Aria's POV:

I lived my entire life under a father who made every day a battle. He drank, he gambled, and somehow, I bore the weight of it all. I scrubbed his debts clean, nursed him through hangovers, cleaned up the messes he left behind.

'And now... now I was here, on my knees in a slave camp, being told I would become the breeder of an Alpha the entire realm whispered about with fear and disgust.'

The thought made bile rise in my throat and I fell forward, sobbing, and shaking violently as I pressed my forehead to the ground. "I... I don't want this! I... I don't want to end up being a breeder!" I cried, my voice trembling. "Please... please, don't let this happen to me!"

I reached out instinctively, my hands moving toward the neatly dressed man who had orchestrated this nightmare, trying to plead with him, to touch him and make him see my desperation.

The sharp crack of his boot against my chest cut me off and bain exploded through my ribs, but it wasn't enough to silence my screams.

So he leaned in and said. "You can choose between going to Alpha Draven and becoming his breeder, or getting sold to a harem or a brothel, where the physical abuse will be far worse."

I froze, my mind spinning. "No... Please!" I whispered, tears streaming freely because the idea of being subjected to the horrors of a brothel or the dominance of an Alpha with a cursed lineage was something I will fight against even if it kills me.

The man didn't respond immediately, he merely gestured for the five of us to rise, stating we were to be led to the stream. But I refused, collapsing to the ground again, shaking violently, refusing to move.

"Take me back home, please. Just let me go!" I wailed, chest aching with sobs.

His dark eyes locked onto mine, and he asked quietly but firmly. "What home? Your family has sold you, just as others were sold, so what home do you wish to return to when you are unwanted there?"

I swallowed hard, biting back my fear, forcing myself to think beyond the word "home." It's not about going back to him... it's about not wanting to end up as a slave.

My tears continued to fall as my body jerked with each desperate sob. "I don't care about home! I just... I cannot accept this!" I shouted, voice cracking, chest heaving with grief and rage.

The man's patience remained, though his lips twitched ever so slightly while the guard from earlier grew impatient and angry at my continued defiance, so stepped forward and began stomping on me violently.

Each blow made me scream, but I didn't release my hold on him. "Enough!" The neatly dressed man's voice rang out, stopping the guard before he could crush me completely.

"Do you understand, fool? These girls are to be the best and the most beautiful for Alpha Draven. You will stop before you ruin her face."

I gasped, bruised and trembling, as he crouched down in front of me. His eyes held an intensity I couldn't comprehend, and he said softly, almost unnervingly calm. "I stopped him from hurting you because you are important. But listen carefully... if you throw another tantrum, I will not even let you live. I would rather you died than risk losing my sanity."

My sobs caught in my throat as his words sank in and he added.  "When you arrive at Hellbound Pack, you have the right to throw as many tantrums as you want. But I advise you to behave reasonably, because Alpha Draven is not as merciful as I am."

He rose and called for another guard, instructing him to lead us to the stream before the first guard lost control again. Before leaving, he gave me a final kick, hard enough to drive the pain through my chest, then stepped out, leaving me panting, sore, and trembling.

The new guard crouched slightly, his tone softer but still firm. "Stand up." He commanded and I forced myself to my feet.

The other girls, grim and silent, followed his instructions, and together we were led to the stream then someone approached with bundles of clothing, handing each girl neat, clean garments. Reluctantly, I laid the clothes at the edge of the stream, discarding my own tattered garments before stepping into the river.

The water was icy, shockingly so, but it washed over me, cleansing dirt and sweat when I noticed the other girls staring at me, their eyes narrow and sharp. It looked like they hated me for almost ruining their chance at being the Alpha's breeder, because they preferred it over a brothel.

Their glares were stern, but I ignored them, refusing to feed into their satisfaction as I bathed quickly, washing the dirt, grime, and sweat from the journey.

When I finally stepped out, I dressed in the neat clothes provided. Only for a sudden rush of movement to catch my attention as someone ran in, whispering urgently to the guard, informing him that the carriage from Hellbound Pack had arrived.

He nodded and immediately instructed us to follow him. We walked in single file until we reached the carriage where the guard instructed us to stand aside as he conferred with two men mounted on horses.

Coins changed hands, and promises were made that he would follow to ensure none of us escaped. Then the mounted guards fell into place, flanking the carriage, and we were instructed to step in.

The carriage rolled forward, bumping along the forest for hours, then we took a left turn, and continued the journey on the road until we arrived at the imposing gates of Hellbound's Packhouse.

One of the men held the door for us, and we stepped out, guided to a garden where we were to wait.

My heart raced as I surveyed the surroundings, and less than ten minutes passed before two men appeared.  One walked ahead, and the moment he did, I knew from the way he moved, and from the coldness in his eyes, that he was Draven Darkmoon be it matched every story.

Draven stopped a few feet away from us, eyes scanning each girl with a mix of disgust and scrutiny. Then he walked back and forth slowly, studying us like a predator sizing up prey.

When he came closer, my wolf stirred restlessly inside me, and my chest tightened, then my body went rigid, as my wolf whimpered.

'MATE. MATE. MATE!'

My eyes widened in disbelief because the cursed Alpha Draven, who I was supposed to dread, to hate, and to fear ended up being someone I felt an undeniable pull of the mate bond for. As his eyes narrowed on me, my wolf howled silently, and I staggered slightly, still struggling to accept that the Alpha who purchased me was my mate. 

Draven's  POV:

'Why did the Moon Goddess do this to me?' I thought, staring deeply at the strange slave standing wide-eyed before me.

'Why would she dare pair me with another she-wolf when I had sworn that after losing Helen, the only woman I had ever loved, that I would never allow another mate into my life?'

My hands curled into fists, nails digging into my palms as anger coursed through my veins because the Moon Goddess did as she pleased, always had, always would, and no mortal law or instinct could ever prevent her from meddling.

In anger, I released my Alpha's command causing the girls to stagger back and fall to the ground while I made my way to the pretty one who happened to be my second-chance mate. But even as I crouched before her and grasped her jaw tightly, tilting her face to meet mine, I felt the primal insistence that gnawed at the edges of my control with my wolf sensing her in ways my mind could not yet understand.

I was just about to reject her, just about to force her away, when Ragnar's scent filled the air and I looked to see my Beta had  strode in and was standing behind the line of girls.

"We need to talk." He said, and I released her jaw reluctantly, my claws flexing at the faint pull of irritation.

Then I followed Ragnar out, tension coiling in my shoulders as we went behind

"Draven, what the hell are you doing going behind my back to buy breeders?" Ragnar began, hands on his hips. "You know the Elders are strongly against this!"

"I don't care what the Elders want." I admitted. "I am going through with it."

Ragnar's jaw tightened, and he stepped closer. "You've already angered them enough. If you go through with this, it could force the Elders to bring you before the Council of Kings. They'll dredge up every unnecessary instance of your disrespect just to make your life miserable, or worse, they'll attempt to impeach you. You need to get rid of these breeders and find a wife before you bring the pack to ruin."

I exhaled slowly, the corners of my mouth curling into a shadow of a sneer. "I will never replace Helen." I said, voice low and unwavering. "I will have a breeder bear an heir for me, nothing more."

Ragnar's eyes flared with exasperation. "Helen has been dead for five years! It's time to move on, Draven. You need to make the right decision before this obsession destroys you."

I whirled to him. "Do not ever speak such words to me again."

But he didn't relent. "I hate how out of touch with reality you've become these past years. You've refused to move on, refusing to accept that Helen is gone. And now, you're dragging the pack and yourself into a mess because of it."

I felt the familiar burn of my wolf inside me, coiling like steel in my chest, reminding me of every wrong I had endured, every moment of loss, every betrayal. Still, I had to find a solution.

My plan to have a breeder would fail if the Elders discovered it. They had made it explicitly clear that the future Alpha of Hellbound Pack cannot be born from a sex slave. A Luna or an officially sanctioned concubine must bear the heir.

I considered the girls I had acquired could be concubines, or perhaps one could be chosen as a Luna. But Helen would have hated the idea of sharing her Alpha. Never. The thought twisted something tight in my chest, but Ragnar's voice broke through.

"You'll have to compromise because there's no other way." He said, firmly. "You cannot ignore the Elders' rules, no matter how much you think you can bend the world."

Suddenly, an idea sparked, in my head and I tapped Ragnar's shoulder, my eyes alight with sudden resolve. "Hold on. I've just had an idea." Without waiting for him to question, I stormed back inside.

Ragnar followed silently, standing at a corner as I approached the man who had delivered the girls.

"Show them to their rooms." I commanded, pointing at the strange girl. "But leave this one behind." My gaze fell on her because still kneeling, and trembling then I crouched before her, grasping her jaw once more, ensuring her gaze met mine.

"What is your name?" I asked, my tone deceptively soft. "Aria." She whispered, voice shaky but clear.

Exhaling, I asked. "Aria, how would you like to be my wife for a year?"

In my mind, it was clear that since the Elders would not permit a breeder, I would make her my Luna, have her bear my heir, then dispose of her afterward. But then, the unexpected happened. She jerked back, eyes wide, cheeks flushed, and spat a single word

"No!"

My wolf surged, a mixture of confusion, irritation, and curiosity rising within me. She had the audacity to defy me, the Alpha of Hellbound Pack, in my own territory? My mind raced, calculating, assessing, and yet... the tremor of shock refused to leave me.

"Aria..." I began. "Do you understand what it is you are refusing?" A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, as my instinct screamed at me to crush her, and bend her will but another part, a rare, unfamiliar part, stirred in response to her resistance.

"Interesting." I muttered, almost to myself. "You may have just complicated my life, Aria."

Aria's POV:

'What was I thinking?' The question echoed in my head so loudly it felt like it might split my skull open.

What kind of madness had possessed me to reject the offer of a man who could have killed me without blinking? A man who could have forced me to do his bidding with a single command, or a single flex of Alpha command, and no one would have questioned it.

Yet I, a slave girl who had been dragged here in chains, looked him in the eyes and said no.

My heart pounded painfully against my ribs as reality crashed down on me in waves. What kind of audacity did I think I had? What kind of courage, or stupidity had made me defy Alpha Draven Darkmoon in his own home?

Still... none of it made sense.

One moment, he wanted breeders whose sole purpose was to bear his children and be discarded. The next moment, he wanted a wife for an entire year.

'Something must've changed.' I said to myself, mind drifting back to the man who had interrupted him earlier.

What did he say to Draven outside those doors? What kind of argument could make a man like him change his plans so suddenly? And why me of all people?

The sound of his voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. "Do you want time to think about it?" Draven asked calmly. "You may give me your answer later if you wish."

I looked up at him slowly, my heart still hammering as his eyes met mine and I stiffened because they were cold in a way that made my skin prickle with unease.

There was no warmth there and it made me feel unsafe, because I had no idea whether this was a test or a trap. An Alpha giving a slave the illusion of choice was strange. Or maybe... maybe he truly was different from the rumors.

But I highly doubted that.

The silence stretched for a while longer, until my mouth betrayed me and I blurted out the first question clawing at my mind.

"Why?" I asked hoarsely. "Why do you want me to be your wife for an entire year?"

"My pack has a tradition that every Alpha must produce an heir before the age of thirty-five." He said evenly. "And failure to do so means losing the Alpha title to the next bloodline, but I happen to be  the last of mine. So if I don't produce an heir, then the title would be given to another."

He paused for a second, clearly frustrated then he continued. "I intended to use a breeder but the Elders forbade it and insisted that the future Alpha must be born of a Luna, not a sex slave to keep the Pack's spiritual energy stable."

I let out scoff and tilted my head back slightly, staring at the ceiling as if the Goddess herself might be listening. "I will never carry your child." I said firmly, and I regretted immediately but he did not get angry.

Instead, he said calmly. "You won't."

My gaze snapped back to him, stunned as he explained. "You will only pretend to be pregnant, while a breeder will carry my heir in secret. When she successfully births a son, I will take the child in and present him as yours. And when the time is right, we will divorce, for a reason the Elders cannot challenge."

My stomach churned violently because his words were horrifying. And yet... strangely, he hadn't forced me, compelled me, or threatened me.

That alone made the situation terrifying because my life had flipped upside down in the span of days. One moment I was walking home through the forest, exhausted but hopeful. The next, I was sold, beaten, transported, and now... standing at a crossroads that would determine my entire future.

If I said no, what if he killed me for daring to defy him? If I said yes, what if the entire year became a nightmare of politics, manipulation, and pack power struggles that broke me completely?

My hands trembled, but then another thought crept in. If I said yes... I would survive an entire year safe from physical abuse and I wouldn't be discarded like trash for defying him. And once the year was over... I could walk away.

The choice, horrifying as it was, became clear, so with my fists clenched tightly at my sides, I said. "I will do it."

A smirk curved his lips immediately. "You will do what?" He asked and I replied. "I will be your wife for a year."

Then, he stood up and extended his hand toward me. I hesitated only a second before taking it, allowing him to pull me to my feet. "Thank you." I murmured, my voice barely steady.

"It is quite late, we will discuss further tomorrow." He began.  But you should know this, by morning, I will inform the Elders that I have found my fated mate and intend to make her my Luna. Meaning that tomorrow onward, you will bear the title of Alpha Luthor's mate so behave as one."

He paused then continued. "The contract will be drafted and presented to you. You will read it, understand it, sign it and understand that once the agreement ends, you will be rewarded with anything you desire, as long as it is within my reach."

I opened my mouth to thank him again, but he cut me off. "You should go, we will speak tomorrow."

"I... I don't know where to go." I admitted. "I don't know anywhere here."

"Just ask any maid you see on your way out to take you to Madam Roxanne. Then inform her that you are one of the girls brought in earlier. She'll show you where you'll stay tonight."

Thanking him, I bowed my head and hurried out. But as soon as I was about to reach the entrance, the man standing there, glared at me. So I lowered my head respectfully and moved past him without a word.

Stepping out of the garden, I had no idea whether to go left or right, but then chose right at random. After a while, I turned a corner and collided with someone.

"Oh! I'm so sorry." I apologized and the plainly dressed looked at me, surprised. "It's alright." She said. "Do you need help?"

"Yes, please." I nodded. "Can you take me to Madam Roxanne?"

"Of course." She smiled. "I'm Nicolle, what's your name?"

Before I could answer, my eyes drifted past her to see a little girl no older than five running down when she suddenly tripped and fell hard. Without thinking, I rushed forward and lifted her gently.

"Are you alright?" I asked softly, noticing that she didn't cry or speak, she just stared at me silently.

Suddenly, a maid rushed forward and yanked the child from my arms. "I was just helping her up." I said, stunned and the maid snapped. "I didn't ask for your help."

Nicolle hurried over. "Why do you look upset? Did she say something to you?"

"I helped the little girl, but her mother shouted at me." I said quietly and Nicolle scoffed. "That's not her mother, that's her personal maid."

"Why would such a small girl need a personal maid?" I asked and Nicolle let out a chuckle. "That's not just any little girl, that's Alpha Draven's daughter, Ella.