Chapter 001

Lumi's Point of View

A naked man lay chained on the cold, rusty bed.

AlphaElian. Just the name caused shudders in werewolves.

Drugged and unconscious, he had no idea I had tightly cocked his wrists and ankles to the iron frame.

We were cut off from the rest of the dark room as I pulled the heavy curtain closed. My hands shook as I tore off my clothes.

Today is the thirty-fifth day I have been a slave thrown into Frostborne Pack.

Unless I could figure something out, thirty-five more years still lie ahead.

And tonight this was the only approach.

His body changed the instant my bra dropped on the floor.

"Who’s there?"

Though rough, his voice was clear and alert.

"Who Are you?"

I halted. His black eye blinded him so he couldn't see me. Still, his body battled the restraint.

"leila? Is that yours?

I staggered almost backwards. He gave my actual name without even looking at me.

"Get off, Lumi! Get out!"

Nothing was said by me. I was not free for questions.

Right now, the Frostborne Pack was looking for him everywhere. Nobody would guess a poor Slave like me had dared to kidnap their ferocious Alpha.

Kidnapped him for a reason so heinous it broke my heart.

I ascended to the top of him.

I grabbed his thick, hard shaft without thinking and drove myself down on it.

The suffering divided me in half. My body went screaming.

Blood started to trickle down my thighs.

That's done. I had ceased to be a virgin.

I was crushed in pain. Tears washing his bare skin, I fell onto his wide chest.

Whispering "Alpha Elian," choked on my own sobs, "please... please let me carry your child."

My words lacked any heat. Only a burning hunger for revenge.

Flashback: My First Day in Packhouse Frostbourne

"Get your dirty backsides ready!"

The strong voice of a Guard startled me.

"Is everyone deaf?"

Arto, the massive Guard with the greasy mustache, whipped the floor. Slaves in two lines stood shaking.

"Pants off, I said! Right now!"

One man who was skinny stopped. The whip swung across his face, flinging teeth and blood across the stone floor.

I whimpered before I could stop myself.

"You!"

I stiffened as the whip swung toward the bony man behind me.

"Hands down!" Suddenly!

When it was not me, relief came flooding in.

Arto rushed across, his whip cutting right into the man's knee. He dropped and started to scream in agony.

Arto crouched low, digging into the man's backside with two filthy fingers.

There was a scream tearing across the space.

When he yanked his hand free, a small, filthy pouch fell to the floor. One spilled powder.

The man cried, diving for it, "Give it back!"

"Stinking mess!"

The boot of the Guard smashed across his ribs. Not once more. Once more here. Until the man balled himself into a crying sphere.

Arto tore off his cap and pointed at every one of us.

"Anyone stashing anything else in your bloody arses? Hey? Whether you like it or not, you scum will lead moral lives here!"

"Every one of you is a Rogue. all criminals. That explains why you are here!

Right now, strip! Each and every last one of you!"

The words set my stomach to turn over with anxiety.

Stripe?

no.

Certainly not.

The only girl there was me.

Wearing ragged men's clothing, my hair pulled under a dirty cap, I had passed for a lad so far.

But should they learn about it...

Frostborne Pack wrote this. A den of the worst offenders in the world of werewolves. Not set any guidelines. No pity.

"Stop! Now!"

My tummy knotted up like hell. I started to dry out slowly.

Every Guard's eye turned to me.

"You!"

The ship turned straight for me.

I started to back off. Terror bit my throat.

Arto grabbed my shoulder agonizingly and surged ahead like a mad beast.

"You hiding something, you little rat?"

I stared at his brown-stained fingers. I started to salivate more forcefully.

"Urgh!--—"

I doubled over, once more gassing.

"open your mouth!"

I shook my head hard and pushed my lips together.

Those fingers had been inside a dirty body. I couldn't. I would rather die.

"what's happening here?"

A deep, commanding voice sliced through the air.

Relief and dread flooded me all at once.

Alpha Eilian.

The man walked up. His black boots landed on the floor in time with my throbbing pulse.

I turned to look up at him.

Standing tall. sharp elements. Like frozen lakes, piercing blue eyes are.

Long golden hair tied back loosely, he looked absolutely out of place among the filthy criminals.

But my astonishment descended more deeply.

I recognized him.

I saw his face in a faded class picture with my boyfriend, Kael, seven years ago.

His looks had been amazing even then. The boyishness had disappeared now, replaced by cold violence.

This man could wipe me out.

In front of me, he stopped.

"Name," he answered straightforwardly.

My body came to a stop.

Bark, Arto barked, slamming his whip against my rear.

Pain shot across my flesh. I almost tripped into Elian, but he turned away with contempt.

"Leo," I said, forcing my voice low and scratchy.

Not under my actual name. Lumas. I had to keep that secret.

"She is a Rogue?!" Elian asked, his voice just barely gentle.

my heart stopped.

She said he.

Arto missed the error, though.

Surely! From the Silver Aurora Pack. But foul! Alpha, he is not at all like you.

Elian's eyelids sloppily dropped.

"Which crime?"

"drug trafficking!" a whole crate full of it! Lifelong sentence!"

I did not! Before I could stop myself, I yelled. "I was framed! I need a lawyer!

"You dare yell?" Arto again swung the whip at me.

"Enough, Arto," Elian orders.

From my face, the whip stopped inches away.

"The King is visiting for a review. Do not leave marks," he advised coolly.

Yes, Alpha.

Elian stared at me as though he were examining some bad meat.

"What happened?" "He started to throw up. He probably hid narcotics inside."

I did not! I started to cry; my voice broke. "I am just hungry"—

The whip really hit my ribs.

You cannot get to talk!

"Enough,"

Elian grabbed the back of my collar out of the blue and raised me clean off the floor.

I hung lifelessly.

His hand pushed my mouth open by gripping my chin.

I fretted and whirled my head, but his fingers tightened.

As his gloved fingers pushed inside, the leather smelled strong.

I started to salivate right away.

Tears distorted my sight as he pushed farther, mercilessly exploring the rear of my throat.

Desperate for breath, I grabbed at his wrist.

He persisted, though.

His fingers stroked my tongue, palate, and throat, looking.

More than any whip, the humiliation burned.

Finally, I started to retch fiercely.

Just before I passed nothing but bitter spit, he drew his hand back.

My knees fell to the floor. I tremor, convulsed, heaving.

Two days I had eaten nothing at all.

I had been celebrating a holiday with Kael one week ago. Then he disappeared.

Our funds disappeared. The police then arrived.

They took me under arrest.

Referred to me as a Rogue.

Charges me without proof.

Before they dumped me into the truck headed for Frostborne Pack, I spent half a day in a cold cell.

Among hundreds of horrible offenders, I shucked behind a corner and shook.

I kept my head down, dirtied my face, and put on Kael's old jacket.

I expected he would come save me.

Yet he never did.

As Elian's chilly voice dropped another directive on me, I cleaned the spit and tears from my face.

"Turn around."

I stopped, frozen.

"Get underdone."

My heart throbbed with terrible pain.

I stared up at him, trembling, broken, and terrified.