Chapter 4

I walked slowly over to the bed and sat down, still being able to see my reflection in the mirror. I was like a beautiful red rose. 

A rare rose hidden within a secret garden and kept only for the eyes of the owner. 

I did not like it. It pained me that I had no choice but to be the Alpha's concubine and I could never see my beloved mom again. I missed her.

I could not even dress myself the way I wanted to. I wanted to end my life, but I could never do such a thing. I loved my mom very much and I did not want to hurt her, giving her terrible unbearable pain to discover that her only child took her life. I would just have to do my time here until the Alpha was tired of me, which I hoped he would do very soon.

"You don't have to stay in your room all day," I heard Natasha say as she put away the clothes in the closet. "You can walk around the large home; just make sure you're in the room whenever the Alpha wants you."

Hearing what she had said was great news to my ears. I could escape, get my mom and leave this land. We both would be safe from the Alpha.

I slowly got up from the bed, pretending I was only going out for a walk and left the room. I walked along a beautiful large hallway painted in gold and white. The entire place was painted mostly in gold. Maids stared at me as I passed. I held my head straight, not paying them any mind. I was only focused on leaving before the Luna ended up killing me. Inside was large and filled with many rooms that would be impossible for me to tour for an hour. 

Finally, I found my way outside. I smiled on seeing the grass. Suddenly my smile disappeared when I realized that I was in a garden. I looked around. There was a large wall. It was the largest wall I had ever seen. It seemed endless, going around the large home of the rulers. At that moment I felt like all hope was gone and that it was impossible to leave the large home without anyone knowing. But I remembered my mom who must be worried about me after hearing I was compelled to dwell in the Alpha's home as his concubine. I was not going to give up, I vowed. I would have to try hard and secretly escape. 

I began to take a walk around the garden, hoping there was a way to climb over the high wall and run away without anyone noticing. I was a good climber. I had always enjoyed climbing trees and onto the roof of my home, sitting and enjoying the view. Being a forgotten wolf, I didn't have any friends, so I was always alone or with my mom, sometimes. I considered her my best friend.

I walked to the back of the house. The sweet and fresh scents of the roses welcomed my nose and eyes with their scent and beauty. I couldn't help admiring them and taking a short pause just to have a look at them while I touched them. 

The wall was extremely high and smooth; there were no holes I could place my fingers into to find my way over it. It was either staying there and be the Alpha's sex slave, which I hated, or quickly get away.

I could climb one of the small trees. I saw an apple tree and hoped that if I climbed it, I could try to reach the top of the wall. It was extremely dangerous what I was going to do, but I had no choice. As I was about to start climbing the tree, my body tensed and I immediately dodged behind the high grass trimmed wall, almost falling onto my face. I was not alone in the garden. Someone was there with me—a strange man.

I hid and remained quiet and stared anxiously at him, waiting for him to leave so I could carry out  my plan.

The strange man was on his knees, in silence, laying down a single yellow rose on a small square of concrete that looked like a grave. Watching him from behind, I could see he was very tall and strong. A glimpse of the side of his face showed that he was handsome. I carefully examined his body from behind, tracing the length of his long dark charcoal hair resting on his strong broad back. I was curious to know who he was and his relationship to the person in the grave. The strange, beautiful man was attired in armor that was different from that of the other guards. The design at the back of the armor was different. He seemed to be a high-ranking wolf.

He got off his knees. He truly was tall, much taller than the Alpha. He was like a giant wolf.

I swallowed hard, taking notice of his sword at his side. It was almost the same height as I. It was so sharp that it terrified me. My hand tightened around my mouth, making sure I made no sound. He spun around. I was able to see his full face. He was indeed handsome but didn't look friendly at all. But who was he? I needed to know. I secretly watched his every move as he walked with great power. I could feel the hair rising on my skin with every step he took. I was no longer in haste for him to leave so I could escape. His presence made me eager to know who he was.

Suddenly, he stopped, standing beside the large neatly trimmed hedge where I was hiding. My eyes widened; I was worried; did he know that was watching him?

"Show yourself, she-wolf," the strange strong handsome wolf ordered me.

He seemed to know that he was not alone.

His voice was more powerful than Alpha Maximus's. It sounded deadly and colder than his stare. He sounded like he had no love in the world, except for his sharp sword across his armor that looked like he polished and sharpened it every hour of the day.

My body shivered; I was afraid to reveal myself to him.

"I have a far more powerful sense of smell than any other wolf, so I know when I'm not alone; Reveal yourself from the grass, she-wolf, before my temper strikes you," he warned me.

Slowly, I moved from the long grass and slowly walked around it to him. My heart raced in my chest, and I held each side of my long red dress, worrying like crazy about what he could do to me.

"I'm impatient," the strange wolf said.

I walked quickly and soon I stood at the end of the large grass hedge, allowing him to see me. He was even more handsome than I thought. His dark eyes stared into mine, moving down from my head to my feet before returning to my face. It was only my eyes that my new apparel allowed him to see—My ocean eyes.

"Show yourself!" he ordered me and took one step toward me.

His sword hit on his armor and his heavy large boot made heavy sounds on the ground as he approached me. I felt like I was going to faint.

"I can't," I quickly told him.

"You can't or you won't?" he asked gravely as he took three more steps towards me—giant steps because of how tall and strong he was. We now stood faced to face.

My feet began to tremble and soon my lips too, because he was so close to me. He was like a large tree towering above me. I was like a child standing next to him. To touch his face, I would have to jump. In his eyes, I could see nothing but anger.

"Only the leaders of the pack should see my face," I explained to him quickly, not wanting any trouble.

One slap by his muscular hand could kill me, I thought.

He laughed.

My eyes widened.

"Remove your scarf, she-wolf!" he ordered.

My body felt weak; I was terrified of him.

I was about to refuse again but Natasha came to my rescue.

"I've been looking for you," she said as she ran to me.

She was frightened when she saw that I was not alone.

"Good evening," she said and bowed to the strange wolf.

At that moment I realized that he was truly a high-ranking wolf. I stared hard at him.

"Come," Natasha said as she took me by the hand and pulled me behind her.

I went along with her and turned around to glance at the wolf. My hand went to my covered face and gently touched my red scarf. His deadly eyes stared into mine while strands of his long dark hair blew in the wind. He was like a beautiful picture. I just could not stop looking at. I quickly turned around, not wanting to fall on my face.

Why did you bow to him? I was about to ask Natasha, before swallowing my words at what she told me.

"The rulers of this pack are about to have a big celebration now," she said as she let go of my hand.

"Why?" I asked her.

"You're about to find out," she said to me. "Walk quickly! The Luna wants you in the ballroom before the party begins."

I walked quickly behind her.

"How am I just knowing about a party?" I asked her.

"This party was planned for a long while for the end of the war, so follow me swiftly and hush your mouth before you get me into any trouble."

I did as I was told and went into the large ballroom. It was crowded and full of a lot of wolves— men and women. They all sat around a long table filled with food, beer, and wine.

"You'll be sitting with me," Natasha told me as she led me over to a table where all the other maids were. I sat and turned my eyes to where the rulers were sitting. Alpha Maximus and Luna Trina were already seated.

Alpha Maximus was dressed in full gold armor and his Luna in a white and silver dress with her red hair curled beautifully and her face beautifully made up. She was a beautiful sight, which made me question why the Alpha wanted a concubine. He had such a beautiful she-wolf. I was very anxious to know.

The Alpha rose from his throne and raised his hand. Soon, the large crowd was yelling loudly. He raised his hand for them to be silent.

"We were again victorious in another war!" the Alpha shouted.

The yelling again began.

"All thanks to our greatest warrior, my brother, Marcel Wolffinton!" he yelled.

My eyes suddenly widened to see the man I had met in the garden. The handsome wolf was Alpha Maximus's brother, which was why he laughed when I told him I couldn't show my face to him but to the rulers only.

"Iron Claw Pack again rules!" he yelled, raising his hand as he stood beside his brother's throne. His voice echoed in the room. He began to howl, and everyone followed.

I stared appalled at the man; he was the man that Luna Trina Bloode-Wolffinton would allow to devirginize me for her alpha mate.