CHAPTER 3

ZARA POV 

At that very moment, my father's phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket. “I’m afraid that I need to leave. You will take care of her for the evening and get her back home to me by morning, won't you Weston?” He winked at me and finally released me before walking away. 

As always, I felt the tension ease out of my body when my father left, but one monster was still standing right in front of me. Now, it was time to see the kind of monster I would be marrying.

“Do you mind, a dance?”Weston asked, holding his hands out for me to grab.

I was hesitant at his request but ended up nodding. “Of course,” I managed to say, heart fluttering in my chest, he pulled me into an open space and flattened me against his body. Unaccustomed to the touch of a man, I stiffened.

His hands moved down my back and cupped my ass as he grumbled. I wanted to push him away but my father's words instantly echoed in my head making me force a smile. There were things I was supposed to say to Weston, but my mind had gone blank.

Weston noticed and took the core to break the silence. “I never would have thought that fate would bring you back to my arms. You don't say much. I love that, your father said you are as obedient as a dog.” He uttered and my chest instantly tightened from his words. “You're a mystery, Zara. Everyone knows that your father keeps you under lock and key, and I know why, although I hear you slip out of your window from time to time. I like a rebellious spirit for a bride.”

Wait, what? How did he know about my window? My father certainly didn't know. If he ever found out, I would be locked in the basement for sure.

“I’m obedient,” I whispered. “I will be obedient to you.” 

“I might have regretted my actions the last time. After I heard that you are an obedient wolf, I felt a little guilty. I honestly like that you obey whatever you are told,” his hand squeezed my ass again. “This is a very Interesting dress that you are wearing. What do you say? We go somewhere more private so I can take a better look at it?”

This was it. This was the moment I had been waiting for. to let Weston get a good look at the goods, as my father liked to call it.

Except, I couldn't do it. My chest was tight, and it was getting even harder to breathe. The room was starting to spin. 

Instead of letting him walk me through the crowd, I tried to pull away, but his hand circled around my wrist tightly. “What do you think you are doing you little weakling?” 

“I___i just need some air.”

“What's wrong? Worried about your lover?”

My what? Surely, I guess I had heard him wrong.

“I mean, your horde of lovers?” He corrected his voice turning loud and cold, the smile he had on his face had switched to something menacing. “You little slut, you think I do not know all about you, Zara Liam Adolf. I know what you have been getting up to at night, and I know what your father truly wants.”

At night? I just sat on the roof and tried to pretend I was free as I felt the moon bathe me in her light. 

“I do not know what you're talking about___ my father wants us to marry.” I whispered as my mind whirled. The situation was not all what I had imagined or planned for. Part of me had hoped that Weston had decided to get back with me because he now wanted me, maybe he could now be my true mate, someone who would love me and see me as an equal. Another, more realistic part of me simply hoped that he wouldn't make a scene tonight. 

But this? I had absolutely no idea where this was going, but it didn't seem good. 

“You have always been disgusting to me!” Weston snarled as he suddenly shoved me hard to the floor. I fell to the floor painfully, and my dress chose that moment to rip itself. Cold air touched my chest, and I wrapped one arm around myself to hide while I frantically tried to pull the fabric over my chest. 

People around us laughed and chuckled at my own predicament. The clicking of heels was heard in the now tense silence, a female walked over to where Weston stood. I looked up to notice that she had leaned in to give him a very passionate kiss before he threaded her arm through his.

“You are really pathetic, your own father doesn't even know your worth. He dressed you up because he knows you're a slut. True, most wolves think with their dick, but right now I'm not looking for a woman who can only warm my bed but a queen who can stick and grow my wealth with me. I can take a whore to bed anytime, but can i marry one? I don't think so. Nobody will ever want you, Zara. Certainly not someone like me.”

I stared at Sonja, she was my best friend. We had practically grown together since we were little, she had practically joined me in saying horrible things about Weston when he had rejected me but right now, she was standing by his side and watching me with a cold expression. 

“You can go crawl home and tell your father that I have chosen a wife. I, Weston Bruce Furrow, Alpha of the Shadow park, reject you again, Zara Liam Adolf.” He said with a cold and fierced smile. “I would always choose a woman of real substance, a strong wolf and not a weakling rut like you.”

There was applause and laughter everywhere. History was repeating itself for the second time, a tear I had been trying so hard to hold spilled as I struggled to get off the cold floor. Holding my dress together as tightly as possible, I ran out of the ballroom. 

Tears blinded my sight, and my heels broke before I made it out of the place. Everywhere I looked, people wouldn't stop pointing fingers, laughing and whispering hurtful words at me.

This was another night of another pain, rejection, humiliation. I was a huge laughing stuck, and my father?

He was going to burn or bury me alive.

With a whimper, I turned and bolted into the overgrown garden behind the building. Not paying attention, I stumbled over a hidden stone and fell to the ground. As I glanced up, a menacing group of men loomed over me, their snarls echoing through the dense foliage.

“What do we have here? A little sweet offering, already half naked for us,” one grunted. Hands touched me, and I tried to pull away.

“About time these balls get some release. I can't wait to feel her mouth around my cock, they have been throbbing all week for some rough touch.” I heard a zipper, and I lashed out with my foot. It connected with someone, but they only laughed. More hands grabbed me and pushed me to the ground.

This shouldn't be happening. Oh moon goddess. “Stop,” I screamed. “No, stop!”

“That's enough,” a voice commanded. Immediately, I was released, and the circle widened around me as the men stepped back. They all lowered their gazes. A few muttered apologies under their breath. 

“Enough stupidity, boys. Leave us.” He uttered in a calm but yet commanding voice. The man reached down, and pulled me up, my dress decided to fall, I gasped slightly and held it up.

I blinked severally staring at the biggest man I had ever seen in my entire life. I thought my father was huge but this man right here was three times bigger. His eyes were so dark, and I couldn't help but notice the long scar that ran down his eyebrow. There was no warmth either on his face.

I stared around to notice a group of men standing stiffly behind me, but those rascal who almost took advantage of me had gone. Has the moon goddess brought someone to save me? Or did he simply want me for himself? Shaking, I finally raised my gaze to stare at this strange man again.

He had no pity or kindness in his gaze but instead he seemed to be studying me intently.

“Wren,” he growled, his eyes never leaving mine. “Bring the car around, we have a little dolphin to take home.”.