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Chapter 1: Desperation
I rushed through the crowded streets, my heels clicking on the wet pavement. Another late night, another shift at the diner. My uncle's debt was suffocating us, and I was running out of options.
"Ari, you're late again," Martha, my coworker, said as I burst through the diner's door.
"Sorry, Martha. Traffic," I lied, grabbing my apron.
The night blurred together—endless orders, tired smiles, and pocket change tips. As the clock struck midnight, I counted my meagre earnings. Not enough. Never enough.
With no choice—there never was a choice, I walked home, the city's neon lights reflected off the rain-soaked streets like a twisted mirror. I quickened my pace, hoping to leave the deserted streets and get home.
Not that it was any good, but it was a million times better than being caught in the street at odd hours.
I shuddered, thinking of the criminal cases that have been heard of. Still, what choice does a girl have?
Uncle Jackson’s words echoed in my mind; "Ari, I'll pay them off, I promise." But the creditors' threats grew louder, and his promises emptier like his bank account.
I turned onto our street, noticing a sleek black car parked outside our dilapidated apartment building and halted as a chill ran down my spine.
Several thoughts raced through my mind and before I knew it, I bolted right for the door, calling, "Uncle Jackson!" and pushing open the door.
As soon as I entered, the dim light made me squint. Uncle Jackson sat on the couch, surrounded by empty bottles and scattered papers. His eyes, once bright, now seemed sunken.
That wasn’t my problem. My eyes scanned the stenchy parlour, in search of the owner of that car but found no one.
I had stupidly run, thinking he was in danger. The only danger he was in was himself.
He lifted his eyes slowly, the second they caught me, a wide-toothed grin formed on his lips, showing his yellowish teeth as his stenchy breath oozed out.
Fuck!
Hope flared in his red eyes. "Ari, I... I did it," he slurred, holding up a crumpled contract.
My heart sank at his sorry state. He used to be better than this in the past. After losing my parents at the age of eight, Uncle Jackson was all I had left. He took me in, but six years later, his wife died in an accident, and the culprit was released on bail.
He lost it since then. "What did you do, Uncle Jackson?"
He handed me the paper, his hand shaking. "I got us out of debt. Finally!” My heart and hopes were quickly elated, but his next words dropped everything down like a bomb. “You'll be working at Arthdal Strike."
My heart felt like it’d burst out of my chest any second now as my gaze trailed from his face to the paper he held. My eyes widened as I read the contract. "A strip club? Uncle Jackson, no!"
He grasped my arm, his grip tight as he stood up. "It's the only way, Ari. They'll pay off half of our debts, and you'll be set for life from the huge tips you get after eight months or a year."
A fucking year?!
I jerked free, horror creeping up my throat. "You can't sell me to pay off your debts!"
Uncle Jackson's eyes darted around the room, his pupils constricting as if searching for an escape. His hands trembled, the contract crumpling in his grasp.
I raised a brow, waiting for his sorry excuse. My bad.
“We'll lose everything if I don't pay them,” his words tumbled out, but as soon as it came, his expression morphed into something hopeful. “It’s not a bad deal,” he said, looking me in the eye. “You’ll still get to be doing what you do best, serving tables.”
I scoffed, completely awed at how low he’d gotten. “If you love the job so well, why didn’t you take it? After all, it’s your debt and not mine.”
His eyes flared in rage. “You ungrateful bitch!” His words were followed by a quick slap I hadn’t seen coming, sending my head to the side as my cheeks burned in response.
My eyes blurred as the familiar hot liquid rushed to the surface, but I forced it back down and straightened. “That’s it. I’m not going.”
As soon as he saw the glare in my eyes, his mood switched. "I'm sorry, Ari. I have no choice."
Was he a chameleon or what?
A knock at the door interrupted us. Uncle Jackson’s eyes locked onto mine, filled with a warning that I dare not escape.
Before I could react, the door creaked open and two men entered. Their presence filled the room, each of them towering over my uncle like shadows come to life.
One of them, broad-shouldered with a scar slashing across his cheek, suited up and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward.
"Arianna Draco?" he asked, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. When I swallowed, he continued, "I'm here to collect you. You start tonight."
I glanced at my uncle, his face pale, lips trembling. He said nothing, just stared at the floor like a coward. My chest tightened with fury and fear, my pulse quickening.
"I’m not going anywhere with you," I spat, backing away instinctively.
The other man, taller and leaner, smirked. "You don't have a choice. You've already been paid for."
In an instant, my world shrank to that single sentence. Paid for.
Like I was property. Like I was nothing.
My mind raced seeking escape, panic clawing at my throat, but before I could form a plan, Scarface lunged forward, grabbing my arm with a steel grip. I twisted, pulling back, but it was useless.
"No!" I yelled, thrashing against him, my heart pounding so hard I could barely breathe. "Let me go!"
Uncle Jackson didn’t even flinch. He just stood there, watching with dead eyes, as though he wasn’t sending me off to hell.
"Enough of this," Scarface growled, tightening his hold until my arm burned. "Get her in the car, now!"
**************Chapter 2My feet barely touched the ground as they dragged me out the door, my screams lost in the echoes of the night. They shoved me into the back of the sleek black car, slamming the door shut. Trapped between two men, I knew there wasn’t any escape. Furious tears stung my eyes as the engine roared to life, the car speeding off into the city’s darkened streets.I pressed myself against the front chair, every muscle tense. This couldn’t be happening. This was some kind of nightmare. But the cold leather beneath me and the steady hum of the engine made it real. Too real. I’d been sold—by my own flesh and blood.We pulled up to Arthdal Strike. From the outside, it looked like just another club, the kind you’d pass by with a second glance—big building, neon lights flickering, a line of expensive cars parked out front. But as they hauled me out and led me through the entrance, the truth of the place hit me.The inside was worse than I imagined. Dim red lights bathed the
*************Chapter 3~Ari's POV~The stage lights burned down on me, the leering eyes of the men beneath them making my skin crawl. I could feel their stares, the hunger and thirst for the fresh meat. The music blasted through the speakers, but my limbs refused to move. Who in their right mind would? Every nerve in my body screamed for me to run, but where would I go? I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. Dance, they had said. But I wasn’t a dancer. My feet stayed rooted in place, and my mind frantically raced for a way out.Just as I managed a shaky step forward, someone grabbed my wrist, yanking me off the stage. My heart slammed against my chest as I stumbled, nearly tripping over my heels. I was face-to-face with an older-looking man with a disgusting look on his wrinkled face. "Go, Luca Tadeo, show that b*tch some manners and make her dance,” one of the patrons called out. Luca? As in Luca Tadeo—a name that carried weight in Thania, one of the most ruthless politic
*************Chapter 4“Everything?” I questioned back. Rather than answer, he circled me like a predator, his eyes fully roaming over me as his six-foot-3'-inches tall body towered over me. "You defied Luca in front of everyone.” I couldn’t read his tone. Was he angry, proud or was he just playing?I swallowed hard, my words catching in my throat. "I—I won’t be treated like some whore."His lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile, more like satisfaction. "You’re brave but also reckless. Luca won’t forget this."I inhaled deeply. “I will deal with Luca’s issue later but for now, I was concerned about what Damon Dark wanted from me. "What happens now? What do you mean by wanting everything from me?"Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze darkening. "I’ll offer you a deal."I blinked. "What kind of deal?"He halted and then came to stand before me. His voice lowered, the words like ice as they slipped from his lips. "I’ll pay off your uncle’s debts. All of them.”“What
*************Chapter 4Scarface led me through the dim corridors of Arthdal Strike, till we made our way out for the club.Every step I took felt heavier than the last with Damon’s words replaying in my mind—You’ll be mine. Exclusively. The reality of what I had agreed to was beginning to sink in, nearly suffocating me.I averted my gaze, desperate to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes till we got into the same black car that brought me.The drive was silent. The car was spacious; now they believed I wouldn't run away. And truth be told, I crossed that thought out of my mind. Maybe in the past, but with Damon exclusively involved now, there was no hope. Not now, at least.My mind raced back to the office in the club and Damon. I held back my breath, feeling his presence loom over me as though he were still there.‘Breath, Ari, breath,’ I mentally chanted till we arrived at the grand estate sprawling across hectares of manicured landscape.I stood in awe immediately I alighted the car at t
**********Chapter 5~Ari~First of all, I learnt Scarface’s name. Secondly, Damon wasn’t kidding when he asked that I be locked up. The door slammed shut behind me, leaving me in complete darkness. My breath hitched, panic clawing at my throat. The cold seeped in almost immediately, biting into my skin through the thin, skimpy outfit I wore, but that wasn’t what made my heart race. That was a fraction. The issue was the dark, locked room—the walls closing in and the suffocating darkness pressing on all sides. I’m claustrophobic. It happened after my parents' death and since then… Oh well. My chest tightened, and my knees buckled beneath me. I couldn’t see a thing, couldn’t even hear my breathing over the sound of my racing heartbeat. I stumbled back, my fingers scraping against the cold stone wall, the only thing tethering me to reality. Within seconds, the memories flooded back—being trapped, helpless, after my parents’ car accident. The crushing weight of the wreckage, the end
**********Chapter 7I yawned, covering my lips with my hand, when Damon stared daggers in my direction. I had learned the hard way that Damon’s words were absolute.Why he had me awake by 6:30 was still a mystery to me as I stood there before a few maidservants, each having their head high, hands behind their back, and clothes neat.“Meet Ari,” Damon’s voice rang with authority as he waved his hand toward me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “She’ll be joining us for breakfast. After that, I’ll be taking her shopping.”Shopping? I blinked, almost certain I hadn’t heard him right. But before I could question it, Damon was already on the move, gesturing for me to follow him to the dining room.Left with little to no choice, I did and soon found myself seated before the best delicious meal I had ever seen in my life. My stomach churned in response, clearly happy with the appetizers staring at me.Breakfast was a quiet affair, mostly because Damon seemed entirely uninterested in making conve
***************CHAPTER 8I entered the elevator heading to the penthouse and immediately the sound signalled a stop, I stepped out while Arianna walked just a step behind me. She kept quiet, but I felt her gaze burning into my back, simmering with that familiar defiance she didn’t bother to hide. We’d barely crossed the door when a passing servant stopped, head bowed as he said, “Sir, you have a call waiting on line six.”I gave a slight nod, then turned to Arianna. “Go to your room and stay there. I won’t be long.” My voice was low, leaving no room for argument.She narrowed her eyes at me, still clearly displeased. But, for once, she didn’t argue, which was good. I didn’t have the energy for that right now. With one last pointed look, she turned on her heel and disappeared down the corridor. I watched her go, appreciating the way she held her head high even when she was fuming. Once she was out of sight, I turned and headed for my study.Once inside, I settled into the leather ch
***************CHAPTER 9I laid the last piece of clothing down on the bed and took a step back, surveying the ridiculous amount of clothes Damon had bought for me. From daring dresses to lacy undergarments, each item seemed to scream a challenge, pushing boundaries I wasn’t even sure I had. I hadn’t ever worn clothes like this in my life but when Damon picked each, he seemed to have me as a target in his mind. I reached down, picking up a dark red dress that looked like it belonged to someone bolder, someone who didn’t mind being seen. My fingers brushed over the soft, luxurious fabric, and I couldn’t stop the small thrill that raced up my spine.Shaking my head, I tossed the dress aside, eyeing the black lingerie set sitting neatly on top of its box. The delicate lace seemed to mock me, and I felt a mix of dread and, embarrassingly, curiosity. I could practically hear Damon’s voice in my head, his cold command from the boutique still fresh in my mind. ‘You’ll wear these for
***************~Damon’s POV~Damon didn’t move, didn’t flinch, as I closed the distance between us. My heart pounded, each beat a whisper of hesitation, of something I didn’t fully understand.“C-Can I?” I asked softly, barely above a whisper. My hand hovered in the space between us, close but not touching.He didn’t respond right away. His dark eyes locked onto mine, searching—maybe for my intent, maybe for something else. Then, after what felt like forever, he gave a small nod.I exhaled shakily and reached out. My fingertips grazed his skin, featherlight as they brushed over the bruise on his ribs. Damon tensed under my touch but didn’t pull away.Gently, I traced the edges of each mark, my fingers gliding over the discolored patches of skin on his abdomen, the faint scars on his chest. My touch was careful, reverent, as if I could erase the pain they carried by simply being soft with him."Do they still hurt?" I murmured.Damon shook his head. “Physically, no,” he admitted. His v
*****************CHAPTER 68~Damon’s POV~I swallowed past the lump in my throat, my fingers twitching at my sides. My anger had burned out like a candle in the wind, leaving only this—raw, aching silence between us.Slowly, almost hesitantly, I took a step forward. Then another.Damon didn’t move, didn’t flinch, as I closed the distance between us. My heart pounded, each beat a whisper of hesitation, of something I didn’t fully understand.“C-Can I?” I asked softly, barely above a whisper. My hand hovered in the space between us, close but not touching.He didn’t respond right away. His dark eyes locked onto mine, searching—maybe for my intent, maybe for something else. Then, after what felt like forever, he gave a small nod.I exhaled shakily and reached out. My fingertips grazed his skin, featherlight as they brushed over the bruise on his ribs. Damon tensed under my touch but didn’t pull away.Gently, I traced the edges of each mark, my fingers gliding over the discolored patches
*****************CHAPTER 67~Arianna’s POV~I followed Damon through the dense trees, my legs aching with every step. My body was still weak from the brutal training, but curiosity kept me moving.“Where’s this place?” I asked, scanning the area as we emerged into a clearing.The air here was heavier, filled with something unspoken. The ground was packed dirt, uneven and scarred, as if countless battles had taken place here. Wooden dummies, worn and splintered, stood in a jagged row. Rusted chains dangled from a thick iron post, the metal stained a dark crimson. Against the farthest wall, an array of weapons hung—knives, whips, staffs, and even crude spiked bats.“This was where I used to train when I was young…” Damon’s voice was quiet, almost distant. “With my father.”I froze. Damon barely talked about his father. Hearing him mention the man so casually made my stomach twist. I turned to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was fixed on something only he could see—s
*****************CHAPTER 67~Arianna’s POV~I followed Damon through the dense trees, my legs aching with every step. My body was still weak from the brutal training, but curiosity kept me moving.“Where’s this place?” I asked, scanning the area as we emerged into a clearing.The air here was heavier, filled with something unspoken. The ground was packed dirt, uneven and scarred, as if countless battles had taken place here. Wooden dummies, worn and splintered, stood in a jagged row. Rusted chains dangled from a thick iron post, the metal stained a dark crimson. Against the farthest wall, an array of weapons hung—knives, whips, staffs, and even crude spiked bats.“This was where I used to train when I was young…” Damon’s voice was quiet, almost distant. “With my father.”I froze. Damon barely talked about his father. Hearing him mention the man so casually made my stomach twist. I turned to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was fixed on something only he could see—s
*****************CHAPTER 66~Sterling’s POV~The dimly lit room reeked of aged wood and power—a private lounge reserved only for the elites of the werewolf world. I leaned back in the leather armchair, swirling a glass of blood-red wine in my hand, my lips curving into a slow smile.“Your little stunt worked perfectly,” I said, glancing at the woman across from me.Trisha Don Mars.She sat on the edge of the couch, her legs crossed, looking every bit the picture of confidence and poise. Her lips curled into that signature smirk of hers, one that dripped with malice and self-satisfaction.She was beautiful in her own selfish way, and I loved her for it. Most ladies hid under his naive look while masking their true colours but Trisha showed them. She was not afraid to be seen as selfish, wicked, and all that. I mean, it was all in us and the greed of men was insatiable. At least with this kind of ally, you know what drives them and makes them who they are, and if you can work with t
*****************The dimly lit room reeked of aged wood and power—a private lounge reserved only for the elites of the werewolf world. I leaned back in the leather armchair, swirling a glass of blood-red wine in my hand, my lips curving into a slow smile.“Your little stunt worked perfectly,” I said, glancing at the woman across from me.Trisha Don Mars.She sat on the edge of the couch, her legs crossed, looking every bit the picture of confidence and poise. Her lips curled into that signature smirk of hers, one that dripped with malice and self-satisfaction.“Of course it worked,” she replied, taking a sip of her own drink. “Arianna’s cracking, isn’t she?”I chuckled. “She’s human—what did you expect? Damon’s pushing her to the edge, and even he knows she won’t survive the Luna Trials. It’s just a matter of time before she breaks.”“And when she does,” Trisha said, her voice soft but venomous, “Damon will finally realize what a mistake it was to choose her.”Her fingers traced the
**************CHAPTER 73~Kaia’s POV~The house was quiet, eerily so. Blaze had left for work early in the morning, telling me to stay behind since his grandmother was still here. I had spent most of the morning in the living room, flipping through magazines and trying to keep my thoughts from drifting to the events of the past few days, especially this morning in the bathroom with him. Just that already brought thoughts of our intense fucking. Umm, well, lovemaking and even though Blaze could act like it was nothing or it didn’t happen. It did for me and might I say, it was the best I ever had.I sighed, my shoulders slouching. No matter how hard I tried, my curiosity kept tugging at me, leading me to one place: the room, Blaze’s secret room.I stood up and walked away. First to the kitchen and then to the swimming pool and then… I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn’t even realise where I was walking to.It wasn’t intentional, or so I told myself. My feet moved on their own,
*****************CHAPTER 63~Arianna’s POV~I did not bother arguing when Damon said we should train. All I wanted was a way to survive two weeks from now. If whatever he had planned for me could do it. Then, so be it. Damon led me down a long hallway, past some offices and through a heavy steel door at the back of the penthouse.The moment we stepped inside, my breath hitched.The room was massive—a full-blown training facility. Dim overhead lights cast long shadows over the walls, filled with rows of weapons. Silver daggers. Guns with silver bullets. Chains, cuffs, throwing stars, and even an entire wall of swords.I swallowed hard. This wasn’t just a training room.This felt like a war zone.Damon strode toward the center without a second glance at the weapons. “Your gear,” he said, tossing something at me.I caught it clumsily, looking down to find a pair of black leather trousers, a bralette, a tank top, and a simple hair tie.I arched a brow. “Seriously?”Damon smirked. “You’l
*****************CHAPTER 63~Arianna’s POV~I did not bother arguing when Damon said we should train. All I wanted was a way to survive two weeks from now. If whatever he had planned for me could do it. Then, so be it. Damon led me down a long hallway, past some offices and through a heavy steel door at the back of the penthouse.The moment we stepped inside, my breath hitched.The room was massive—a full-blown training facility. Dim overhead lights cast long shadows over the walls, filled with rows of weapons. Silver daggers. Guns with silver bullets. Chains, cuffs, throwing stars, and even an entire wall of swords.I swallowed hard. This wasn’t just a training room.This felt like a war zone.Damon strode toward the center without a second glance at the weapons. “Your gear,” he said, tossing something at me.I caught it clumsily, looking down to find a pair of black leather trousers, a bralette, a tank top, and a simple hair tie.I arched a brow. “Seriously?”Damon smirked. “You’l