Chapter 3 I Want Her

(Hilda)

I struggle and try to fight them off, but my muscles are still weak from a year of lying down. Each movement is a painful reminder of my vulnerability. The warrior’s grips tighten, and my attempts to break free are futile. 

As the crowd recognizes me as the former Beta, their attitudes shift. Hatred and vengeance flare in their eyes. The whispers turn into shots, and more of them surround me, eager to settle old scores. 

They are not just following orders, they really want to hurt me.

The hands that once fought me on the battlefield now claw and pull, dragging me away. Panic surges through me as I feel myself being overwhelmed. 

Desperation claws at my heart, and my vision blurs with tears. I am on the brink of losing myself when I hear a familiar voice. 

“Stop!” Soren’s command cuts through the chaos. He pushes through the crowd, his presence halting the onslaught. The warriors hesitate, releasing their hold on me. 

For a brief moment, a spark of hope ignites in my heart. Maybe Soren hasn’t completely abandoned me. Maybe there is still a part of him that cares. 

Cerelia stands beside him, her face a mask of shock and embarrassment. The crowd’s attention shifted from me to her, and I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. This isn’t how she had envisioned her coronation. 

Cerelia looks at her brother with pleading eyes seeking help.

Damon is furious when he sees his sister is upset. His face contorts with anger as he pushes his way to the front. 

“What is the meaning of this, Soren?” He demands. “We had a deal. You need to finish the ceremony now!” 

Soren looks torn, his eyes flicking between me and Cerelia. The weight of his responsibilities and the pack’s expectations bears down on him. He sighs, his shoulders sagging under the burden. 

Damon’s eyes narrow, and a malicious grin spreads across his face. 

“And I have another demand. I want her to go with me.” He points directly at me, his voice laced with venom. 

My heart sinks and I feel the ground shift beneath my feet. Soren’s hesitation is brief,  but it is enough to shatter the last remnants of my hope. 

“Sure,” Soren says quietly. The word hangs in the air, a death blow to my spirit. 

He just gives me away to a man that hates me. As easy as that. It strikes me then just how little I matter to him now. 

The crowd buzzes with murmurs.

Soren’s gaze is distant, as if he has already detached himself from me. 

I look at Alec and he averts his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he says more to himself than to me.

Damon’s grin widens, and he steps forward, his hand gripping my arm possessively. “Looks like you’re coming with me, Hilda.” 

I look at Soren, searching his eyes for any sign of regret or compassion. But all I see is the cold, unyielding face of an Alpha who has made his choice. 

The man I once loved was gone, replaced by someone I no longer recognized. 

As Damon pulls me away, the crowd parts, their faces a mixture of relief and pity. The ceremony resumes behind us, the joyous celebrations a stark contrast to the turmoil in my heart. 

We reach the edge of the clearing, and Damon’s grip tightens. “You’re mine now,” he whispers, his breath hot against my ear. “And I’m going to make sure you never forget it.” 

I bite back my tears, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. “You’ll regret this,” I said through gritted teeth. 

He laughs, a dark and cruel sound. “I doubt it.” 

His words sting, but I refused to let them break me. I am still a warrior though wounded. And I will find a way to survive, no matter what. 

Damon pushes me toward a small cabin on the outskirts of the pack’s territory. It is isolated, far from the main settlement. He shoves me inside, the door slamming shut behind us. 

I ink to the floor, my body trembling with exhaustion and despair. The room is small and bare, a far cry from the home I had once known. 

“You’ll stay here while I teach you some manners, little wolf,” his eyes gleaming with malice. 

I glare at him, my fists clenched at my sides. “I'm not your pet.” 

He steps closer, his face inches from mine. “Oh, but you are. And you’d do well to remember that.”