Chapter 3

Irene's POV 

"You cannot do that!" Silas yelled out as he stood up from his seat.

All of a sudden the Alpha Lucian growled, "KEEP QUIET BOY!"

A chill ran down my spine, not because of the tone of the Alpha's voice, but because of what it did to my brother. I watched as Silas fell to the ground, crying out in pain as he held his throat. His face turned white as tears rolled down his eyes.

Alpha Lucian had used his commanding power on him. It was one of the powers an Alpha could use on his Pack members. Right now, he had used it to force Silas to be quiet.

"Stop it!" I screamed as I crouched down next to my brother, trying to stop his pain.

"You and brother must have forgotten a few things because you both spent all your life living in a cottage outside the Pack House," Alpha Lucian said. His face held no emotion and his voice sounded calm. It was like he didn't care that Silas was in pain.

"Listen, Irene, you need to have a reality check," He continued. "I am the Alpha of this Pack, and as a member, you are under my jurisdiction. You will do as I say and obey without any complaints. Do you understand?" He asked.

I glared at him, my anger resurfacing. I wanted to run to him and scream in his face that I knew what he did to my father. I wanted to use my claws to slash his throat continuously until his vocal cords were beyond healing. But I couldn't. I stared at the reason why I couldn't take such a risk. Colors were finally returning to his face, and his breathing was steadying. I helped him back into his seat.

"I asked if you understood me?" Alpha Lucian asked, I could hear a hint of anger in his voice. But I didn't care about that anymore. He had framed and killed my father and then hurt my brother. He was going to regret it.

I looked up into his eyes. "What do you want from us Alpha?" I asked, trying to mask my anger. 

But Lucian didn't say a word. One look from him to the Council member made the guy start talking again.

"Like I was trying to explain earlier, we cannot leave you without a Mate. You need a Male who will have control over you," He said.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "A Male who would have control over me?" I said, repeating the words. "You talk as if a woman cannot do well on her own. I have been taking care of my brother alone ever since our Dad died—"—was killed, I thought as I glanced at the Alpha.

"That's the main reason, Irene. With your father dead your family is left without a head, and so you need to find yourself a mate if you don't want to be tagged an outcast in the Pack. Also, if you are not bound to someone, then you'll be left open and vulnerable, and any man can have his way with you as he pleases," He explained, but I didn't care.

I let out a chuckle. "I would love to see a man try to take advantage of me," I muttered.

Alpha Lucian sighed. "I had no idea that I and the council had become so soft," He said and then turned to his guards. "Seize him."

I was still trying to process anything when they marched towards us and grabbed Silas.

"What the heck are you doing?!" I yelled as I rushed towards them, but I was held back. Both my arms were pulled to the back and handcuffed to a railing behind my chair.

"Let me go!" Silas screamed as he tried to fight them, but they injected him with a substance. 

In less than a minute, Silas went unconscious.

I dropped into the chair as I watched with widened eyes as they dragged my conscious brother away. Just then, someone held my chin and tilted my head. I came eye to eye with the Alpha. A hint of mischief was visible in his eyes.

"Listen, Princess. If you don't find yourself a Mate in a month, you'll never get to see your little brother again."

***

I stared at myself in the mirror, hating every bit of the girl I saw. Weeks ago I had agreed with the Council members. I had told them that I would go along with everything. It was the only way I could get to see Silas again.

After that, a chain of auctions had been going on. All unmated and widowed Male wolves were brought to see me. 

The first auction was embarrassing. I was forced to wear a red mini gown that hugged my body. 

"You need to show them your assets if you need them to like you," Rose, the woman in charge of me had said.

When I was brought before my Male audience, I watched as they analyzed me like some statue or even a toy. Their eyes stared at me and made me uncomfortable. The funniest part was that I was to be sold for a cheap price.

I was embarrassed.

But what hurt me more was seeing Alpha Lucian walk in. He was given a seat in front. He stared at me, mostly my eyes. It was like he was searching for something in them.

I hated him. I hated everything about him. Back then at the bar, I would hear my friends talking about how handsome and charming he was. Thinking about it, I couldn't help but chuckle. If only they knew who he really was. 

I was going to make him pay for everything he did to my family.

But not now. Something else bothered me.

It's been a month already and numerous auctions had been held, but still, I couldn't find a Mate. I was starting to lose hope. I didn't know what I would do if I never got a chance to see Silas again. I lost my Dad and my Mate. Silas was my only reason for living. He was the reason I was able to put up with the freak shows.

Today was the final day of the deadline; the day that would decide my fate. 

I was asked to wear a black dress. The fabric had clung to my body like a second skin, smooth and cool against my curves. The neckline dipped, revealing my cleavage, while the straps left my back nearly bare. The hem brushed mid-thigh, with a slit revealing enough to make anyone who sees me long for more. 

My hair had been tied into a messy bun, and my face redone by a make-up artist.

I saw the look on Rose's face through the mirror as she stepped into the room. 

"You look beautiful," She muttered the words as she held my shoulders from behind.

But I couldn't reciprocate her excitement, not when I was dressed like this only to get a man's attention.

Rose seemed to notice my indifference. She frowned. She grabbed my chin and turned me to her.

"Listen, girl. I know how you feel. Life isn't fair to us women, and I get it. But you can control life using what you have," She said and pointed to the mirror. "You have the looks, the brain, and the body. Use that to bring the men who try to hurt you to their feet.”