Chapter 2

Freya pov

I have no vivid memories of my mother. The memories were fuzzy whenever I tried to recall. I clearly don't remember her face or what she looked like and over time, I stopped trying. It's a bottomless pit trying to recall people who never truly registered in memory. Or maybe they did register and the years of slavery erased the whole thing. But the one thing I know for sure is that my mom—the woman who gave birth to me—is nothing compared to the devil trailing my footsteps. 

A shiver ran through my knee when I took the first step. 

Trouble. A ticking time bomb waiting to explode as she trailed behind. I, on the other hand, shuffled forward like a lost dog who just got found by its owner. 

Well, I happen to be the lost dog in the case, and Mrs Rex, would be the owner. 

"Move faster!" she yanked, spanking my back. I expect nothing from the woman who hated me with all her guts. Nothing but pain, which now coursed down my spine. 

I asked on a few occasions the reason for her hatred. She did say something about her son who had gone missing over the years, but I never figured how I'm responsible for the sudden disappearance. But most of the time, all I got was yelling, barking, and if she has had a rough day, I did find myself in the dungeon.

Moments of regrets would follow, bothering me on why I ever asked.

Of course she had no reason. She just couldn't love a girl who isn't her daughter. That's the only explanation my brain could conjure up. 

Her palms were soft, judging by the extravagant lifestyle she led, but strong enough to cause pain. I could feel her fingerprint even though I haven't touched the spot yet. I stretched my fingers and the pain followed seamlessly. My teary eyes decided to let go of the liquid this time. They've done their best and I guess my circumstances are just too much to bear. 

I doubled my pace, scurrying like a child who had just been yelled at for spilling milk on the table. This isn't new to me. I shouldn't be crying. I rubbed my eyes to control the tears but nothing happened. The back of my palm got wet as a result, and that's when I knew the need to cry. Perhaps the pain would go away. 

I wasn't particularly sure if the spanking caused the tears. As far as I could remember, Mrs Rex, the Luna of Eastwood Park, has been a thorn in my flesh from the very day I saw her. She had taken over from Evelyn that very night and had locked me up afterwards. I don't remember getting anything nice other than pain, and I'm sure it's not going to be different this time. 

"Let me go! Let go of me!" I yelled as she pulled my ears. She pulled and my body dangled from left to right as I contained the pain. My other ear managed to pick some snickers.

Evelyn. 

Only she would be delighted at my pain and I'm not surprised. In fact, I expect she laughs out loud. Perhaps she is scared to do it in the presence of her good-for-nothing mother. 

"Stop it!" I snapped. My wolf snarled this time around even though I had done everything possible to stop it from getting loose. Evelyn froze on her feet. Her mouth, covered with both palms as her eyes flared wide open. She was damn surprised that I could talk back to her mother. 

Well, I guess she underestimated me. And her mother on the other hand, took a few steps backward and away from the beast I became. Her left palm rested on her waist and the other, on her mouth—just like her daughter. 

"How dare you talk back to me. How dare you talk to—" she grumbled and swung her arm at my cheek but I'm quick enough to dodge.

She missed, and I struggled to contain the laughter when I saw her fall to the ground. I started even though my fist was eager to throw some punches. 

Good for you, My mate cursed within. 

"Mom!" Evelyn dashed forward. Well, she better come help her mother. I'm not stepping anywhere near the devil. Evelyn helped her up but it wasn't long before I saw myself out, and away from their presence. 

Fuck the wedding. 

I found myself in our regular hideout. It's just a small wooden cage outside the park building. Though reserved for pets, Sonia—my best friend—and I, found it to be a safe haven whenever we want to avoid some chores. Although we ended up with beatings and bruises, we still enjoyed the time out. 

"Freya!" a voice called out. 

The only person who knew where I would be but is here. 

Sonia

She must be looking for me and Mrs Rex came top on the list of people who would be responsible for the search. 

"Freya! Everyone is looking for you and if—" 

She paused but I knew her next words. 

The thing about Sonia is this. We always look out for each other. I mean, that's what a best friend should do, right? But it sometimes comes at a price because whenever I go missing, like right now, she is sure to get beat up unless I come back with her. And I am not about to cause her more pain.

Sonia's story isn't any different or better than mine. The only difference is that I became a slave at Eastwood before her. Three years difference if I can recall, and every other thing about is pretty much the same. But she didn't see her park get razed down, or heard her parents had disappeared like I did thirteen years ago. 

"Freya!" She called further, her voice becoming fainter with each call. Perhaps she doesn't want to disclose our secret hideout. Evelyn may as well be watching from a distance, and ready to take over from where her mom had stopped. 

This wasn't the time to cause more trouble and I came out. There is still a wedding to attend. God knows how the unlucky man would feel knowing his bride had disappeared minutes before the wedding. 

She gave me a hug and we both cried together for a while. We needed to cry, at least for being miserable. And soon, we found our way back to hell. 

****

"Alpha Rex or whatever you call yourself, I hope they find her!" a voice echoed as I stood outside the hall. I listened further to know who it was but nothing. Dead silence. 

In all my years of slavery, I've never heard anyone talk to the alpha like that. That sounds like a threat. 

Is the alpha being threatened, and by whom? The stranger I was getting married to?

No way. 

I dispel the thoughts and steadied myself for what is to become of me. 

"You've caused more trouble lately!" The voice I despised, rang in my ears. I flinched when she took hold of my arm. I won't hesitate to punch her face if she tries anything stupid this time. I'm talking about Mrs Rex, the woman who made my life miserable. 

"You this silly little brat," she cursed. I expect nothing more from Luna other than her cruel words. That's all she is good at.

"You call me silly?" I scoffed, and I saw the horror on her face when I said that. My confidence seems to grow with each passing second. Even my wolf is surprised at the moment. 

Alpha Rex snuck up beside me and grabbed my arm a few minutes later. "Don't misunderstand this by the way. I take no pleasure in touching your filthy skin," he smirked.

I chuckled, and an angry face stared back at me when I looked at the man who said he took no pleasure in touching me. Then why do it? But my confidence knew no bounds this time. 

"You take no pleasure, and yet you touch this filthy skin?" It's my turn to get back at him. His eyebrows furrowed as we walked through the door. 

"Since your dad couldn't live long enough to do it, well, I have no choice," he taunted, but his words meant nothing to the scent that was filtering down my lungs. 

Mate! My wolf squeaked. 

But how? Is the moon goddess playing tricks on me this time, or is she blind?

I don't know, and I can't tell but the scent filled my nose and for a moment, I became lost in another world, waiting to be taken by him even though my eyes were still searching. 

A black suited man as I scanned the hall. That must be him. My mate. Well, a girl like me got no bridesmaids, or friends—except Sonia—and no family except the cruel adopted ones who sat in the front row. The black suited man my wolf called mate didn't see it fit to bring his friends or family either. So the hall got filled with the scent of my mate. 

Five people in total as I counted. Seated on the front row is Alpha Rex, the man who acted as my father even though every bit of his nerve wanted to tear me apart. His wicked Luna sat next to him by the right. And Evelyn, the girl who took every pleasure in tormenting me, sat next to her. She had this weird look, and I thought she was just jealous that I got to marry the handsome man . I bet she cursed under her breath the whole time. 

Next is the tall suited man whom Evelyn couldn't keep her eyes off. To his side was an elderly man dressed in a rob. He seemed like a priest but his weird face said otherwise.

 And myself, the lucky girl who gets to marry her mate. I haven't seen his face. My wolf, on the other hand, screamed to get out. But the moment our eyes met, I knew he was my mate. His eyes had a deep sense of gold that bore through my soul.

The priest cleared his throat and I looked away. The moon goddess must be blind to have given me this. His dark brown hair dropped just below his shoulder. Handsome. Despite wrapping himself around the tuxedo, it didn't stop me from seeing his muscular nature and for the first time, my emotions betrayed me because I wanted him. 

"I will take it from here!" his deep voice came forth. The voice is low but still carries some power in it. I begin to wonder who the hell he is, and what he wants with me. Is he aware I'm a slave?  

No answer. I guess they hid that part from him. And if Evelyn's words are anything to go by, he may as well kick me out when he finds out. But I will still consider myself lucky. At least I will have good memories to remember. Marrying a handsome man isn't an easy ride.

I shoved the thoughts aside as I anticipate what is to come. I'm thinking too much, and getting my hopes overly high. This thing may as well go the wrong way. I may as well end up being a slave. Yes. That's possible. Who will want someone like me for a wife. Maybe he needed another slave. That's another plausible explanation in my head. Perhaps he paid little-to-nothing for the whole thing. My feet steadied as I took the stage before him. The connection grew stronger with each second. I could feel his eyes piercing through my soul. A wave of emotions gushed forth when he took hold of my arms. 

Shock. 

A snicker cameforth, and the corner of my eye caught a glimpse of Mrs Rex. Only that her fingers are pulling Evelyn's right ear. Since Mrs Rex is doing all she can to comfort her good-for-nothing daughter, my guts told me the man my wolf called mate, the very man before my eyes, isn't a nobody. But my brain still couldn't catch the identity. 

"Shall we begin?" The priest asked. 

My mate nodded and I exhaled deeply.

It's now or never. 

"Look, I have wasted enough time already. Just go straight to the point," he deadpanned. He struggled to keep his tone down as he spoke but that didn't stop the anger on his face. 

Did I offend him? 

Oh Yes. I kept him waiting the whole time, and he is pissed because of that but his not-so-cool tone is uncalled for. 

A bolt of adrenalin shot through my spine when I saw his furrowed eyebrows. He looked pissed but still handsome. The priest cleared his throat and began. He looks uneasy. Drops of sweat sprinkled on his forehead, and that confirmed my doubts. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here today to bless this union. With God as our witness, we shall begin." He moved a step closer, and his face turned to me 

"Do you, Freya…"

The words trailed off. The priest cleared his throat for a few seconds and that was when I got the whole meaning. He had no idea about my surname. But he should have been briefed by Alpha Rex, who planned the whole thing. 

The priest shot his eyes at me. Not a single word. Well, as for my surname…not a goddamned idea did I have about it. I am just a slave and that's all I know. And that's all I can remember. Perhaps he should ask Alpha Rex directly. I won't be ashamed. The priest can as well say 'Freya Rex' That's the shity surname I bore in the shity school I attended. 

Silence ensued for a while as the priest waited for my word.

"Do you," he began, hoping I would rescue him this time but he is sure to get disappointed because I still don't remember a damn thing except the fires that razed down my home, "Freya—"

"Dimitri!..Freya Dimitri!" a voice interrupted. 

My eyes shot up when the names cameforth. I glanced at my adopted parents who looked particularly indifferent towards me—not like they ever liked me. My hopes were totally on alpha Rex and I want to believe he called the names. But it obviously came from none other than my mate. 

 Evelyn squeezed her face the whole time. I guess pulling her ears didn't go down well, and she thought a face with some furrowed eyebrows would do the trick. 

What the hell 

I wouldn't dare say that in front of this stranger. Well, I don't think I am a stranger to him because he appeared to know my surname. 

But how the hell is that possible? Or maybe he just conjured up some random name. 

I shoved the thoughts away when the priest continued. Maybe it's a coincidence. 

"Do you, Freya Dimitri, accept this man to be your mate and husband?" the priest added. 

'I do," I replied. But my wolf already said yes at the words before his words cameforth. 

"And you accept that you've now been stripped of any rights as regards the Eastwood park?" This part didn't go down well. Did he just say rights? This priest must be kidding because I don't remember having any right in this damn park. 

Anyway, I answered, "Yes, I do." 

A wave of relief washed down my body afterwards. 'Happy' won't do justice to how I felt. I had no inkling of where I am being shipped to but it feels nice to have been relieved of a huge burden.

The priest turned to my mate. He was still pissed that the whole thing had taken longer than expected. 

"Do you, Alpha Artemis Vasquez…"

My ears dropped dead when I heard the name 'Artemis' I'm getting married to the man who found pleasure in killing. I have heard the stories of how he tortured his victims and wiped out parks. Most importantly, I heard he kept records of his dead victims. Now I understood why Evelyn couldn't help but snicker when I took the stage. I bet she saw me in hell. 

I pulled myself backward, freeing my arms but careful enough to not incur his wrath. I can't risk being torn to pieces on my wedding day even though it would have taken all the pain away. Running isn't an option because my feet were numb, glued to the ground. 

My wolf only seems to get attracted to the murderer standing before me. And when the words 'I do' rang in my ears, my feet couldn't hold me anymore. I staggered a few steps backward before dropping to the floor. 

Death would have been better. At least better than being mated to someone who would probably tear me apart in my sleep. But when I awoke a few minutes later and in his arms, I knew even death couldn't save me.