Chapter 1
The guard's fingers dug into Mira's shoulders like a talon as he shoved her, causing her knee to collapse onto the hard stone. The white silk wedding dress did little to hide her bones pressing against her skin.
Rumors said Alpha Varek killed his brides after using them and Mira was about to become his third bride.
"We, the Nightshade Pack, offer one of our own as a peace offering," the guard said, trembling. "Please, spare us in exchange."
Unluckily, they targeted the weakest, which was her. Her parents had died protecting the pack, and since then, everyone blamed her.
At the other end of the massive, dimly lit hall sat Alpha Varek on his throne, calm and unreadable. Some famous werewolf artifacts lined the walls.
"This time, we brought someone who doesn't fight back, she is trained to endure, serve and remain silent by your side.," the guard explained,
"She doesn't eat much, either. Won't cost you a thing to keep her in a cage until you're bored, let us show you." Another guard roughly grabbed her by the hair, pulling her to her feet.
The guard's blow was quick and heavy, snapping her head back and making her taste blood. Her cheek burned like it had been branded, but she kept her gaze steady and her eyes dry, refusing to give them the satisfaction of tears.
"She looks like a keeper," Varek said, rising. The room fell silent. He didn't even glance at Mira as he approached her pack members.
"But she has been touched," he murmured almost to himself. He stopped inches from the man who had hit her. "And I have a problem with anyone touching my things before I do."
"We... can get you another one," they offered.
"Please..." they pleaded.
Varek didn't argue. He moved with a blurred, predatory speed. Two wet thuds echoed in the silent hall as heads rolled, one stopping at the hem of Mira's dress, staining the pristine silk crimson.
The sight of it made her stomach twist, and she almost threw up.
"And you," he tilted his bloodstained face towards her,
"How about we find out if you're as easy to handle as they said,"
Her heart dropped as he came towards her. Every inch of her skin screamed to run, but she only managed to crawl until her back hit the stone wall.
Guided by instinct, she reached beneath her dress and grasped the small hidden knife. The metal was cold and steady in her trembling hand.
She stepped forward and slashed his arm. He didn't flinch but smiled wildly, his brown eyes turning red.
"You're stronger than I expected," His voice turned into a low, gravelly snarl.
"Don't come near me," Mira whimpered, getting ready to attack again.
He grabbed her wrist in a crushing grip. He twisted until the knife fell to the floor, then grabbed her throat, squeezing until she could hardly breathe.
"Let go of me,"
She scratched his arms, drawing thin red lines, but his grip remained unyielding.
"So fragile," he murmured slyly.
Her pulse pounded in her ears as her veins seemed to explode. When her amber eyes turned into piercing silver, Varek's face showed uncertainty for the first time.
A shockwave burst out of her and pushed him backward, slamming him hard against the wall
As quickly as the energy appeared, it vanished, taking her consciousness with it as the world went black.
"Where on earth did she learn that from," Alpha Varek said, still in shock about her power outburst.
Varek let out a slow, controlled breath.
"Guards!" he barked.
The doors flew open, and they rushed in. Their eyes were wide, faces pale. Even from outside, they had seen what she did, and now standing in the hall, they couldn't hide their fear.
"Pick her up," he ordered.
The guards rushed forward, careful, as if she might explode again.
One of them hesitated. "My Alpha… which prison should we prepare?"
"Give her one of the upper chambers," he said. "Make sure it's clean and guarded."
They stared, confused.
"A… guest room?" one asked carefully.
"Yes, I plan on keeping her, maybe I'll get to know her little secret,"
He resumed walking.
"If she wakes, I want to know," he added before walking out of the room.
The guards bowed quickly.
"Yes, Alpha."
Soft light spilled onto her face, forcing her eyes to open. The light came from a tall window draped in sheer ivory curtains.
"Where am I," She blinked, looking at the room in confusion
She pushed herself upright, placing a hand on her aching head.
She began to regain her memory slowly.
The execution.
The choking grip.
His red eyes.
"I didn't die."
The realization settled heavily in her stomach.
Alpha Varek kept her alive, and that frightened her more than death.
She quickly got up from the bed and opened the door slowly.
A guard stood several feet away, his back turned down the corridor.
She began pacing around the room, thinking of a perfect escape plan.
She can't walk out of the room without being dragged back in.
She searched the room for any secret passage, knocking every side of the wall to see if it echoed, she found nothing, even the windows were too high to jump down.
Another idea formed in her head.
She staggered toward the bed and knocked over a chair for noise. She dragged her nails across her throat to redden the skin and then began to scream.
The door burst open, as the guard rushed inside. "What happened?"
She collapsed against the bed frame, clutching her chest.
"I can't breathe," she gasped. "Something's wrong. I'm burning."
He hesitated, which made her scream louder.
Fear flickered in his eyes, afraid that it was her power outburst again.
He stepped closer.
The moment he knelt, she moved.
Her hand closed around the heavy metal candleholder she had positioned near the bed and swung it to his head.
He dropped to the floor instantly.
Mira didn't wait. She slipped past his body into the corridor.
Running as fast as her legs could carry her.