LISA’S POV
“Alpha Asher is a monster,” Caleb said, his voice low and filled with fear. “He doesn’t care about us humans. His only concern is his pack and the power he wields over others. He demands payment from us every month for his so-called protection. But what happens if we can’t afford it? What if we run out of money or resources? What then?”I felt a cold shiver run down my spine as I listened to my brothers, Jax and Max, along with their friend Caleb, discuss Alpha Asher. He was the formidable leader of the Red Moon pack, a werewolf of such ruthlessness that it was almost beyond comprehension.Yet, it was this very individual upon whom we, as mere humans, relied for protection against the night crawlers—creatures of the night with a gruesome appetite for blood and human flesh. The stark absurdity of our predicament did not escape me."He's not the only monster," Jax said, his voice bitter and angry. "The night crawlers are just as bad, if not worse. They're the reason why we need his protection in the first place."“But at what cost?” Max asked, his voice filled with weariness and sadness. “Every month, we must pay him in gold, when we merely have enough to stay alive. We are forced to sacrifice a part of ourselves to appease the beast who holds our lives in his grasp.”From their words, it was clear that striking a deal with Alpha Asher was our only hope for survival. However, it came at a huge price. We were obligated to make a monthly payment in gold or else face his wrath.He was the one who decided our fate, and he had no mercy for those who disobeyed him or tried to escape his rule. I found myself wondering: What would be our fate if we were to default on our payment? Caleb’s answer sent a chill down my spine—death."Are you serious?" I asked, incredulous. "We have to pay him every month, or he'll let those monsters attack us."Caleb nodded with a grim expression. “Indeed,” he said, “He’s the only one who can hold them off. After all, he is the Alpha—the most powerful werewolf in the world.”I felt a surge of anger and fear. "But that’s not fair! Why should we have to live in fear of the alpha wolf and his pack, or even the night crawler that haunts our village? Why can’t we fight back?"Jax shook his head. "Don't be foolish, sis. You know we can't. We're no match for them. They're faster, stronger, and more vicious than us. They have claws, teeth, and supernatural powers. We have nothing.""How long has this been going on?" I asked, hoping for a glimmer of hope as I looked between all three of them.Jax, my eldest brother, responded with a bitter laugh. "Forever, sis, forever. We were born into this, and we’ll die in this. There’s no escape. There’s simply no other way."I was overcome by a wave of anger and despair. Could this be our reality? How could we endure such conditions? How could we reconcile this? Was there truly no alternative?I wanted to argue, to protest, to rebel. But I knew it was useless. Jax and Max, my eldest brothers, knew better than me. They had seen more than me. I decided to keep quiet. I decided to follow their lead and survive. That was all we could do. That was all we had left.Max put his arm around me. "It's okay, sis. We'll be fine. We've always managed to pay him on time. We just have to scraps everything this time and pray it’s enough. It's better than the alternative."I shuddered, remembering the stories I had heard about what happened to those who failed to pay. They were dragged to the arena, where they were torn apart by the night crawlers, while the Alpha and his pack watched with amusement. It was a fate worse than death itself.After breakfast, I retreated to the solitude of my room, but rest eluded me. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each more terrifying than the last. What would happen if we were to default on our payment? The thought was too horrifying to contemplate.As night fell, we prepared ourselves and made our way to the arena. This was where each family was required to present their payment. Jax, being the eldest, joined the queue to make the payment while Max and I waited anxiously by the side.We watched as the Alpha representative turned and tossed some of the villagers’ coin pouches to the ground, dismissing them as being too small or unworthy for the Alpha, before the villagers were dragged away to be killed.I clenched Max’s hand, praying our fate would differ. When Jax’s turn came, Alpha’s representative callously dismissed our offering, deeming it insufficient.Max collapsed to his knees, imploring the representative that we had given all we could and vowing to provide the remainder at the earliest opportunity.“Please, sir, I implore you to show mercy. This is all we possess. Day and night, we’ve toiled to gather enough. I give you my word; we’ll pay the remainder next month. I beg you; spare us this time.”The representative sneered. “Do you think I’m stupid? Or that I would fall for your lies? You’ve been neglecting your duties, haven’t you? You’ve been squandering your resources on frivolous pursuits, like whores. How disappointing.”I felt a pang of guilt when I realized that my brother was getting into trouble because of me. I had been suffering from a fever for the past few days, and my brother had bought me some medicine to relieve my pain.They had sacrificed their share of the payment for me. I felt tears sting my eyes as I looked at Jax, who was still begging for his life.The representative shook his head, "I’m sorry, but you’ve failed to meet your obligation. You’re aware of the rules and the consequences. Now, you must face the night crawlers." Turning to the guards, he ordered, "Take him away."Two burly men grabbed Max by the arms and dragged him towards the arena gate, where the night crawlers were waiting, hungry and eager. I locked eyes with Jax as the same time he whispered my name, and I felt a surge of panic and desperation.I couldn’t let them take him away. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. He was my brother, the only family I had left aside from Max. I can’t afford to lose him either.Without thinking, I broke free from Max’s grip and ran forward. Falling to my knees before the representative, I begged for my brother’s life to be spared, offering mine in exchange. The arena fell silent as I knelt before him. “Please, sir, I implore you. Don’t harm him. He’s innocent, having committed no wrong. His actions were solely my fault . If punishment is necessary, let it fall on me. I was the one who fell ill. I should bear the consequences, not him. I beg you, release him. Please.”"Well, well, well. What do we have here?” the representative looked at me with a mixture of surprise and amusement. He tilted his head, as if considering my offer. Then he smiled—a cruel and wicked smile.“A brave little girl is willing to sacrifice herself for her brother. How noble, or should I say foolish?" He leaned down, his face inches from mine, his breath smelling of wine and garlic. I held back my revulsion as I watched his eyes gleam with malice.“You know what? I admire your courage, but I think I find your face even more appealing. I also appreciate the fact that you are audacious enough to do this. You’ve amused me, young lady. And for that, I’ll grant you your wish. I’ll spare your brother and take you instead.”He seized me by the hair, hoisting me from my knees. A sharp pain pierced my scalp as he hauled me towards the arena gate. I caught sight of Max’s face, contorted with horror and sorrow, and Jax’s, paralyzed in shock and disbelief.“What have you done, Lisa?” Max yelled as he scrambled forward. But before he could reach me, he was restrained by two guards.“Lisa, No!” Max tried to get past them as well, but he was knocked down and pressed to the ground. The tears I had been trying to hold back finally broke free as I wailed for my family. It was already bad enough that I was being dragged to that hell, but seeing my brothers getting hurt broke my heart terribly.As I got pushed further towards the part of the arena, I knew that I might never see my family again. But at that moment, all I could think about was keeping them safe, even if it meant sacrificing myself.LISA POV“Move it, you filthy rat!” The guard shoved me forward, his boot kicking the heel of my shoe roughly from behind. This caused me to stumble a few feet, and I barely caught myself before I fell. My knee scraped against the gravel, its sharpness cutting my flesh open.I whimpered in pain as I struggled back on my feet, the gravel continued to crunch under my feet, the sound mocking me with each step I took.I couldn’t stop to soothe my injured knee, even if I wanted to. The pain was insignificant compared to the fate that awaited me. I knew my destination, but I harbored no regrets about taking my brother’s place. The Night Crawlers’ gladiatorial pit, a place where they cast their captives to face a cruel fate, was where I was headed. It was the place where I would meet my end tonight.As we approached the pit, I noticed something peculiar. The guard escorting me turned left, away from the entrance. He led me in a different direction, towards a cluster of tents situated just ou
JONAS POVI felt a strange tingling in my spine as I walked into my tent. It was like a swarm of needles pricking my skin, warning me of the impending storm. I had prepared myself for a clash, a fierce struggle, but what I saw was something I did not expect.She kneeled on the cold stone floor, her hands clasped in prayer. Her body was hunched over, her shoulders shaking slightly as she whispered pleas into the silence. It was a scene I had not seen in ages, and it awakened a long-buried emotion in the depths of my soul. A touch of nostalgia, as I heard her whisper a prayer. A prayer to the God who had forsaken us, the God who permitted our kind to be hunted and slaughtered. It was a prayer that stirred a long-forgotten emotion within me: pity.“How utterly unbelievable,” I muttered.I watched her rise, her movements as frantic as a frightened fawn. Her eyes, wide with fear, scanned the room. Yet, there was a spark—a glint of something indefinable—that piqued my interest. It wasn’t
Lisa povWith a sense of impending dread settling over me like a heavy cloak, I watched as Jonas paced back and forth in front of me. His every step seemed to echo in the silence of the tent, each one bringing him closer to revealing his true intentions.I wanted to run to escape this nightmare, but I knew there was no way out. Whatever fate awaited me, I would have to face it head-on.Finally, Jonas stopped his pacing and turned to face me once more, his expression unreadable. “you have been chosen, Lisa Bonnet,” he said, his voice low and menacing.“Chosen for what?” I asked, my voice barely rising above a whisper. Despite my fear of the answer, I was still compelled to know my fate.Jonas smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes as he flexed his shoulders. "Chosen to be my mate, of course. You will become one of us."My heart sank upon hearing his words. I had been privileged to tales of werewolves who mated exclusively with their kind. The thought of a human being forced into such a uni
ASHER’S POVI had thought it was a brilliant idea to send Jonas, my brother, to the human village for the annual collection. I hoped that by exposing him to their culture and their kindness, he would learn to respect them as equals, not as enemies.Jonas had always harbored a deep hatred for humans, viewing them as weak, worthless, and undeserving of sharing our world. He frequently expressed his desire to eradicate them and to claim their lands and resources for our kind. He failed to understand that we needed them as much as they relied on us for protection.As the Alpha of our pack, I bore the responsibility of maintaining peace and balance among our races, a task that Jonas complicated with his reckless actions and words. However, as hours passed since Jonas’s departure, I began to question my decision. What if he stirred up trouble in the village? What if he harmed or even killed any humans?I tried to push these thoughts away, trusting that Jonas would behave himself and heed my
ASHERS POVI stood rooted to the spot, my feet as heavy as lead and my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. The air was thick with tension, and the silence in the room was almost deafening.Before me stood Kiara, my mate, her presence as startling as a bolt of lightning in a clear sky. I had thought her lost, swallowed by the cruel hands of fate, yet here she was, as alive and vibrant as the day we first met.Her eyes, wide and filled with surprise, were a mirror of my shock. We stood there, locked in a silent standoff, the air between us charged with a thousand unspoken words. My heart continued to hammer against my ribcage, a wild rhythm that echoed the chaos of my thoughts."Kiara," I managed to choke out, my voice barely more than a whisper in the heavy silence. "How are you here? How did you survive?" I wanted to reach out to her, to touch her, to make sure she was real. But I was afraid—afraid that this might be a dream.The girl I had believed to be Kiara merely shook her he
JONAS POVI watched Asher's face as he saw Lisa for the first time. His eyes widened, his mouth dropped slightly, and his breath caught in his throat. He looked like he had seen a ghost. And in a way, he had. Lisa was the ghost of Kiara, the woman he loved—the woman who had chosen him over me. The woman who had broken my heart without a second thought.I reveled in the sweet taste of revenge, a surge of power pulsating through my veins. The sight of Lisa, Kiara’s doppelgänger, was a torment to Asher, a deliciously cruel thorn in his side that would pierce his heart more deeply than any blade. No joy could compare to the satisfaction seeping through me. I was awash with a rush of power and pleasure, relishing in the knowledge that I was causing him pain and that I was the architect of his suffering.I had been plotting this for what felt like an eternity, ever since the day I stumbled upon Lisa amid the bustling human village. She was the ideal instrument for my vengeance, the flawles
JONAS POV“Lisa, are you listening?” I asked, my voice icy and authoritative. “These are the rules you must adhere to if you wish to survive. Acknowledge with a nod if you understand.”Lisa nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. “Yes, I understand,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She understood and accepted her fate as my mate. She accepted that she was Kiara, and above all, she accepted her insignificance.I felt a surge of triumph surge through me as I watched Lisa nod her head obediently to my rules. It was akin to a hot wave of adrenaline coursing through my veins, a victorious roar echoing in the depths of my chest.Finally, I had something in my grasp—a weapon, a tool, not of steel or stone but of raw, unadulterated truth—that could truly torment Asher. A weapon that could sear him with the same burning pain that had been gnawing at my soul, my constant, relentless companion all this time.All my life, our father, Alpha King Regan, has consistently favored Asher
LISA POV"Tell me again; what do you want me to do?" I asked, my voice trembling.Jonas leaned closer, his breath searing my ear. "It’s simple, really," he murmured. "All you need to do is impersonate Kiara, the beloved of my dear brother, Asher”“What? Are you insane?” I gasped, feeling the blood drain from my face completely, as if I had turned into a ghost.I couldn’t comprehend the depth of Jonas’s hatred for his brother or his desire to destroy him. Their shared past was a dark and tangled mess, brimming with secrets and deception. But one thing was certain: I was trapped in the crossfire of their conflict, a sacrificial lamb for their cause. Given everything that had transpired, it was clear to me who the instigator was between the two men.I flashed back to the moment Asher burst into the room. His eyes, wide with an initial shock, quickly softened into noticeable relief. He pulled me into his arms, his chest vibrating with a low growl. The sound was so primal that it sent shi