Kiara

Something wasn't right. I knew it long before I opened my eyes. Something bad, something I didn't want to remember, had happened and it was waiting for me on the other side of wakefulness. And though my subconscious tried to protect me from the pain that waited for me on the other side, my body was already resuming its normal functions without any prompting from me.

My eyes sprang open. I immediately squinted at the bright lights overhead. I sat up quickly, too quickly. The room spun for a moment, then steadied. I groaned as my fingers touched a raised bump at the back of my head. The bump immediately brought everything into clear, sharp focus.

I remembered trying to run away from the huge men. I remembered Lucinda screaming for me to be caught while my father looked on. I remembered being grabbed and knocked out cold. I whimpered in fright. That meant I was in Alpha Ryder's pack now.

I took in my surroundings. I was in a small room, sitting on a single sofa. The only window here had bars. Was I some sort of prisoner then? Was Alpha Ryder already angry with me for trying to run away? Lucinda's words echoed in my head.

  "Alpha Ryder is a ruthless man... There are rumors, terrible rumors of what he does to people who make him angry."

  I put my hands in front of my face and saw that they had begun to shake. But there was no one in the room with me. Perhaps I could still escape. My gaze darted to the door and just before I could make a move towards it, it opened.

 The biggest man I had ever met walked in. Apart from his build, his face was breathtaking. Nearly overlong lashes framed his vivid green eyes, while a tousled thatch of glossy, black hair framed his handsome face. We stared at each other for a long moment.

  "Finally. You're awake," he said in a deep rumbling voice only a man of that build would have.

  Seeing him sucked my breath away. I was transported back to the night of the mating ceremony. I felt an inexplicable pull towards him as though my life had been leading to all this moment. My wolf stirred within me, claiming him as her mate. I gasped at the realization that this man, whoever he was, was my second chance mate.

   "I was beginning to think that my people hit you a little too hard," he continued. "You may have guessed who I am, or maybe not," he amended as he took in my still-wondering expression. "I am Alpha Ryder." I gasped again. I didn't think I was capable of normal speech just yet. Ryder? This was Alpha Ryder? I had heard of him. Everyone in my pack had heard of him. Everyone said he was a savage, cruel man. How could a man everyone thought of as a beast be so devastatingly handsome? And why was he acting as though he couldn't sense our mate bond? I was curling my hands into fists to keep from launching myself into his arms.

 So far I was succeeding, but my wolf was by far harder to control.

   "Alpha," I said breathlessly. Then I paused as I tried to marshal my thoughts into words. He merely raised a brow, watching me struggle. Apart from the fact that he was completely disregarding our mate bond, he was also more than a little intimidating.

   "Alpha, don't you... feel it? The- the bond? The mate bond?"

 He was quiet for a long moment and I thought he wouldn't answer.

  "I suppose I need to make some things very clear," he said. "Firstly, you are not here to relax, to be at ease." He looked meaningfully at the sofa I was still sitting on. "Secondly, you will be working in my pack as a slave to pay back the money your father owes me. Yes, a slave," he acted, reacting to my startled look.

   He kept looking me over, like I was a particularly good species of cow he wanted to trade. "As for the bond you mentioned, it is quite laughable that you would think for a moment that I would claim you as my mate. Kiara, you aren't even worthy to be a member of my pack in the first place. Did you get that?"

   I simply stared at him, as my brain desperately tried to play catch-up with my ears.  

   "I said, did you get that?" he repeated a note of menace in his voice. He took half a step towards me. His eyes flashed and burned. It was at that moment that I knew why people referred to him as a dangerous man. Fear pooled in my stomach. I nodded twice jerkily.

   "Yes, Alpha," I squeaked.

 A muscle in his jaw jumped as he stared down at me.

  "You will find that I expect prompt answers whenever I ask you a question. And like I said, completely erase the notion of a union between us because that will never happen."

 He was almost at the door before he turned once more. "I hope for your sake that you are physically strong enough to work. I have no patience for weaklings." The door clicked shut behind him and the tears I had been desperately holding back spilled over.

   I buried my face in my hands as I wept uncontrollably. What was wrong with me? I had been rejected by my first mate and turned into a slave by the other. What had I done in my past life for the moon goddess to punish me so cruelly? I nearly fell off the bed when I heard the door open again, thinking Alpha Ryder had returned. I quickly wiped my teary eyes and looked up.

  Another devastatingly handsome man had walked in. He was staring right at me. For the third time, I felt that this stranger was a missing part of me, the part that kept me whole.

 'Mate,' my wolf screamed.

Kiara

What could be happening, what is going on within me? Here stood a man, a stranger who wasn't Alpha Ryder, and I felt the very same attraction to him.

 "I'm sorry if I startled you," he said, looking at me straight into my eyes. Does he feel it too? The same way I felt. Does he feel the same flame of neediness I feel just by looking at him?

 "Oh, no you didn't. I thought it was Alpha Ryder since he just left," I answered him. Trying as much as possible to sound composed. I couldn't lose my cool the same way I did with Alpha Ryder. I couldn't tell him how I felt or ask if he felt the mate bond too.

What if he rejected me, the same way Apha Ryder just did?

"I can't handle any more of being rejected. I have to keep it pushing like I feel a soul nothing for this man standing right in front of me," I muttered to myself.

 "You alright?" I heard him speak again. I was completely lost in thoughts I forgot I had him standing in here with me, enclosed in the same space.

"Yes, I am. Maybe, I'm trying to get used to being in a different setting my apologies sir," I responded immediately. I didn't want him to warn me about making him repeat himself.

  "Please don't call me that," he let out a soft chuckle. "My name is Brandon. Call me Brandon," he continued.

"I'm here on Alpha Ryder's command to help you settle in, show you around, and take you to the head of the chores department in the park. I hope you are ready for today's journey," he said to me.

 Was I fully ready to become a slave? No. But was I willing to spend my day with this fine-looking man staring down at me? Definitely. I could use the distraction.

 "As long as I am glued to you all day, yes I am ready," I said to him.

 I could see his eyes turn dark after I made that statement. His chest rose and fell at a quick pace, he looked at me like he could take me right here in this little room. I am sure he feels it too, he feels the mate bond.  

  After a moment of silence, he closed his eyes, like he was trying to blink away his emotions if he was trying to be under full control. When he flicked his eyes open, the desire was gone, hidden beneath his pupils.

   "Let us get going then, Kiara," he said to me. I nodded in response and tried to flatten my dress with my palms. Walking towards the door, closer to where he stood, before I could reach out for the door, he had already helped open the door.

 "Thank you, sir-Brandon," I said to him. He flashed his pearly white teeth and bowed his head in a gentlemanly gesture.

  He showed me around the park, explaining each route to me. He showed me the gardens, the playgrounds for little pups, and he explained to me how I could get to the river in case I would want to soak in the moonlight. He was kind and gentle with his words. I listened to him speak, without uttering a single word or giving little answers. I love to hear him speak. His voice was soothing to my ears, calm to my nerves, and dangerous to my wolf.

 We arrived at the lady who rules the park's administration as it was time to know my designated chore for the month. After all, I'm nothing but a slave in this park.

 "She has the eyes of the forest angels, why is she here to work," the last turned to Brandon, expecting an answer from him. But he didn't speak.

 "I am here to pay off my father's debt to Apha Ryder," I answered without meeting her eyes.

As much as those words were hurting, as bitter as it was while rolling off my tongue, it was my reality.

 "Hmm, I see," she answered.

"For starters, my name is Madame Agatha, I know Brandon would have filled you in on why you are standing in this office, and what post I hold in this pack," she continued speaking.

"Yes Madame, he did," I answered.

"That is great. We need more hands in the garden, and since you come across to me as if you belong right with the flowers, I would assign you there for this month. You would be moved constantly to other parts of the park each month, be diligent with your work," she said to me.

 "I am glad I got the garden, it doesn't sound so bad," I said to Brandon as we made our way out of Madame Agatha's office, and back to the home of Alpha Ryder.

   "I wouldn't be happy if I were you," Brandon responded. Moved my shock and felt a deep pit form in my stomach, I asked,

"Why is that?"

He replied, "Well, everyone knows the garden is as precious as the head of the ruler of the opposition park to Ryder. He wants the garden as beautiful as always, regardless of the season." He paused and then continued,

 "His mother started up the beauty of the garden bit by bit, with her own hands. And when she was killed with an arrow that passed through her heart, the last words she said to Ryder were to keep her flowers blooming. And ever since then, it has been so."

  This shocking realization made its way to my heart. Rather than having the fear of Alpha Ryder define me, I would put my work into this garden, and make sure I keep the flowers blooming for the past Luna. It was a form of admiration for her and I was ready to do that for my queen, Ryder's mother.   

Kiara

It is my third day now in this new place. I am unsure if I am to call it home just yet. I haven't seen or heard from Ryder ever since the day he walked into my room, rejected me, and placed his command.

 But Brandon on the other hand, has been with me from the very first day he showed me around. This feels like a confirmation that he feels the same way for me, that he feels the click.

 I resumed my duties in the garden at 9am right after having my breakfast. Everyone had their basket filled with tools for work from shears to watering cans. The ladies often kept to themselves, but the one heading the girls working in the garden was a bully. She was always wanting to get on my nerves.

B"After you are done with those roses, I need you to move to plot 4 where the lilies are, and hand-pick the weeds," I heard her loud voice cry from a distance. Every other person knew she was addressing me because she used the awful nickname she called me, "Little leech".

I do all within my capacity, as I do not want to fall into trouble or face Ryder ever again, not anytime soon at least. I was curious about him, who Alpha Ryder was, but no one spoke about him, there was fear plastered across the faces of everyone at the mention of his name or his arrival.

 "No one speaks about him. It is said that his name is only to be mentioned by those who are found worthy," Evie said to me.

  Evie was the least annoying among the other ladies. She has a tone as soft as cotton candy and a smile as warm as night.

 "I was the last added to the park's slave before you came in, been here for six months, and trust me when I say that I have only heard other ladies speak about him twice," she added.

"I can't speak of us being worthy to mention the Alpha's name as much as we want to, we are his slaves after all," she continued.

    All I did was nod and hmmed in response because little did I know that there was a stipulated rule on us mentioning the Alpha's name. I made a mental note to be careful as I wouldn't want to get into trouble with anyone.  I am okay with being on a low tone.

   After the day's work in the garden, my palms were sore, and my wrists aching. I waited up to see if Brandon would stop by tonight, but he didn't.

   "Maybe he is occupied with work or he has grown bored with me," I said to myself.

 The thought of being close to him sends heat to my core and I can feel the sensation of its effect between my legs. Shaking the idea of it off my head, I decided to take a walk right out of my cottage.

   The Moon was calm and the stars announced its presence making the night shine. The wind welcomed me into its arms, as I stepped my feet on the grass. With each step I took, my mind went back home. I wondered if I had truly been forgotten by them if I didn't matter to them anymore, and if I was just a slave in their sight as well.

  Looking straight ahead, I saw a bench sitting at the edge, I walked right to sit and sat down, collapsing myself into its shoulders. I loosened my hair from its tight bun and allowed the wind to blow through it. I sat there in silence, staring into the darkness of the night. Suddenly I heard a crunching sound, and I heard footsteps which were followed by a shadow, a broad shadow. I decided to follow this shadow to where it was headed,

  "Maybe something a little adventurous won't be bad after all," I whispered to myself as I got up from the cold wooden bench. I followed this shadow, as it led me on. And then I lost track of where it went. Now I am lost in the woods. I noticed the landmarks and discovered that this was the same route Brandon showed me, the same path that led to the river. So I went on with the journey of my own, heading to the river.

   Approaching the river I saw a man getting undressed prepared to go into the river. I followed his every movement, how his arms flexed while he took off his shirt, how broad his shoulders were, and how perky his ass looked after he took off his pants. He was standing there, tall in his glory, and beautiful with nothing on. I saw him walk right into the waters and sink into its wealth. I decided to come out of the woods as well, I wanted to be close to him, my wolf couldn't keep calm either. I chose to walk into the river with my clothes on, the coldness of the night embraced me, causing the waters of the river to cling to my dress onto my curves. I watched him watch me as I walked into the river, I watched his eyes clouded with desire, I knew he wanted me as much as I did, and so he swam towards me.

His eyes were fixated on mine not wanting to tear away his gaze of desire. His hands rested at the small of my back, drawing me closer to him, and without uttering a word, his lips collided with mine. His hands were hungry and so was his entire being. I could feel the heat he wanted to release, I needed it, I craved for it all. So I kissed him back, hungrily and needily. I wanted him to know I was in if he was, I felt his tongue slip into my mouth and I was greeted with the taste of alcohol.

 He pushed me closer to him so I could feel how needy he was for me, I could feel him pressing into my thigh, I could feel him sniffing me, and his lips buried into my neck, suckling on my skin. I moaned in response and I felt in sense of pride. We heard a snap and pulled away from each other. He turned his back towards me wanting to see what could have made that noise.

 "Whoever it is, come out now. I command it," he yelled. I recognized that voice, I know that voice.

"No, it could not be him, it just can't," I muttered to myself as I swam backward, returning to the woods that led me into the arms of the man who didn't want to be seen with me.