Chapter 2 Lena's Pov

How they gripped me made it obvious that I wouldn't be escaping anytime soon.

"What the hell is going on, Damian?" I shouted, struggling against the iron grip of the two gammas holding me from behind. My heart pounded, and panic clawed at my chest.

Damian stood a few feet away, his gaze as cold and unreadable as ever.

The man I had once believed was my fated mate, now looked at me with nothing but indifference.

He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples as if I were nothing more than a nuisance. "Don't make this harder than it has to be, Lena."

"Harder?"

My breath hitched. What the hell was he talking about?

I jerked against the gammas' hold, but their fingers dug into my arms.

"Let me go! What's happening?"

Damian's jaw clenched, but he didn't move to stop them. Instead, he tilted his head toward the looming figure beside him. A man I hadn't even noticed in my panic.

The man exuded an aura so commanding that the air in the room seemed to tremble around him. His presence sent a shiver down my spine before I even fully registered who he was.

His dark, calculating eyes met mine. A gaze so piercing it made my knees weak, his expression void of emotions.

I recognized him immediately.

Alpha Kyler.

The name alone sent fear lancing through my chest. The ruthless Alpha of the Silver Fang Pack. The man whose name was whispered in terror across the werewolf realm.

Kyler chuckled a low and dangerous sound that made the hair on the back of my neck rise. "Did you think you could stay in this pack forever, unwanted?" His voice was smooth filled with mockery.

"Your pack is owing me and you are the price" he thundered, with a voice laced with finality.

My pulse thundered. "I am not some object to be traded! You can't do this to me!"

But my protest was useless. The gammas tightened their grip as I thrashed, my nails scraping against their skin. One of them growled and yanked my arms behind my back, forcing me still.

Kyler took a step closer, his gaze raked over me, as though assessing me.

"You're not in a position to negotiate, Lena."

I turned back to Damian, my vision blurring with unshed tears. "Please, don't do this." I hated how my voice shook, how weak I sounded. But I wasn't begging for myself. I was begging for the life I was about to lose.

For a fleeting moment, something flickered in Damian's eyes, regret? Guilt? But it was gone just as quickly, replaced with the same detached expression he always wore when looking at me.

"This is for the best,"

"The pack is owing a lot of debts so I decided to do this, Kyler would be needing you, he needs a she-wolf from the Bloodthorn pack to bear him pups and you are the perfect fit," he said flatly.

I let out a strangled laugh, hysteria bubbling in my chest. "You rejected me, and now you're selling me off like cattle?" My voice dripped with disbelief and venom.

Kyler smirked, clearly enjoying my outburst. "If it's any consolation, Lena, I paid a high price for you."

His words made my blood turn to ice.

"Take her," Kyler ordered.

The gammas didn't hesitate. They began dragging me toward the exit, my feet stumbling as I fought against their hold. "No! You can't do this! I belong here!"

"You belong to me now," Kyler corrected smoothly.

I twisted my head back, one last desperate glance at Damian."Damian, don't do this! Please.."

But he didn't move, neither did he say a word. He just stood there, watching as I was dragged away.

And that silence shattered me more than anything else.

*****

After three hours...

I scanned the room thoroughly immediately, my eyes snapped open.

I was not in the Silvermoon pack. The walls were a testament to that. My heart still raced from the brutal reality that I had been sold like a piece of property.

The gammas who had dragged me here hadn't even bothered to be gentle. They shoved me inside before slamming the door shut, the finality of the sound ringing in my ears.

I had no idea where I was, no idea what he planned to do with me.

And worst of all, I had no idea how the hell to escape.

I paced the room, scanning for anything that could help me. But there was nothing except for a large bed, a single window that was bolted shut, and a dresser with a few objects scattered on top.

I clenched my fists, swallowing down the lump in my throat. I wouldn't let Alpha Kyler, that monster, think I was weak.

Just as the thought crossed my mind, the door creaked open.

And he walked in.

His presence sucked all the air out of the room, and I hated how my body tensed in response.

"You're finally awake," Kyler said smoothly, his lips curving into a smirk. He stepped closer, his every move deliberate, calculated.

"Welcome home, little puppet."

The word sent a violent shiver through me. My entire body stiffened as anger surged in my veins. "I am not your puppet," I spat, my voice laced with defiance.

Kyler chuckled, the sound low and amused. "You are exactly what I say you are."

My eyes flickered with anger. I wouldn't let him control me nor be his plaything

My gaze darted to the dresser, and before I could think twice, my fingers closed around the sharp letter opener resting on top.

With one swift motion, I turned and lunged.

I aimed straight for his chest, my heart pounding so hard I thought I might burst. But Kyler was too fast to catch the object.

The moment our bodies collided, everything stopped.

A shockwave rippled through me, and an unfamiliar scent crashed into my senses, My fingers slackened around the weapon, my entire body trembling as warmth spread through my skin, as if the universe itself had branded me with an undeniable truth.

Kyler inhaled sharply. His hands were on my wrists now, holding me still, his grip bruising but not cruel. His smirk had vanished.

We both stared at each other, realization sinking in.

" No, this couldn't be true" I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Mate.." he whispered and before I could say jack, my vision went blurred as though all the blood had been drained out of me and then slowly, I gave into darkness.

****

A dull ache pulsed at the back of my skull as I stirred awake. My body felt heavy, my limbs sluggish, as if I had been drugged.

I sucked in a breath, my heart racing. How long had I been out?

My gaze flicked to the ornate clock on the far wall. Four hours. I had wasted four hours sleeping while trapped in my enemy's den.

I sat up quickly, ignoring the headache pounding behind my temples. My pulse hammered as I scanned the room. I need to get out now.

I shoved the blankets off me and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. My bare feet met cold wooden floors, sending a shiver up my spine but there was no time to hesitate.

I rushed toward the door and twisted the knob but it was locked. I gritted my teeth, yanking harder, but it wouldn't budge.

I spun on my heels, searching for another way. Then my gaze caught the windows.

I dashed toward the heavy curtains and yanked them apart. My stomach twisted as I stared at it. Reinforced glass. No hinges. No way to pry it open.

Damn it.

I turned to the closet, it was empty and then the bathroom? No vents big enough to crawl through. Every possible exit had been designed to keep me trapped. Kyler had planned this but I refuse to be caged.

The moon goddess must have been playing an expensive joke to mate with a ruthless Alpha.

Desperation fueled me as I searched again, my hands skimming over every corner. Then I spotted a vent near the ceiling. It was small, but big enough for me.

I grabbed a nearby chair and climbed onto it, pushing at the cover. It was screwed in tight, but I kept prying, forcing my fingers into the edges. The metal bent slightly, and with one last shove, it popped loose.

I didn't hesitate.

I squeezed into the narrow space, my breath shallow as I crawled forward. The air inside was thick with dust, making it hard to breathe, but I pushed on.

After what felt like forever, I reached an opening. I peeked through, scanning the hallway below it was empty.

I slipped out carefully, landing softly on the floor. My heart thundered in my chest as I crept forward, every muscle in my body coiled tight with fear.

Then I heard it. It was faint at first but as I drew closer, it became louder.

The moans from intimacy.

"Take me,"

"Harder, ahh..ahh, deeper"

My stomach clenched in disgust.

The sounds were coming from behind a set of double doors down the hall which I detected to be Kyler's room.

A sharp, bitter taste filled my mouth. Of course, he was in there with someone else, already entertaining another woman while I was locked away.

I shouldn't care but I wondered why I was beginning to feel hurt.

"He can do whatever he wishes for all I care, I have bigger things to worry about" I muttered under my breath, consoling myself.

I forced my legs to move, swallowing the lump in my throat. I wasn't about to waste another second.

Finally, I reached another opening. I peeked through. The hallway below was empty, perfect the way I wanted.

I slipped out, landing softly on the floor. My heart pounded with adrenaline as I crept forward, carefully and quietly.

I was a few meters away from the entrance door when I heard a voice.

"Going somewhere, little wolf?"

My body froze in shock.