep around my father’s pack house unnoticed until I finally arrived at the thick forest which surrounded the pack house.  

I heard people shouting my name in the distance, but I didn’t listen, I didn’t wait for them to catch up with me. I immediately sprinted into the woods as if my life depended on it. And of course, my life depended on it.

I continued running through the forest until I got to a swampy land. Seeing this as a golden opportunity for me, I quickly threw myself into the heap of mud on the floor to mask my scent, and kept running deeper into the woods, very far away from my father’s territory.

I had been running for hours, and due to the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I wasn’t getting tired at all. It was quickly getting dark out but that didn’t hinder me. Suddenly I felt a sharp pain go up my left leg which made me scream out painfully. I looked down at my feet, and to my utter dismay, discovered that I had fallen right into a bear trap.

“Ohh Fuck, no no!” I whimpered, trying to shake my legs out of its hold but to no avail. The pain was unbearable. So unbearable, it shot up my spine in high voltages, making me double up in pain. I couldn’t move either, it had rendered me immobile.

I cried softly as I couldn’t help but think that this was my end. My father’s soldiers will catch up to me, and give me off to that beast. I sat slowly on the floor, waiting, waiting for when they would come get me. 

I didn’t know for how long I waited, for suddenly I felt myself becoming dizzy. I didn’t try fighting off the sleep this time, because I knew that they would catch me either way, so I laid on the floor, in the forest, and succumbed to the peacefulness that came with it…

**^**

“Hey, wake up!” I heard someone beside me say into my ear, shaking me. I slowly pried my eyes open only to be met with the grayest eyes I have ever seen. Even the air around him smelled so divine, I couldn’t imagine licking it- if it was possible.

The person, who happened to be a young man, helped me sit up, he held a bottle of water to me which I gingerly took from his hands. When I looked down at my feet, I was surprised to see that he had taken out the bear trap and had wrapped my left leg with a torn piece of cloth.

“Thank you.” I muttered quietly, eying him skeptically. “Who are you?” I asked quietly.

“I’m Robert, and you are?” He replied immediately. His voice sounded cool, melodic even to me, it sounded like something I would willingly want to listen to everyday.

“Audrey.” I said simply.

“Okay Audrey, where’s your home? I would like to take you home.” He drawled in that deep baritone voice of his that I was beginning to find really sexy. 

No, no! I don’t want to go home.

“I don’t have a home.” I lied quickly, looking up at him. He seemed to be deep in thoughts for a while before he spoke up again.

“How come you don’t have a home?” He asked, cocking his perfectly trimmed eyebrows at me.

“I lost my home and family to a wildfire some months back and I have been living in the forest ever since.” I lied again. Wow, I’m becoming good at this.

“Ohh.” He drawled sadly, “okay will you follow me to my house?”

“Yes yes, thank you!” I rushed out rather too quickly, He stared at me too intently for a minute, but quickly looked away, standing up.

“I’ll try to help you stand up now,” he said slowly, as if he was talking to a toddler. “Your left foot would hurt, but you have to trust me.” He continued, stretching an arm towards me. At his cue, I took his hand, but immediately I did, I jumped away.

His hands felt too hot against mine. At his touch, I felt a jolt of electricity run up my spine. It felt strange but heavenly at the same time.

What was happening to me?

The young man, who also seemed to be lost in thoughts stared intently at me.

“Are you my mate?” He whispered softly, coming forward to touch my face. As soon as his hands touched my chin, I closed my eyes, feeling an inexplicable burst of adrenaline run up my spine. I felt different. I felt insanely good. It was something I had never felt before.

I looked up into his deep gray eyes and found myself unable to look away. It mesmerized me. Held me in place.

I didn’t know how I got myself to speak, for I immediately found myself agreeing to his question; 

“Yes, I am your mate.” I whispered slowly, lost in his deep dark eyes, and never wanting to be found. It felt like a trance, a trance I never wanted to wake up from…