Chapter 3

• Like most girls growing up, I dreamt of living in a big castle with a ballroom and chandeliers, grumpy butlers, and my very own wing where I could wear my princess dresses and do princess stuff. Let's not forget the part where the prince comes to whisk me away to his even bigger castle and we all live happily ever after where I spend his money on dreamy stuff.
• Yes, I was materialistic, sue me. But unlike most girls at almost twenty years old, deep down inside the burdened heart of mine, I still cradled that dream like a newborn. Maybe it was a coping mechanism or maybe I was just plain stupid.
• As I walked into Zayn's cabin, I knew it was no castle and that Zayn was no prince and I was no princess. Nonetheless, I felt a little strange. I searched within my soul but couldn't pinpoint what it was.
• Was it a strange feeling of serenity? Happiness? Peace? Maybe it was all or none, I couldn't tell.
• After showing me around, Zayn left me in the Cabin since he didn't live here. I wondered why he even had the cabin in the first place since it had been all dusty when we arrived.
• But since I'd rather not look the gift of a horse in the mouth, not that I ever understood what the statement meant. I swallowed my tongue and only vomited it back to thank him when he was leaving the house.
• I looked at the cabin and smiled to myself. It was old but functioning. Neither was it a castle but I had it all to myself. I couldn't stop myself from doing a little dance as I looked around the house.
• Since it was already evening, I ended up in the cute little kitchen to make myself dinner. For someone who had always been forced to do it all the time, I should hate cooking but it was quite the contrary.
• Cooking gave me a sense of purpose and made me feel like I was useful, which in turn made me happy.
• I fell into a dreamless sleep, waking up every time I heard a noise and since the cabin was in the woods, surrounded by trees and animals, there were quite a lot of sounds.
• On the night of the second day at the cabin, I realized I had no reason to be scared. My family wasn't coming. I could die and they wouldn't give a shit about me.
• This fact shouldn't have surprised me either so I didn't know why I was crying into a pillow.
• The first thing I did the next morning was to take a shower. So what if my tears got mixed up with the hot water as it burnt the wounds that hadn't completely healed, even with my werewolf system.
• It wasn't just a shower for me, it was washing away the past and getting ready for my future. Or so I thought until I felt a sharp pain in my head and everything went black.
• It seemed like my father cared after all since his face was the first thing I saw when I came on to the floor of a cold room covered with a pink bedsheet.
• “Who gave you permission to leave?” He asked as soon as he noticed I was awake.
• I am a grown woman. I longed to say but the words stuck up in my throat. When I tried to sit up and my head felt like it was exploding, I began to cry.
• I wanted to stop it but the tears kept coming.
• “Your tears are not going to fool me, girl. You better think with that empty brain of yours before you decide to run next time because, unlike this time, it won't be good for you at all.” My father said to me,
• I was about to ask how being hit with a heavy object by your father while you were showering and anticipating a new life was good when I saw the other guy. No, not a guy but a man and he was staring at me. He moved closer to me and I shrieked in fright.
• Everything about him from his feral smile to his predatory walk screamed danger.
• “This is your mate from now on.” My father said to me.
• “What?!” I screamed. I was sure I didn't hear him well. I mean there was no way I heard him well.
• “I'm not going to repeat myself. Get on your feet.” My father said instead.
• “Don’t scream at her. I believe she has ears, no?”
• I heard the man say and I blinked. He had a voice that reminded me of the stream behind Zayn’s cabin. It sounded calming and deep, but it could also bring you to your demise.
• I took another step back, ignoring the look in my father’s eyes.
• “You can’t take me. The Alpha wouldn’t let you do this.” I told him.
• The man scoffed, looking at my father.
• “She talks too much. You didn’t mention that when you offered to use her as collateral.” The man said.
• Collateral? I thought. My father wouldn't be that cruel to me, would he? I asked myself.
• “You sold me off to him as collateral?” I asked my father just to be sure I wasn't mistaken. My father ignored me and just turned to the man.
• “Alpha Leo, we can decide to knock her out. It seems the last beating failed to shut her up.”
• My father said instead of replying to my question which gave me the answer I needed. I looked up sharply as my brain reconnected to the name it heard my father call. Alpha Leo? The Alpha rumored to be so heartless even his Luna couldn’t control him? How on earth did my father get involved with him?
• “I see my name precedes me since there is fear in your eyes. Do I trust you would come quietly now?” The man asked in a quiet menacing tone which added to my fear. I glanced at the window behind them. If I run fast enough, I can get Zayn. I can’t let my father do this to me. I returned my gaze to the Alpha and smiled prettily.
• “Of course, your honor,” I told him when I had no intention of following him. He tsked as if he could read my mind, then he snapped his fingers at my father.
• “Knock her out. I can’t have her awake for the return journey.” He commanded my father who moved towards me, but I was faster. I broke through the window and ignoring the shards of glass stuck to my skin, I ran. I heard my father behind me, and I channeled my inner wolf to increase my speed.
• Moon goddess, if you truly exist, please let me shift. Please. I was too busy praying I didn’t see the man in front of me or the rock he used over my head.