Chapter 3 The Gift

Atasha’s POV

I witnessed a great slaughter as soon as I left our house. Bloods and dead bodies were all over the place, houses were burned by the fire and cries could be heard anywhere. I looked above the night sky and it was aglow with the full moon shining brightly as if the Moon Goddess approved this tragedy.

As I took a few steps while roaming my eyes to the horrible end of our small community, Crimson’s pack suddenly appeared and surrounded me like a criminal being cornered. Some of them were still in their human forms while the others have shifted into their ferocious wolves.

My gaze darted on Alpha Samuel, whose body was beaten up to death, on his bent knees while tied up. Our Alpha got defeated, this means that our pack is doomed.

Two warriors held my arms. I tried to pull them off but they were so strong that a slight move could already break my bones.

“I-I’ll come with you,” I announced firmly, fisting my hand to get all the courage I needed to face these dangerous wolves. “But you have to do what you promised . . . that you’ll give our pack the peace we want! That there will be no war between us from now on!”

My decision to be Astrid’s replacement is final as this is the only way I can protect her from any harm. If becoming a slave to the new Alpha is the only way I can save my sister, I won’t hesitate even a bit. Comparing her life to mine, hers has more essence.

She needs to live . . . that’s how I love her so dearly.

I looked back at our house. I hope our father will do the right thing this time. I let him escape with my twin sister in his arms so that no one from the Crimson will be able to harm them.

“I like your sudden bravery, young pup.”

A tall man with a ruthless spartan-like physique slowly walked towards me. He was in full armor clothes that scream dominance and power. I didn’t even have to guess who he was. Based on his glowing red pair of eyes, pointed fangs and lethal aura, I know that he’s Alpha Gregory, the old leader of our rivals, which our pack has been trying to defeat, but to no avail.

“I need your assurance, Alpha,” I stated, biting my tongue to fight the fear that’s trying to creep in me. “N-No more wars. . . .”

He touched my chin and made me look up at him. “For now, yes.”

My eyes widened with his remarks. “No, that’s not what my father told me! The peace needs to be perma–”

“Tie her up. Blindfold her eyes and tape her mouth. I don’t want to hear loud whines on our way home,” he ordered in full authority.

From the scent of smoke, down to the scent of mist in the forest . . . chilling road and then the sunlight slowly burning my skin after a long time, it took me hours of walking barefoot until I heard them singing a triumph song, indicating that we reached their territory.

“Slave, welcome to your new hell, the Crimson Moon’s territory,” said by the Alpha who laughed devilishly before I heard the metal gates open.

***

ALMOST an hour passed and I could still see the darkness of being blindfolded. The Alpha ordered his men to take me in the ‘cage’. My heart was pounding aggressively inside my chest. The hallway where we were walking was so silent and cold that it made me feel so bothered.

One of them walked towards me and finally removed the garments in my head. My eyes immediately roamed around the cell I’m in. Everything is painted black. The little sunlight coming from the window was the only thing that lightened up the place a bit. It’s cold and every wall is whispering death . . .

“Pup, this will be your room, the same place you’re gonna die eventually,” said the werewolf who forcibly removed the tape on my mouth.

I groaned and glared at him.

“Should I be scared now?” I talked back bravely, as I gathered all my strength not to stutter. I don’t want them to see that I am afraid of them. If they see me trembling even a little bit, they would try to scare me more.

A warrior ran towards me and pulled my hair. “How dare you talk back to our Beta that way? You’re just a fuckin’ slave from the pack we defeated. You’re good as a hopeless dog from now on, don’t you know about that?”

“Oh, thanks for reminding me about it. That’s very kind of you,” I said in full sarcasm.

“Brace yourself, slave. The soon-to-be Alpha will devour you soon.” Beta grabbed the black garment and put it back in my head.

I was just lying down on the cold ground, growing tired as a lot of thoughts were whirling through my head. I stayed there, crying myself to sleep until I heard heavy footsteps walking towards my cage.

I heard them unlocking the cell door which made me get up despite my weak and trembling body.

They entered the cell. My breath hitched when I felt that someone knelt in front of me. And when he sighed, my heart started to thump aggressively.

“What the hell did they do, Joaquin?” He asked. His deep voice sounds ruthless but euphonic at the same time. I never heard such a comforting voice like his before . . .

Who is he? Why does he sound . . . concerned?

He removed the rope tied on my wrist. I was relieved the moment my hands were both freed. His large veiny hands then removed the garment on my head.

I gasped upon seeing the face of this unfamiliar werewolf in front of me. For an unknown reason, I turned red when his wayfarer-blue eyes glanced at me. This is the first time that I have seen a werewolf this close. It looks like we are the same age, even though he has facial hair. His eyes squinted; I guess I had already looked at him for a long time and more than I should. What did I do? My hands were shaking, and I embraced myself as I felt nervous. His face comes closer and closer. I'm not yet ready to die.

"State your name," he commanded as his eyes were still locked in mine; it's as if it's trying to connect through me. I could no longer look at him as I felt beads of sweat on my forehead keep pouring in. My rapid heartbeat is the only sound that I'm hearing right now.

"You heard the soon-to-be Alpha. State your name, young lady," said the other werewolf behind him, who seems to be his servant. I came back to my senses and tried to open my mouth.

"M-My name is . . ." I swallowed the lump in my throat as I tried to gaze at his piercing eyes. "A-Atasha . . . f-from the Silver Moon pack."

"Atasha . . ." he repeated, which made me more nervous. Why does my name sound endearing when he says it? I want to hear it again.

His cold gaze is screaming danger, complete destruction . . . yet I don't know why I feel a sense of comfort. Something inside me is telling me that I am safe now. But why?

He is the soon-to-be Alpha, the same werewolf who will own me.

"Y-Yes . . ." I said with my mouth running dry.

"Joaquin, let's walk her to my room so she can take a bath. Call the pack doctor to treat her wounds. She won't heal on her own." The side of his lips curled up; a ghost of a smile escaped from it that made me confused a bit.

Does he know I can't shift?

"You also need to prepare good clothes for her. She's my guest. She'll be joining me in the banquet later."

"But she's–"

"That's an order. She should join us. She's a birthday gift to me, after all.”