Chapter 1: Bound to the Beast

Chapter 1 : Bound to the Beast

"Another breeder was killed today," the guard's voice echoed through the prison hallway.

"I'm yet to choose a breeder. The girls are so beautiful. The pack we conquered this time has pretty girls, I must say," one guard replied as they approached Hana's cell.

She was slowly getting used to the bad news of her people getting killed after giving the males of SeaHowl pack a pup. They were captured a year ago, and this had been the routine since their imprisonment.

"Hey, you!" One of them pointed at Hana, who was lying folded like a ball.

"That one over there is so petite and pretty. Even after a year, her beauty didn't fade like the rest," another guard said, lust glinting in his eyes.

"She was kept separate by the Alpha, so take your eyes off her," one of them warned.

"I heard she was MoonLight Alpha's daughter. No wonder she was separated," another said.

Hana listened to them, pained that she could do nothing to save her people who were killed every day after breeding for this tyrant pack. The gate to her cell opened, and she was dragged out by one of the guards. She used to fight them, but she had no strength anymore.

She watched with sad eyes as other girls from her pack were dragged out, most still fighting to be left alone. She wished they would save their strength. They all lined up as usual, and every month, they were selected to breed for the pack or be sold off to other packs.

A black-tinted car stopped in front of them. Who could be picked this time, where will they be taking them to, will they be killed in that pack? These were questions that raked Hana’s mind each time they are lined up like this.

Hana kept her face down, avoiding being noticed. She'd rather die in that prison than be a breeder for any of them.

A pair of feet appeared in her view. She smelled a strange scent and looked up, recognizing the young handsome man immediately. It was Alpha Jarrel, the man who had invaded her pack, killed her parents and brother, taken her people captive, and ordered their execution after they gave birth. Not even allowed to see their pups before being killed.

Her brows furrowed as she looked straight into his eyes. A smirk drew on the corner of his lips.

"You are the most beautiful little thing I've ever seen," Alpha Jarrel said, removing the locks of hair covering her face.

She shook off his hand, indicating he should not touch her.

"How dare you?" a man roared.

"You don't speak to my mate in such a tone, Magnus," Jarrel said, caressing her face.

"Your... your what?" Magnus asked surprise on his face.

"You perceived it as soon as I arrived, didn't you?" Jarrel's question was directed at Hana. "And you can still feel the pull, can't you?" He smiled, pulling her chin up to meet his eyes.

"You're dreaming if you think I'll accept mating with a monster," Hana said for the first time since arriving at SeaHowl pack. Her anger was visible in her gritted teeth and furrowed brow.

"Ha! I love this. You are totally my type. The moon goddess definitely knows my taste, or you would have been dead now if I didn't like who my mate was," Jarrel said with sarcasm.

"You have no choice in the matter. The moon goddess has made her choice, what can we do?"

"I, Hana Roland, reject you, Alpha Jarrel Alexandra, as my mate. I'd rather rot behind those bars than accept such a ridiculous bond," Hana spat.

Her response cut through the silence, shock spreading on everyone's faces. Who would dare be rude to Alpha Jarrel? They all expected her head to roll on the ground in the next minute.

A hot, stinging slap hit Hana on her right cheek, sending her flying from her position.

"I thought I said you have no say in the matter, little feisty princess?" Jarrel said as he approached Hana, who managed to wipe the blood from her lips.

"I expected to be slain, not slapped, Alpha Jarrel. This is such a belittling act," she said.

Jarrel shuddered where he stood. Nobody had ever spoken back to him in such a manner before. A smile crept on his face.

"Ah! So interesting, I love this," he said, pulling her off the ground and carrying her to the black car he came from.

Inside the car, Hana struggled to free herself, but his grip was iron. "Let me go!" she screamed, thrashing in his hold.

"Quiet, little mate," Jarrel said, his voice cold and commanding. "You’re mine now."

With her worst enemy by her side, Hana was forced into a small area as the car door slammed shut behind them. As the car moved forward, removing her from the cage she had known and placing her in an unknown future, her heart raced.

She tried to steady her breathing, focusing on the passing scenery outside the tinted windows. Her mind raced, formulating plans of escape, but all seemed futile. Jarrel watched her with an amused expression, clearly enjoying her distress.

"You won't get away, Mate. You're bound to me by the moon goddess herself. Fighting it is useless," Jarrel said, leaning closer.

She growled, giving him the best hateful glare she could manage. "I will never be yours," she declared.

"We'll see about that," he confidently said. "You'll get used to it, eventually."

The stillness in the car was thick and oppressive as they drove for what seemed like hours. Hana's thoughts kept going back to the previous year's events—the grief, the loss, and the helplessness. Still, she held onto a tiny glimmer of resistance, refusing to allow Jarrel to break her.

Finally, the car stopped. The door opened, and Jarrel stepped out, dragging Hana with him. They stood before a grand mansion, its dark, imposing structure reflecting the aura of its owner.

"Welcome to your new home," Jarrel said, his grip on her arms firm as he led her inside.

The interior was lavish, with ornate decorations and an air of power and wealth. Servants scurried about, casting curious glances at Hana but quickly looking away under Jarrel's stern gaze.

He dragged her to a room and pushed her into it. “That is final, you will remain here until you get your senses back I will have food prepared for you Do not attempt anything heroic” he warned and shut the door on him.

Hana searched the room for any signs of escape, then stared at the opulent chaise longue, the plump carpet, and the thick, soundproofed door which was now secured from the outside. She fell on the bed and felt how the reality of what she was going through was weighing down on her.

The rebel that she felt inside her during earlier minutes melted and turned into despair. Fear crawled in.