Melissa

I walked into the house with my clothes torn and dirty from the shift the night before, but the silence I hoped for was instantly shattered by my aunt's voice.

"Where the hell are you coming from?" Aunt Leyla screamed as she looked up from the small plastic bowl she was holding.

She was trying to feed my three-year-old cousin Zara, but the toddler was pushing the spoon away and refusing to eat the tasteless mixture her mother had prepared.

I didn't answer her as I just wanted to get to my room and forget that the last twenty-four hours had happened. I tried to walk past them, but Aunt Leyla stood up and blocked my path with a scowl that twisted her face.

"Oh, so you just ignore me now?" she sneered as she shoved the spoon into the bowl. "You ran off to hide your face in shame after Kelan blatantly chose your friend over you, and now you come back here looking like a stray dog."

The mention of his name made the tears threaten to fall again, so I pushed past her and rushed into my room before she could see me break down.

I slammed the door and locked it before I stripped off the ruined red dress. I rushed into the shower and scrubbed my skin raw, wanting to wash away the feeling of Kelan's betrayal and the memory of everyone laughing at me.

I sank into the bed after I dried off, and sleep took me immediately as my body was exhausted from the worst experience of my life.

It felt like I had only closed my eyes for a minute when a loud banging on the door jolted me awake.

"Melissa, come out for dinner now!" my aunt screamed from the other side of the wood.

I groaned and threw the duvet off my legs before I picked up my phone to check the time. I saw twenty missed calls from Kelan, but I ignored them and walked out to the dining room.

Zara was crying in her high chair while holding a toy, so I picked her up and bounced her on my hip to soothe her as I walked toward the table.

"Good evening," I greeted my aunt and her husband as I took my seat.

My uncle reached out and took Zara from my arms, so I could eat, and that was when I noticed we weren't alone.

I stopped when my eyes met an aged man in his forties who was sitting at the head of the table where Uncle Zarek used to sit. He looked at me with a happiness that made my stomach turn, and he didn't look away even when I frowned.

"Meet Alpha Draven," Aunt Leyla introduced him with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "He is the Alpha of Dark Moon Valley, and he is a widower who has a son about your age."

"Good evening," I greeted him stiffly as I settled down to eat the meager portion of food on my plate.

Alpha Draven nodded at me and continued eating, but his eyes kept darting toward me every few seconds.

My aunt began to speak about the pack and how it flourished under the current leadership, but my attention wasn't there as my phone had started vibrating in my pocket again.

It was Kelan calling nonstop.

I reached into my pocket and silenced the device because I didn't want to hear his voice or his lies ever again.

"So we have come to an agreement," Aunt Leyla announced loudly to pull my attention back to the table. "Alpha Draven has bought you as his wife and property."

I froze with the spoon halfway to my mouth.

"So you will be going to his pack with him tonight," she added casually as if she were talking about the weather.

The words hit me so hard that I inhaled sharply and began to cough as the air got stuck in my throat. I choked and grabbed the glass of water to clear my airway while I looked at her in disbelief.

"What do you mean?" I asked her when I could finally speak. "What do you mean he bought me?"

"I mean exactly what I said," Aunt Leyla replied as she cut her meat. "You will have to marry Draven, and in fact, you are already married to him as he has paid us already."

I looked at the old man who was smiling at me like I was a prize he had just won at a carnival.

"How could you sell me to a man who is more than twice my age?" I questioned her as I stood up from the table. "He is old enough to be my father!"

I began to cry as this nightmare just wouldn't end.

"What would you have us do, Melissa?" Aunt Leyla slammed her fork down and glared at me. "You were supposed to become the mate of the Alpha heir Kelan, and that was our ticket out of this misery."

"I didn't choose for him to reject me," I defended myself.

"But you sabotaged it somehow because he chose that girl Cindy instead of you," she countered with venom in her tone. "Now you just want to keep incurring debts for us while we feed you, but I won't allow it."

"I won't do it," I stated as I wiped my face.

"I am not going anywhere with him!" I screamed and turned to walk out of the dining room.

I heard her chair scrape against the floor as she followed me into the hallway.

"You can't just walk away from this!" she yelled.

"I can and I will!" I screamed back as I turned to face her. "I can't marry him!"

Aunt Leyla didn't speak. She just raised her hand and gave me a resounding slap that echoed through the small house.

I held my cheek and looked at her in shock. She had never hit me before.

"You have an hour to pack your bags and meet us in the living room. You leave with him tonight," she ordered me as she pointed a shaking finger at my face. "Do not test me, Melissa."

She turned around and walked back to the dining room where the men were waiting.

I ran to my room and collapsed on the floor as I began to cry. I thought of running away, but I realized there was no way I could leave the house without them seeing me.

My uncle had thought it was economical to have just one door in the house and many passageways, so the only exit was the front door right next to the living room where they were sitting.

I had no money, no car, and nowhere to go.

I grabbed my suitcase and threw my few belongings inside with aggressive movements. I packed everything I owned in less than thirty minutes because I didn't have much left to take.

I dragged the bag out to the living room where Alpha Draven was standing by the door with my aunt.

"She is ready," Aunt Leyla announced as she took my arm and shoved me toward the old man.

"Excellent," Draven smiled as he took my bag from my hand. "My convoy is waiting outside."

I didn't say goodbye to my aunt or my uncle as I followed the stranger out to the line of black SUVs waiting in the driveway.

Draven opened the back door for me, and I slid onto the leather seat without a word.

The car engine roared to life, and we began to move away from the only home I had known for the last few years.

I looked out the window at the passing trees, and a cold rage began to settle in my chest where my heart used to be. This was all Kelan's fault. If he hadn't humiliated me and rejected me for Cindy, I would be safe right now.

"I will make you pay, Kelan," I vowed to the darkness as we sped toward my new prison. "I swear I will make you pay."

Melissa

The convoy of black SUVs screeched to a halt in front of a sprawling stone fortress that looked more like a prison than a home. I barely had time to process the sheer size of the structure before the door was yanked open. Alpha Draven reached in and gripped my arm with fingers that felt like steel bands. He pulled me out onto the paved driveway without hesitation. I stumbled slightly in my heels but regained my balance as I looked up at the group of men waiting for us.

They stood in a rigid line at the bottom of the grand staircase, wearing expensive suits that screamed wealth and power. Draven dragged me forward, and the men bowed their heads in a synchronized motion that made my stomach churn.

"Welcome home, Alpha Draven, and welcome to our new Luna," the man standing at the front announced, stepping forward with a practiced grin. "I am Beta Luther, and on behalf of the council and the elders, we are honored to meet the woman who will stand by our Alpha's side."

I looked at Beta Luther and the line of elders behind him, keeping my lips pressed together. They stared at me with eager eyes that expected a gracious smile or kind words, but I refused to give them the satisfaction. Draven tightened his grip on my elbow until the pain shot up my arm.

"Smile, Melissa, you are embarrassing me," Draven whispered harshly in my ear while he waved at his council with his free hand. "You should be happy that you are now the Luna of Dark Moon Valley, this pack is far more advanced and powerful than that little patch of dirt you dreamed of ruling with that boy."

I turned to him, feeling a surge of hatred that made me want to scream. I wanted to tell him I didn't care about his power or his advanced pack, but I held my tongue, knowing it would only make things worse. I let him guide me up the stairs while Beta Luther and the elders trailed behind us like obedient soldiers. We walked through the massive double doors into a foyer large enough to fit my Aunt's entire house inside it.

Two lines of servants stood on either side of the entrance and bowed at the waist when we stepped onto the marble floor. Draven stopped in the center of the room and released my arm to address the staff.

"This is Melissa, the new Luna of this pack," Draven announced while gesturing toward me. "You will answer to her as you do to me, and you will show her the respect she deserves as my wife. I expect every single one of you to bow to her right now."

The head servant stepped forward and bowed lower than the others.

"We welcome you, Luna Melissa, and we are at your service," she stated with her head lowered.

I nodded stiffly, unsure of what else to do in this ridiculous situation. I wanted to disappear into the floor, but Draven placed his hand on the small of my back to keep me rooted.

The footsteps on the balcony above caught my eye, and I looked up to see a young man walking past the railing without glancing down.

"Briston, get down here," Draven commanded.

The boy stopped and leaned over the railing, looking at his father and then at me with visible annoyance.

"Didn't you see us arrive, or did you just decide to ignore the fact that your father has brought his new wife home to meet the pack? You should have been outside with the elders; this is your duty."

Briston pushed off the railing and slowly descended the curved staircase, his eyes locked on mine.

"Is this it?" Briston asked, circling us slowly.

"What are you talking about?" Draven frowned.

"Is this what you call a wife, Father?" Briston mocked, stopping in front of us. "I knew you were desperate, but I didn't think you would stoop this low just to try and save yourself."

"Watch your mouth," Draven snapped, clenching his jaw.

"You're actually buying a teenager to play house with you as your Luna just to break your curse," Briston laughed, lacking any humor. "You're dragging a child into this mess because you're afraid to face the consequences of your actions, thinking money can fix everything."

Draven stepped forward and swung his hand in a wide arc, connecting with Briston's face. The sound of the slap was loud enough to make the servants flinch, and the room fell silent.

I gasped and took a step back as the violence unfolded before me. My wolf, Mia, growled bitterly at the darkness surrounding this place, knowing we were trapped in a nightmare.

Draven breathed heavily, lowering his hand to glare at his son. "Never speak to me that way again, Briston. I am still your father."

Briston touched his reddening cheek, looking at his father with pure hatred. He said nothing more as he turned and walked toward the front door, slamming it behind him.

"Come with me," Draven ordered, grabbing my wrist and dragging me toward the stairs.

I stumbled after him, pulled up the steps and down a long hallway lined with closed doors. He didn't stop until we reached the end of the corridor, where he threw open a set of double doors and shoved me inside. I caught my balance just as I turned to face him, and he locked the door behind us.

"Why did you buy me?" I asked.

Draven ignored me, pouring himself a drink from a crystal decanter.

"You are a cursed Alpha. Why did you want me specifically?" I pressed, taking a brave step toward him. "What is your motive for ruining my life when you could have had anyone else?"

Draven sipped his drink, looking at me over the rim with cold eyes. "The curse is none of your business, Melissa. You would do well to remember that you are my property now, so you will do as I say."

A fire ignited in my chest, burning hotter than my fear. I walked right up to him and looked him in the eye before spitting in his face.

"You lose if you think I will ever bow to you or accept this as my life," I said, with venom in my voice.

Draven set the glass down slowly, wiping his face with the back of his hand. I tried to back away to the side of the room, but he moved faster than I expected. He grabbed a handful of my hair, yanking my head back painfully, causing me to scream.

"You are mine," he hissed, pulling my face inches from his. "You'll learn to obey me, or I will make your life a living hell."

My body shook uncontrollably as his angry tone terrified me. "Please let me go," I begged, as tears threatened to fall.

"Take off your clothes now!" he ordered.

I slowly began to peel off the second skin I was wearing as he pressed his lips against mine, shutting my eyes to suppress the irritation.

Melissa

I woke up and the first thing I felt was the stinging soreness between my legs that reminded me of everything I had lost the night before. I lay still for a moment and stared at the high ceiling while the memories of Draven's rough hands and cold lips washed over me. I felt dirty and used in a way that no amount of scrubbing could ever fix. I tried to sit up but my body protested with a sharp ache that made me gasp and fall back against the pillows.

My phone buzzed on the bedside table and I reached for it with a trembling hand. The screen lit up with a message from Aunt Leyla.

"Are you fine Melissa? We hope you reached safely and settled in well. We love you."

I stared at the words and a hiss of pure venom escaped my lips. She had the audacity to ask if I was fine after she sold me like cattle to a monster. I threw the phone back onto the mattress and forced myself to sit up despite the pain.

The door opened and three maids walked in with their heads bowed low.

"Good morning Luna," the lead maid greeted me as she kept her eyes on the floor. "Your bath is ready and the Alpha has requested your presence at breakfast."

I didn't answer them as I dragged my body out of the bed and wrapped the silk sheet around me. They rushed forward to help me but I waved them away. I walked into the bathroom and sank into the hot water but it did nothing to soothe the burning rage inside me.

I stepped out twenty minutes later and the maids were waiting with a dress that made my breath catch in my throat. It was a floor-length gown made of deep emerald silk and the bodice was encrusted with real diamond stones that caught the light with every movement. I had never seen anything so expensive in my life let alone worn it.

They dressed me in silence and arranged my hair until I looked like a queen but I felt like a prisoner wrapped in glitter.

I walked out of the room and a guard escorted me to the dining hall where Draven and Briston were already seated. The table was laden with more food than I had seen in years but my appetite was nonexistent.

"Good morning," I greeted them quietly as I pulled out a chair.

Draven looked up from his plate and scanned me from head to toe with a possessive glint in his eyes while Briston just stabbed his fork into his eggs and ignored me completely.

"Sit," Draven ordered as he pointed to the chair on his right.

I sat down and placed a napkin on my lap. The silence at the table was suffocating. Briston glared at his food with a clenched jaw and Draven ate with a calm detachment that was even more unsettling. It was obvious that the father and son were still keeping the malice from the previous day alive.

The doors pushed open and Beta Luther walked in with a grim expression on his face. He bowed deeply to Draven before he straightened up to speak.

"Alpha we have a situation at the western border," Luther announced as he glanced at me and then back to Draven. "We caught a family of four from the Sun Rock pack trying to cross into our territory to hunt. They claim they are starving and begged for mercy."

I looked at Draven and waited for him to show some leniency. They were just a starving family trying to survive.

Draven wiped his mouth with a napkin and took a sip of his coffee before he answered.

"Did they have weapons?" Draven asked calmly.

"Just hunting knives for the game," Luther replied. "They have two children with them."

"Kill the parents and hang their bodies on the border trees as a warning," Draven commanded without blinking. "Take the children to the mines. We need small hands to clean the machinery."

I dropped my fork and it clattered loudly against the plate. I looked at him in horror.

"You can't do that," I whispered as the blood drained from my face. "They are just hungry."

Draven turned his head slowly to look at me and his eyes were void of any humanity.

"I can and I will," he stated coldly. "Mercy is for the weak Melissa and I am not weak. If I let them steal my game today then tomorrow an army will come to steal my land."

He turned back to Luther.

"Do it now."

"Yes Alpha," Luther bowed and turned to leave.

I looked at Draven and I knew then that I was truly dealing with a demon. He had no heart and no soul. He was a monster who killed parents and enslaved children without a second thought.

My phone beeped loudly in the pocket of my dress and the sound shattered the tense silence. I pulled it out to silence it but the notification on the screen made my heart stop.

"Breaking News: Alpha Heir Kelan of the Slytherin Pack officially announces his upcoming wedding to Cindy, the daughter of the pack Beta. The union is set to take place in two weeks."

A picture of Kelan and Cindy smiling and holding hands filled the screen. They looked happy and perfect.

I felt the sweat break out on my forehead and the room began to spin. Kelan was getting married to the girl who stabbed me in the back while I was sitting here eating breakfast with a murderer who had bought me.

I looked up at Draven who was calmly buttering a piece of toast. I looked at Briston who was radiating anger.

I had lost everything. My parents were gone. My freedom was gone. My virtue was stolen by a cursed Alpha. And now the boy I loved was marrying my traitorous friend.

Something snapped inside my chest. The fear that had been consuming me since yesterday suddenly turned into something cold and hard.

I looked at my evil husband and realized that he was the most powerful wolf in the region. He was cruel and he was a monster but he had power.

If I was going to survive this hell I couldn't be the victim anymore. I wiped the sweat from my brow and sat up straighter in my chair.

I was going to make Kelan pay for humiliating me. I was going to make Cindy pay for betraying me. And I was going to make Draven pay for buying me.

I needed a plan. I needed to stop crying and start plotting.

I looked at the diamonds on my dress and then at the cursed Alpha beside me.

"Is everything alright?" Draven asked as he noticed my change in demeanor.

"Everything is perfect," I lied smoothly as I picked up my fork and forced a smile onto my lips.

I had to be smart. I had to learn how to play this game. And when the time was right I would burn them all down.