Chapter 1

AMELIA

I wished I had not attended my mother's burial. 

On that day, I was supposed to bid farewell to the one person who had always been there for me, my mother, but someone robbed me of that moment.

Her battle with cancer had been fierce, but in the end, it claimed her, leaving me alone in this world.

My mother had dedicated her life to serving the Midnight Crescent Alpha, an ancient and powerful werewolf pack. She worked hard to keep the Alpha's household running smoothly, and I admired her dedication. It was a life I knew well, having grown up in the pack, and I understood the importance of loyalty to one's pack leader. 

The funeral was meant for the pack members to pay tribute to my mother, who dedicated herself to the Midnight Crescent.

Mrs. Rowland, one neighbor, climbed the podium to give a heartfelt eulogy, "Your mother was such an amazing woman, she was…" she suddenly trailed off at the screeching sound of Alpha Hector's car.

My heart pounded, and I, along with everyone else, was shaken by his presence as we all watched him step out of his car and climb the podium.

I knew Alpha Hector for his arrogance and disregard for societal norms. Arriving one hour after the funeral had begun, the screech of his car tires echoing his utter disrespect for the occasion.

Mrs. Rowland's voice gradually faded, her hands shaking. Without finishing her sentence, she handed the microphone directly to Alpha Hector, humbly bowing her head to him.

Alpha Hector, with his cold, calculating eyes, scanned the environment as his eyes fell on mine, sending shivers down my spine.

Everyone fell into a tense silence as he began to speak about my mother. I had always been protective of my mother, and the mere mention of her name sent my heart racing.

"Your mother was the embodiment of selflessness. She dedicated herself to her family and the Midnight Crescent pack, nurturing us with love, support, and encouragement," he said. "Her sacrifices and unwavering support were a testament to the depth of her devotion."

My lips managed to curl up, as I wiped the tears off my eyes sniffing in. It was lovely to hear those kind words from the Alpha himself but that hope was short-lived as Alpha Hector's tone shifted dramatically.

"But over the years, your mother took a loan from my family, and she never paid it back," he stated. His eyes flared up as they met mine once again, leaving everyone in the room gasping in shock.

"I'm sorry Alpha, but..." I said with a trembling voice, "My mom only borrowed $10,000 to cover my tuition fees, and we paid it back years ago."

"So, educated child, didn't the teacher teach you what interest is at school?"

I was like a fish starved of oxygen, constantly opening my mouth, but not a single note came out successfully.

"Including interest, and interest on interest, you still need to pay me back $500,000!"

What?! Is he kidding?!

"Let me confirm with you again, do you have the money and ready to pay me back now?"

"I...please..." My tears fell down.

His lips curled into a sardonic smile, and his icy gaze bore into mine. "From today, Amelia is our family's slave," he announced.

My mind raced as I tried to process the situation. Tears welled up in my eyes at his words, and before I knew it, two of his men had grabbed me by the arm. "Please, why are you doing this?" I cried out. Of all the places he could make such an announcement, why did he choose today?

"Please Let me have a little more time with my mother," I pleaded with him.

Alpha Hector was condescending and ruthlessly replied to my pleas, "She's not your mother; she's just a corpse. And as your owner, your time belongs to me now."

"Please," I cried out, struggling to break free from the grasp of his men. 

"Don't make me repeat myself. Take her away." His words sent a shiver down the spines of everyone present. No one dared to say a word as they dragged me away.

"Let go of me," I cried out as they dragged me into a black car behind Alpha Hector's car that I had not noticed earlier. 

I struggled with them trying hard to break free from their grasp but deep down I knew I was wasting my time, my actions only made their grip tighten around me. 

Of course they wouldn't listen to me, how would they dare to defy the Alpha's order because of my pleas, I was sure they had dealt with a worse situation than a sixteen years old child struggling to break free from them.

Still hopeful, I tried to look them in the eyes hoping they would see the hurt inside but they weren't moved by my cries, instead they opened the back seat of the car dragging me in.

As they lowered my head into the back seat against my will, it started to dawn on me that I was not getting out of this, I writhed my body as hard as I could.

Suddenly one of the men holding on to me reached for my face placing a white handkerchief over my nose pressing it down into my face.

Panic erupted in my body as I continued to writhed my body, what were they trying to do to meu.

No! Please, but the more I struggled the more I felt my body giving way to the chemical on the handkerchief. 

"Don't do -" I managed to speak trying to plead with them but my voice sounded like a muffled sound over the handkerchief.

My body suddenly felt weak and my vision blurry, I tried to move but my body felt numb, my lips parted but no single words came out as darkness started to consume me as I laid face first into the back seat falling into an unconscious state.