My body didn't feel like my own. I just wanted to lie down for a moment and rest my head. Even if it was just for a little movement. My body needed rest. That much was evident in my sluggish movement and tired face.Anyone could tell but yet nobody would say a word because they didn't care about me. Born as the daughter of a mistress, my life had never been easy. Occasionally I wished I died along with my mother or that she had never crossed my father's path but it wouldn't change anything. I can't undo the mistake that brought me into this cruel world.Every day was hell for me and I longed for an escape but I was too much of a coward to try. I stopped the large bag of grains that I carried on my back. The dropping made a loud thud and I winced. That sound will definitely attract some unwanted attention.It was still very early in the morning and the time for them to wake up was still far. If I awoke Lady Bianca before the appropriate time, I would receive a whopping. I opened the ba
I managed to find some almost spoiled food and filled my stomach with it.Lady Bianca wouldn't notice it so I ate it because if she knew about it, she would rather discard it than let me eat it. Hell if she found out that I ate it, my back would be sore by tomorrow from a whipping.With some food in my stomach, I was able to function properly for the rest of the day without running into any trouble. I did my duties while managing to stay out of their line of sight.Night came and I did all I was supposed to. After dinner, I scrubbed the kitchen clean. I was supposed to retire to bed and have a good sleep but I wanted to go to the forest.It was the only place in the whole pack where I could be free where I could spend hours alone and forget the horror my life was. Where nothing mattered. Not any mother, father, or the rest of the pack who hated me. I made sure they were all asleep and I crept out of the house. I didn't want anyone to find out about that place because once they realize
After my encounter with Jonathan in the forest and the days to the party drew closer, each day felt like hell to me. Not because of the physical pain I felt, but because I was dreading the words he had said to me. He was capable of making it happen especially once the mating to the alpha's daughter is done and he becomes next in line to be alpha. But I couldn't give in to him. I was waiting for my mate. He'll be disappointed in me if I ever did something like that. And what's worse, Jonathan is my brother. It was wrong but he didn't see that. He couldn't see past his desire to get what he wanted no matter what. The thought of the slave camp made me shudder. It was a place of horrendous activities. Female slaves were captured and sent there, made to serve the men repeatedly by choice or otherwise. None of the girls who were ever sent there made it out alive. I feared being a rogue but I feared going to the slave camp even more. "Run away" a voice screamed in my head but I couldn't. I
ALPHA THORNE's POVThe night was slow and I was already having regrets about coming here. I didn't want to be here. The daughter of an alpha getting mated to a nameless boy wasn't reason enough to drag me out of the comfort of my pack but here I was, all because my uncle was a stubborn male who wouldn't leave me alone. Alliances he said but looking at these people I didn't need them and they wouldn't be of any help if I needed one.I was going to return to my pack. I wouldn't even spend the night like they had planned for me. It would be a miracle if I even lasted until the end of the night."Alpha Thorne" a high-pitched voice drew my attention and I turned slightly, coming face to face with the alpha, Mathew. His daughter is by his side with a trail of people standing next to her."I wanted you to meet my daughter," he said eagerly, pushing her forward. I didn't spare her a glance and kept my gaze on him. He looked like he was waiting for my approval or something. But when I said not
I couldn't believe what I just heard. He was my mate? How was that possible? The Alpha Thorne was my mate? It didn't sound right when I repeated it in my head."Who are you?" His voice was gruff and insistent, demanding for a response immediately."Ava" I answered immediately, submitting to the alpha command in his voice."Who are you and why are you here like this? Who are your parents" he grabbed my arms tightly and I jerked back instantly. He let me go but his focus stayed on me."My father is Jackson Coleman" I mumbled. I saw the shock in his eyes."Jackson? I didn't know he had a daughter" I wasn't surprised. How could he know? They didn't take me out like they took Jonathan. I was always introduced as a slave so even if he wanted to, he couldn't know me."Why are you like this? What are you doing here?" He asked again.I didn't know how to answer his questions. How do I tell him that I was the daughter of the mistress, so hated by her family that they treated me like the help? M
Alpha Thorne's words resounded in the room and then I heard a collective gasp ripple through the environment, followed by a murmur of astonishment and chaos. I felt a thousand eyes on me, their gazes burning into my skin, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from Alpha Thorne. His expression was unreadable, a storm of emotions wrecked through me as I stared at his emotionless eyes holding mine."No!"Jonathan's voice rang out, filled with outrage and disbelief. He pushed his way through the crowd, his face twisted in a snarl. He was vibrating with so much anger. "Ava is not going anywhere with you. She is our servant and you're not taking her anywhere"Alpha Thorne's gaze shifted to Jonathan, his eyes narrowing with a cold, calculating fury."You dare try to stop me?" he asked, his voice low and threatening. I never thought silence could be so loud."You must have a smart mouth. You dare challenge me" he took a step forward and the silence deepened.Jonathan's face turned red with rage,
I did not have enough time to pack anything. I followed Alpha Thorne without looking back.The journey back to his pack was quite a quiet and long one and he barely spoke a word to me. He just had his eyes out of the window while his feet gave soft taps to the floor. I sat at the edge of the seat, my fingers held onto the edge of my dress nervously, I cast glances at the alpha who sat directly opposite me, but his expression was unreadable. He had his eyes out of the window most of the time and he did not try to start a conversation. The anxiety I felt made me feel uncomfortable. I was occupied with my thoughts which kept me company. I began to feel he was not happy taking me along with him. Perhaps he was already regretting taking me with him. Maybe he now saw I was an embarrassment just like Bianca and Jonathan had said.The more I thought about it, the more I was certain that I was truly an embarrassment to everyone I had come in contact with. I hoped Alpha Thorne would be diffe
ALPHA THORNE's POVI woke up at the speed of light. It had been a long night for me. I was still wrapped in the embrace of sleep.The thick and soft furs of my duvet covered me, and as I stirred, I pushed it aside, exposing my body to the chilled air that graced my skin. I looked around and scanned the poorly lit chambers, the curtains covered every source of light coming in.I swung my legs over the edge of my bed, the cool touch of the stone floor beneath my bare feet tickled me and I sought my footwear at the other side of the bedI rose from the bed and with a control and deliberate movement I moved to the bathroom. I could hear sounds coming from outside the door but nobody came in. I took my time to wash up after which I cleaned up with a thick towel.I crossed over to my massive wardrobe in a corner of my chambers. In it were cleanly fitted garments. I took out a tunic of deep blue and a brown breach that suited it perfectly. I dressed up swiftly as I readied myself for the day
Thrones helped me onto the carriage and climbed in after me and our journey began. It was mostly silent except for when he checked I made sure that I was okay. It didn’t take such a long time The carriage came to a halt and Thorne stepped down to help me. He linked his arms with mine as we walked into the venue. The guards bowed and let us through. My mouth dropped open in shock when we finally arrived. Everywhere was packed. It was bubbling with people and music, they swirled their bodies to the sound of the music. A waiter served us wine and I took a glass and so did Thorne. We clinked our glasses as we walked further into the room. I had never flattened an event like this so nobody looked familiar to meet me. Thorne introduced me to some alphas of other packs and I also met with their mate. I had not seen the person I was hoping to see. She could be the only person who could make this night fun when Thorne eventually left me to discuss with the other alphas. Someone called my name
When I finally got to the room and took a shower, I felt better and I sat on the bed. The door opened and Eiza came in, she had a smile on her face. "Good morning Ava. How are you doing today?""I'm fine Eiza. You look so happy this morning, care to share""I don't know the reason for my happiness. Maybe I just woke up on the right side of the bed""Are you sure or you don't want to tell me""You know I can't hide anything from you and if there was anything I would have told you the moment I entered here. Did you go for training today?""Yes, I did. I just arrived here before you came in""How did it go?""It went well" She clicked her hand like she just remembered something. "That reminds me, I saw Torren the other day. The day you went out with the alpha and he wasn't looking happy. I tried to ask him what was wrong and he was hesitant at first but then he spilled. He was very sad. Have you heard anything from him?""Yeah. Not too long ago in fact. I met him after training today.
"What?" I was shocked by his utterance. He was going to leave here? Why?"That's a rash decision Torren. Why do you want to leave? Where will you go to?"He shrugged. "I don't know but I'm going to leave here and I'll never return. Maybe Matthew would finally know my worth when I'm gone from here" he said bitterly and I didn't think that was a good idea."Don't go Torren. Will you leave everything behind just to prove a point?""Yes. Didn't you want to go far away just so Thorne could realize his mistake?""I didn't want to leave because I liked him, I wanted to leave because of the way I was treated. You of all people should know that. I regretted mating with him because I rushed into everything thinking he liked me. And look how it turned out in the end. It was never a good idea. Running away from it is never a good idea""Hut really, How is it any different from my own? If he doesn't come after me then I can move on. But staying here, grasping at straws and hoping he'll change" "
The next day when I woke up, Thorne wasn't by my side. I wondered where he could have gone or if he was in the bathroom. What if he regretted what happened last night?‘Why would he?’ My wolf asked annoyed.‘Again with your insecurities’ she huffed but I ignored her. 'No, I won't think about it. It was a mistake' I said to myself. 'It's too early this. The day just started' my wolf said and shut me out. 'I was talking to myself. Not you' I spoke but she was already gone. I removed the covers and stood up from the bed, I went into the bathroom to freshen up for the day. I was going to read some books to keep myself busy after my training session later. I went to take a shower and I couldn't help but remember last night and how Thorne held me. No matter how hard I tried not to remember it was just in my head. 'That's because you can't take him off your head' And she was back again. 'Stop it, I don't need your input right now. You always have a way of putting things into my head'
"W-What..." I stuttered, a bit alarmed by his sudden entrance but also self-aware because I was exposed to his gaze."I-I... had...." He stuttered, also unfocused as he gazed at me, coming closer and closer. I stood at the sad spot, my eyes following him as he drew nearer. The moonlight shining on him was intoxicating to look at. His body and huge frame were like a work of art as I gazed at him. When he was close enough, he wrapped his arms around my naked body and kissed my shoulder softly."You look so beautiful" I purred in his touch, pushing my body against his. My nipples had hardened into pebbles and brushed against the rough material of his shirt. "I've seen so many beautiful things in my life. Paintings... Even The view outside is breathtaking." He whispered reaching his hands up to touch mine."But not even the greatest painter in the world couldn't capture the breathtaking beauty of you standing in front of me right now." He whispered with a second kiss on my neck.My e
"Sorry," I apologized again, just for the sake of peace because with the look brimming in her eyes, she was out for trouble and I wasn't in the mood to engage her. "What exactly are you sorry for?" She snapped and I pressed my fingers against my forehead. She really was going to take the long road. "Diedre... this isn't....""I really want to know what you're fucking sorry about. Bumping into me and breaking with what I'm holding or you're sorry for not seeing. Are you blind?" She raged angrily."I just said I was sorry Diedre. You don't have to be rude about it" I raised my voice equally even though I regretted right after for engaging her. "Would the sorry pay for what I was holding, it's very expensive. Not like you can tell the worth of anything with how measly you are"I pinched my lips tightly together, trying to stop myself from exploding. ‘She’s not worth it’ I repeated to myself.“Do you even have the money to buy it or do you just go and steal my brother's diamonds like
Days passed after the incident with Henry and Thorne had contacted the other alphas, they were going to track down the others so they could stop the trafficking of young boys and bring all those who were involved in the disgusting trade to book, serving as a déterrant to others who would think not starting or engaging in something as horrendous as that against small children. I couldn’t believe what they had done all these years, the lives they had ruined. Children were taken away from their families and forced into the harshness of that business. I was alone in the room and I was bored, I walked to the window and looked out. Today looked dull and I was thinking of something I could do to keep myself busy. Eiza had only dropped by earlier in the morning but I was still sleepy so I asked her to let me be. I had yet to see her since that time. Torren would be occupied too. I huffed as I moved away from the window.Since I woke up extra late today, I haven’t done my morning routine and
ALPHA THORNE'S POVAfter speaking with Ava, and she fell asleep in my arms, I left the room. It was hard to convince Ava that I was fine even with the cut, I saw how worried she was but I needed to speak with Mathew. I needed him to clarify some things. I wanted to be done quickly and get back to Ava before she realized that I was gone. And again, despite the situation, I just wanted to go back to holding her in my arms. It’s been a long time since I got to hold her like that and be surrounded by her addictive scent. It wasn’t fun to throw that moment away for crisis. When I arrived at the front of my office, Busta was waiting.“Henry is in the dungeon. Is there anything you’d like us to do until you’re ready to see him?”“Have him bound and watched at all times. I don’t want him slinking out of our sight. He could be the key to cracking the trafficking case once and for all”“Of course alpha. Do you need any other thing? You were injured”“I’m fine. Get me Mathew immediately. We nee
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice full of concern as I checked Thorne. He held onto the place where he had been stabbed, an annoyed look on his face.“I’m fine” he tried to smile but it did nothing to reassure me. The guards had grabbed a struggling Henry and dragged him away. “Are you fine?” Mathew tried to come close but he held up his hands stopping him. Diedre was crying loudly and I felt pity for her. She had just learned in the most cruel way how her mother had passed.“Let’s go” I tugged him gently and he let me take him away. I led him to his bedroom and sat him on the bed. The healer was called and the stab wound was attended to. He was in slight pain before the healer arrived and after the wound was treated he no longer felt pain, but he looked pale and I was relieved it wasn't something serious. I had been very scared when he was stabbed and I thought something was going to happen to him. I was supposed to be the one lying on the bed with the wound but he came just at the