CHAPTER 2

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. Julian POV. 'Hold on." My beta said as he ran a hand over the back of the horse. 'I still don't get why you are traveling to meet Leonardo. I thought you two hated each other." The man said and I laughed as I got off my horse. 'We do," I responded. 'But, remember I told you he might be messing with the spirit codes?" I explained to him how some of the warriors had caught some Blueblood wolves with some crates just a day earlier. When I was done with my explanation, my beta, whose name was Holden, gave me a droll stare. 'Knowing Leonardo, his warriors can't be that easy." He told me. 'They didn't tell us they were from his pack. It was the emblem on their crest that gave them away." I explained to Holden. 'And now you want to pay him a visit because you suspect foul play?" My beta asked with a laugh. 'If you are going to keep being a jokester, I can ask Niamh to come with me instead," I told him. Niamh was Holden's mate and my omega as well. 'I never said I didn't want to come, Julian. Chill." Holden told me. I ignored the look on his face and gave him a pointed look. 'You know what to do," I told him. 'Fine. I will prepare for the journey." He replied and gave me a sly grin. I waved him off, heading out of the stable. I ran into Niamh at the council house and she hugged me. 'Is Holden home too?" She asked and I nodded, smiling at her. 'Yeah, and he doesn't know this yet, but you are coming with us to Leo's pack," I told her. I watched as her eyes grew serious. That was why I liked her, she never joked about anything which concerned me or the pack. 'Is this about the crates?" She asked and I nodded. "Let's hope it's just a misunderstanding though," Niamh said after I nodded. I smiled at her as I thought about her character. Niamh was one of the people who saw the good in everyone. It came with its disadvantages, but it also proved useful when dealing with clan issues. 'You have not spoken to him in many years and the last time you did, you both nearly killed each other." She reminded me and I winced, the scar Leo left on my back suddenly aching. 'I am sure if I diplomatically approach him, there wouldn't be much of an issue," I told her, and Niamh's brow arched. 'Isn't that what you both told each other before you decided to cause a clan war with your fight?" She asked and I gave her a grin as I remembered the conflict she was talking about. I explained to her that we were both older and more mature. Besides, I also had stronger warriors so a war was out of the question. 'But we are going to be on his land." She reminded me. I patted her cheek and her eyes narrowed. 'Do not worry, Niamh. I promise to be on my best behavior." I promised her. She opened her mouth to talk but I gave her another pat. I told her where she could find Holden and went inside the packhouse. I ran smack into my little sister. 'Oh, Julian. You are here." I said and immediately noticed the hickey on her neck. 'What the fuck is that, Jane?" I asked her in anger. Her hand covered it and she laughed uneasily. 'Uh, I have no idea what you are talking about." She said in a nervous tone. 'Do not make me repeat myself," I shouted at her a little. 'He is a nice guy!" She shouted at me. 'Oh, so it is a guy? Just what have you been doing in my absence, little sis?" I asked her. 'I am not little." She barked at me. 'You are 18. So, you are little." I retorted. 'I am a grown woman." She countered. 'Did he tell you that?" I asked and rolled my eyes as she turned red. 'How old is he?" I asked in a calm tone. 'Twenty-one." She answered. I bit back the words I wanted to say and asked her another question instead. 'Is he in the warriors? If not, what is his job in the pack?" I asked her. When she answered that he was a soldier, my mind went to the recruits and I remembered that we only have five of them. Out of the five, only two were above twenty. 'Tall?" I asked her again in an attempt to filter who her lover was. Jane narrowed her eyes and her arms landed on her hips in a pose that screamed 'don't fuck with me.' I gave her a warm smile. 'I know you are weeding him out in your head." She said in an accusing tone. 'What? Me? Never." I told her in a very serious voice. 'Don't play with me, Julian." She warned. 'Just tell me his name then. I just can't wait to see the man who is giving my little sister a hickey and have a little talk with him." I told her. 'Just like you talked with Raef?" She asked and I held up my palms. 'It isn't my fault Raef was a scaredy-cat. I just talked to him." I answered her. 'You showed him your wolf. That's not just a talk, that is intimidating." She accused me and I grinned, dropping my palms. 'Tell me his name, sis. Let's see if this one has balls." I told her. She opened her mouth but she was cut off by the entrance of Finn. Finn was Holden's little brother and he was also his assistant. He was also 21 and was a deputy general soldier. 'Finn!" I told Jane and her eyes widened. She stepped on my foot rudely. 'Stop it." She said and pointed a finger at me. 'You just confirmed it, baby sis," I told her, ignoring the stab of pain her shoes had caused. Jane grabbed my arm and started pulling me outside. 'I just remembered I have to show you my garden." She said, dragging me away. I turned back and saw that Finn's eyes were trained on Jane. I read nothing but devotion and admiration all over. I halted in the walk which made Jane look afraid. 'It is just a talk, Jane. I am not going to bite his head off." I assured her. 'Promise? I like him." She told me. I grinned at her and nudged her cheek. 'I can see that and I can see that he likes you too," I told her. I held back in the gag that came when I saw her face change. Finn was still by the steps of the clan house but before we could reach him, Holden and Niamh reached us. 'One of the Bluebloods talked. The crates were being taken to another kingdom." Niamh told me. 'Another pack we suspected, but they refused to talk after that." Holden had his serious face on as he spoke. The one that spoke nothing of the joker he normally was. 'Our trip to Leo's pack has to be sooner than ever now," Niamh said to me and I nodded. I let go of Jane's hand and watched as she rushed over to Finn. 'Prepare everything we need. We leave at dawn." I told both of them.