Chapter 2

Ryan

I hated her.

I hated the way Zaya made me feel. It was different, too intense, and I despised it.

I had not felt anything since Franciscka, my darling. The memory was too painful. Ten minutes was all it took to lose her and our child.

We were supposed to be happy.

We loved each other. We were going to be parents. Then the rogues came, kidnapped her, and in a single instant, everything was taken from me.

"Big day today, right brother?"

That voice irritated me instantly.

"What do you want, Liam?"

I was not in the mood for his antics. If there was one thing about Liam that drove me insane, it was his inability to take a hint.

He clutched his chest dramatically and gasped.

"That is no way to talk to your older brother, is it?"

He always had to remind me. Six minutes. That was all. Six minutes older, and he never let me forget it. But it did not matter, because I was the Alpha, not him.

Liam and I were complete opposites, fire and ice.

And he was insane, not in a playful way but in the most dangerous way possible.

"I heard you bought yourself a breeder to give you kids," he said with a mocking laugh.

My glare was sharp. "Shut your mouth."

He only laughed louder. "You bragged about finding your mate before me, about getting her pregnant first. But in the end, you still buried her first."

My fist moved before I thought, landing square on his face with a satisfying crack.

That was Liam's gift. He could drag out the darkest emotions without even trying.

He wiped the blood from his nose with a smirk, proud that he had made me react.

"You will not speak to your Alpha that way," I growled.

That wiped the grin from his face. He might have been next in line for the throne, but he was unworthy of it. My parents knew it. The pack knew it. Everyone knew it.

Then his fist slammed into my face, and I felt the warm blood run down my nose.

"You took everything from me," he spat, his voice full of venom. "I was meant to be Alpha. I am the true leader."

I smirked. "What you are is incompetent."

He charged again, but this time I was ready. I blocked him and drove my fist into his stomach.

"You are a fraud," he hissed, before shoving his elbow into my ribs.

My claws slid out, sharp and gleaming, just enough to let my wolf surface. His claws were already out, his forest green eyes turning pitch black, identical to mine.

I hated that we looked alike. Two opposite sides of a coin sharing the same face.

"You are despicable," Liam said through clenched teeth.

I shrugged. "And you are a crazy son of a bitch."

His claws tore across my face, blood spilling warm down my cheek.

"I will kill you," he swore, his voice shaking with rage.

I tackled him to the ground and unleashed blow after blow, blood smearing my knuckles. He got in a few hits, but he was no match for me. There was a reason I was Alpha and not him.

"Excuse me, Alpha."

I froze and turned. Nathan, my beta, stood there unimpressed. He had seen us fight too many times to count.

Straightening, I wiped my face. "What is it, Nathan?"

"Everything you asked for is ready, Alpha."

"How many times do I have to tell you? Just call me Ryan."

"I am sorry, Alpha Ryan."

I groaned. There was no changing him. "Lead the way."

Before leaving, I looked back at Liam's limp body.

"Have someone take him to the healer."

"Yes, Alpha Ryan."

The chamber had been prepared, but when I stepped inside, I frowned.

"What the hell is this, Nathan?"

He raised his brows. "Is there a problem, Alpha?"

"I said I wanted a clean, open space for mating. So why does this look like some kind of honeymoon suite?"

Nathan met my eyes. "With all due respect, Alpha, I may be your beta but I am also your friend. I will not let you make her first time a nightmare."

"I paid for her, Nathan. She means nothing to me."

The moment I said it, regret hit me hard.

Nathan's expression flickered, and I realized my words had cut deep. My father had saved him from an illegal child trafficking ring years ago, and he carried that scar every day. To him, people being treated like objects was not just a story. It was his life.

And here I was, speaking of Zaya as if she was nothing.

The guilt was crushing. She might not mean anything to me, but she was still human. She was still someone.

"I am sorry," I said quickly.

Nathan gave me a small smile, but it did not reach his eyes.

"I can change it back if that is what you want."

"No," I shook my head. "Leave it. And Nathan... I really am sorry."

"It is alright, Alpha."

But we both knew it was not.

Zaya

"The Alpha sent me to get you ready for tonight."

That was the first thing the woman said when she entered my room. No greeting, no smile, no warmth, just those words, clipped and cold. From her appearance, I guessed she was some sort of housekeeper. Her dark gray uniform was neat but plain, her hair tightly pinned into a bun. She looked like she could have been in her late fifties, but with werewolf genes, age was a tricky thing to measure. She could've easily been older.

And still, the sight of her made my stomach churn.

I had known this moment would come eventually. I wasn't stupid. I'd been dreading it since the day they brought me here, but the reality of it closing in on me was almost unbearable. My chest tightened, my hands suddenly grew clammy, and I felt like I might throw up right there on the floor.

Earlier, they'd served me a meal fit for royalty-a steaming plate of roasted lamb, mashed sweet potatoes that melted like butter, and some strange vegetable side dish I couldn't even name. It was delicious, almost suspiciously so, but instead of comfort, it filled me with unease. It felt less like hospitality and more like I was being fattened up, prepared for slaughter.

The thought alone drained all the fire from me.

I was terrified.

Now, this woman was standing in front of me, saying the Alpha had sent her to "get me ready." Ready for what? Like I didn't already know. Like we were in some prehistoric era where women were simply dressed and delivered for breeding.

I pushed myself shakily to my feet. "What does that even mean?"

If she heard me, she chose to ignore me.

"So rude," I muttered under my breath.

"Please follow me, madam," she said, her expression was stiff, her eyes avoiding mine.

"Just Zaya will do," I corrected.

"Right this way, madam." She dismissed me again, pretending I hadn't said a thing.

I bit my tongue to stop myself from snapping back and followed her down the hall until we reached the bathroom. The air was already warm and scented with lavender. A steaming bath waited for me, bubbles clinging to the surface and candles lit along the counter.

"Please take off your clothes and step in, madam," she instructed.

I hesitated, my cheeks heating. Still, I obeyed. Slipping into the hot bath, I let out an involuntary moan. The heat seeped into my aching muscles, chasing away the tension in my body. When she began washing me, I nearly melted. I had never, in my life, been washed by another person. Her hands were gentle, moving with practiced care. When she massaged shampoo into my scalp, I swore her touch felt divine-like the Moon Goddess herself had sent her hands just for this.

If I was going to be treated like property, like a prize to be cleaned and polished, then I might as well enjoy the fleeting moments of comfort.

When she finished, she dried me carefully, wrapped me in a soft robe, and led me back to the vanity. She brushed my hair, curling it into soft waves, and then applied makeup with skilled precision. When I finally looked into the mirror, I gasped.

"Is... is this me?" My voice cracked with disbelief. The girl staring back was almost unrecognizable. My skin glowed, my eyes sparkled brighter, my lips looked fuller. I looked... beautiful. Truly beautiful.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I'd never seen myself like this before. Never felt like this before. But I blinked quickly, refusing to let the tears fall. I didn't want to ruin all her hard work.

"You look like a princess," the woman said softly. It was the most human thing she'd said to me since walking into the room.

I gave a small, sad smile. "It's too bad I'm dressed to be bred instead of for an actual wedding, isn't it?"

Her silence was deafening. She went back to her work without a word, but I caught the flicker of pity in her eyes. I hated it. Pity made everything worse.

Then she presented me with what she called "attire."

I gaped at the lingerie she laid out. White lace, delicate yet far too revealing. "You want me to wear that?"

"It is the Alpha's orders."

My stomach twisted with humiliation. Couldn't the arrogant bastard at least provide me with a dress? Something dignified? Instead, he wanted me paraded in scraps of lace, like I was meant to be some kind of offering.

Pervert.

With shaking hands, I picked up the lingerie. The material felt fragile, the straps thin and biting. When I finally put it on, the lace dug into my skin, the cups pushing my breasts upward in an almost mocking display of false innocence. White, the color of purity. The irony wasn't lost on me.

I turned to the mirror again, and the reflection staring back made my breath hitch. I looked like a stranger-a sultry vixen in delicate lace. Sexy, alluring. But it wasn't me. I wasn't her.

I crossed my arms, trying to cover myself, heat burning my cheeks. My heart thumped wildly. I wanted this day to be over. I wanted to disappear.

"The Beta will be here soon to take you to the Alpha," the woman announced.

"Wait," I said quickly. She turned, surprised, and I chewed my lip nervously. "What's your name?"

For a moment, I thought she would ignore me again. But then her eyes softened just slightly. "My name is Martha."

And then she was gone.

I began pacing the room, my nerves unraveling with every step. Would it matter if I told the Alpha this was my first time? Probably not. From everything I'd heard, Alpha Ryan was cruel. Ruthless. Unforgiving.

The door opened again, and I froze mid-step.

"I am Nathan, the Beta. I'll be taking you to the Alpha now."

He was tall, handsome in a rugged, boyish way. In another life, he would've been exactly my type. Someone I could've fallen for. Someone I could've loved. But not in this one. Love wasn't part of my story anymore.

"Lead the way," I whispered, forcing the words out past the lump in my throat.

He guided me down a long corridor in silence. My bare feet padded against the cold floor, my anxiety mounting with every step. When we finally stopped in front of a large door, he glanced at me.

"Good luck," he said simply, then turned and left.

My knees wobbled. My chest heaved.

"Please, Mother, be with me," I muttered under my breath, a prayer slipping from my lips before I could stop it.

I pushed open the door.

And gasped.

The room was decorated with candles and rose petals, the bed covered in crimson silk. It looked like a honeymoon suite, romantic and soft. But the atmosphere was heavy, suffocating

"This wasn't my idea," Alpha Ryan's voice cut through the silence. "If you think this is some kind of romantic gesture, don't. We're here to fuck, not to make love."

I spun to face him, trying so hard to control my anger which was already spiking through my fear. "Considering you bought me and kept me here against my will, Alpha, I think I'm well aware of that." Every word dripped with venom.

But then my eyes betrayed me. They swept over him before I could stop them.

He was standing there in nothing but black boxer briefs, his muscles carved to perfection, his skin golden under the candlelight. His body looked like it had been sculpted by the gods. And I hated it. Hated that even now, my body reacted, my cheeks heating, my breath hitching. It wasn't fair. How could someone so cruel look so devastatingly perfect?

"Stop staring at me and strip," he barked.

I glared. "What is wrong with you-"

Before I could finish, his hand wrapped around my throat. Not enough to choke, but enough to remind me of his strength. Enough to warn me.

"I don't like repeating myself," he growled.

My hands trembled as I undressed. One piece at a time, until I was bare before him. His eyes scanned me slowly, his expression unreadable. Goosebumps prickled across my skin under the weight of his gaze.

"Get on the bed."

I scrambled to obey, lying stiffly on the silk sheets. My heart hammered so loudly I swore he could hear it.

He climbed onto the bed, his body looming over mine, his weight pressing me deep into the mattress.

"I'm not here to make love to you," he said flatly. "Don't expect me to be gentle."

My throat went dry.

He positioned himself between my thighs, his hand gripping himself as he pressed against me. No tenderness, no care. Just cold, mechanical intent.

He pushed forward but stopped abruptly. His eyes flicked up to mine. "Are you a virgin?"

Shame burned through me as I nodded quickly.

His expression shifted. Anger. Fury. His eyes darkened to black, his fangs lengthening.

"Get out," he snapped.

My chest tightened. "Wait... but-"

"I said get the fuck out!" His voice thundered, shaking the room.

Terror exploded inside me.

I shoved him back with all the strength I had and fled.

Ryan

Damn that girl for making me feel things I swore I would never feel again.

She lingered in my mind, refusing to leave me alone. No matter how much I tried, her face, her voice, her body-every piece of her-had taken root inside me, and I couldn't rip it out.

Did I sense she was a virgin? Yes. And at first, I didn't care. All I wanted was someone who could carry my child, someone whose womb I could fill and watch bear my heir. That was all this was supposed to be. A transaction. A necessity.

But when the moment came, I couldn't do it.

If I really wanted to lie to myself, I could pretend it was Nathan's words echoing in my head, clouding my judgment. But deep down, I knew that wasn't the truth. The truth was far more terrifying.

I wanted to be gentle with her.

I wanted to kiss my way down her body, taste her sweetness, hear her soft moans spill from her lips as I pushed her into pleasure she'd never known. I wanted to worship her before I ever claimed her.

I wanted to make love to her.

The second that thought hit me, I panicked. Love wasn't supposed to be part of this. Not for me. Not ever again. And so, I snapped. I told her to leave, shouted at her like some monster just to protect myself from what I was really feeling.

It took everything in me to keep my wolf at bay, to stop the animal inside me from acting out the filthy fantasies running through my mind. The last time I had felt anything like this was with my mate, Franciscka. And even entertaining these thoughts now felt like betrayal.

I had sworn, the night she died, that no one else would ever hold my heart. That even if she was gone, I would keep her alive inside me. And now look at me-breaking that vow because of some girl I barely knew.

Once upon a time, I was happy.

I had just been crowned Alpha after my father's death. I had my mate, the love of my life. Franciscka and I were young and in love, dreaming of the future we would build together. She was pregnant with our son. Everything was perfect.

Until the rogues came.

They tore her apart in front of me, ripped her from limb to limb until there was nothing left but blood and silence. And all because I was ten minutes too late. Ten minutes. That failure cost me my mate, my child, my entire world.

Tell me, how do you move on from that?

And yet here I was, lusting after a woman I had bought. A woman who should mean nothing to me.

A growl of frustration escaped me as I finished in the bathroom, disgust and shame washing over me. Relief came, but never enough. Never enough to erase her from my thoughts.

I had been touching myself ever since I left her. My body was restless, my cock hard and aching with a hunger only she could satisfy. And tonight, in that lingerie... God, she was breathtaking. That black lace clung to her curves, offering me glimpses I wanted to devour. She was temptation itself.

And she was mine.

My hand twitched toward myself again, but then a sharp knock at my door yanked me back to reality. I cursed under my breath, quickly tucking myself back into my pants before opening the door.

Nathan stood there, eyes wide, expectant. Of course. If there was one thing about him, it was that nothing ever got past him. He was like a bloodhound for gossip. No surprise he was here barely half an hour after my... disaster.

"What happened?" he asked immediately, his voice brimming with curiosity.

I raked a frustrated hand through my hair and groaned. "I couldn't do it."

Nathan blinked. "Did anything happen?" His voice carried genuine concern, though I couldn't tell if it was for me or for her.

"She's a fucking virgin."

"And...?"

The confusion on his face nearly made me laugh. For anyone else, it wouldn't have mattered. For me? It shattered everything.

"You don't understand, Nathan. I looked at her and I didn't just want to fuck her. I wanted to make love to her. Do you get that? After everything... after Franciscka... I can't."

At my words, something softened in his expression. "But is it really so terrible, Alpha? To let yourself be happy again?"

A snarl escaped me before I could stop it. "I don't want to be happy with anyone who isn't Franciscka."

Nathan immediately lowered his gaze. "Forgive me. I overstepped."

I sighed, running my hands over my face. "I'm just... overwhelmed."

He hesitated, then said carefully, "But Alpha, you know why this is necessary. You need an heir."

The reminder hit me like a stone. My jaw tightened, and I nodded once. "I know."

My brother, Liam, was reason enough. A wild card. Bitter since the day our father chose me over him to inherit the title of Alpha. Bitter because I beat him at everything. Our father had seen the truth clearly-Liam was too unstable, too reckless to rule. But that didn't mean he had accepted it.

He never did.

I saw it in his eyes the day Franciscka died with our child. The spark of hope, the twisted satisfaction. He knew I was vulnerable then, that my throne wasn't as secure without an heir. And Liam? He's always waiting, always scheming, always looking for an opening to take what isn't his.

That's why I needed a child. My child. My blood to carry on the line. And I would get that child at any cost.

"I'll fuck her, Nathan. Just not today."

Nathan flushed at my blunt words. Years later and he still wasn't used to what he called my "crass vocabulary." I liked to think of it as colorful honesty.

"I should go," he muttered, still pink in the face.

I managed a faint smile. "Thank you for checking on me."

He nodded, started to leave, then paused at the doorway. "Alpha?"

"Yeah?"

"Just... try. Try to be happy. Franciscka is gone, and I know she was everything to you. But don't condemn yourself to misery for the rest of your life."

I swallowed hard, his words heavy in my chest. He meant well, but moving on? That was easier said than done. Loving someone new would feel like erasing Franciscka, like replacing her with nothing but shadows.

Still, I forced myself to nod. "I'll try."

He studied me for a moment, then gave a small smile. "Goodnight, Alpha."

"Goodnight."

When the door closed behind him, silence wrapped around me like chains. Sleep never came. All night, my mind replayed her face, her body, the sound of her breath when she looked at me with those wide, vulnerable eyes.

Zaya had invaded me.

And I hated that part of me didn't want her to leave.

Which is why, before the sun even rose, I left the house. I couldn't see her. Not yet.

Not when my heart and my wolf were this close to betraying everything I had promised to protect.