ANNELISE POV

"And... that's a wrap for the day."

I exhaled, leaning against the mop handle as I took in the gleaming floors. My back ached, my fingers were raw from scrubbing, and my eyelids felt like they were made of cement.

I was exhausted... But I still had to repeat this routine for God knows how long.

The café in the morning. The cleaning job at night. And tomorrow? The same thing all over again.

I let out a slow breath, rolling my sore shoulders. Just a little longer. Mom needed me to keep this job, her highest-paying client shouldn't know she was too sick to show up.

Rich people replace everything.

I couldn't let her down. Not when she'd already lost so much.

Food. Rent. Medicine. Everything depended on me now.

I took a deep breath and started parking the cleaning materials into the storeroom.

"Perfect job, dear." A feminine voice startled me once I came out of the storeroom, I quickly took a bow.

"Thank you, Ma." I replied respectfully, she was a middle aged lady probably my mother's age, she looked so beautiful and a bit strict.

"You work so hard, just like your mother. I admire that, for your effort? I will double your payment." She praised with a kind smile as I blushed in appreciation.

"That's so generous of you ma, Thank you." I replied with a small bow. Joy swelling in my heart.

Few minutes later, I received the alert in my phone. I was surprised, she had sent way more than I had expected, she had solved our money problems for at least three days.

I was overjoyed and relieved.

"Good girl," she said with a kind smile before glancing at her gold plated watch. "You should get going, it's getting really dark outside."

"Yes, Ma'am. See you tomorrow."

I gave her one last grateful nod before grabbing my bag and heading toward the grand front door.

Once I got outside the estates gigantic gate, I took a deep breather. It was indeed late, as late as 8pm and I was about to take a walk home.

The street was lonely, but the bright streetlights made it better. I quietly started walking, this wasn't my first time walking alone at night, but today felt different. The atmosphere was cold and strange.

The night air blew heavily adding to my anxiety but I tried my hardest to ignore the strange feelings.

Soon, I was two streets away from my house, but that feeling clung to my chest again.

"Nothing is wrong, Annelise. Nothing is wrong." I proclaimed to myself in whispers and kept walking.

Suddenly, the crackle of a dried leaf startled me, making me almost jump out of my skin, and then my phone started ringing,and for some reason or maybe I was just over thinking it, my ringtone sounded so loud.

It was my mom calling so I quickly answered.

"Anne, are you close? You're running late and the city isn't safe at night." My mom immediately said once I answered, her voice dry and weak.

"I'm very close, Mom. I will also get your drugs. Don't worry about me." I replied calmly, trying to steady my trembling voice.

"Be safe." She muttered and ended the call.

I heaved a sigh of exhaustion and kept walking, now I was in the part of the street with dead street lights, and all I depended on to see was my phone light and the moon... The moon was bright and full today.

I flashed my phone light further, catching the most terrifying sight of my life.

The inhuman gold eyes, glowing at the brightness of my phone light and staring into my soul like a predator, beneath him was a dead man with his heart ripped out and placed on his chest.

Goosebumps filled my skin in a second, I couldn't scream or move. I just stood, rooted at a spot, my eyes wide open in fright and disbelief.

When my survival instinct clicked, signaling me to run for my life, it was already too late. This gold eyed monster with a towering build was right in front of me in a split second.

"What is a little human like you doing outside and alone by this time of the night?" He uttered with a dangerous smile, his lips stained with small blood.

I was scared and jittery, I was scared for my life. He could easily kill me this instant with no one knowing.

"Ple... please, let me go. Do not kill me, please. I'm all my mother has, I beg you." I finally found my voice, but all I could do was plead for my life.

He was standing so close to me that I could smell his cologne mixed with blood, his body build was so over powering, he was huge and scary.

"Too late, Sweetness. You saw what you shouldn't have seen, I should kill you, but I can't. You're mine now." He said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

His!? Hell no!

"I swear, I didn't see anything. I would never mention this to anyone, I promise. My mom needs me, please." I pleaded, tears rolling uncontrollably down my cheeks, fear clinging onto my chest causing intense goosebumps.

"Honey, are you trying to outsmart me?" He uttered with a quiet giggle. "Play time is over, Sweetness. You're going with me."

That instant, I lost consciousness.

***

My head felt heavy and ached badly, I held my head, trying to ease the pain.

I slowly started opening my eyes, but immediately shut it back from the brightness of the light. I placed my hand on my eyes and hissed.

My throat was equally dry.

"Finally, you're awake. Little human." My eyes snapped open on the sound of the masculine voice, I turned to see where the voice came from, it was him. Yes I met him at night but I could never forget the face of a monster... A beautiful monster, I hate to admit.

Last night wasn't a bad dream? He is actually real and I'm still alive?

I took in my environment, I was indeed in his home, I was still away from my sick mother. She must be worried sick, she hasn't even taken her drugs.

"You slept for so long, you must have been exhausted." He uttered as he stood from the little couch and sat on the side of the bed, too close for my liking.

I wasn't exhausted, I was unconscious and terrified!

"Your food will be served soon, you should go have a bath and get comfortable." He instructed, staring at me with an unreadable smile.

Get comfortable with a monster!? Did he think this was some fiction novel?

"Please, let me go. My mom is sick and needs me, I promise, I can't remember what happened last night. I just need to go home." I pleaded, this time I couldn't hold back my tears, I needed my life back.

"A doctor has been sent to your mom, she will be fine. Now go have your bath, Sweetness."

A doctor has been sent to my mom? How did he know my home?

"It was so easy to get your informations, humans have no safety instincts whatsoever" He said, sounding a bit unimpressed.

ANNELISE POV 

I slowly sat up on my bed, the realization of what I saw last night kicking in, and the fact that I was next to the monster.

After what I saw last night, the strange glow in his eyes, the heart of a grown human he had ripped out? I expected to be dead by now.

No one would believe me if I even tried to tell them. Hell, I'm still in denial myself.

What is he? Is he even human?

"Sweetness, you have to have your bath, you look a mess, just with a pretty face." He said and stood from the corner of the bed he was sitting.

"What are you? Are you human or... a vam..."

"Hell no, I'm not a vampire, eww, I do not feed on blood. And, humans are too slow for me to be that." He muttered, leaving me mute in utter disbelief.

He walked to the door and rested his back on it, his arms crossed together.

"I hate questions, but I get it. You saw something unusual last night, actually same situation that got that dumb man's heart ripped out. You shouldn't have seen that, you're too young for such sight." He sighed. "Well, I am Alpha Cassius Vale. I'm of the werewolf kind." He introduced as I subconsciously raised my brows in disbelief.

"A... a werewolf?" I whispered to myself, but somehow he heard me.

"You know enough, now go have your bath, your food will be served before you're out of the bathroom and new clothes will be sent to you." His voice suddenly went dark, strict and dismissive, letting me know that the conversation was over and left the room.

I still had a lot to ask, like why he still kept me alive and why he even cared enough to send my mother a doctor, but with the dismissal in his tone, I knew better.

How do werewolves exist in the real world? All my life I believed they were just fictional characters in books, and here I was in the home of one!?

No one would ever believe me if I told them, I wouldn't even believe myself!

This monster was a perfect looking one, a healthy towering build, he looked like he was in the 6ft5's. I was literally tiny next to him.

His facial structures were so perfect, I have never seen such perfection before! Jaw line so sharp that I bet it could give me a cut. His eyes were a fiery shade of gold, but somehow so bright and beautiful. Jet black neatly styled undercut hair, and a smooth olive skin tone.

I hate myself for recognizing a monsters beauty, he probably just sees me as his next victim.

I gently stood up, my bare feet meeting the chill black and white marble floor, I slowly looked around the room, taking in the modern vintage aesthetic. The up to down windows with very clean clear glasses, the very clean white painted walls, the beautiful unique paintings on the walls, chandelier falling down the ceiling.

It was a beautiful cage.

I hissed and walked through the door I assumed to be the bathroom.

I stood under the shower, letting the water rush down my skin. I had anxiety, I was scared of what next would happen, what he planned to do with me, he definitely isn't keeping me here for no reason.

He said he wasn't going to kill me, but do I want to be alive if it meant staying under a monster's roof?

I shut off the shower and grabbed the clean pink towel I found, I wrapped the towel around my body and walked back to the room, my brain still a roller coaster of thoughts and anxiety.

My meal was already served, rich looking steaming hot food neatly kept and covered on the table, the aroma so mouthwatering that my stomach churned.

But I had to snap back and remind myself of where I was.

My eyes caught the colorful bags on the floor, they were four branded shopping bags.

"Is he baiting me?" I whispered as I approached them, my hair and skin still dripping wet.

"These look expensive, I can't even afford to pay back if I had to." I sighed and sat on the bed, my eyes drifting from the rich looking food to the branded shopping bags filled with clothes.

The clunk of the door caught my attention and on the sight of him, I jumped off the bed, covering my body with both my arms.

"Please, can I have some moments to myself... please?" I politely asked, watching my tone in order not to get on his bad side.

He stood mutely by the door, staring at me like a meal he wanted to devour, he didn't even try to hide the fact that he was lusting over my body.

He let out a small smile and nodded. "Sure... I will be back though." He said and walked out.

He was so creepy and unpredictable!

I looked at my skin to see goosebumps rising, that was how he made me feel.

Would he ever let me go?

I turned to the glass partition leading to the balcony, his home looked heavily protected, it wasn't going to be possible for me to escape this cage.

I strolled to the balcony to see how outside looked, the height of the house blew my mind, I looked up to find out that he kept me in the last floor.

There were security cameras in every corner of the house I could see, indeed there was no escape for me.

I was stuck here until he decided my fate.

I went back inside the room, dried my skin with the towel and reluctantly took a dress out of one of the bags and slipped into it, it was a white sundress. A pretty one.

I sat on the couch staring at the food kept for me, but I suddenly lost my appetite. I was worried, worried about my fate here, worried about my mom. I hadn't heard from her, and I knew that she would be worried sick.

I couldn't find my bag anywhere in the room nor could I find my phone.

I must have dropped them on the street, I have to find a way to speak to my mom.

"Why aren't you eating, Annelise?" His voice sounded, startling me out of my thoughts.

How in God's green earth does he know my name!?

ALPHA CASSIUS POV

A human mate? The moon goddess did me wrong with that, humans were too dumb for my liking... too slow, but here I was, mated to one.

She was my mate and she didn't even know that, she was mine to own and I was never letting her go.

The way she smells, her hair, her eyes... Her body? I never thought I would ever find a human attractive, she was different, so fragile that I already knew that she would require a lot of protection.

The moment I set my eyes on her last night, my body burned for her, I have never felt that before, a strange spark so strong that I struggled with composure.

She smells of vanilla mixed with rich caramel, it was her natural scent. Her body looked so intoxicating that all I could think of was how she would feel wrapped around my arms.

She had this effortless soft femininity that I have never seen in any woman I have been with.

In less than twenty four hours she had taken control of my thoughts and emotions, she had so much power over me, and she didn't even know that.

And I would never let her know such vulnerable information, I hated the way I felt. I was almost acting out of character for the first time in my existence.

"Please, can I have some moments to myself... please?" She had requested earlier when I walked into her room and saw her in that little pink towel that barely covered her skin, her delicate light caramel skin, so smooth and soft looking that I desperately needed to feel it, devour her and have a taste of her.

My claws itched to sprout out and rip that silly towel off.

I almost said no to her request, but she sounded so careful like she was too scared of me.

I love having that effect on people, I love seeing people terrified of me, but I didn't want that from her.

I had granted her request, and left her to her privacy.

An hour later, I came back to find her sitting on the little couch, she was already dressed in a simple white sundress, her dark curls looking radiant as ever... But, her food was untouched.

"Why aren't you eating, Annelise?" She startled at the sound of my voice.

Damn! She was really scared of my existence.

I walked to her bed and sat down.

There was a long silence between us, not awkward for me, but I could see the tension in her eyes. She was anxious and avoiding my gaze as she nervously fuddled with her hands.

"Can I speak to my mom, please? I can't find my phone." She requested, not looking at me in the eyes.

"Then you have to eat first, I have your phone and bag. Everything is safe, now eat, Annelise." I urged as she nodded and opened the food.

She stared at the food hesitantly, I could tell that she loved what she saw, but was hesitant because it came from me.

Humans are so easy to predict.

I watched her slowly chew the food, all I could think of was how much I wanted her, how much alluring she looked in that sundress.

My wolf yearned to have her, we were losing control of ourselves for the first time.

I couldn't wait to mark her, to claim her, to make it known that she was my possession and there was no going back.

She was part of my world now, my forbidden mate.

My pack wouldn't like her, but no one's opinion ever mattered anyways... Not even hers in this case.

She adjusted herself on the couch after eating and chunked a full glass of water.

"Good girl, now tell me everything you want?" I said, impressed with how good she ate.

"Can I speak to my mom first... Please?" She requested, and I smiled with a nod.

"Maybe a video call would be better?" I asked as her eyes lightened up that instant, and she quickly nodded.

I had already asked the doctor to be alert for the video call, so he answered on the first ring, and I handed my phone over to Anne.

I watched how her face went from pale to excitement once she saw her mom on the screen.

"Mom! I miss you! How are you doing?" She asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Honey, I'm doing okay. The doctor is great at his job, I'm finally seeing some improvement in my health."

"I'm so happy to hear that..." She replied with a small smile, her eyes drifted to me for a second and she turned back to the phone. "I'm so sorry about..."

"Why didn't you tell me you have a boyfriend? You didn't have to lie about being on your way home, you're 23 Anne, you're grown Anne. He seems like a good man." Her mom said as I smiled to myself, adjusting comfortably on the bed.

It was so easy, I didn't expect her to believe me that quickly.

"My boyfriend?" Anne asked, I couldn't tell if she was annoyed or confused. The look she gave me was one of 'Are you kidding right now?'

I shrugged my shoulders and looked away with a smirk burning my left cheek.

"He said he will be taking you on a vacation soon, which means I only get to see you on FaceTime for now. But he got me a caregiver, so I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me, just have a good time, you deserve it." Her mom uttered softly, I could see the sudden change of emotion in Anne's eyes, her eyes were glossing with tears.

"Alright mom, take care of yourself. I will speak to you soon." She whispered shakily and ended the call.

She handed the phone to me and stood up, I followed her.

"What's wrong, Sweetness. Your mom is doing okay as you can see, why are you crying?" I asked, trying my hardest to hide the concern in my voice.

"You didn't fucking have to lie to her, doing all that to make her comfortable doesn't change the fact that this is forced proximity. This is literally kidnap and you're asking me why I'm crying!?" She yelled, emotions gushing out her voice.

No one has ever spoken to me in such disrespectful manner.

A human raising her voice at me was a day I never saw coming, but somehow I wasn't pissed off, I was impressed... Maybe she wasn't as weak as I thought.

"I'd advise you to watch your tone when speaking to me, Sweetness. I do not condone disrespect." I warned as she went quiet and walked to the balcony.

She walked away from me?

I was strangely aroused by her guts... I followed her.