Tessa’s POV
I huddled in the corner of the cell, arms crossed over my face to prevent the little gnats that infested the space from reaching me there.
It was my third day locked up like an animal in this filthy cage after Paige had caught me almost having sex with her husband. I was well and truly miserable, and there was no end in sight. Not that I deserve an end to this torment.
I pretty much earned it, at least from Paige.
Despite the days that have passed, I could still vividly remember the shock and anger on her face when she walked in to see us tangled together like that.
When she looked at Eric, her profound disappointment and hurt affected me more than I cared to admit. She hated my guts, but I couldn’t blame her for it. I would hate any woman who put me in such a position as well, mate bond be damned.
I tried so hard to resist the bond that day. I wasn’t the type of girl who went about destroying other people’s relationships. I didn’t look at guys with girlfriends, much less wives, and the fact that I could barely control the urge to crawl all over this one filled me with immense guilt.
The guilt ate at me even now in rabid little bites that were just as sharp as the stinging of the gnats. My cheek still smarted from where Eric had slapped me after Paige’s interruption, claiming that I’d come to his office to seduce him.
Of course, since I couldn’t explain exactly what I was doing in his office after I’d been asked to stay away from their lives, it was decided I might as well spend the rest of mine locked up.
So here I was, three days later, already running crazy in this cramped, dank space that would be my home for the foreseeable future.
My father had yet to visit even once, and I wondered if he knew I was imprisoned in the Alpha’s basement rather than his bed.
I sighed. Of course, he knew. How could he not know?
Eric would certainly have called him to express his displeasure.
I had to come to terms with the fact that my father knew I was in a difficult situation, but he didn't care enough to reach out and hear my voice or even visit me to ensure that I was okay. This was especially frustrating because he orchestrated the entire mess that led to my predicament.
I feel completely abandoned, with my fate now in someone else's hands.
Of all the people, why did my moon goddess choose to mate me with an alpha who’s already married? Wasn’t there really anyone else who could have been a better match? I don't know how to get out of this situation or what to do next.
I hugged my body, folding into myself. The clothes I had on were still those torn by Eric, ratty and dirty, with three days' worth of prison filth on them.
An image of the faces of the people who’d seen me being led out of Eric’s office in my torn clothes flashed before my mind’s eye. They’d stared at me with disgust, the word ‘whore’ whispered amongst them, like a permanent stain upon my name. I wanted to cry all over again at the memory of it.
I heard a commotion outside, the sounds of yells and screams running wild in the distance. I started to wonder what it could be when rapid footsteps caught my attention.
Eric’s Beta, Trent, rushed into the prison room, lifted the key from its spot at the guard post, and hurriedly opened my cell.
“Did Eric change his mind about me?” I asked, confused, certain only a moment ago that I would never taste freedom again.
After opening my cell, he turned towards the prison door. “Follow me. Quickly.”
Still confused but eager to be out of that hell hole, I hurried after him, wrapping my arms around my chest to keep what parts of my exposed chest the torn shirt covered.
The halls were strangely quiet, and I could still hear the occasional scream coming from different places around the pack grounds. When I asked about them, Trent did not respond. To my surprise, he led me toward Paige’s room.
“Go in the shower and clean yourself. You have three minutes. Hurry.”
I turned and opened my mouth to ask another question, but he impatiently pushed me towards the door.
“Go!” he said with an urgency that didn’t allow me to dawdle.
I got into the bathroom, dumping my torn, dirty clothes for a quick shower. I didn’t have time to blow dry my hair, so I didn’t bother to wash it. I just washed the grime off my body and wrapped myself in a fluffy towel.
When I got out, several dresses were laid out, all of them glamorous and undoubtedly from Paige’s open closet. I stared at them and then at Trent.
“Pick one,” he instructed. That impatience was still in his tone.
I glanced at the dresses and hesitated. Next to me, he made an impatient sound, and I picked a random one.
“Put it on,” he growled and turned his back on me. I grabbed the underwear laid out, blushing the entire time, and donned the items.
After I wore the dress, Trent led me back into the hallway and took me to the main hall. Eric and Paige were there, surrounded by some of the pack soldiers.
Everyone was facing the large doors cordoning us off from whatever was going on outside, trepidation on every expression. Eric looked ashen, and Paige looked as white as a ghost. My heart thumped wildly in my chest, an ominous feeling ragged at my senses.
“The Dark Lord attacked our pack this morning,” Eric said glumly when Trent and I reached them.
I gasped, wide-eyed.
“Our warriors are outside fighting, but we were stretched too thinly. He attacked the Ravers nearby as well, so we had to send aid, and shortly after, he showed up right at our doorstep.”
I looked as pale as them, the new set of screams and jarring sounds that shot through the air, chilling me to the bone, now that I knew the cause. Cause notwithstanding, I wasn’t sure what role I had to play here, wearing Paige’s dress, which was all the same.
“We’re trying to see if we can garner his mercy by offering some of our territory to him to stop further invasion of all the packs in this region.”
I frowned. “Okay. But I still don’t see what that has to do with me.”
Eric and Paige glanced at each other, and Paige spoke this time.
“The Dark Lord has a reputation for playing a certain game once he conquers a new pack. Either he kills the Alpha…” She said, and at her words, Eric’s ashen face turned even paler, as if he was going to be sick. “… or he takes the Luna for his own.”
Paige said, her eyes pointedly on me. I took a step back, my eyes widening with realization. The reason I was in Paige’s dress was now clear as day.
“It seems we’ve found use for Eric’s mate after all,” she said with a bitter smile that was also satisfied.
I shook my head in disbelief and refusal. “You plan on giving me to him?”
What had I ever done to either of them that they would sentence me to such a fate?
“I didn’t force myself to mate with you, Eric! I had as little choice in this as you did!” I said tremulously. His expression wavered for a moment before hardening.
“Well, you should have stayed away like you were warned. Or did you have little choice in that as well?”
I wanted to scream yes, that my father had forced me here the same way they wanted to force me somewhere else to the Dark Lord of all beings.
I scoffed. “I’m not doing it. There’s no way I’ll let you pass me off to that monster. I’ll tell him I’m not the real Luna. Now, you suddenly don’t want the title?” I shot at her, and she glared at me.
“You will behave yourself if you know what’s good for you. It is your duty to pack; you are a worthless omega! I don’t know what twist of fate chose you as my mate, but it can’t be that way. Serve our bond the way you can.”
“Which is by letting you whore me out to the Dark Lord?”
He shrugged. “You were ready to whore yourself out to me. So why not?”
I blushed furiously. Before I could respond, the doors burst open, and armed soldiers not in our uniform swarmed in.
Everyone raised their hands, Eric’s men dropping their weapons. Eric himself stepped forward, raising a document.
“I have here the legal documents of this land, ready to cede it to the Dark Lord along with a generous amount from my coffers in exchange for his mercy. Furthermore─”
He pushed me towards them, and I stumbled forward, catching myself before planting on the floor.
“I present him our Luna as further incentive. Do with her as you wish.”
Tessa’s POVEric pushed me towards the men, and I did not resist.What was the point?If I didn’t go with them, I would remain in a small, dank cell for the rest of my life until either Paige or Eric decided the mate bond was too much trouble and put me down or something.Immediately, two men rushed forward and held my shoulder and arms on either side so tight that I squirmed in pain.I’ll never be valuable to my pack or my family. Hell, even my mate didn’t care much, so why should I? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad with the Dark Lord. And if it was, I could always escape.Couldn’t I?I cooperated meekly, walking where they led, but one of them still felt the need to nudge roughly at my back, making me stumble as I went outside.I was pushed into the back of a truck, eyes widening at the sight of the other scared, helpless women inside. Most of them were very well dressed, with tasteful, understated jewelry to boot, like some Lunas or at least very high-born ladies whose families had prob
Tessa’s POVI was taken to a separate room away from the other women and handed to an older female servant who promptly forced me into a bath soon after.“Get in there,” she shouted, pushing me into a bath filled with the captivating fragrance of herbs and petals.After she was done, she forced me into a dress resembling lingerie with its sheer top and short skirt. Then, I was half-escorted and half-dragged through the dimly lit halls to the Dark Lord’s room.“Wait! Slow down, please…” I said, almost stumbling forward.Instead of showing mercy, the woman murderously glared at me, instantly making me shut my mouth and blindly follow her.It was just as dim inside, making me squint. The space was rather massive, with a few strategically arranged chairs and other pieces of furniture. A huge flat-screen TV stood in front of the settee arrangement, too big to be mounted on the wall.Off to the side on a small platform, a king-sized bed stood, with black silk sheets and metal hooks on the h
Tessa’s POVI blinked, completely dumbfounded, when he started unzip his pants. For a moment, my gaze fell on his long fingers drawing down the zipper of his tailored slacks.My heart pounded inside my chest as it beat wildly fast while my eyes followed his lowering pants that revealed his incredibly tight briefs that molded around his-I caught myself staring, coming back to my senses and turning my face away with an embarrassed flush.‘Damn! Get a hold of yourself, Tessa,’ I scolded myself.“Oh? Does my little omega like what she sees?” Zane mocked, an unmistakable sneer evident in his voice.The flush on my cheeks deepened but I said nothing. I kept my polite gaze away as I hear his movemnets while changing. All while that, I kept staring at a spot on the wall to the left like its the most intereting thing in the world right now and not that god-like man in the same room with me.“Turn around.” He demanded a few minutes later.With nervous breath, I did as he asked and I was reliev
Zane’s POV“Alpha.” One of the warriors greeted me as I entered the incubation room.It’s where the captured Lunas were imprisoned before they were thrown to where they should belong – as slaves.I was scanning the room, when something glinting caught my eyes.The moonlight reflected on the tip of the iron tightly being held by a petite woman from the corner of the room.“How reckless!” I thought.Standing before her, I observed her appearance and narrowed my eyes with interest.Looking at her useless bravery, only one thing went to my mind. “She’ll be a whole lot of fun as a toy.”And before I knew it, one second I was teasing her, the next, she was screaming in pain while curled up on the ground.I wouldn't lie, I panicked when she passed out in my arms. The moment her eyes shut right, I felt my heart stop. Swearing profusely, I called her name and shook her shoulders several times but she didn’t respond.Laying her back gently on the floor, I fished my phone out of my pocket and
Tessa’s POVA few days had passed since I was dragged over to Zane’s pack. After I regained consciousness that night, he arranged a room for me, and then I hadn’t heard much from him after.It’s a small room with a single bed, a few pieces of furniture, and a small bathroom. There were not many decorations in it. In fact, it looked dull, just a little bit better than the ones for omegas. It’s very clean, to the point that there’s not even a single dust speck to be seen in any nooks.But still, opening my eyes every morning in this room, which was a whole lot better than the basement Eric and Paige threw me into, was already something to be thankful for.Suddenly, loud knocks on the door jolted me.“Breakfast is here!” One of the guards situated outside my door shouted.Hastily, I jumped from my bed and ran toward the door. After all, they didn’t like waiting.The door opened, and a bulky and scary man showed up there, making me subconsciously back away.“Here!” He harshly pushed me th
Tessa’s POVI gasped as I felt something wet land on my neck, a spot just a bit below the back of my ear.The burning feeling caused by the bond punishment slowly became bearable as a tongue slowly slid on the temporary mark on my neck.“No…” I tried to protest, but a moan came out of me instead as Zane started sucking on my skin and his body touching mine, but not enough for me to carry his weight.And just like that, the burning feeling in me turned into a heat of lust, making me thirst for more. Subconsciously, I raised my hand, pressing my palms on his chest and sliding it up until I had it wrapped around his nape.Just as I arched my body, I slowly drowned in the tingling sensations brought by Zane’s actions and the temporary mark he gave me. He pulled away from me as if nothing happened, leaving me restless and needing more.I panted as my body fell on the mattress, feeling so wet in my core like I’d never been before, and my throat went dry like I’d been thirsty to death.“Bett
Tessa’s POVIt had been days since I rejected Eric as a mate. I felt more relaxed than I had since the bond had formed. Finally, I’m free of the pain and torment that plagued me constantly before.As my father had warned, I’d gotten very weak after.Zane had been the one to carry me back to my room in the aftermath because I could barely move. He’d had two omegas keep watch over me, ordering them to attend to my every need until I got better.They’d done as he’d asked, waiting on me hand and foot for the last three days since. I was incredibly grateful to them, not to mention him for giving the order.Even now, I was still very weak, but at least I could walk around again and move on my own. That was an incredible feat, considering I could barely lift my head a few days ago.“You can move now.” I shrank in surprise as an omega soundlessly came in with a new set of clothes in her arms.She placed the clothes down on the edge of the bed. With hostility, she spoke, “King Zane will be wai
Tessa’s POVAn omega around her 20s smiled at me. Unlike most of the members I encountered, she seemed nice.Scratching her head, unsure, she replied, “I don’t know… King Zane might…”Showing her my puppy eyes, I begged, “Please?”I really wanted to cook, partly because I was bored and partly because I wanted to give something to Zane. One reason would be to thank him for the partial freedom he gave me, and another to get into his good graces.Who knew? Maybe I’ll be on his good side, and he’ll completely free me soon.After staring at me and contemplating for a while, the omega heaved a sigh of defeat and smiled in victory.She attempted to help me, but I insisted that I prefer to do it by myself. In the process, I learned that her name was Mildred.She’d apparently been in the kingdom for almost two decades and was around when Zane was a boy. Thus, she was the perfect subject for me to interview to learn more about Zane.Honestly, as harsh and a bit manipulative as Zane was, it’s st