3. Black

My answer was only tears streaming down my face because I didn't know how to convince Elijah.

Elijah brought his face closer, then forcefully lifted my head. His lips locked onto mine, taking my breath away. His kiss was so intense that it scared me to my core. Then he released my lips, almost pushing me away.

Elijah licked his lips. "Even your taste isn't like a Luna's. Any Alpha would be attracted to his future mate, would admire her, and she'd have an everlasting scent."

Was that true? I'd seen other Lunas; they seemed calm and warm, some even wise and strong.

Had all that been taken away from me when Jeremy chose Tracy to be the Luna of our pack? Was I really just an outcast wolf now? Where did I belong?

"You're useless to me, Delilah," Elijah said as he stood up.

So he was going to end me, just like that? He could just discard anyone who wasn't valuable? How cruel!

"It's decided, you're going to be my slave."

What did he say? A slave? No, I won't be anyone's slave. I'd rather die now.

"I'm not your slave," I hissed.

"I should've just left you in that ravine and let you die," he said. "You ought to be grateful."

“Becoming your slave?”

"You have no choice."

I forced myself to look into Elijah's eyes, even though fear flooded every part of me. Our gazes locked, and he intensified his aura, intimidating me even more.

"You are mine; if you refuse, you'll end up in my hands right here and now," Elijah said firmly.

I swallowed hard. Why did I have to belong to Elijah?

"You have no right to my body or my soul," I replied, trying to fight back.

"Stubborn girl," Elijah scoffed. "By becoming mine, your life is guaranteed. At least you won't fall prey to another predator out there."

"I'm not a thing you can own, king."

He chuckled softly. "Defy me, and you'll wish you were never born."

My whole body felt like it was being torn apart. The pain! It was unbearable! What was Elijah doing to me?

"Please! Stop!" I cried in agony.

"You cannot defy me! And from this moment on, you are mine!" he declared, his gaze sharp. "You're my slave. Do you understand?"

I couldn't think straight in my pain. I couldn't even nod or shake my head.

"Repeat what I just said, Delilah!" he ordered harshly.

"I-I am yours!"

The pain in my body began to ease, and I could breathe again. But before I could process the shock, Elijah grabbed me and sat me down on the edge of the bed.

My heart was wildly pounding. What was he going to do?

"Get cleaned up quickly," he ordered. "After that, breakfast, and then we're going."

"Where are we going?"

"To meet my family."

...

I ate breakfast alone in the dining room without a sign of Elijah. Or anyone else here. It was eerily quiet as if Elijah lived here all by himself. Which seemed unlikely.

With his domineering personality, Elijah was not inclined to make an extravagant, delicious breakfast. Eating was more his style.

When I finished, I stood up. My clothes were utterly ruined, torn in several places. And now Elijah was going to take me to meet his family? Dressed like this?

"Are you done?" someone asked from the doorway, startling me again.

It was a man who looked much older than Elijah. His black hair was already streaked with gray. He held the dining room door open wider.

"Let's go to the front," he continued.

I just nodded and followed him from a distance, of course. Even though his aura wasn't as intimidating as Elijah's, I still had to be careful.

We walked to the front of the mansion, where a luxurious black sedan was waiting. Without wasting any time, he opened the car door for me.

"Pick out any clothes you like, but remember, they must be black," the man instructed.

"What?"

"Black," he repeated firmly.

I didn't know what to say, so I still processed his instructions.

"You'll be picked up in an hour and need to be ready."

Then he closed the car door before I could answer. Moments later, the car pulled out of the mansion grounds.

Where was I going now?

*

After about twenty minutes, the car stopped in front of a boutique with an old-fashioned exterior. The driver opened the door and escorted me to the entrance, waiting until I entered.

Inside the boutique, several mannequins dressed in gowns and suits stood in the middle.

A woman with her hair in a bun, who looked to be in her early forties, looked at me and smiled broadly as she spread her arms. Without warning, she pecked me on both cheeks.

"You must be Delilah," she said.

I nodded. "Yes, I am."

"I'm Eugenia. Just call me by name, even though I'm a former Luna; my husband passed away."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't be; it was fate," Eugenia chuckled softly. "I used to be an Omega like you. Don't be awkward with me."

It felt strange for a former Luna and once Omega to own such a boutique. Did she live among humans?

"We have to get you out of those clothes," Eugenia said with a slight frown. "What happened to you?"

I could only smile awkwardly. "Long story."

"Oh well, let's not waste any time. What color would you like?"

"I was told that..."

"I almost forgot. Just black, yeah?" Eugenia interrupted. "I'll pick out the best outfit for you. Like he said."

He said? Who did she mean? Elijah?

...

It didn't take long for Eugenia to prepare some clothes for me, and soon, I was dressed in an elegant black dress with gloves and high heels. But what puzzled me was why all my clothes were black or white.

That's strange.

I stood before the mirror while Eugenia adjusted my outfit and fixed my hair.

"Why black?" I asked, plucking up courage. "All my clothes, why must they be black or white?"

"Oh, you don't know why?" Eugenia looked at me.

I shook my head. I hadn't been in Alderwood for 24 hours, so how could I know about Elijah and his monotonous color preference?

"King Elijah was in a terrible accident three years ago; it was so bad that he can only see in black and white now," Eugenia explained.

I could only stare at her, stunned.

"That's why he doesn't want anyone close to him to wear other colors. They can only wear what they can see. Only black and white."

"So selfish," I muttered quietly.

Eugenia smiled. "Do you think so? I see it as an expression of King Elijah's grief."

"Really?"

"Yes. He lost his Luna in the accident. She didn't make it."