Chapter 3

Violet’s POV

Alpha Ares eyebrow shot up, his gaze fixed on me. “Sign the document?” He repeated his voice, laced with curiosity. “What do you mean?”

My eyes welled up with tears as I scrambled to cover myself with my robe, my hand shaking. I gently got down from the bed, my knees hitting the cold floor with a soft thud.

"Please, Alpha Ares,” I begged. "My father will sell me if you don't sign it. Please, I'm begging you." My tears flowed freely now, dripping onto the cold floor.

He walked to the table where the file was. He opened the file, his eyes scanning the contents. My heart raced, and my breath was short and ragged. I knew I was doomed.

“Get out!” Alpha Ares's growl was low and menacing. I cowered, my eyes fixed on the floor. "Please," I whispered, wishing this time he would change his mind, but Alpha Ares's patience had worn thin.

"Get the fuck out now!!!" he yelled, his voice shaking the walls. I got up to my feet immediately, my legs trembling beneath me. I didn’t dare to look at him, fearing what I might see in his eyes.

With a quiet sob, I turned and ran out of the room without a second thought. My sobs echoed through the hallway as I fled Alpha Ares's room, my feet pounding the cold floor.

But my escape was short-lived when Jackie stepped out of nowhere, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Wait, why are you coming out of Alpha Ares's room dressed half-naked?" Jackie said as she held my hand.

"What were you doing in there, huh, Violet?!?"

"And why do you care?" I fired back, my voice trembling. Before I knew what was happening, Jackie's hand flashed out, striking my cheek with a heavy slap. My head jerked back, my skin stinging.

I clenched my jaw, my eyes watering from the pain. I don’t know why Jackie enjoys hitting me; Jackie and I were the same age, but she treated me like she was older. I felt like giving her a taste of her own medicine, but I didn’t want an extra punishment.

"Don't you know I have my eyes on him?" Jackie sneered. "I've wanted him since I met him at the Alpha's gathering. You better stay away from him, or you'll face my wrath and my father's."

With that, she let go of me and walked away. My feet grew heavy as I dragged myself to my room. I knew what awaited me: my stepfather's anger and his punishment.

Entering my room, I slammed the door shut behind me, leaning against the door as my tears continued to flow. I aggressively took off the white robe from my body; I never wanted to see it again.

I felt helpless, alone, and scared, like every other day. Even my so-called mate couldn't save me from the hands of my stepfather.

What's the essence of having a soul mate, then? Someone who can’t protect you? I asked myself, lost in thought, as I drifted off to sleep.

>>

My eyes fluttered open hearing the harsh sound of banging on my door, echoing through my room like a death knell. Groggily, I realised I had spent the night on the cold floor naked.

My body was aching from the hardness. "I'm coming!" I called out, my voice husky from sleep. But the banging continued, growing louder and louder. My heart raced as I scrambled to my feet, my hands shaking.

I hastily threw on a simple gown because I couldn’t let them in while I was naked, but before I could finish dressing, the door burst open. Two guards walked into the room and dragged me out.

My feet barely touched the ground as I was pulled with force towards the courtroom, where the affairs of that pack were handled. As I was dragged into the hall, they threw me to the floor.

I saw the elders gathered around the table, their faces stern and unforgiving. My stepfather stood at the head, his eyes blazing with anger. "Violet, where were you last night?” Alpha Damian shouted.

I had no idea what to say because he knew where I was. Clearly, he was the mastermind of everything. "My room," I said softly, trying not to expose him.

“So you’ve got the mind to lie to me, huh?” I was really confused right now, and I didn’t even know what to say. “I saw you coming out of the Alpha Ares room half naked last night,” Jackie said.

“That’s not what happened,” I replied, trying to defend myself, but then Alpha Damian interrupted me. “So you mean your princess is lying? What are you saying, Violet?”

"No, my lord, that’s not what I mean,” I said again as I watched them turn the tables around on me. He had sent me to Alpha Ares’s room, but now they were accusing me of going to his room on my own accord.

“So after you stained Alpha Ares with wine, you decided to throw yourself at him after the party, right?” Jackie fired. I had no idea why they were doing this to me. What was their plan?

“You couldn’t complete a simple task by serving without any mistakes, and you still went ahead to seduce my friend Alpha Ares, and you think you’d go scot-free? Never!!”

Suddenly, I watched how Alpha Damien ordered one of the guards; he walked up to me with a long whip, and the moment Apha Damien signalled him, the long whip landed on my back.

The pain was so unbearable, I could feel my back burning like it was on fire. At another signal, the whip landed on my legs, this time sending me flat on the ground.

My legs and back were hurting as blood dripped from my body. “Please, I’m sorry,” I whispered, but my pleas fell on deaf ears.

I couldn't even look at the faces of the other members of the pack who watched as I was being humiliated. They all smiled with Alpha Damien, like I was some toy to play with.

I felt like ending it all because there was no reason to live anymore. I shut my eyes tight, ready to take in the next whip, when I heard a voice that made me freeze.

“What the hell is going on here?” Alpha Ares’s voice echoed through the courtroom. “I repeat who had the guts to lay their filthy hands on my mate.” The hall was filled with murmurs as they all looked at each other, confused.

I was even more surprised than they were. I raised my head to look at him, his presence dominating the entire room. Alpha Damian stood up from his chair and walked towards Ares.

"Friend, I know you might have had something with her last night, but that doesn’t mean she’s your mate,” he said with a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

“I meant every single word I said, and I’ll take her back to my pack today.” Ares said, his voice stern. I wondered what had made him change his mind—did he finally feel the mate bond?

I think he did; that is the only reason why he’s claiming me now. I felt a flicker of hope for the first time in years. Someone was going to save me.

"That's impossible," Damien yelled. "How so?" Alpha Ares fired back.

"Get up, Violet," Ares commanded. “Don’t allow this piece of sh*t to get into our friendship we’ve had for years.” But Alpha Ares didn’t utter a word as he looked at me.

Now I was stuck between obeying Alpha Ares or Damien. “She is my slave,” Alpha Damien yelled.

"And she is my mate," Ares retorted. My stepfather laughed aloud and then turned back to Ares. He only laughs like that when he knows he is going to gain something in return.

"Well, there’s a way to end this," he growled. "Since you claim she’s your mate and wish to take her back to your pack, you have to sign the fucking documents!!”

I knew Alpha Damien more than anything; he wouldn’t let me go without taking something in return. I didn’t know the content of the document, but from Alpha Ares’s expression yesterday, it wasn’t a minor contract.

"Fine, if that’s what you want," Ares stated as he grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the room.