Arranged to the Alpha

He’s dangerous. Our Alpha doesn’t have to warn me of this. I know. Danger radiates off him as I join the Alpha where he waits at the edge of our territory. I was among those who found the last pack he killed. Lily and I had been running through the forest, stretching our legs in the summer sun when we saw them. Or what was left of them anyway.Limbs were strewn over the ground, huge chunks of flesh taken out of them.They are cannibals, that much was clear. It’s a rumor that has been whispered about for some time now, but when I saw what they had done that day, I knew. This pack are cannibals and I can’t imagine what they will do to me and my pack if anything goes wrong. “Glad you finally decided to join me, Katia,” the Alpha says. “Now that I’ve chosen you, it’s time for a proper introduction. My name is Brandon. It’s charming to meet you.”It’s the first time I’ve ever heard his name. He’s only referred to as the Alpha among our pack. It’s just another one of his games he play

“Look,” he says. “Your new home!”People come out from various dens to see us as I’m led in front of my new pack. Their territory is much more impressive than ours. But it doesn’t feel like home. And I can tell from the moment I step in front of them that the people in this pack already loathe me. And I already loathe them.“This is Katia and she’s the one I’ve chosen for myself,” Brandon says. “After conquering many packs and sifting through the best, I’ve stumbled across her; someone who’s strong, feisty, yet cares in a way that’s detrimental to her but will be beneficial to us. “She is the one I’m looking for. She’s going to be my mate and your new Luna. I know she’ll make all of our lives better.”There are gasps in the crowd. And it doesn’t sound like they are in support of it.“This is stupid,” a young man says. “What are you thinking? Why would you choose someone from their pack when there are so many better choices here?”“She’s weak,” another says. “We don’t need her

"I can't," I say, desperately trying to come up with a good excuse even though I doubt I can find one. "My stomach is hurting.""Just take one sip,” Brandon urges me.I shake my head."Don't disobey me,” he warns. “Don't make me make you drink it.""I'm not thirsty, Brandon. Please. I really don't feel well.""I said one sip!"I'm frozen in place, staring at him. Brandon reaches down, puts his hand on my chest, and forces me to take the wine."Either drink the wine or explain why you won't," Brandon says.By now everyone is staring at us with amusement. No one but Brandon and I know exactly what's going on. But it isn't difficult to tell that it isn't anything good."I will after you do," I say. I'll die, but it'll be worth it to stop Brandon and get my revenge. "I'll try your wine after you do. We can even try it together if you’d like.”"Is that so?" he asks. I nod and he takes the goblet back. I hold my breath as he brings the goblet up to his lips.Then he stops."You

For now, I have no choice. I follow Brandon out of the cell and through the cave. Torches light the walls. Our footsteps echo in the most eerie way. It feels like we’re in our own world, locked away from everything else. No one can hear my screams."We can't go to the mating chamber tonight," I protest. "I just got here. It's not supposed to happen that quickly."Brandon laughs. "You’re a funny one, Katia. You're not in a position to make demands."You poisoned me. You tried to kill me. I'm not about to lose you or give you another chance to escape. We’re getting married tonight.“This is all your fault because you did it in front of my pack. You humiliated me. They'll doubt my choice of mate. So, I must do this to show them and you who's in charge."An image of Brandon and me mating fills my mind. No! No! No! I pushed the image away. "I refuse to mate with you," I said. "Don't think I will. You have nothing to hold over me anymore."Brandon laughs. "Are you sure about that

I’ve been traveling through the woods for a full day, yet I’m no closer to home than I was when I first started this journey. But this is the life I'm going to have to get used to. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it though. I doubt I’ll have the luxury of living like this for long anyway. Not once the rest of the pack learns about what happened to Brandon.I’m terrified of Brandon and his pack. I know they’ll find me and I don’t even want to think about what they’ll do to me once they do. I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure what direction to go in. I'm not sure how to escape them.A stranger gave up his life for me though. I’ve made it this far, so I can’t give up now. I have to at least try.The sounds of the forest become my companion as I listen carefully to any random shifts. I scan the shadows for any sign of Brandon or the rest of his pack, still unsure if he’s dead or not.And I try to figure out where to go. With my whole pack demolished, there's no home for me to