Chapter 2

Anastasia's POV 

Alpha Alexis Antonio's uncle. He is a powerful Alpha known to be ruthless and merciless. He is also known as a notorious and enigmatic figure in the business world who owns ninety-five percent of all the businesses across the countries. 

He is indeed the only person who can save my father's company and legacy from Stephanie and Antonio's hand. 

"This is a good idea, Shirley. But how do I do that?" I asked, turning my gaze at Shirley.

"Uhm, that's where the problem lies. If you book an appointment to see him, it might take months for him to see you and we can't wait that long." 

I was engulfed by fear, Alpha Alex was my only hope, what would I do? 

Thinking about what to do, I inhaled more air as the pain I was feeling in my heart was suffocating. It hurt so much, it hurt to be betrayed by the people you love and trust. 

"Ma'am, what are we going to do?" Shirley's voice jolted me out of my thoughts.

Blinking away the tears in my eyes, I turned to Shirley, "I will see him." 

"How.... How would you do that? We don't even know if he is in the city." 

"Don't worry about that." I gave her a reassuring smile. 

I had never seen Alpha Alex before but I believed that I would recognize him in the crowd. I heard his look was quite intimidating. 

The next day, I stood outside Alpha Alex's mighty castle. My heart pounding in my chest.

Alpha Alex was a legend in the business world known for being ruthless and intimidating. Stories about his cold and calculating nature made even the bravest people afraid. But I had no choice. I had to save my father’s company, and Alpha Alex was my last hope.

As I approached the castle, I felt a wave of fear wash over me. I noticed that the mighty building was guarded by hefty dangerous men. I had come this far, I could not turn back now, so I advanced to the house. 

The moment I came closer, the men were alerted as they picked up my scent.

"I want to see the Alpha," I demanded, my voice slightly trembling. 

They glanced up, their eyes widening slightly as I gave my name. 

"Did you book an appointment?" One of the men asked with a thick voice. 

I shook my head, indicating that I didn't and they told me that I had to book an appointment and wait for a response if I wanted to see him. 

"Please, it's very important I see him. It's a matter of urgency." I pleaded and I heard some of them laugh at me. 

They asked me to go back and I insisted, telling them the reason why I needed to see the alpha, thinking they would let me in but they remained adamant as they threatened to arrest me. 

My wolf howled with anger, asking us to fight them as she wanted to come out. I tried to calm her because we would only get into more trouble if we should fight them. 

I yelled out with tears in my eyes, pleading and calling on the alpha, hoping that he would hear me. 

The guards, on seeing my outburst, pinned me to the ground and bound me with silver. The chain burnt my wrist but I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me surrender. 

"I want to see the Alpha!" I kept shouting on top of my voice.

Soon, a hefty-looking man came out and ordered them to release me. His golden eyes look very dangerous and imposing. 

He stared at me for a while before asking, "Why did you want to see Alpha Alex?" The man asked, levitating his left brown. 

"I need his help," I said, maintaining my confidence even though my wolf had started feeling that we made a mistake by coming here. 

The man's dangerous eyes studied me intensely before asking me to come with him.

The guards removed the chain from my hands and I followed the man into the castle. 

He told me that Alpha Alex was in his chamber. 

We take an elevator from the living room to the very top, the heart of his empire and I felt my heart bangs against my rib cage. 

The man knocked on the door and I heard a deep, imposing voice, telling us to come in, making my heart skip a beat. If I wasn't in a foul mood, I would have commended the voice. It was extremely masculine and daring. 

The door opened to reveal a mighty room. Its floor-to-ceiling glass windows show a stunning view of the city. 

I entered the room and there he was, his face matched his voice. Handsome and imposing. I have never seen any man as handsome as this man. He is devilishly handsome in a way that should be considered a sin. He looked as if he never smiled and I felt my heart pounding in my chest. 

"What do you want? I do not have all day," he said in the meanest manner ever, and my heart thundered in fear. 

"I need your help to save my father's company. My stepmother, Stephanie, is trying to take over. She's been manipulating the board members, and I fear she will succeed if I don't find a way to stop her and her accomplice." I said, going straight to the point. 

Alpha Alex listened intently, his expression unreadable. When I finished, he steepled his fingers, considering my plea. The silence stretched, every second making me more anxious.

“You’re asking for a lot,” he finally said with his cold voice that sent a shiver down my spine. “Interfering in such matters comes at a high cost.”

I swallowed hard, my heart thumping in my chest. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

His lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “Marry me.” he altered. 

I felt my heart beating uncontrollably as his words hung in the air. I stared at him, my mind struggling to process what he had just said. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he replied, his tone matter-of-fact. “Marry me, and I’ll save your father’s company.”

A surge of panic went through me, my thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. 

Married to Alpha Alex? This is ridiculous. 

Alpha Alex is known to be cold and rumored to have a hidden illness that prevents him from having a normal marital relationship. 

How can he ask me to marry him? 

“Why?” I asked, my voice shaky. “Why would you want me to marry you?”

His expression remained unreadable. “Let’s just say it serves my purposes. I have my reasons, which you don’t need to know.” his voice was cold, sending a chill down my spine. 

I tried to negotiate, to find some middle ground, but he remained firm. It was his way or nothing. 

I have just been betrayed and rejected by my mate of seven years and I am not ready to go into any relationship now. 

Feeling trapped, I realized I couldn’t agree to his terms, not like this.

“I need time to consider your proposal,” I “

said, rising from my seat.

“Of course,” he replied with a smirk, his eyes following me as I moved to the door. “But remember, time is not on your side.”

My heart weighed heavy in my chest as I left his castle. 

I made my way to the hospital, where my father lay fighting for his life, I felt a crushing weight of despair. 

How could things have come to this? My stepmother and my mate betrayed my father and I, landing my father in the hospital. Now, My father’s company, his legacy, was slipping through my fingers, and I was powerless to stop it.

What sort of life is this? Why is this happening to me? 

My heart clenched with pain as tears streamed down my cheeks. 

Stepping into the hospital, I made my way to my father’s room, hoping to find some comfort. But the sight that greeted me was a punch to the gut, shattering any hope I had left.

I saw Antonio, my supposed mate and fiance with  Stephanie, engaged in a sexual act, showing no respect for my father's condition or the family's crisis. 

How could they keep on betraying and humiliating me like this? 

I was shattered and heartbroken, my blood boiling with rage as I moved to confront them.