Esmeralda

"No! Please," I cried, clinging to his leg as he dragged me into the correction room with a firm grip on my hair. I kept my gaze locked on his face, hoping he would see how remorseful I was and reverse his judgement but his eyes were solely fixed on the door of the room with a sinister look plastered on his face.

I was done, I knew it.

Hiding quickly in my spot to delay my punishment, I glanced around the familiar room with teary eyes to see Garry walking toward a shelf. The shelf contained a lot of instruments of torture, to break people that broke the rules.

People like me.

I watched Garry patiently like a hawk watching its prey as he selected some instruments that he would use in torturing me. But he suddenly stopped, moving away from the shelf with transparent glass to the whips displayed on the wall. I watched as his hands carefully selected the horsewhip.

The horsewhip!

The whip I dreaded most!

"No! Please, don't use that on me," I screamed immediately, mentally scolding myself for giving my hide-out away.

"This will do, this will restore you to your default settings and make you stop attempting to escape because you can't," he chuckled loudly, with his eyes solely fixed on the whip as he caressed it gently.

"Please, I promise to be good," I pleaded but it fell on Garry's deaf ears as all his mind was centeredcentred on beating the hell out of me.

His heavy footsteps sent me hiding beneath the huge wooden table, curling up into a ball to avoid being fetched out by him but he caught me before I could hide further, yanking my so hair hard that I could feel some strands pulling off as he flung me to the table, making my cracked lips kiss its cold, hard surface.

Tears escaped my eyes as he worked the chains into my small hands, leaving me hugging both sides of the table, helplessly.

"Count with me."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, preparing for the worst. I knew the worst was coming.

I looked away from his hardened face, resisting the temptation to look around. There was nothing new to look at except instruments of torture and tools for corporal punishment, making me close my eyes, anticipating the whip.

Crack!

The whip sounded, travelling through the air till its sharp edges came crashing on my back. I screamed in pain, shutting my eyes almost immediately as I tried to yank my hands off the chain with force to caress my bare back but I couldn't as I was trapped to the table that restrained my movement.

"One." My cracked voice sounded almost like a whisper as I struggled to prepare myself for the subsequent lashes, but he didn't let me recover from the pain of the first one before he greeted me with the second, third and fourth lashes, making me hate my life.

Surrendering to the torture and pain that travelled throughout my back, I laid still, like I have been thrown into a pool of ice-cold water, waiting for him to be done with me. I was sure my back would be in a deep shade of red by the time he was done lashing me.

"Thirteen." I sniffed, biting my trembling lips, praying silently for him to be through with me as I was on the verge of passing out.

"Your crocodile tears mean nothing to me, you ungrateful weakling. After sheltering you and giving you a life, you want to escape so that you can end up like your psychopath sister who kills people for fun?" he barked without sparing any seconds before he lashed me hard.

I could swear by the moon goddess that he was surprised when I didn't react to the whip. I was too weak to even move a muscle.

"Fifteen." My voice came as a whisper that could only be heard by paying maximum attention.

My joy knew no bounds when he leaned closer to me, unlocking the chains that held me bound and lifting me to my feet.

"Get out!" he growled, watching my every move as his eyes didn't leave my body.

"This would be the last time you try to escape, else, It will be my pleasure to welcome you into the world of pain," he said as an evil smile played on his lips, making me stagger in fear.

I couldn't feel my back for some seconds as I walked down the path leading me to my cell once again.

The cold dark cell that I tried to run away from.

Each time I tried to run away from it, I found myself back to it again.

Back to my unending nightmares.

I felt defeated.

Maybe I should give up since I couldn't help myself.

Maybe I should accept my fate since I couldn't run away from it.

Maybe I should start seeing the cell as home since I would be spending my forever there.

Maybe I deserve the punishment as I was not satisfied and I tried to escape.

I let my tears pour freely from my eyes as I watched the guard shackle me to the wall, limiting my movement, leaving me broken that the presence of the thick darkness that surrounded me didn't have any effect on me.

It reminded me of my first encounter in the punishment room when I was caught trying to escape during the Moonball ceremony.

My best friend and I had been dealt with mercilessly before being thrown into our cells. The incident made the guards shackle me to the wall.

I didn't struggle with the chains or jerk them angrily like I always did. Instead, I let the darkness engulf me, allowing myself to drown in the sea of my emotions while I sought solace in my sleep, except I couldn't find peace in my sleep either as my demons came in hundreds.

The sound of footsteps and rattling chains jolted me from my deep slumber.

My eyes greeted the almost broken bed and I realized that I had slept on the floor, with my head on my knees.

It was still early and my body aches.

Slowly observing everyone's excitement made me more confused as I wondered what was happening today.

The more I tried to think of any event, the more I couldn't figure out the reason they were up and running.

I hugged my knees closer to my chest as a guard broke into my cell. It was rare for a guard to enter my cell except my attention was needed.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest as I thought of what I did wrong. Maybe it was because I attempted to escape last night.

But I had been punished, wasn't that enough?!

"Esmeralda, your attention is needed. Make sure you collect the cleaning equipment on your way out as you will be doing a lot of cleaning today," he said, as his gaze was locked on the chains, trying to relieve me of it.

My attention was needed? Why?

"What is going on?" I asked, looking around as curiosity got the best of me, but he didn't reply. I was about to ask him again when I couldn't hold it anymore but the loud crashing sound of broken plates got my attention.

"If you end up breaking all the plates we will use to serve guests coming to the Moonball ceremony tonight, what will we use?" he yelled at a pup.

I almost jumped in excitement at the person's words.

A glimmer of hope sprang through me, fuelling me.

The Moonball ceremony was tonight!

My freedom was tonight!

Kade

I shut my eyes, slowly tapping my fingers on my thigh, clenching my chiselled jaws as I tried to contain my rage while receiving information from my Beta via mind-link.

A bastard was caught snooping around the pack borders! How unlucky he was.

Successfully Submerging my furious wolf who kept whining and growling in my head, I quickly mind-linked my beta to send him into the dungeon where I was.

Where my captives were taken care of.

I took a long drag on my tobacco, feeling the gush of adrenaline throughout my body that charged me with pleasure and vigour.

"Ahhh," I exhaled slowly, puffing out the smoke in the air with my eyes tight shut.

I relished the feeling and at once I was excited. Excited to execute, to cause a massacre, to wreak havoc.

The swinging and slamming of the door broke my euphoria, causing my eyes to open at once. A small smile broke on my lips as I smelt my Beta fast approaching. He was the only one that could barge into my space without getting torn apart by my irate wolf. I could sense his closeness and I could sense another presence with him.

The smell of sweat and blood suddenly swept across the room, making me cringe my nose in disgust. That moment, I knew it was the spy sent from my rival pack. My Beta, Silvius, had delivered him the way I wanted.

Brutally beaten.

Slowly turning to my Beta who held a man in his late thirties that looked like he was about to pass out any moment, I nodded at him signifying a job well done.

"Alpha," he bowed, before lifting his eyes to meet my gaze. "He was caught trying to—"

I raised my finger in the air, interrupting him as my eyes were fixed on the body of my blood-soaked prey. Suddenly, the excitement I felt died, replacing itself with apathy.

"Take care of him," I said, quite surprised at how dull my voice sounded as I started walking towards the door.

"But why?"

I stopped in my tracks, drawing in sharp breaths as I snapped my eyes shut before opening them slowly. I almost forgot that Silvius was the only one who could question my authority. But not all the time. He was my Beta, my right-hand man. Even if we started as enemies to friends, he had proven to be trustworthy and I trusted him with my life, the same applied to him.

"Don't tell me you just beat him up without noticing the tattoo on his body." I bellowed as my gaze didn't leave the half-dead man. I let my eyes travel from his blood-stained head that made his hair appear sticky as they concealed his face to his badly broken torso as his cloth was ripped apart and then to his twisted knees that couldn't support his legs anymore.

Silvius had done a good job. He had been brutally beaten which made it difficult to recognize him. But I recognized him, and this time, he won't slip off my fingers.

"Don't be dumb. Don't tell me that you didn't see those," I pointed at the mark and tattoo on my prey's body that hid beneath his ripped cloth and blood. "It is crystal clear that even the blind can see it."

"I am sorry, Alpha." Silvius mumbled as I watched him from the corner of my eyes as he scratched the back of his head in confusion.

The sound of my footsteps resonated throughout the room as I walked Silvius with my hands buried in my black leather jacket. I could smell their fears as Silvius' hands won't stop trembling behind his back and my prey won't stop gasping like he had seen a ghost, mumbling pleas that triggered my anger.

I like that. Fear me.

"You know what this means?" I asked, pointing at my prey's ripped arm, maintaining eye contact with Silvius.

"Yes, Alpha. He belongs to our rival pack, the Dark Moon pack. The tattoo says it all," he said, admitting his stupidity.

"This mark here..." I placed my heavy black boot on the left side of my prey's chest, balancing my weight on the leg that pressed his badly injured chest, "means the mark of secrecy." I increased the pressure on his chest, ignoring his screams.

"He will never reveal a word," I angrily crushed his chest with my boot causing him agonizing pain.

"But we can torture him, Alpha. We can make him talk, this time, he might give us some information..."

"We can do nothing!" I yelled, irritated by Silvius' optimism. "He is a trained spy for fuck's sake, he won't reveal a thing," I sighed, looking at his badly crushed chest as he gave his last breath.

"You think you can make him talk by causing him pain? He had gone through hell...Just like..." I paused and looked away as I remembered my days of hell, the days I craved death.

The Alpha of the Dark Moon pack took something from me, something of inestimable value and I will never relent till I watch him give his last breath, together with those he loved.

Make him die slowly and painfully before throwing his carcass to the vultures to feed on.

"Never stop fighting," the last words of my dying father rang in my head as my eyes met with the moon outside the window and a small smile broke on my lips.

"When is the Alpha of the Dark Moon's pack birthday?"

"Tomorrow," Silvius replied as stared at me in confusion, wondering what I was up to. No one knew what I was up to, not even Silvius, my Beta who was my childhood friend.

No, you cannot predict me.

"Great. Tell Gamma Lukas to prepare a lovely birthday gift for the Alpha. The gift should contain the bastard's head and his balls, wrapped in a beautiful foil, with the pack's tattoo on it. Tell him not to forget to wish him a happy birthday." I laughed devilishly, holding my stomach. How interesting this game was.

"That was his favourite spy."

Kade

"Remind me where we are going and what our next agenda is." I rubbed my palms in anticipation as I got out of the inner chambers of the dungeon, glancing at Silvius who tried to keep up with my pace.

"We are—" Silvius' voice trailed as he brought out an iPad, squinting his eyes a little to read the content displayed on its screen.

"Let me guess." I raised my finger, interrupting him. "We have a meeting with the Alpha of the Night Walker pack." I sighed. "That bastard."

"No, Alpha. You are supposed to be at the Moon ball ceremony of the Crescent Moon pack and it is themed Romance."

"How? The ceremony is supposed to be tomorrow, not today. Today is Friday." I stated, getting a little irritated at the mix-up.

"You are wrong, Alpha. Today is Saturday, not Friday. The meeting with the Alpha of the Night Walker pack was fixed for tomorrow and the Moon ball ceremony is today and if you don't hurry, you will be late." Silvius stated proudly, indirectly reminding me that he had gotten a mate.

I was wrong?!

No one had ever told me that I was wrong.

I have been stressed lately, hence the forgetfulness.

I am the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack and I am never wrong!

There is no way I could forget the Moon ball ceremony of the Crescent Moon pack. The Crescent Moon pack was one of the packs that formed an alliance with my pack as they didn't want to get on my bad side. My pack was at peace with the rest of the packs as long as they didn't break the rules.

The Moon ball ceremony was rotated among the packs. The Blood Moon Pack hosted last year's Moon ball ceremony, and this summer, it was the Crescent Moon's turn to host the Moon ball ceremony.

Moon ball ceremonies weren't my thing as I couldn't wait to leave even if I hadn't gotten at the pack. I wish I could ignore the invitation as I had always done, but I couldn't as my presence was mandatory.

"You don't have to look all gloomy, this Moon ball is going to be wonderful, I can feel it in my guts and you've always told me to follow the feelings in my guts."

"This time, you will find your mate, our Luna, I am certain about that."

But I wasn't interested in finding my mate.

Years before, finding my mate was something I desired, something I longed for but after years of no luck, I tossed the feeling aside. Right now, finding my mate was simply out of necessity as I must have a mate to keep the pack in order.

Mates doesn't excite me anymore after seeing how my stone-hearted Beta turned weak the moment he found his mate. I could still remember how he couldn't stop smiling, showering her with kisses, and clinging to her like a second skin.

Or was it how my brother turned to a lily when he found his mate?

Pathetic.

"Fine." I waved my hands, dismissing the topic as it started to irritate me.

"You can't just say fine, you need a suit with a touch of red since the theme is romance. You can't go dressed like that. You are attending a Moon ball not a fucking club!" Silvius complained making me roll my eyes.

"Stop acting like you are my father, I can wear whatever I want." I walked away from him, glancing at my outfit. Black denim jeans, a black denim leather jacket that was left unbuttoned, partly covering my white shirt with black boots.

Not bad.

"You will look odd compared to those that will attend the event." Silvius hit his head in frustration as he tried to convince me.

"I have always looked odd," I said, ignoring Silvius as something flapping in the fountain caught my attention. I strode towards the fountain with my gaze fixed keenly on it as it struggled to stay afloat in the water. I let my hands wander in the water before they caught something.

A bird.

Its wings got stuck in a branch, making it drown in the fountain. But I had saved it.

How compassionate.

I carefully lifted its fragile feathers, pulling out the branch that hindered its flight and placed the small bird on my large finger palm, urging it to fly, to be free. But it turned around and pecked my fingers with its sharp beak, repeatedly.

Interesting.

"Never help a person because he appears weak. When he gains strength, he will turn against you." My father's warning resonated in my ear. I couldn't grasp the meaning because I was young, but now, I finally understood.

A low growl escaped my lips as I tried to warn the bird to stop pushing its limit but it continued pecking my finger, causing it to bleed before flying towards my face to peck me.

The audacity!

I caught it before it could come in contact with my face and began to pull its neck apart, slowly.

"I can see that you have chosen death!" I whispered into its ears as if he could understand what I said.

"Alpha, it is just a dumb bird," Silvius tried to intervene but a dangerous growl from me cautioned him. He dared not intercede for the unfortunate bird.

"It is not a dumb bird, it is more clever than you think." I gritted my teeth as I stared at the trembling bird in my hand. "I saved it but it turned against me."

Angrily, I twisted Its neck before tearing them apart, dropping it on the floor and walking over it, crushing it completely as a horrid look was plastered on Silvius' face.

"I might be compassionate, but my soul is the devil's residence." I said, walking away from him and entering my car.

"I have a Moon ball to attend." I drove off, ignoring the greetings from my guards.

The ride from the Blood Moon pack to the Crescent Moon pack lasted for a few hours as I kept my distance from everyone when I got to the venue.

I strode in, observing the beautiful decorations before I was greeted with frightened faces. Mothers hid their daughters away from me, mates clung to themselves dearly, moving out of my sight, and mateless wolves ran for their dear lives, praying to the moon goddess not to be mated to me as I was rumoured to be the most ferocious Alpha and no one dared to piss me off.

Turns out the rumours were true.

I liked that. Fear me.

"Have you found her?" Silvius said excitedly as he mind-linked me which I wanted no time in blocking him. I didn't want any disturbance.

I walked towards the end of the tent, where nobody sat as I occupied a table, entertaining myself by glancing at other wolves who turned away in fright.

How I enjoyed the fearful look on their faces.

While some were scared to make eye contact with me, some looked at me curiously.

Was it because of my outfit?

At once, my sense of smell heightened and I was assaulted with the strong smell of creamy vanilla, jasmine and lavender. I hadn't smelt something as good as this before but I liked it. The seductive smell of jasmine, intertwined with the creamy smell of vanilla and a touch of lavender sent my eyes hungrily scanning the crowd.

My wolf became agitated, whining and pacing about in my head as my head began to throb.

"What is the matter, Tyson?" I asked, maintaining the expressionless look on my face.

"Our mate, I think she is here..." he grumbled as he kept pacing about in my head.

I stood up, letting my nose lead me to the source of the scent as it grew stronger and wilder, driving me nuts, driving my wolf nuts as he wouldn't keep calm.

I had practically walked out of the tent still following the scent before I caught the sight of a small girl, a lady, standing at the edge of the tent, peeping at the cheerful crowd with hope plastered on her face. She looked like a slave, clad in rags, in the shadow of herself.

She looked like she had seen better days.

"Mate! Mate! Mate!" Tyson yelled in my head as he won't keep calm.

"Mate?" I whispered as my heart thumped loudly in my chest. My gaze travelled up to the full moon who shone in her glory before it landed on the slave girl who looked like she had seen a ghost.

This can't be true. Someone should wake me up from this nightmare.