Chapter 1

Lila's POV.

My heart pounded like a drum in the silence of the dense forest, my breath ragged as I darted through the shadows, my feet barely touching the ground.

Behind me, I could hear the heavy thudding of boots ominously drawing closer with each passing moment. Fear gripped me, a cold hand squeezing my heart as I pushed myself to run faster, the branches whipping at my face and tearing at my gown. My heels ached but I couldn't afford to stop for a break right now. There was too much at stake.

As I sprinted desperately, a sudden snag halted me in my tracks. I looked down to see my blue gown, which was stained with dirt and sweat, caught at the hem by a thorny plant.

"Oh, no." I cried as my heart hammered wildly against my ribcage, audibly. Panic surged through my veins as l struggled to break free. With a final, desperate tug, I wrenched myself free from the plant's grasp, but it was too late.

Strong hands closed around my arms, pulling me back forcefully. My eyes widened in terror as they spun me around to face the guards father had sent after me. "It's the end of the road for you, princess. "

I let out a piercing scream of protest. "No! Let me go! I don't want to go back there." My voice echoed through the forest. One of the men picked me up and threw me on his shoulder and marched back in the direction I'd just run from. I wailed and thrashed about in his hold, "Let me go, please." Tears streamed down my face. My mind raced with thoughts of the cruel things my father would do to me once I got back.

"Get your hands off me!" I spat as the guard who carried me dropped me in a heap on the cold floor. The double doors were shut behind me as he left the room. I heard footsteps approaching from the inner chambers but I kept my head lowered, inspecting the cuts and scratches on my arms and legs.

"You little, ungrateful witch!" Bhavanya spat. She was my father's wife. I was used to her words so that didn't hurt one bit. She held up my face, her red-manicured nails digging into my skin.

"Let me go!" A slap landed across my face. "How dare you?" She sneered. My hands flew to my cheek. Tears stung my eyelids but I swallowed, pushing them back. I'm not going to give her that satisfaction of seeing me cry.

"You keep bringing shame upon this family, running away like a wild animal. Your father is doing the best he can for you but still you choose to repay him this way. You're good for nothing."

"And you deserve to rot in hell." I retorted. She raised her hands again to slap me. I flinched, bracing myself for the impact.

"That's enough, Bhavanya." My father's voice thundered. Her hands froze in the air. "Leave her to me." With a grunt, she lowered them and stomped into the house, the train of her dress trailing behind.

My father was the Alpha of our pack - the Blood Moon. He stalked towards me, flanked by two guards. " Lila, Why did you pull a stunt like that? " He asked in a calm voice that I recognized so well. It was the calm before the storm.

I kept mute.

"I need answers, Lila."

My eyes roamed as I racked my brain trying to come up with the right words to make him understand me. "I don't want to go with Alpha Hector, please. I want to stay here with you. If it's because of my attitude, I promise that I'll change. Just please, don't send me to him." I pleaded.

He circled me, "You have to learn that everything I do is for your own good. It's all in your best interest. "

"Not this one, Father. You sold me off like a mere article in a market without considering how I feel."

"Your feelings don't matter, Lila. Alpha Hector's men will come for you tomorrow and you must go with him without hesitation." For the first time in forever, someone wanted me but, it had to be the cruelest Alpha who didn't care about anyone but himself.

"But, Father? I'm as good as dead if I go with him. He doesn't care for anyone apart from himself. Please, father. I know we're not on the best terms but please, have mercy."

He lowered his gaze in contemplation then suddenly, he raised his head with a fiery look in his black eyes, "If you try to double cross me again, I'll have you locked up in the dungeon without food and water until he comes. "

He signaled to one of his guards, "Take her to her room so she can freshen up. Double the guards at her door. She mustn't leave this house unless I say so."

"Father, please. Please, father reconsider." I kept begging until the guards led me out of his sight. I sighed wearily once I stepped into my room.

I headed towards the bathroom and stripped off the dress which now looked like a cotton scarf draped around my slender frame. I turned on the shower and shut my eyes as the warm water cascaded down my body.

" What good father would sell his daughter off to a man as wicked as Alpha Hector? You know what, that was not important anymore. The deed had been done. He never liked me anyway so this is sure good riddance for him. What I should be concerned about now, is how to survive once I get there. " The water got cold as I stood in the shower with more thoughts crowding my mind. I turned off the shower and stepped out, wrapping myself in my old coarse towel.

As I reach for the bathroom door, I hear the main door creak open, and the sound of footsteps approaching.

"Who's there?" I called out. There was no response. It could be my stepmother. She often came in without knocking. I open the door, expecting to see her but instead, William stands before me, both hands in the pockets of his coat.

I grit my teeth in frustration. Now I had to deal with my stepbrother too. Why couldn't they just give me space to think clearly before going to the land of my death?

" What do you want, Will?" His eyes trailed down from my upper body to my legs and back upwards. I felt my skin crawl in disgust at his open perusal.

" It's a question of what you actually need, Lila." He stepped closer.

I shifted backward, "I don't need anything especially not from you, Will so get out of my room this minute."

He chuckled and drew closer, ignoring my order. "I like my women fierce too."

"What? What are you.." I sputtered in confusion.

"I know you want me too, Lila. There's no need to pretend. I see the way you look at me."

Warning bells rang in my head. Where were the guards that father placed at my door? He must have distracted them.

"Maybe you've had too much to drink, Will and it's clouded your mind. If you're quite done spewing your rubbish, then you can leave now." I motioned to the door and brushed past him. His facial expression hardened and he drew me back by the arm, making my body collide with his.

"We either do it quietly or you can scream the roof off but no one is going to hear you." He whispered into my ear with a sinister look in his eyes.

My heart raced. "Let me go!" I screamed, struggling against his grip. He clasped a hand over my mouth and pushed me on the bed. I could feel his hot breath on my face as he leaned in closer.

He held my hands in place above my head. My eyes watered. "Let me go, Will. "I struggled to free myself, thrashing about in his hold.

"Shut up, you little bitch and stay still." he growled, his voice low and threatening. "I've wanted this for so long." He licked his lips as he loosened my towel and his eyes took in my body, greedily. I tasted salt as tears ran down my face.

"Please, Will." He pressed his lips to mine, swallowing my protest. I kept struggling but his muscled arms held me down. He took off his clothes in a frenzy and parted my legs forcefully.

"Help me," I screamed hoping that someone, anyone, would hear me. He slapped me. My eyes rolled to the back of my head. He positioned his dick at my entrance as tears kept rolling down my face.

"You're going to enjoy this." He said with a wry smile.

Why did bad things keep happening to me?