Chapter one

“Alpha! There is a report from the scouts.” Cain said, making everyone to pause the ongoing celebrations.

“What report is this that cannot wait?” Sapphire’s father, Alpha Ren growled.

“It’s the barbarians.” Cain said and everyone gasped, including Sapphire. What were the bunch of Neanderthals up to this time? They were always up to no good, that bunch. The mention of them immediately dampened the mood of the ongoing celebrations.

“Speak!”

“The scouts reported unusual activities from them, Alpha. They appear restless for some reason.”

Her father scowled. “Did you interrupt the celebrations to tell me the barbarians are moving funny? Come, drink some wine and loosen up a little. Tomorrow is another day to continue the war with the barbarians.”

Her father threw an arm over the messenger’s shoulder and dragged him towards the tables and just like that, the mood lightened up again, the orchestra continued and everyone resumed dancing.

Sapphire scoffed.

“Goddess curse those Neanderthals. Can they not live without staring the waters?”

Mary-Anne her closest friend snickered. “Might as well tell the leopards to change their spots.”

“Everyone listen up!” Her father said at the dais and everyone obeyed. He looked around at them proudly and rightly so. Unlike the barbarians of the Callahan pack who are even rumoured to rut and fuck in their animal form, so primitive were they that they were no longer able to separate their wolves from the man, here in Diamond pack they were civilised. Giving in to their wolves brought out animalistic desires that they all detested, so they held on tightly to their human forms, keeping their wolves in tight chains. That was why they were superior to those barbarians, they used their head and not their instincts.

“There is a reason for tonight’s celebration.” Alpha Ren said. “I have a very important announcement that I am sure will please you all.”

“Sapphire.” Phoenix slid behind her and whispered. “I waited for you yesterday.”

She nearly groaned, how foolish of him to think she would truly show up. As the most beautiful female in Diamond pack, lots of men soiled themselves with a touch from her, they competed to have her attention and proposals to her were stacked high on her father’s table every day. Why did this fool believe her when she promised to meet with him in the love garden late at night? She would have said anything to get Mary-Anne and herself into the exclusive club that demanded invites.

“Oh dear, the meeting slipped my mind.” said Sapphire.

The male stepped closer to her urgently and whispered. “Then perhaps we can meet tonight-“

“Sapphire.” Her father calling her name suddenly jerked her to attention and she looked up to find him beaming at her from the dais. Behind her, Phoenix melted away like he had never been there.

“Yes Father.” She said, wondering what trouble she had gotten herself into now.

“Come to my side, dearest daughter of mine.”

Sapphire painted a smile on her face and floated up the dais. This couldn’t be good. None of the times she was singled out like this were any good. Which of her recent activities did he discover?

She dropped into a curtsy on the dais and her father grinned at her. He didn’t look incensed so she allowed herself a breath of relief.

“Tonight you are all gathered here to celebrate this beautiful daughter of mine. It is with greatest pleasure that I announce Sapphire Legolith’s engagement to Derek, my beta.”

It took a second for the ridiculous words to register and when they did, Sapphire turned to her father with disbelief. She was getting married?! To...

“It is my belief,” Her father continued. “-that this union will make our people even stronger, bringing us nothing but prosperity.”

The crowd dissolved into tentative applause as Beta Derek came to stand at her father’s other side and Sapphire’s ears burned with a mixture of anger and total embarrassment.

“You can’t be serious.” She said and the hall stilled.

Her father turned to her with a raised brow. “Did you say something sweetheart?”

“I’m not marrying Derek.” Sapphire scoffed, incensed that her father would even suggest such. “He’s old! About three times my age!”

People sucked in a breath at her audacity and her father’s eyes narrowed with anger.

“I understand you might be shocked dear, but I will not take it lightly should you utter such disrespectful words again.”

Her heart started pounding out of her chest when she realised her father was not joking. Someone snickered faintly in the audience and she was sure everyone else was holding in their mockery. Oh how proud she had been, how she would be mocked mercilessly! Her enemies would rejoice to see how far she had fallen, from toying with all of the males’ heartstrings to being shackled to this old donkey! Tears pricked her eyes and she stared at her father with desperation.

“I cannot!” She cried, her entire body shaking. “I will not marry him. Don’t make me Father!”

Suddenly, the back of her father’s hand smacked into her cheek and she staggered back and crashed on her ass. She held her burning cheek and shook with uncontrolled tears.

Insolence and disobedience were not tolerated in Diamond pack, and though she expected more punishments for her rebellion, her father‘s hand tightened to fists as he held himself back.

“Do you disagree with my decision, Sapphire?” He asked in a dangerous tone.

She gathered herself up, shaking from head to toe.

“No Father!” She gasped, her eyes burning with tears. Her gaze slid to Derek standing beside him, the old man no less than sixty years of age!

He was looking at her blatantly and possessively, as if he was already imagining the both of them together and was finding it difficult to suppress his lust. She shuddered violently, revolted at the sight of him. Her cry caught in her throat as she lowered her eyes, she was doomed.

...

Sapphire downed the third bottle in the last hour, well and properly drunk. She laughed as the room swum in front of her and drank some more.

Today was her wedding day. All of them were gathered by now, pompous and ready to mock her behind their fans. She imagined her husband-to-be waiting sweating and endlessly for her at the dais and she laughed again. Served the old donkey right. Since the announcement, she had barely been able to stomach the sight or the thought of him.

No doubt they had noticed her absence by now. A hiccup seized her when she thought of the fury that would be on her father’s face when he discovered the blankets she carefully arranged on her bed. She would be whipped for sure! She drank again, groaning in misery.

She would bear a hundred whippings rather than be wed to that shameless old wolf that dared to covet someone younger than all of his daughters! She saw red and imagining his face, she threw the nearly empty bottle.

The missile nearly hit someone that just came in and he moved so fast it crashed into the wall behind him instead.

His eyes found hers and she drooled at the sight of the most handsome, broad-shouldered stranger she ever saw in her life! She had never seen him before, she would definitely remember and when he changed direction and headed directly for her, she found herself rising to meet him.

“I’ve never had a woman stone my face in a first encounter before.” The stranger said.

Even his voice was incredibly sexy. She giggled and staggered forward and he caught her. Her breath caught in her throat at their proximity and when she stared up at him, she could swear his eyes were alive with lust as he stared at her lips.

“I do many other things other than stone faces. Want to go upstairs and find out?” She grabbed his collar and pulled him close, hitting a sultry pose that would have been perfect if she didn’t stagger.

“You are drunk.” He said, his hands still on her waist.

“Very. My clumsy fingers will need help getting out of this tight top. You’ll lend me a hand won’t you?” She batted her lashes at him, surprised at her own provocativeness. It was the alcohol, it was making her unruly.

She gasped in surprise when he smirked and pulled her in. “As you wish, my lady.”

Even before they could get to the room, his taste was in her mouth and her fingers were fluttering over his skin. The alcohol punched holes into her memory but she clearly remembered the fever beneath her skin as he kicked the door shut and she pulled him close, their mingled moans as he fucked her and created for her a night she would not forget for the rest of her life.

...

She woke up alone the next day, disoriented for a second before the soft ache between her thighs reminded her of the rigorous activity that took place all night. She leapt up in bed and looked around with wide eyes.

The stranger!

He was nowhere to be found and her heart quickened as she suddenly caught snippets of her brazenness last night. Did she... she didn’t really sleep with a complete stranger did she? She did! The brilliant spots of red on the white sheets were proof of it.

She groaned and palmed her head. How could she?! Her father was going to murder her!

The wedding!

She leapt off the bed so fast her head spun and her mouth dried with fear. She missed the wedding completely yesterday! She could not imagine how furious Father would be, she would be punished mercilessly for sure!

In the light of day, her stomach quaked as she pulled her clothes back on hurriedly, dreading facing the consequences of her decisions last night and she ran out and left the room behind her.