Chapter 3 HER RITUAL

" Hello, young girl. Remind me of your name" Alpha Herrick said in a commanding tone just as we got to his mansion. His deep voice sent horror down my spine, but I had to remain in my state of comfort.

" Elena!" I responded sarcastically, burying my face on the floor.

" Hope you know why you are here?" Alpha Herrick asked and furrowed his brows indignantly at me.

I muttered silently before I whispered, " No". I knew my stepfather had sold me out to him but I never knew what a brutal and cowardly man like him have to do with me in his pack.

Alpha Herrick smiled. He removed his cigarette smoke and lit up a stick of it. He puffed it onto my face, making me cough uncontrollably. I covered my nose as the smoke affect my breath, it was as if my breath had been seized. Smoking is what I hated right from time not because I was a doctor but because of my conviction about it. My dad always told me that smoking reduces one's values and self -esteem which I reasoned well with him.

" Do you smoke?" Alpha Herrick asked expectantly.

" No" I muttered and looked at him with a sassy look.

He curled his lips disdainfully as if he was disappointed in me. " Well, In case you don't know why you are here, I have bought you hundreds of silvers from your stepfather"

He grabbed my wrist and drew me closer to himself as I tried to dodge the smoke particles around him. He looked into my eyes and said, "You are now my mistress, and ......." He put one of his fingers in his mouth and completed, "My anything. I can use you for anything I want in as much as I have purchased you"

" I hate you, coward!" I spilled hot but I didn't dare to say it out. It was an expression inside of me.

I was in distant thought over his speech, sad enough for him to detect. I felt like a huge part of me had died, something inside of me had stopped breathing whenever his words resounded in my ears again. Finally, I had begun to feel the hardship of hell called life remaining for me.

" You may be released on one condition," Alpha Herrick said, sticking out his tongue childishly.

I finally breathed relentlessly for the first time since he had told me about me being his mistress. I taught I would be his pet forever, I never knew he would give me a chance for my freedom once again.

" What condition?" I asked quickly in my rage, expecting to hear what condition it could be. Whereas, he felt so relaxed than ever before he answered,

" You must give me a male child, once you are fortunate enough to do this, I would allow you to leave my pack to wherever you like and also a huge amount of money for compensation"

I wanted to say something, anything at all but it seemed my word was stuck in my throat. I looked into his eyes and found out how deeply he meant his words. I froze in place and my uneven breath was the only evidence that I was still alive.

Two blonde ladies walked towards us. They were looking so gorgeous in their enormous wine attires. In their hands were beads and costly pieces of jewelry dangling and shining as they approached us. I observed them from their toes to their head and gushed over their resplendent look.

" Do you like them?" Alpha Herrick asked as he caught me blushing over their attires.

His irritating voice sneaked into my ears and my chortles vanished with an immediate alacrity.

" Why did you ask?" I asked in pretense as if I never liked them whereas my feelings could not be hidden.

But before he answered, I quickly added, "Are they your mistresses too?"

" No, they are your maids! I have assigned them to take care of you till you give birth" he added surreptitiously.

Alpha Herrick sounded so caring but I could read deceit in his voice. He was up to something with all these sudden kindnesses of his. Little did he know that I had read about how wicked, manipulative, and domineering he was.

" My king!" The two blonde ladies echoed and greeted Alpha Herrick. They were looking at me too as if my coming to the Crescent moon pack had been long anticipated.

Tade, one of the blonde ladies cleared her throat and said, "You look so beautiful"

And just before I appreciate her deference the other lady added, "You are the most beautiful wolf I have ever seen in my life"

I blushed and finally let my cheeks wave in excitement. I knew I was beautiful but I never imagined I was as beautiful as these blondes claimed. Well, it was a drop of honey on my ego.

" Take her in for refreshments. She is my new mistress" Alpha Herrick said. Just after his statement, the two blondes made a scary gesture that took my attention. This recent statement of Alpha Herrick harmed their body.

Alpha Herrick just said I was his new mistress. Does it mean he had some mistresses before me? If yes, why were they not with him in his mansion? Of course, I guessed his brutal and cruel act distanced ladies from him despite his position in the pack. The law of the country doesn't allow a forceful imposition. That means no he-wolf could force a she-wolf into marriage including the Alpha of the pack. The moon goddess had given us the grace to reject our mate if we don't like them and that might be the possible reason why Alpha Herrick was mateless. A he-wolf could only impose if he has purchased the she-wolf from her guardians which was rare unlike in my case.

All I was concerned about was why he had chosen to purchase me and chosen me as his mistress.

The two blondes seemed not to be as free as they claimed. I could see Tade's face engulfed with fear but she was trying to hide her fears. Alpha Herrick must have told them to hide his true identity.

The two blondes motioned me to a beautiful room. The room was gifted with nice interiors and designs. The bedsheet alone dismissed the knots In my belly and replaced them with beautiful roses of butterflies. I was becoming to like this place just because of what I was seeing. Even though I was yet to know the fishy reasons behind all these cares I was alert and ready for an upcoming betrayal. This was not the first time I would be betrayed and this can't be the last because his love seemed unreal. All he wanted from me was a male child and nothing more.