I turned around and strolled to the end of the line while twirling a strand of my blonde straight hair in my finger. My lips were pursed together as I did this. But who would have anticipated that I would be able to access this location with such ease and without having to endure any kind of embarrassment? I was somehow pushed forward by a number of other girls, and even before I could even open my mouth to say anything, it was already my time. I had no idea how it happened.

I was taken aback for a little period. What led to this occurrence? I had just reached the end of the queue when you came in! I turned around to look behind me while the women in front of me pretended that they hadn't done anything wrong. After taking a step forward, I puckered my lips into a tiny line. "I'm Danika Baker, just turned eighteen. So, I've never been to this place before."

The tall guy cast me a chilly look, gave me a curt nod, and then scribbled something down before returning his attention to me. "In what city do you reside?"

Why doesn't he just ask me this?

I puckered my lips and then separated them slightly. The phrase "from the town" As soon as I mentioned this, almost all of the females let out an audible gasp. Even the towering guy furrowed his brow in concentration.

After seeing such a passionate response, I couldn't help but feel like I needed to bury myself underground and go into hiding! I didn't want to be the focus of people's harsh and condescending gazes, so I tried to avoid being in the spotlight.

But before anybody could say anything, I quickly ducked my head and hurried passed the towering guy, almost as if I were trying to get away with my life! I continued to run and run until I was out of breath, at which point I stopped and leant against the wall. At that point, I became aware that I had gone to the incorrect location. It turned out to be the men's restroom! And now a handful of the males were gazing at me as if I were some kind of crazy person!

Instantaneously, I bent my head. "Please forgive me!" And I sprang to my feet and ran out, only to immediately run into the solid chest of another person. Instantaneously, I retreated a few steps and massaged the top of my head. "Please forgive me!"

After I had apologized, I was going to leave when the other person grabbed my wrist and pulled me around without my will. I was startled. After that, I was finally able to recognize who it was.

When he looked at me, his blue eyes made a squinting motion. His brown hair was shoulder-length and draped over his face as he gently stroked his beard under his chin with his free hand. Because of how tall he was, I was able to touch his shoulders. It seemed as if he had just learned something fascinating since there was a grin on his face.

After viewing his face, my complexion became really pale. I enlarged my eyes, and then I expanded my lips as wide as possible. This was a complete surprise! Who on earth wouldn't recognize someone like this?! This guy's images were featured extensively in the werewolf magazine, which helped to establish his reputation as one of the most eligible bachelors of this year. That would be Asta!

I was so astonished that I didn't even notice someone behind him. By the time I recovered, there was a throng of men and women surrounding us already, talking among themselves like if watching a performance.

But I wasn't concentrating on them. My eyes was still focused at the hand that had held my wrist forcefully. I tried to seize my hand, but this individual was simply too powerful. And the trouble was, I couldn't even utter a word owing to great dread and uncertainty. Every time this man gazed at me, a shiver was transmitted down my spine!

Then I simply took a few long breaths and stood there, dropping my head. My hair fell over my face concealing the faces of the audience. At least, by suppressing them, I might feel a bit at rest.

But who knew that Asta simply didn't want to let me go?! He turned back without any intention of abandoning my hand and remarked to the guy behind him, who was also famous-Beta Asta's Stride, Gary. He wore gold rimmed spectacles that had slid on the middle portion of his nose. The man's thick black hair fell over his eyes and pulled up his spectacles, glaring harshly at me. That was then Asta separated his lips and muttered in a gruff voice, "Take her to my marquee."

I wanted to object, but the confidence inside me was so low that I couldn't even raise my head and dare to view this person's face. I merely bowed my head and glanced at the black boots that both of them were wearing.

Gary didn't disagree, but his eyes had a tinge of scorn when he peered at me. I pretended I didn't notice it and pushed my lips in a narrow line. I was able to continue hearing what others were saying around me, and for a little moment, I wished that I was deaf.

"Asta picked Danika? What a match made in heaven!"

"Right? Who would have guessed that the person who murdered someone would end up preferring someone else who was insane. After all, she was born and raised in the area."

"Everyone from the town has a strange personality. Take a look at how quiet she has been from the very beginning! How ridiculous! It's as if she doesn't even have a voice!"

"If she hadn't spoken to me when I walked in, I really would have assumed that she was deaf," the person said.

I was still confused as to why members of the pack would have such ideas about the werewolves that lived in the town.

Words to the effect of "werewolves residing in the town are the slaves of humans!" were among those that were spread as rumors. Some of these individuals would also harass the werewolves of the village, telling them that they were only giving them a lesson about how one should look down upon humans and not become their slaves.

But these rumors are only widely circulated within a select group of women. It was no longer the consensus among residents that the town's werewolves were insane.

"What're you guys saying? Take a good look at her face. The terror has caused her to become so weak that she is on the verge of passing out. She has a lot of nerve!" Wow, someone really came to my defense! My heart started to fill with a little bit of thankfulness.

However, I was unable to hear the response because the guy who was standing behind Asta violently grabbed both of my hands and took me outside. Throughout the whole thing, I lacked the self-assurance necessary to accurately predict where we would end up. I kept my head down and just walked quicker in order to keep up with Gary's huge strides. He shoved me into the tent and locked it from the outside.

I got inside on my hands and knees after stumbling and falling, but I had no intention of getting back up. I was not capable! I couldn't help but feel a shudder go down my spine whenever I thought about those black eyes that had peered at me with such intensity. I was shaking so badly that I curled up in a corner and my knees went weak.

Why me? What did I do?

According to the stories, Asta was a very vicious person. People who were werewolves only knew one thing about him, and that was that his mother had been a Luna, and that he had ruthlessly murdered her one night. At that time, even his father had passed away, and Luna was the sole one in charge of the Forest Pack, which is the term given to the pack of werewolves that reside in the Southern United States. Therefore, once Luna was murdered, Asta was the one who succeeded to the role of Alpha immediately. Back then, no one could even attempt to challenge him, and even if they did, Asta ensured that those who did so were punished for their actions.

Following that event, all of the groups that had attempted to bring down the teenaged Asta instantly disbanded, and the Alpha gained a reputation for being particularly harsh and brutal.

When I thought about it again, I couldn't help but get a chill down my spine.

Exactly at that moment, someone unlocked the marquee's entrance and walked inside. Who else could it possibly be except Asta? I gently raised myself to my feet and retreated a few paces. My pupils were constricted as they continued to stare at him as my pale face continued to stare at him.

When this person saw my fearful demeanor, he couldn't help but reveal a sneaking hint of merriment in his eyes. "Are you afraid?"

"I-I...I." I wanted to say anything more than just one phrase, and I was hoping it would be something along the lines of "leave me go, you insane guy!" But the fact that Asta was there made me feel so uneasy that I couldn't help but gulp whenever I opened my mouth to speak.

After letting out a light-hearted giggle, Asta stood up and raised his hand. My cheeks were gently stroked by his fingertips. His fingers were warm to the touch, yet this contact did not in any way induce a sense of serenity inside me. Instead, I started shaking much worse than before!

"I find you to be rather fascinating." He laughed once again and kept staring at me as if I were a kid who had just acquired his favorite plaything. I could see he was enjoying himself.

"Le-Let me g-go." I said the words with a voice that was shaking.

"I wouldn't have summoned you here if I'd had any intention of releasing you from this obligation," the speaker said. After that, he retreated a few paces and positioned himself a safe distance away before extending his hand. Since none of us knows the other, let's start the conversation by shaking hands.

When I saw it, I was really taken aback. When I walked inside this chamber, I got visions of being subjected to a variety of horrifying experiences, including rape and murder. But I had no idea that the somebody who had a reputation for being a nasty and brutal person would want to shake hands with me. I was completely taken aback.

My body responded in an instinctual manner as if it were obeying this person's instruction before I had the chance to think any more about it. My hand moved forward on its own own, and it found its way into his. He took a firm hold of my hand and shook it before releasing his hold gradually. This action floored me to the point that I believed I must be dreaming about it.

As soon as Asta caught sight of my look, he burst out laughing and said, "Your thoughts are practically written on your face."

After some time had passed, I was getting close to calming down. I finally felt comfortable enough in my own skin to open my lips and speak without faltering in the slightest. "Why am I in this place?"

"I'm turning 25 this year, which means that this is my very last opportunity to find someone to spend the rest of my life with." The direction in which this discussion seemed to be heading disturbed me. Why did he all of a sudden start talking about his partners? Even though I had a sneaking suspicion that this person wanted me to be his partner, I had no intention of agreeing to this arrangement at all. But I had no idea he could be that forthright. "And I want you to be my partner," the man said.

Did I have the option to refuse the offer? Nope. Everyone saw me arrive at this location. This individual has essentially established a reputation for me. When it came to my turn, I pursed my lips together and said, "Why me?"

"Because you are not like those females who engage in idle chatter or who are so materialistic that they would do anything to be selected by an Alpha. It seems that obedience and even fear of me are natural traits for you. I have come to the conclusion that you would be an excellent companion for me!"

After waiting for a few hours, I found myself standing in front of many alters with a large number of couples who were there to be married. While some of the females had given in because of their feelings for one another, others had done so out of excessive avarice. But here I was, still twiddling my fingers, anxiously casting an anxious look at Asta who was sitting next to me, and then returning my attention to the ground.

I had no intention of getting married to this man! But was it possible for me to get away from him? I couldn't help but shake my head as I took in the sight of his strong arms and towering stature. I won't have a shot at winning. It's possible that I should simply accept my lot in life and get married. It is hardly possible that this man would wind up being responsible for the death of his own wife, is it?

My thoughts were spinning out of control. And even if I wanted to get away from this person out of fear, I didn't believe he would do anything to me after witnessing the gentlemanly conduct he showed me a few hours earlier. Even if I did want to get away from him, I didn't think he would hurt me. The tales that I had heard about him, on the other hand, were impossible for me to ignore, right? I'm really at a loss on what to do at this point!

"Dani?" My eyes sprang open as I was startled by a voice that came from behind me, and my body jerked sharply to the side. Then I turned my head to look at Asta, who was lowering his head and staring at me with a trace of humor in his eyes. I smiled and nodded. My heart started beating faster, and I jerked away from him as quickly as I could.

"Wh-What?"

"What exactly are you considering? You find yourself dozing off in the midst of the ceremony."

"I did?" As I glanced about, the only thing I saw them doing was gazing at us, which left me scratching my head. I cleared my throat even more. "I don't understand why they are gazing at us." I didn't even hear anything that was being spoken. Was it really possible that I fell asleep in the midst of the ceremony?! It was such an awful mistake!

"The reason for this is because it is now our time to participate in the ceremony."

"Oh." I bowed my head in submission. Why are these people unable to just turn their heads away at a time like this? Because of the numerous eyes that were fixed on my back, I worked up an intense sweat.

At that very moment, Asta dipped his head and spoke in his characteristically hoarse tone, "Don't be frightened, I'm here."

"I'll be much more terrified if you come anywhere near me!" I physically restrained myself from yelling at him, but in my head I was screaming my lungs out. After drawing a long breath, I started walking upstairs, and Asta was right behind me.

The routine was extremely dull. Every married pair was required to stand on the platform for 10 minutes while the priest delivered a short sermon in an archaic tongue. During this whole period, Asta and I did nothing except uncomfortably stand next to one other. After that, the pastor instructed each of us to wrap a thread around the ring finger of the person next to us. Then he instructed her to remove the threads while she was sleeping on her wedding night.

Wedding night?!

I didn't want to give any thought to this topic. This Alpha Asta was someone I had never met before. How could I have been thinking of the night of our wedding so suddenly?! I just couldn't get over the notion that I had to marry such a mean-spirited man!

On the other hand, I was speechless. In essence, I did not have the authority to do it! It's not that I didn't want to turn down this proposal for marriage; it's just that I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. My self-assurance on my ability to handle such a circumstance was already low. How could I ever have the self-assurance to decline an invitation from someone as eccentric and renowned as Asta

After ten minutes, we both walked down the stairs at the same time after learning that we had both just tied the knot. I just couldn't bring myself to accept what had taken place with me. I really wanted some time to myself so that I could come to terms with the reality that I had just tied the knot with a man who was widely known to be the most vicious of them all.

I don't know what's wrong with me! How could I possibly consent to that? My legs started to become weak as I thought of Asta's towering manner, those allegations that had been spread online, and the fact that he had slain his mother many years ago. In any case, I was completely unable of uttering a single word at this particular juncture. What if I turn him down, and the other person ends up being the one to take my life instead? I'd rather keep living and focus on making this one person happy if I want to retain my tiny life. You got it correctly! I will show Asta the utmost respect and obedience in order to prevent him from losing his mind and trying to take my life.