Chapter 2

Sinclaire’s Point of View

The days before my birthday were dreadfully boring. My body felt so restless because it wasn’t used to not doing anything. I have always been preoccupied with doing a lot of things— household chores, errands, hunting— that my body can’t stay still for a long time.

Since I wasn’t allowed to leave my room, I decided to just clean it, even if it’s not untidy and dirty yet. I just really need to move and do something or else my mind will spiral out of control. It’s hard to bring myself back to reality when that happens, so I tend to avoid it from happening.

Hours had passed, and I had already cleaned my room twice. I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so I just laid back on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I have no books to read, paper to write, or toys to play with. I don’t know what to do to entertain myself.

I’ve been blankly staring at the ceiling for who knows how long. Time didn’t exist in this place. The only thing that lets me know what time it is when meals arrive. After the third meal arrived, I knew it was nighttime already.

I could feel myself slowly slipping away from reality, images of the past flashing inside my mind like a movie on television. I tried to shove it away, not wanting to spiral away from my own demon. It was hard though, because I can’t think of anything good that would rival the bad memories that are slowly resurfacing.

I let out a choke sob when my parents appeared inside my mind. They were kneeling on the stage, their arms and legs were chained. Despite their bruised and bloody appearance— so different from their pristine looks— they held their heads high as if they hadn’t just committed a grave sin that would lead them to a humiliating death.

It confused me so much why they didn’t appear to be at least repentant of their crime. They just killed a teenager! They killed one of the Alpha and Luna’s sons! How can they not appear scared and regretful?

I cried and cried while the other Generals held me still, refusing to let me go and ran off to my parents. When the Alpha and Luna stood up behind them, holding a large sword, I mentally apologised to Dirk. I apologised for what my parents did to him, because somehow, I think it was my fault. Though I couldn’t figure out why.

Dirk was my current Alpha’s twin brother. We were in the forest when it happened. Dirk is five years older than me, but he’s my first ever friend. He’s always been kind to me. He protects me from other bullies, gives me sweets because it’s my comfort food, and helps me with my homework. He played with me as well when other kids didn’t want to. That’s why I was so confused when my parents ran off to us in the forest and pulled him away from me. They started yelling at him, which I couldn’t understand because I was in a state of confusion. Dirk yelled back, looking equally furious. It was when Dirk exclaimed ‘she’s mine!’ that my parents— especially my father— went berserk.

My father threw punches that Dirk reciprocated. When Dirk was pinned down on the ground, he said something to my father which caused him to freeze. Dirk used that as an opportunity to push him off of him, then he picked a large rock. He was about to slam it on my father’s head when mom beat him to it. She repeatedly hit his head with a rock, even when Dirk laid down unresponsive.

I remained frozen all throughout, confused and terrified. It didn’t even register in my mind that my parents had killed Dirk then. Only when I heard approaching footsteps at the same time yelling that my parents were murderers did I come out of my thoughts. I looked at Dirk’s disfigured head, my eyes widening in mute horror.

They killed Dirk. They killed my friend. They killed the closest thing I could call my brother. All because they saw us together in the forest.

I was just seven years old when it happened. So some things were quite fuzzy in my mind, but their public death penalty was still one of my most vivid memories from my past. It’s one of the things I’m avoiding to remember, because it was what turned my life upside down.

I have always been a loner in the pack, but that incident had made me the pack’s personal prey. I was targeted by everyone, humiliated, and teared down. I paid for my parents’ crime. But despite all that had happened to me, I never once wished to die. I love living, even with this kind of life I have. And I’m scared of death.

The next scene evolves into Dirk’s disfigured face. He was glaring at me, an accusing look in his eyes.

“You did not stop them from killing me. You are the reason for my death. You killed me!”

I shook my head frivolously, tears streaming down my face. “I’m sorry, Dirk! I’m sorry!”

He kept shouting at me, blaming me for his death. I kept on asking for forgiveness, apologising profusely. His death still haunts me the same way my parents do.

I abruptly shot up when cold water hit my face. I coughed several times, my nose burning when some water went inside.

“Thank goodness!” a voice exclaimed.

I opened my eyes and saw two men standing in front of me. One of them was holding a bucket, which I assumed held the water that was thrown at me.

“W-why—” I stammered through the coughs, confused as to why they’re here.

“Alpha Dior ordered us to take you up. Seems like it’s time for you to doll up, mutt,” the other guy flashed an evil grin that gave me goosebumps all over my body.

“D-doll up?” I asked, confused.

“Just stand up and follow us! You don’t want to make the Alpha wait for some lowly scum like you, right?”

I scrambled to get up, wincing at the heaviness of my clothes from getting wet. I trailed behind them, lowering my eyes on the ground as I walked. Good thing they overlooked the fact I looked at them a while ago, or they just didn’t notice it.

“Go to the Alpha’s office, mutt. Now,” one of them said imperiously. I nodded my head and went towards the stairs while they headed inside the elevator.

I ran upstairs. I was never permitted to use the elevator, so I always used the stairs that were rarely walked on. The two had just exited the elevator when I finally arrived, panting heavily.

“Speedy scum,” one of them laughed mockingly. I ignored it, like I always do when they mocked me.

They knocked on the door. Alpha Dior grunted in response, and they took it as a cue to open the door and pushed me inside.

I immediately knelt down on the floor, lowering my head furthermore. “Alpha Dior.”

“Sinclaire Elirah Faye,” the Alpha softly said my full name. It sends a chill down to my spine, my heart pounding nervously against my chest.

It’s been a long time since Alpha Dior said my name— moreover my full name. It was when Dirk was still alive, and we used to play and study together. Ever since my parents died, I’ve been called so many names but my true ones. It’s always ‘mutt’, ‘scum’, or ‘trash'. It led to the point that I felt unsettled when I heard my true name.

He stood up from his chair. At every step he takes towards where I knelt, my heart keeps beating more loudly. When he stopped in front of me, I felt my body stiffen, anxiously anticipating what he'd do. I shut my eyes tightly, expecting a slap or pulling my hair.

But I felt his rough hand on my chin. He gently lifted it up. My hands were shaking, unsure what would happen next.

“Open your eyes, Sinclaire.”

I could feel his intense gaze on my face. I knew I'd look directly into his eyes if I opened mine, but it was an order. So I didn’t have any choice but to obey.

Grey eyes met my hazel ones. The familiar eyes and features of the Alpha made me ache all over again. It sent me back to the time when I was still happy and free, when things were simple, and I had nothing to fear.

Dirk’s face is all I can see in Alpha Dior’s face, and it seemed he knew it as well. His eyes darkened, yet his grip on my chin remained gentle.

“Alpha Dior,” I muttered.

“Do you know what day it is today?” He softly asked.

“The twenty-second of July?” I responded in a low voice, unsure. I didn’t receive any meal before I came here, so I don’t know what time it is already.

He lightly shakes his head. “No, Sinclaire. It’s your birthday today. Five minutes past midnight.”

My heart thudded against my chest when his tone slowly hardened.

“And you know what that means?”

I shut my eyes again, already knowing what he was going to say next.

His grip tightened, and I fought back the groan of pain that erupted in my throat. “It means my brother died today, eleven years ago.”

A tear streamed down my face, and then another, until the tears became unstoppable.

“Do you remember how my brother brought you to the forest because he wanted to show you something for your birthday? How he wanted to surprise you? Because he wanted to make it special since you were very special to him! Do you remember that, Sin?”

Another sharp pain hit right through my chest at the nickname that only Dirk used to call me.

How could I forget this day? This is when everything changed, and when I lost everything I had.

“I still remember how he looked when he was brought back to the mansion, Sinclaire. His face was unrecognisable anymore! They can’t even make him look good on his deathbed! Because your fucking parents ruined it!”

I cried out when his grip on my chin turned to my hair. He pulled it back, leveling our eyes. The fury in his eyes was unmistakable, as well as the grief. I didn’t want to look at his face anymore, because Dirk’s accusing look staring at me was what I could see.

“Your parents took my brother from me, my twin! My other half! Why? All because he wanted to surprise you on your birthday? Because he wanted to make you happy?!” he growled, dark eyes gazing at me furiously. “Being brutally killed is what he got in return for his kindness?! Your parents’ deaths are not enough, Sinclaire! What happened to them wasn’t enough! It did not equate to what happened to my brother!”

I sobbed soundlessly, letting all his anger wash over me. He’s a grieving brother, and it was my fault. So I have no choice but to let him vent it on me.

He took a few deep breaths, then he let go of his grip on me and took a few steps away. He paced back and forth for a few moments before stopping, quickly spinning around to look at me.

“Later, someone will come here to fetch you. Wake up at exactly seven o’clock in the morning. Yanna will dress you up.”

His words filled me with a sense of dread.

“A-alpha...” I trailed off, swallowing down the heavy lump in my throat. I never once asked his intentions and decisions, but now, I will finally do it. Because I don’t feel good about what he’s about to say. “W-why?”

The evil glint in his eyes, along with the smirk on his lips hinted at me enough that I would not like whatever answer he had.

“We’ll ship you off to the underground society, where they will auction off newly presented girls.”