Claimed by the Enraged Alpha

Chapter 1

Lily sat quietly in the shadows while her parents argued. Her father was the Alpha of the pack, and her mother was was is disgraced and rejected mate. She tried to hide the tears that seeped from her eyes, to hide them even from herself, but it was no use. She was weak, vulnerable, and as useless as her mama – or so her father always said.

“Well,l she is of no use to me. You can either keep him or let me give her up at the moonlight rite this night!” Lily’s father snapped.

“I – I didn’t say I want to keep her . . . but how can we give up our only child together,” her mother stammered. She was not putting up a convincing argument at all.

Lily cringed as her father laughed harshly. “You and I are a mistake that should never have happened. I have other pups, and so do you. We don’t need this –halfbreed!”

Lily choked on her tears, and the sound of her anguish drew her parent's attention.

“Lily! What are you doing listening in on our conversation?” Her mother asked in a whisper.

Lily got up and ran to her mother, throwing her arm around her. “Please Mother, I don’t want to be given away at the moonlight rite – I –”

“Nonsense!” Her father snapped, and she could not argue with the authority in his voice. That was the voice of an Alpha. “I don’t love you, never will – and neither does your mother. But at the moonlight rite tonight, maybe you would find a male that would love you as his chosen mate. You should be happy instead of hiding in the shadows here, crying like the stupid whore your mother is.”

“But Father –” Lily started to say, at the same time that her father said “Don’t call me father,” and her mother said something about not being a whore.

Lily kept quiet, and silently left the room as the sound of her parent's voices raised in argument.

The midnight rite was done only once a year. During the rite, a female wolf that had not yet been mated is brought and tied to a stake while males who are interested fight over her. She goes off with the winner a mate.

Lily had heard stories of some females who had successfully mated to good males who loved them, but she did not believe that possible. What kind of male chose his mate in such a way?!

“Try to cheer up Lily. You might get mated to a male that would love and cherish you – an Alpha even –”

“I don’t want to be mated to an Alpha!” Lily countered a little too forcefully. “All Alphas are simply powerful, but very ruthless. They do not know the meaning of love,” she continued in a more quiet voice.

Hilda shook her head. “Just because your father is heartless doesn’t mean all Alphas are. You might get mated to a kind Alpha.”

Lily laughed sadly. “There is nothing like a kind Alpha. I would rather be mated to an Omega and live in peace,” but even as she said this, she knew it was not possible because an Omega would never be able to win an Alpha in a fight. The only thing she could pray for was that no Alpha came to the rite that night, because if any Alpha came, he was probably the one that would claim her as a mate – only Lily knew Alphas, she wouldn’t mate, she would be a mere plaything.

The first thing Lily noticed as she was led out to the open to be tied on a stake like a mere slave was that there were a lot of people gathered that night – she was going to be humiliated in front of all these people. The second thing she noticed was that there was an Alpha among the males that would be fighting over her.

Her eyes were drawn to him instantly, to the ruthlessness she saw gleaming in his silvergrey eyes. Lily felt a violent shiver run through her as her eyes connected with his, and then his lips twisted in a cruel smile as could tell the effect he had on her from so far away, and he was enjoying it.

Lily fought the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes and spoil the makeup Hilda had so craftily put on. She knew one thing she ended up being a mate to the wickedly handsome Alpha with silver grey eyes, then her days living under her father’s cruelty would be considered pleasure compared to what she was going to face being mated to such an Alpha.

The fight was to start with the only two Omegas in the contest. According to the rules, both contestants were supposed to kiss her activation before they started the fight.

She let the two Omegas kiss her, each of them gentle in their kisses, and Lily felt relaxed. They did not seem like the kind of males that she would me mated too

As the fight started, Lily forced her eyes away from the powerful Alph and focused on the two Omegas fighting over her. They both seemed so kind, she wished any one of them would be her mate. They even seemed very uncomfortable about injuring themselves, she knew that if anyone of them were to be her mate, he would never hurt her – but wishes never came true, they were Omegas after all and any of them that won would probably be defeated in the next round.

After the two kinds ofo re defeated, Lily lost count of how many males fought for her and lost, she also lost count of how many times her lips were assaulted by their kisses till she felt like crying. Some of them were gentle, some others rough, kissing her as though they wanted to mark her flesh, so that in the end, even if they lost, she would be marked as theirs for life. Lily endured it all, hating her parents for putting her up to be fought over like a common whore.

Soon, all that was left was a bet and the ruthless but wickedly handsome Alpha. Lily took her eyes off the Alpha and turned to look at the beta. He was not as handsome, but he looked like someone that would be kind, someone that would care about her. Before the fight started, he walked up to her and smiled.

“Wish me beautiful, I promise to love and cherish you as my mate.”

Lily smiled. That was all she hoped for. Could the moonlight rite be a blessing in disguise? Was this Beta going to win an Alpha and become her mate, the love of her life, one that would love and protect her forever, make her feel wanted the same way her parents made her feel unwanted? She could feel the cold eyes of the Alpha on her even as she thought these thoughts, mocking her, daring her to believe her wishful thinking.

The Beta kissed her, his lips stroking her softbowshaped lips gently “I know your lips have been hurt enough by the other males, so I wouldn’t add to it.” He whispered into her ear gently, then turned and was gone. Lily shuddered as her eye caught the silver grey of the Alpha, it was his turn to kiss her.

“Look at m,e Lily.” The Alpha commanded again, and Lily blushed hotly at the sound of her name on his lips, but she was still unable to look at those silvergrey eyes of his when he was so close to her.

The Alpha swore, and hooking a finger under her chin, he lifted it – not so gently, till she was forced to look into his eyes. What she saw there stole her breath away.

His eyes were ruthless, wicked even, but there was a pain etched deep down, as though he had been hurt before, and now he was hiding a pain so deep it had become part of him. Lily drew in a shaky breath as compassion replaced her fear. Not for the first time, she wished her hands were free. For some reason, she wanted to hold him in her arms in an embrace, to share his pain with him, try to take it away from him if that were possible, but her hands remained helplessly tied to the stake.

She felt tears sting her eyes, and she let them flow freely down her cheek. This time, she was not crying for herself, she was crying for the pain she knew the Alpha was hiding deep within.

He pressed his lips to hers, and she tasted her salty tears on his lips. His lips were gentle at first as if it was soothing her, bringing her comfort, and yet she felt aroused. She could feel something feminine loosen up deep within her, she felt small, cherished, and protected as his arms came around her, easily holding her with the stake. She felt his warmth drive away the biting cold that had earlier made her shiver.

And Lily kissed him back. Maybe being mated to an Alpha was not so bad after all. She surrendered herself to the vulnerable feeling he stirred in her. She didn’t mind being innocent, didn’t care about hiding her vulnerability as long as he was there to claim her, to love and protect her.

But when he drew away from her, his eyes were as cold as ice. Lily felt her heart skip several beats at the look in them. Had she imagined everything? The love, the affection.

The Alpha’s lips curved into a cruel grin at her confusion. “That is how you want to be kissed isn’t it? With love and affection?”

He crushed his lips to hers again, and this time, Lily whimpered at the force. This time, his lips demanded from her what she was still too innocent to understand, took from her what she hadn’t given. She moaned as even then his kiss stirred up arousal in her belly, yet it was more pain than pleasure. This time, he did not kiss to show her comfort, his kiss marked her as his, hurting her in a way to show that she should expect only pain from him as his future mate.

When he finally pulled his lips away from hers, Lily shivered as she dragged in a shaky breath through her slightly bruised lips. His smile was wicked as he watched her.

“Pray to the moon goddess that the Beta fighting me win because if I do, this is only the beginning of the pain you would suffer as my mate.”

Lily could only nod as the tears gathered once more in her eyes. What kind of male was this, that could be so gentle and loving one moment, and then brutal and wicked the next? Her lips mouthed a prayer to the moon goddess that the Beta win, but her heart already knew who she belonged to. She belonged to the mysterious Alpha who could be kind and loving but instead chose to be ruthless. The Alpha had already marked her body as his.

CHAPTER TWO

Alpha Ramirez watched as the tears clouded in her eyes again, and he felt the corner of his lips turn up in a cold smile. The poor female did not yet know what she was in for, if it took a simple kiss to make her cry. He wondered how much she would whimper when he finally marked her entire body as his in the part of the mating ceremony that allowed him to make love to his possession, his new mate.

According to the traditions of the moonlight rite, the winning male was supposed to make love to his new mate out there in the open, in front of everyone, to prove that she now belonged to him. No one still insisted on keeping to that part of the rite, but Ramirez wanted to see the embarrassment that would fill those innocent clear blue eyes when he stripped off her clothes in front of everyone.

He stared at her, every inch of her body. She was very lovely, worth the fight. Her long curly hair was jet black, darker than a moonless night, and her heart shaped face was beautifully colored with the blush that rose up to her cheeks. He could tell that that night was the first time she had been kissed, he could almost taste her inexperience on her lips.

Ramirez was surprised at how jealous he had felt as the other males who had their fights before him had kissed her. They should never have. She was his, his to kiss, his to torment. He was the one that should have taught her how to kiss for the first time.

And so, he punished her for those kisses she gave the other males, even though he knew it wasn’t her fault. He had first shown her what it was like to be kissed with love, then he had punished her with those same lips, wickedly enjoy the her pain.

Her bow shaped lips were still swollen from his kisses, and slightly bruised. The white she wore radiated her innocence, her beauty. She would fit perfectly into his plans for revenge, but first, he needed to break her.

He watched those lips of hers mouth a prayer to the moon goddess, then he turned to face his opponent, a cold smile at the corner of his mouth. The Beta was a fool for thinking he could win an Alpha. Ramirez knew that even deep down, the female knew he was going to win the Beta. She would hope though, hope that the Beta with his gentle voice and soft kisses win, and then he’d dash her hope by wining.

The whistle was blown, and the Beta charged at him with full force, claws bared. Ramirez laughed as he allowed the Beta to sink his claws into him and throw him to the floor. He wanted to play with the male a little before finally wining him, that way, he would get the female’s hopes up, before crashing them to the ground. He couldn’t wait to break her.

The crowd cheered for the Beta, and he charged at Ramirez again, as Ramirez got to his feet. Again, the Alpha let the beta have his way, a perverse pleasure cuddling at the pit of his stomach as he saw his own blood run freely from the wound the Beta had inflicted.

He pushed the thought of those innocent blue eyes away and focused on the Beta, the part of him that cared for innocent vulnerable females was long dead. To prove that point, he should simply take her, out there in the open. Draw his pleasure from her flesh even as she cried to him, begging him to stop. He was a monster, the sooner everyone accepted that, the better for them.

He circled the Beta now, a perverse smile at the corner of his lips. He waited until the male exposed his claws again, before he cut them in his hand, smiling as the sharp edges cut into his palm, making him bleed.

Ramirez waited until he held the Beta’s green eyes with his own silver grey’s, before he snapped the claws out of the Beta’s hands.

The Beta’s cry of anguish filled the air as Ramirez carelessly flung the claws away. Werewolves could not grow back their claws, and so the Beta would remain without claws in his right hand forever. It would probably get him demoted to an Omega, or maybe kicked out of his pack, his life was ruined forever.

Alpha Ramirez! That was what he was called. Lily watched in shock as he was declared, she had genuinely thought the Beta was winning. But that was stupid of her, how could she think a mere Beta could win such an Alpha. She had a feeling that if Ramirez fought a hundred Alphas, he was still going to win.

What kind of male possessed such strength, to be able to snap off another male’s claws that easily! And he had been ruthless enough to do so even though he knew it would destroy the male forever. How heartless was he going to be with her?

Lily felt her heart skip a beat as she remembered a long forgotten part of the moonlight rite, the part where the winner would strip the female he was mated to, in front of everyone and sleep with her right there in front of the crowd!

CHAPTER THREE

Alpha Ramirez stepped even closer, and Lily shuddered. Her eyes sought out her father, to beg him, plead with him to take her away from the stake and the entire rite, but she couldn’t find him. He probably left immediately she was tied securely to the stake.

Her eyes shot back to the Alpha as he stepped closer. For some reason, she could feel a tinge of excitement under the fear. What would it feel like to be made love to by such a powerful male body. Then she thought of the look in his eyes as he had snapped the Beta’s claws, maiming him for life, she thought of the lack of gentleness in his touch, in his kisses.

“What is your name little one?” his voice was soft, almost gentle, it gave Lily the courage she needed to answer.

“Lily – Lily of Garar pack.”

He smiled. “Lily of Garar pack, you are officially my mate now, a Luna. Do you know what that means?”

Lily shook her head as he stepped even closer. She didn’t know anything about being a Luna. Her mother was a rejected former Luna, and her father’s new Luna never allowed Lily to come near her.

The Alpha stepped closer, and Lily wished she could step back. He was so close now, she could touch him if she just lifted a hand – but her hands were tied. Unable to stare into his eyes, Lily caught herself staring at his broad chest as he lifted a gentle finger to stroke her cheek

“So vulnerable – so innocent,” his voice was barely a whisper.

Why was he being gentle! Lily could not understand what kind of male was gentle one minute, and then rough the next. Again, she felt tears threaten at her wide blue eyes. She would have preferred if he remain harsh with her, at least then, she would know what to expect. It was very easy for her to let down the little defenses she had when he was gentle, and then, she knew he would strike.

As though he read her mind, he laughed out loud. “Your defenses mean nothing were my assault is little one. I want to break you, destroy you until you are nothing but my puppet, a mere plaything, that’s only when I would be able to use you for what I want.”

Lily shivered slightly. The white dress Hilda had dressed her with was sleeveless, and open at the throat to expose her slender long neck and the tops of her breast. In the nights chilly air, it was unbearable. But it was not the whether that made Lily shiver, it was the coldness in her new mate’s heart.

“Why are you doing this? What do you hope to gain?” Her voice sounded pathetic even to her own ears, but Lily forced herself to look into the Alpha’s eyes. It was there again, the pain lodged deep in those silver greys. She wished she could bring him comfort, take his pain away – then his expression hardened, and there was nothing but heartless in his eyes now.

“Why am I doing this? That’s easy, because I can. Dear sweet Lily, you would find that in this world of ours, wolves do things simply because they can. What do I hope to gain, you ask, again that’s easy. Revenge!” He brought his hand up to her hair and loosened the twists Hilda had taken pains to put in place. Her long black hair tumbled in waves down her shoulder, making her look even more lovely.

“You look better like this, with your hair free in the wind. I should name you windflower, so vulnerable, yet so beautiful.” With a simple flex of his muscles, he cut the ropes that bound her to the stake, and Lily was grateful when he pulled her into his arms.

His lips sought hers then, and this time, it was not a kiss of punishment, or the gentle kiss of a stranger, it was a lovers kiss. Hot, ardent. For the first time, Lily was completely caught in the moment.

The crowd cheered as she threw her arms around his neck, drawing him closer, holding him to herself. He was her mate, she would have this forever.

His hands wandered all over her body, stirring primal heat in her belly. So this was what it meant to be wanted? She was so cut in the moment, she did not notice when he brought his hands up to the top of her dress and tore it into two, she only knew that she wanted his mouth on the flesh he had exposed.

Before she could get too impatient, he pressed his lips to her exposed flesh, drawing a moan from her with a kiss so painfully arousing, Lily feared her body was on fire.

His hands tore open the rest of her dress, and it was only when it pooled at her feet that Lily knew the Alpha had stripped her out in the public. The entire crowd was deathly quiet, and Lily couldn’t even bare to look up as her cheeks stained pink with embarrassment, but the Alpha wasn’t done with her yet.

He pulled her nude body tighter to his fully clad one, and pressed his lips to the pulse beating at her neck. “You forget too easily sweetheart. Remember I told you I was going to break you. I had thought I would enjoy doing that, but you make it too easy.”

Lily whimpered, then moaned as he pressed another kiss to the same spot. “Please . . .” her voice was too shaky, and she thought he had not heard her, but then he laughed.

“You would need to be a little more specific my little beauty. Please what then? ‘please, claim me right here in front of the crowd?’ ‘Please stop bringing me exquisite pleasure with your kisses,: or even ‘please return me to my Papa who by the way doesn’t want me, he had to give me up at a moonlight rite’ which is it little one?”

He was toying with her now, and Lily knew that no matter what answer she gave him, he was going to do what he wanted to do. “Please, have some dignity. I am your mate, shaming me I front of everyone wouldn’t be nice.”

The Alpha burst out laughing at that. “You must be a very slow learner, or you’d know that I’m never nice.”

Lily nodded, but she noticed that he had used his big body to shield her from the rest of the crowd, so that it was only he that saw her naked.

Alpha Ramirez stared into those trusting blue eyes, staring up at him in their childish bravery. Even he was not that cruel, he could not hurt her while she was still this innocent. He needed to corrupt her a bit before he broke her. He laughed at his own thoughts. Who would have thought he had anything like a conscience. He was going to watch out for her, he had only just met her, and already, she had him rethinking his actions.

Striping off his shirt, he draped it around her shoulders and heard her draw in a shaky breath as those blue eyes turned up to him in gratitude. She was so small, the shirt came down to her knees, totally covering her nakedness, then she did something he did not expect. She threw her arms around him in an affectionate hug. “Thank you,” she said simply as she pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek.

Ramirez felt something constrict in his chest. If he was not careful, it was this naïve female with innocent face and wild blue eyes who was going to break through his defenses and get to him. A part of him wanted to get to know her, the real her, that sweet naïve creature that was not tainted by the wicked world – but then, he had a mission, and she was only a mere pawn in his game of thrones.

“Come, my Luna, your new home awaits,” he said sarcastically, expecting her to shiver in fear, but to his surprise, Lily slipped her little hand into his big one so trustingly, as though she had forgotten everything he had said about breaking her. Show the female a little kindness, and she was already trusting. . . it was hilarious!

Together, they walked hand in hand till they got into the limo that waited to take them to Ramirez’s pack, and to his home. Lily sucked in a deep breath at the thought of her uncertain future, and yet, even with all the fear, Lily could not help hope that she would make her mate, the Alpha Ramirez fall in love with her, just as she had already fallen for him.

The memory of the battle came crashing back as Lily stirred from her slumber. She felt disorientated, her mind swimming in confusion as she tried to comprehend her surroundings.

She had no idea how she had gotten there. The last thing she could remember was entering the Limo amidst the inquisitive glares from the Pack meme

The room was unfamiliar, the bedsheets crisp and cool against her skin, and she could hear distant murmurs and a gentle rumbling beneath her.

But she was more focused on the pain that throbbed in her head, a nagging reminder of the fight and the moments leading up to her unconsciousness. The image of Ramirez, the Alpha, slashing off the beta's claws with frightening precision, and the bloodcurdling screams of the onlookers, still echoed in her mind.

As she tried to piece together what happened, the door to her room creaked open, and she could see the outline of a tall figure entering. The Alpha's deep voice boomed, startling her.

"Good. You're awake." She felt her heart race as she realized she was in the presence of her captor. She couldn't comprehend why he had taken her, and what this strange place was.

She made a mental note of every gruesome thing she could think of a torture house, some sort of cell and many other unspeakable places she could think of.

The darkness of the room closed in around Lily as she tried to curl up and escape the reach of Alpha Ramirez. But, with each step he took towards her, she felt herself shrinking away, until she was backed against the wall with nowhere else to go.

He stood before her, his tall frame towering over her, a wicked, smug smile playing on his lips. "You think you can escape me, my little dove? Think again." His silver grey eyes were cold and unyielding as he gazed down at her, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down her spine.

"I promise you, I will break you. I will strip away your defenses and make you mine, until you are nothing but a puppet, a mere plaything at my beck and call." Lily trembled as she felt the anger radiating from him, anger he had been holding in since who knows when.

"And when I'm done with you, you will know what it feels like to be at the mercy of someone like me. To feel my wrath, my power, and my control." Ramirez reached out, running a finger down her cheek, making her skin crawl.

"You may resist now, but in the end, you will succumb to my will. I am Alpha, I am in control, and you are mine to command." He leaned down, his lips inches from hers, his breath hot against her skin. "And when I'm done with you, Lily, you will thank me for breaking you."

As Alpha Ramirez trailed his nose down Lily's neckline, he inhaled her scent and reveled in the fear she exuded. Her skin was soft and supple, and he felt his body react to her closeness.

"Please don't hurt me!"

She begged him, but he merely chuckled in response. "Don't worry, my dear Lily," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.

"I won't hurt you, not yet." But just as suddenly, his behavior changed from that of a predator to that of a friend. He pulled back and offered her a warm smile, causing Lily to feel incredibly confused. She didn't know whether to believe him or not, but the pain in his eyes was gone, replaced by a softness she had never seen before.

"Don't be afraid, Lily," he said, his voice soothing.

"I promise, I won't hurt you. Not if you cooperate." He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, and she felt her body relax ever so slightly. "I'm going to teach you, show you how to be mine," he continued, his voice hushed.

"I'm going to break you, but it will be a slow and sensual process. You will learn to crave me, to beg for my touch. And then, when you're mine, I'll keep you forever." His words were like a dangerous threat and a lullaby at the same time, and Lily couldn't help but feel entranced. He was a dangerous predator, and yet, there was something about him that drew her in.

She was trapped, a frightened mouse in the clutches of a cat. Alpha Ramirez advanced, his wicked, smug smile sending shivers down her spine. She tried to scoot away from him, but there was nowhere to hide. He towered over her, his hand roaming her body, eliciting a whimper of fear from her lips.

And then he switched on the light, illuminating his face and causing her to shrink even further away. His eyes held an evil glint that promised pain and suffering. She was sure he would hurt her, maybe even kill her.

But then, he squinted at the light and she saw the surprise in his face. He looked around the room and she followed his gaze, shocked to see that she was in a beautiful room with elegant furnishings.

"Welcome to your new home," he said, backing away from her.

She nodded, still curled up on the bed. She was scared, but she couldn't help but be surprised by his sudden change in behavior. Was he really going to be so nice to her?

"Feel at home," he said with a smile, and then, to her surprise, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I will leave you to rest now."

She watched as he walked out the door, her mind in a whirl. How could he be so cruel one moment and so kind the next?

"I don't understand," she whispered to herself. "What do you want from me?"

But there was no answer, just the sound of the door closing behind him and the echo of his footsteps as he walked down the hall.

Lily stumbled towards the bathroom, her heart racing with fear and confusion. As she caught sight of herself in the mirror, she gasped. Her once pristine outfit was now torn and tattered, her hair disheveled, and her skin marred by bruises and scratches. The tears she had been holding back spilled down her cheeks as she took in the extent of the damage inflicted upon her.

Her lips were swollen from the rough treatment she had received, and her eyes were ringed with dark circles from all the crying she had done. The evidence of her suffering was all too clear, and she couldn't help but break down in sobs at the sight of herself.

She had been sold off like a horse, and subjected to who knows what. And now, here she was, locked in a room with a physco and a madman who seemed to switch from predator to friend in the blink of an eye, one who was bent on making her life a hell.

She cautiously approached the bathtub, taking in the steam rising from the water. She hesitated for a moment, her mind flashing back to the brutal moments she had experienced at the hands of Alpha Ramirez. She shook her head, trying to dispel the memories and took a step forward.

As she stepped into the bathtub, the warm water enveloped her, and she sighed in relief. But with the relief came the pain.

Her bruises and injuries, inflicted by Alpha Ramirez, began to scream in protest as the water touched her skin. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she bit her lip to stop herself from crying out loud.

She closed her eyes and tried to take deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. The water continued to soak into her skin, washing away the grime and dirt from her body.

She looked down at herself, the bruises and cuts stood out like vivid reminders of her suffering. She let out a sob and clutched the sides of the tub, trying to ground herself.

The pain was almost too much to bear, but she was determined to cleanse herself of the memories of the last few hours.

She gritted her teeth and began to wash herself, her fingers gently tracing the contours of her bruises. Every touch was a reminder of the violence she had endured, but she refused to let it break her.

She finally stood up, letting the water run off her skin and down the drain.

As she emerged from the warm embrace of the bathtub, Lily's body was still aching from the rough handling she received from Alpha Ramirez. She stood there, shivering and vulnerable, her skin pink from the hot water. She needed to find something to cover herself up with, something to protect her from the harsh reality of her situation.

With hurried steps, she made her way across the room, her eyes darting towards the door as if she expected Ramirez to come barging in at any moment. She reached the wardrobe, frantically searching through the rows of clothes until she finally found a fluffy white towel. She wrapped it around herself, tucking in the edges to ensure it wouldn't slip off.

Although the towel offered her some measure of comfort and security, Lily couldn't shake off the feeling of being exposed and vulnerable. The reality of her situation hit her all over again, and she could feel the fear and uncertainty creeping back in.

It was very clear from the way she glanced around, like there was a presence watching her.

She ambled back to the wardrobe, her eyes scanning its contents for something to wear. She rummaged through silky dresses, cashmere sweaters, and delicate lingerie until finally, her hand brushed against a soft, white nightgown.

She slipped into the comfortable cloth, the fabric caressing her skin and sending a shiver down her spine. She marveled at the feel of the cloth, so much different from the rough fabric of her previous clothing. She felt like she was wearing a blanket of comfort and protection.

Satisfied with her attire, she reached for the light switch, casting the room into darkness once more. She approached the door, her hand reaching for the bolt, making sure it was secure before retiring to the bed. The soft mattress cradled her, and she felt her eyes grow heavy.

She was so tired, so very tired. All she wanted to do was sleep, to escape the fear and the pain. And so, she drifted off into slumber, her breathing slow and steady as she surrendered to the safety of sleep.

"

The darkness of the night seemed to seep into her dreams as she tossed and turned on the bed, a cold sweat drenching her forehead. Her breaths came in short gasps as she tried to outrun the monster that pursued her, his steps echoing in her mind like the beating of a drum. Suddenly, she was running, her legs pounding the ground as she tried to escape the predator that was Alpha Ramirez.

The wind whipped past her face as she ran, fear coursing through her veins like electricity. She could hear his heavy footsteps growing closer, his breaths hot on the back of her neck. She screamed as she ran, her voice piercing the still of the night like a knife. But Ramirez was too fast, and she soon found herself tripping and tumbling into a ditch, the hard ground smashing into her body.

She lay there, gasping for air, her body wracked with pain. She could hear Ramirez's footsteps getting closer, and she knew she was going to die. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face, and whispered a prayer for the first time in years.

But then she opened her eyes, and saw Ramirez towering over her, a wicked smile on his face. He raised his claws, ready to strike the final blow, when suddenly she screamed and sat up in bed, her heart racing, her breaths coming in short gasps. "

She looked around the room, confused, her eyes wide with fear. The room was silent, save for the whirring of the alarm beside her bed.

She realized with a jolt that it was all just a nightmare, and she let out a sigh of relief. But the fear lingered, a chill running down her spine as she remembered the way Ramirez had looked in her dream, the way he had chased her, ready to kill her just like in real life.

She shuddered and lay back down on the bed, her thoughts a jumbled mess as she tried to fall back to sleep. But the memory of the dream lingered, a haunting reminder of the fear and pain that was her reality. "

The sound of a knock at the door echoed through the room, jolting her awake from her fitful slumber.

Her heart races as she remembers her nightmare, and she's filled with a sense of dread as she tentatively makes her way to the door. With a shaking hand, she reaches out to turn the handle, her mind filled with visions of Alpha Ramirez on the other side, ready to pounce.

But as she swings the door open, she's met with a completely different sight. Three women, dressed in maid's uniforms, stand in the doorway with warm smiles on their faces.

The three women entered the room, their steps soft and graceful as they approached her where she was standing, still halfasleep. The first woman stepped forward, her hair pulled back into a tight bun and a gentle smile on her face.

"Good morning, miss," she said, her voice low and melodic. "I am Marta, and these are my colleagues, Maria and Isabella."

Maria, a petite woman with curly hair, gave a quick nod in greeting, while Isabella, the tallest of the three, simply smiled warmly.

"We are here to help you get ready for your husband," Marta continued, gesturing towards the wardrobe filled with a myriad of beautiful clothes. "We'll help you choose the perfect outfit and make sure that you look your best."

Lily's Voice trembled as she asked them "MMy Master? Whowho is my mmaster?" she stuttered, struggling to articulate her words.

The maids exchanged confused glances, before one of them stepped forward and spoke softly. "My dear, Alpha Ramirez is your mate and master now. He has claimed you as his own and you are rightfully his."

The words felt like a physical blow to Lily at the reminder that she was now a man's property. She crumpled to the ground, tears streaming down her face again. The maids rushed to her side, comforting her and speaking in soothing tones. "There, there, my dear," one of them said as she stroked the young woman's hair. "It's going to be alright. We are here to help you."

As the maids consoled her, Lily struggled to regain control of her emotions. She had thought that she had seen the worst of Ramirez, but the thought of being his property, his possession, filled her with a dread she had never known before.

The maids, sensing her distress, continued to speak in calming voices, telling her of their own experiences and how they had come to accept their fate. They told her of the many luxuries and privileges that came with being a wife of Ramirez, but Lily could not hear them.

All she could think of was the evil gleam in Ramirez's eyes and the fear that he would come for her again. The maids tried to reassure her, but it was to no avail. Her sobs filled the room, echoing through the halls of the grand mansion.

As she lay there, her body wracked with sobs, the maids looked at each other, particularly concerned about how frail and innocent she looked.

And with that, the maids continued to hold the young woman, whispering words of comfort until she finally succumbed to exhaustion and allowed them to help her up.

The three of them gently led her to the bathroom, easing her out of the white nightwear she had slept in. She stammered and stuttered as she tried to resist, wanting her privacy, but the maids were firm, yet gentle, assuring her that everything will be okay.

The oldest among them, a woman with a lined face and hair pulled back in a tight bun, barked out orders to the others, telling them to hurry up as Ramirez wouldn't want his time to be wasted. The other two nod, bustling about as they filled the bathtub with warm, fragrant water.

The water felt like a warm embrace to her, soothing her sore and aching muscles. One of the maids began to wash her hair, massaging her scalp and neck, while the other two tended to her body, washing and moisturizing her skin. The oldest among them, Marta, stood at the doorway, keeping an eye on the time.

After a while, she came to join them other two and stood around the tub while chatting among themselves as they worked to make her presentable for her husband, Ramirez.

Maria, the one with graying hair and wrinkled skin, spoke up first. "You know, Ramirez is a ruthless man," she said in a hushed tone. "He won't hesitate to hurt you if you cross him."

Isabella nodded in agreement. "Yes, I've heard seen how he's punished those who have defied him. It's best to be on his good side," she said.

Maria, a plump woman with a kind face, chimed in. "But you must not be too afraid. He's not all bad," she said. "If you do as he asks and show him the respect he deserves, he'll be good to you."

Marta snorted. "Respect? He demands it," she said. "But if you give it to him, he'll reward you. If you don't, well, let's just say it won't end well for you."

The younger maids nodded in agreement. "You must be careful, especially when it comes to him. He's very particular about how his wife should act and behave."

Maria smiled reassuringly at her. "Just do as he says and you'll be fine," she said. "And if you ever need help, we'll be here for you. We know what it's like to be in your shoes."

The women continued their conversation, exchanging stories and advice on how to navigate life as Ramirez's wife. Despite the fear that lingered in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Perhaps these women could be her allies in this new and frightening world she found herself in.

As they helped her out of the bath, the oldest maid handed her a towel and helped her dry off. They then led her to the wardrobe to pick out a beautiful, red gown for her to wear.

The wardrobe was made of beautiful mahogany wood, polished to a high shine. It was at least three times the size of her old closet and filled with an endless variety of clothes.

From dresses to skirts, pants, and tops, the wardrobe was a veritable treasure trove of fashion. Every piece was crafted from the finest fabrics and trimmed with the finest embellishments. She could see the meticulous attention to detail in every stitch and every hem.

But something was off, almost all the clothes had red in them. She had been too scared last night to notice any of that.

She gazed at the vast sea of crimson fabric that filled the wardrobe. It was as if the very walls were steeped in the color, a symbol of the control and power that her husband held over her. She couldn't help but feel a shiver of fear run down her spine.

But then, one of the maids caught her gaze and offered her a gentle smile. "Your husband has a fondness for the color red, madam," she explained, her voice as smooth as satin. "It's said to symbolize passion and love."

However, in her mind, she couldn't help but scoff at the idea, knowing that the man who had brought her here was anything but passionate or loving. The thought of him even associating with such emotions was farfetched and surreal.

"Time to put on makeup!" Maria chimed in, leading her to vanity at the far edge of the room while the others grabbed the cosmetics.

The three maids expertly tended to her, wiping away her tears and beginning their work. They started by washing her face and covering the dark circles that had formed underneath her eyes.

They used a soft cloth and gentle, circular motions, cleansing her skin and preparing it for makeup. Next, they began applying foundation, starting at her forehead and working their way down to her chin. They took care to blend the foundation seamlessly into her skin, creating a flawless canvas.

They then moved on to her eyes, carefully applying eyeshadow and eyeliner to accentuate her features.

They use neutral colors, knowing that Ramirez likes his women to look natural. Next, they add a soft blush to her cheeks, giving her a rosy glow. Finally, they applied a neutral lipstick, completing the look.

The maids then step back, admiring their handiwork. They nod in approval, satisfied with the transformation they had made.

They helped her get dressed, picking out a beautiful, flowing dress that complemented her curves and made her look both sophisticated and alluring.

They finished the look with delicate jewelry, making sure she sparkled in the light. The fabric was soft against her skin and it fit her perfectly, accentuating her curves in all the right placesWhen they were done, they turned to her, smiling, and told her that she was ready to meet her husband.

They gently placed delicate, shimmering jewelry on her, each piece more exquisite than the last. Diamonds twinkled from her earlobes, sparkling like stars in the night sky, while a string of pearls hung gracefully around her neck.

Despite the sadness that filled her heart, Lily was surprised at the transformation; she had switched from a tattered and beaten creature to a beautiful and radiant woman, she barely recognized the reflection staring back at her.

She wondered how long it would be before all this ended. Maria nodded her approval, declaring her ready to meet Ramirez.

Lily's mind suddenly went blank like an austere room, She wouldn't bring herself to reply to him, So she closed her eyes waiting for the Pain to overwhelm her. She expected him to chose the Hot Burning Rod to inflict Pain on her but she didn't feel any Pain. With her heartbeat skeptically beating, She opened her eyes to meet Ramirez sitting staring at her with an unfanthomable expression.

She slowly rose from her slumped position on the bed to meet Ramirez's blank stare. For a while, She thought he had regretted what he had done and was currently reminiscing on the events that had just taken place, But as always, She was wrong.

As as she got a full look at him, His blank stare turned into a wide smile that seemed off and soon morphed into a wide smirk, Her heart sank, He would always taunt her.

"I won't have a colloquy with you, I'll just taunt you, I'll scar you and I'll frighten you" He moved around the room flexing his muscles before her "I'll make you regret ever meeting me"

And just like that, He was gone.

At that moment, Lily was forced by her mind to concede that Alpha Ramirez was one of two things; He was either someone who had been really hurt in the past or he was just a bad person.

She looked down at her hands to spot budging scars, She sighed with pity for herself.

Soon, The Maids came into the room and transported her back into her room with a sense of urgency and spoed.

"What's the Problem?, Is something going on?" She asked panicking

"No, Not at all Luna" Isabella replied "The King asked that we tidied you up and keep you company"

Feeling a little warmth in her heart after the rough session she had just been through with him, Lily Smiled with a little blush appearing on her cheek.

For the umpteenth time since she had met Aolah Ramirez, She thought "Maybe he has some warmth to him after all"

"I'm Hungry, Can I get some food?" She asked with her stomach growling loudly to her embarrassment.

"Yes, My Luna, The Alpha's chefs are preparing a buffet for you, We didn't know what you'd like, So there's going to be a Variety, Shall we get ready?" Martha Asked with a warm smile.

"Sure, Let's get ready" She replied happily "Is the Alpha going to be there?"

"Sadly, The Alpha isn't going to be in your presence for today's Lunch, He is dealing with pack business right now" Isabella Answered.

A Part of her felt Sad that he wouldn't be coming while the other was content and happy with the news that he wouldn't be coming for Lunch.

After tidying up, She chose to wear a blue gown with platform heels. As she proceeded to the Lunch room with the Maids, She came across with other people, As she approached them, They cleared the road for her usage and bowed in respect. Flustered and Surprised, A light shade of pink coloured her cheeks and ears.

The Lunch room was massive and quiet with Elegant furniture and large paintings. On the Flamboyant table layed Fine delicacies and Expensive Drinks, Lily's mouth watered and she instantly sat down before the table and gobbled up the different delicacies, After she ate to her fill, She told the maids that she wanted to go outside.

The Outside Compound of the Alpha's compound was large and flamboyant, The sun was up but scarcely shinning and a cool breeze lightened the Atmosphere. She walked across the Pavement to the gardens, She received bows from strangers and she got used to the states she received.

Coming from the other side of the Castle was a man, Presumably an Alpha, Escorted by the guards, He looked Handsome and of a good physical physique. He walked with exceeding confidence and Pride but on his face was a smile. He walked towards lily with his escorts and bowed to her, Introducing himself.

"I'm Antonio, Ramirez's Cousin" He said as she rose from the bow and extended his hand forward for a hand shake.

"I'm Lily, Nice to meet you" She replied taking his handshake and smiling.

Although, The man was handsome with good physical features like Alpha Ramirez, He was totally different from him in terms of the aura they both carried around, While Ramirez harboured a Dark Aura, His cousin, Antonio exceeded a Bright Aura and Demeanour.

"I see you're the Luna, Congratulations!" He said

"Yeah, I guess so" Lily answered with lingering nervousness.

"You don't need to be scared, You have nothing to be Afraid of, Except Maybe Ramirez" Antonio mentioned "But he'll come around soon, You just wait and be patient, You see he was hurt a long time ago and the events have scared him, He needs time to come back to his self"

"Sure, Thank you for the advice" She replied as her smile retracted from her mouth.

"Do you want to see the city?" He asked with a gleaming smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

"Is that okay?" Lily asked with cautiousness

"It's fine, Nothing will happen to you, Take my hand and let's go"

Witha hesitant look at her maids and a look at Antonio, She took his hands and walked with him towards the Car waiting for them.

The Pair toured the city with great amazement from Lily and satisfaction from Antonio. After their little tour, They returned to the Palace in the wee hours of the night, While Antonio bade her goodbye and went back to his quarters, Lily made her way to her room with great difficulty.

As she went back to her room and locked the door, She heaved a sigh of relief and rested against the door.

"And just where have you been all day?" A voice came from her bed.

Scared and shaky, Lily jumped from her position and turned on the lights to meet an angry Ramirez on her bed.

"I was touring the city with your cousin, Antonio" Came the shaky reply from Lily.

He rose from the bed and took slow strides towards her, The frown on his face growing libidinous

"I don't remember giving you permission to be out and about with my cousin"

He stood face to face with Lily and looked her in the eyes with a smirk on his face.

"You belong to me, You're mine and You don't have my permission to be out and about with my cousin" He roared out in frustration, An unfamiliar look overtaking his features.

"I'll make sure it doesn't happen again" Lily replied with her voice shaky and breathless.

"I'm having second thoughts on letting you out of this room, You might try to run away" He whispered to her almost Maniacally.

Fear gripped her body as he finally touched her hands, A psychotic look came over his face as he grinned at her.

"You won't try to run away, Will you?" He asked quietly

"You won't try to run away from here, Will you?" He asked again his voice rising from the normal repulsive tone.

"I won't, I wouldn't dare to do that" Lily replied with a shaky tone.

She looked up at him and at that moment, He looked almost vulnerable to Lily, She brought up her hand to his face and stroked his cheek and gave him a small comforting smile. He didn't back away and he didn't scream at her but he had an unreadable expression on his face, Lily almost bakced away from him scared that he would strike her unaware with an insult or Smirk.

He stared at Lily with such burning hatred in his face, He looked around the car and scoffed aloud.

"You're nothing to me, and what did you smoke?, What makes you think we're equals" He aksed grudgingly.

"Ii" Lily stuttered out, Her words were suddenly stuck in her throat and they refused to come out.

"You're simply a puppet in my hands, Nothing less, Nothing more" He said smiling deviously at her. He knew the effect he had on her and he liked it.

Ignoring his declaration, She held his hand and took it up with a small smile.

"Let's go, Our subjects await us, We mustn't delay " She said as she pulled him down from the car. He wasn't satisfied with her reaction as he wanted her to show her sadness or Anger at his words. He was totally bewildered by her sudden change of reaction.

They were received by the Pack members who led them to their seats at the Uppermost part of the Platform. Lily was Amazed at the Largeness of the City Hall and the the People who were present.

Are they all werewolves?, This pack is Large

The building was large, The simplicity of the architecture brought out it's real beauty and stood tall, Proudly apart and distinct from the other Building of the street.

A Maid led us to a Sitting Area that was embedded in the building, Unlike the Actual build itself, The sitting area was of Sophisticated Architecture and beauty. The sitting Area was high above the ground level, and it overlooked the floor.

"This is Where we'll be sitting" Alpha Ramirez said to her "The pack members are here to meet you and swear their loyalty to you through Gifts, Letters and Pledges of Protection. After each swearing of protection, You have to touch their head with your palms as a sign of Acknowledgment"

Lily's eyes widened in suprise as she looked around at the Large mass of people.

"All of these people" She asked bewildered.

"Yes, Each and every one of the people here will come forward to show your respect and Pledge their loyalty" He answered.

Immediately after his brief explanation, The horns blared out informing the Pack members to take their places In a single line. Martha, Maria and Isabella quickly gathered at the side of Lily to assist her in receiving gifts from the people.

So, One by One they all came forward, While some Pledged their loyalty by offering gifts, Others offered their Pledges of Protection while others offered Letters. Then a girl stepped forward, She seemed Older than Lily but younger than Alpha Ramirez, She offered her gust to the Luna while staring straight into the Eyes of the Alpha, Ramirez. She smiled ludicrously at him and shifted her gaze to the new Luna.

"I offer my gift to you, O wise Luna, May your days be Long on Earth" She said loudly. With Lily touch on her head, She left.

Lily looked to the Alpha and his lingering smile persisted as her looked at the girl away her hips from afar. Unsuspecting and Innocent, Lily decided to disregard the quiet scenario that has just taken place.

At the end of the thousand pledges of protection that she had received from the thousand pack members of the pack, Lily was exhausted. She fell asleep on the chair in which she sat on.

After the Pack members paid homage to the Alpha and the sleeping Luna, Alpha Ramirez turned his attention to his Luna and watched her sleep for a while, Recently, He had found himself staring at her and once in a while, The idea that she was cut popped up in his head but he was always quick to dismiss it.

"She's a beauty" A voice called from the back.

"Huh"

"Your Luna, She's a beauty, A very Pure Aura revolves around her" Antonio called from the back

"Take your fucking eyes away from her, When are you going back anyways?" Ramirez asked rudely.

"Dear Cousin, I'll be here for a while, But not to worry, You won't see or hear much of me, I'll be out partying and touring the city" Antonio answered tauntingly.

"Your Luna and I toured the city together, I must say she's so pretty" He admitted pursing the topic with the Aim of angering his cousin.

Antonio took his hands to Lily's face, As he tried to push the stray hair that had wandered far away from the neatly packed hair. Immediately, Using his Alpha reflexes, He held Antonio's hands over his head as his eyes turned to a dark shade of red.

"Woah, Calm down Alpha, I was only trying to put the stray hair away" Antonio said with satisfaction, As his mission had been completed.

"I'll put the stray hair away by myself, She's my Luna anyways" He said as he put the stray hair away himself.

The Event soon came to an end

"Alpha, Shall I get the Beta, Rodrigo, to get the Luna I to the car?" Maria asked the Alpha.

"No, I'll get her into the car by myself, You may go" He replied.

He picked his Luna, She was as light as a feather and she stirred in her sleep but soon fell asleep under his comfortable gaze.

____

Lily jolted up immediately, She woke up in her room and looked around strangely before recalling the events of the night before. She remembered peering up at Alpha Ramirez as he carries her to the car. She wanted to Live in the moment and she decided to remajn mute.

She walked out of the room and met Martha arranging for breakfast to be brought to her room.

"Where's Alpha Ramirez?" She asked

"He's eating in his room, My Luna" Martha Replied.

"Them let me have my breakfast there" She said "Isabella, Lead me to the Alpha's Wing, I haven't been there since I've arrived"

"Yes Your Majesty, I'll show you the way to the King's Wing"

Lily knew there was a big possiblity that the Alpha would get annoyed at her presence and shout or hurl some harmful object at her, But she was okay with it, At least for now.

The Maid Knocked at his door and he answered from inside his room with a rasped and deep morning voice.

"Who?"

"Your Highness, Your Luna is here to see you"

After a short pause, He decided to let her in. Lily was happy at her accepted entry into the King's Wing of the Castle, She thought it would be unlikely for her to be screamed at.

"Alpha Ramirez, Good Morning, It's a fine day isn't it" She asked smiling

Without answering her, He chuckled lightly and pointed at the edge of the bed, Indicating that he was asking her to have her seat.

"Thank you" She replied.

"I see you're a Morning Person, Same as me" He said

"Yeah, Alpha Ramirez, I enjoy being active in the mornings" She continued "I didn't take it that you'd be a morning person though"

He chuckled again and Lily felt happy that the morning was going well, She hoped he wouldn't immediately change his mood and do something absurd.

The Maids soon brought in Lily's food and left the room for the Leading Pair. The silence that loomed in the Air as the Alpha and Luna both had breakfast quietly wasn't awkward or Tense, It was peaceful and serene.

"My revenge plan starts in a few days" He said abruptly, Lily heart was beating loudly in her chest, She looked up at the Alpha and she immediately predicted a foul change in the prevailing mood that was in the air.

"Your what?" She asked purposely, She had heard the question but she was to scared to push further

"You'll be the bait" He replied "The maids will dress you up and you'll draw in my enemies, Girls like you are what they like"

The look of horror was prominent on the face of Lily, She was just an omega and Alpha Ramirez was planning to put her in some dangerous revenge work scheme.

"BuBut, What if I don't want to do it?" She asked, Her doe eyes pointing upwards looking at the Alpha with pain.

Immediately, Alpha Ramirez stood up and attached his large arms to ber neck, He then lifted her up as she screamed for help, He carried her to the middle of the roomand gave her the impression that he was going to slam her into the wall. After a while of taunting her, He dropped her to the floor of the room.

"That will happen to you, If you don't obey my rules and respect my wishes, You're my Luna and You'll do as I say" He said with happiness as he watched Lily gasp for Air and sob silently "I'll pass the date to your maids, You'll be taken to a building and you'll meet some men, They'll do as they like and wish to you but you must endure the pain or die"

"YYes Alpha Ramirez" She replied quietly

"Now, Rise up and finish your breakfast, You should go back to your room and rest after all the work you've done yesterday" He said

Lily hurriedly ate a few pancakes and proceeded to leave the room when Alpha Ramirez's voice stopped her.

"You double cross me, You die. You run away and you're dead" He whispered to her

Lily hurriedly left the Alpha's Wing to go to her roomz She was glad to have gotten away from the suffocating tension that was evident in the Room she had just left.

After a while, She remembered she had left her phone in the King's Wing, She hated having to go backgi pick it up but she really needed it. She rose from her bed and moved towards the Alpha's room, On opening it she got the biggest suprise of her life.

Alpha Ramirez was having sex with another person, And it was the girl with the Lingering eyes from the Werewolf blessings se had done. On her entry into the room, She looked towards Alpha Ramirez who had a blank look on his face and at the girl who had a boisterous look on her face, She laughed after a while and turned to Alpha Ramirez to plant a kiss on his lips.

Shaking away every thought away from her mind, She walked towards the bed where her phone lay, picked it up and mad her exit out of the Alpha's room.

When she got outside, She met her Maids looking at her with pity, She looked at them with questioning eyes angmd walked away from them. The Maids walked with her to the room and sat her down..

"Luna, I've wanted to tell you this for a very long time but I couldn't bring my self to do it" Martha muttered out.

"The king has multiple sex partners, But his favorite is Madison Induvia, She's a family friend and she has been friends with the King since he was a little child" Isabella explained "We thought he'd stop with you being here but apparently not"

"It's fine, He can do whatever he wants, I don't care anyways" She lied.

"Be strong Luna" Martha said quietly

"What's Madison Induvia like?" Lily asked curiously wanting to have an insight to what the life of the Woman with the Arrogant smile was like.

"From what I've heard, She's a Model and a Fashion Designer" Maria who had been quiet all along suddenly chiped in "She's a proud bitch and he enjoys spending money that isn't hers"

"Yeah, And what makes it worse is that the Alpha keeps sleeping with her, He gives her the right to think she's important in this Castle" Isabella Said.

If all that Martha, Maria and Isabella has said was true, She and Madison Induvia wouldn't get along well. She was hurt that the King had concubines but what couks she do?, She wanted to Avoid been slammed against the wall violently, So she had to keep her mouth shut.