The dawn came sooner than I expected, changing smoky sky into colours of the Sun: amber, tawny, lemon and the clouds into cotton candy made of tufts with the light shade of fuchsia. I have always loved sitting in the garden full of forget-me-nots, daisies and my favourites, bluebells, while the Beta's family was still asleep, and dreaming about the freedom and the world without ranks, superiors and slaves, the world without fear of speaking and being heard, the world built on equality and respect, the world we will never have.

Today was different. No house. No garden. No dreaming.

We were somewhere in the forest, walking or running, still in the motion. Little Jacob sitting on the broad shoulders of his father, Alexandra carrying huge backpack full of clothes, shoes and a petite box of family memories: photographs, tapes...everything she had room for and I had only a crossbody bag filled with some snacks, mostly for Beta's son and me - the wolfs were much stronger than us, humans, their primal needs could be put aside in the order to safe energy, it was said that they could even block their human selfs and transformed into the wolfs running for weeks without swallowing a single flesh of meat - I handn't had that ability, I was only a burden, able to cross a few miles and lay down tired. The only thing I was doing, was slowing them down mile by mile, minute after minute, but Beta female insisted on taking me with them, for the reason unkown.

„When we will be there, daddy?" whispered voice of six year old filled with sleeping tiredness.

„Soon, son," Beta's answer was brief, simple merciful lie, but not convincing enough, not even for the child.

„How many trees we have to pass by? That and that one or, oh, this one, right?" I smiled on his impatience typical for every child, human or wolf. Beta wasn't that amused, not only a bit. „Stop it, Jacob," a slight growling sound erupted from his chest, „and be sile..." His words were absorbed by a powerful, dominate and intimidating howl. It lasted only a couple of seconds, but the power, anger and rage were strong enough to make us all violently shake with horror.

„What was it?" Stupid question. But I couldn't help it.

„Alpha," Alexandra looked at her husband, petrified, „he is here."

That meant only one thing. We were being chased.

I was prepared to run as fast as I could, imagined my legs moving, my breath being catched, lungs burned by oppressive pressure, but I didn't. No one did.

„Selene," serene yet desperate whisper adressed me, the syllables echoing through the deadly calm forest, „you need to run." I looked up, seeing worried face of the Beta Female.

I shook my head into denial. „N-no."

„Listen, Selene," I felt Alexandra's warm hands gripped mine, freezing ones, into strong hold, „I am giving you freedom," her voice broke a little, „You are free, Selene."

Boiling tears were streaming down my face: „What about you?" My teary eyes found petite sobbing figure, „What about Jacob?"

Beta Female sadly smiled at me: „We can't run, Selene. Our wolves are submitted to the Alpha's, our scents mixed with his, connection humans can't feel. There is no chance to escape him, especially now, when he is so close," her eyes slowly changed into the rough sea, „But he can't sense you, your scent is hidden from his power, because of the lacking bond, you have a chance. So run, Selene, run to the border and never look back."

I cried, sobbed, screamed in my own, quiet, inner way, but after hearing another howl, this time closer, and after a few last glances given in Jacob's direction, I did what I was told to do. I ran.

Minutes, maybe hours passed till I stopped, out of breath, sweat dripping down my back, light brown hair flying across my face, black glasses hazy and legs numb. I couldn't run anymore, I couldn't even move. So I only stood there and listened to the creaking of evergreens, twitter of birds and the wind singing it's cold melody. It all seemed placidly: no howls, no fear in the air, nothing...just silence. Silence before the storm.

But then, after moments of false calmness, came a scream: raw, terrified, hopeless, but most importantly, childish Jacob's scream.

Jacob was the only wolf within whose presence I felt safe and you could say that sometimes almost happy. When he made his first steps, I was there. When he said mama for the first time, I was there. When he had nightmares and came to me, I was lying in his bed untill he fell asleep again. I was always there and I will be, even now.

So instead of walking forward, I was running back. Right into a trap.

„Beta," I heard husky, full - strenght voice darkened by growling, it sounded primal, almost non - human, „trying to leave my territory without my permission isn't very nice thing to do, especially from you, is it?"

I hid behind patulous spruce and tried to process the scene which was happening just ahead of me. Man, muscular, huge, broad, stood before the kneeling Beta and his wife, holding Jacob's tiny shoulders in his massive hands, leaning over him. I couldn't see the man's face, but by the way he was standing: self - confident, dominate, comanding; the power his presence held or the amount of other wolfs around him standing with their heads down, I knew who he was. The Alpha.

„Guard!" Boy, young and terrified, stepped out of the line formed behind the Beta's family, „Remind your Beta the punishment for such betrayal!"

„Death," after boy's answer, Jacob's heavy sobs started to echoing trough the forest even louder than before.

Pain twisted Beta's face. „I accept my punishment, Alpha."

From the Alpha's throat came out unexpected laugh, sound so sadistic, that it made my bones creak. „But there is a small problem, Simon. I can't kill you," his head titled to the side, „or your cute little wife," Alpha signed, „I refuse to go against law that I personally signed, I will not give the Council another reason to eject me, take me the title of Alpha, title that is mine by blood." The last words were spitted out furiously.

„Although, there is a slight loophole in that paragraph," Alpha put more pressure on the Jacob's shoulders, „it involves only Beta and his mate, not even a single word uttered on the behalf of their children."

Despair was the only thing I could feel.

„I am begging you," Alexandra started to shake violently, „don't do that, don't kill my son."

Alpha laughed once again, but then, suddenly stopped, looking around, smelling something in the air.

„What is it?" He whispered, confusion radiating from him, „That scent. Where does it come from?!"

Everyone was silent, probably confused in the same amount like their Alpha, or even more.

„You were not running away alone, were you?" Alpha's hesitation gone, changed into threathening tone, „Aswer me, Beta! Who was with you?!"

„No one, Alpha," Beta lied. He was protecting me, risking his life for me. I was shocked.

Alpha's claws were pulled out, scratching Jacob's neck, „Don't you dare lie to me!" His grip on the child's neck thightening, „Last chance, Beta...or I will rip his throat out!"

I acted impulsively. Adrenaline pumping in my veins. I left the safety of my hidding place, running to the Alpha. „Jacob, no!" All I saw was in a blurr, but somehow Beta's son managed to release himself from the grasp of death and headed to me fast, crying out my name: „Selene, you came back!"

I wanted to hug him, calm him down, whisper that everything will be okay in his ear but before I could do that, the guards caught him, making him kneel beside his parents. I was determined to scream at them to let him go, but my determination was short - lived and died out in the moment I looked up, meeting two pitch black eyes with the golden specks on the sides and the face: squere shaped, olive-skinned with promiment jaw, straight nose with the hint of the Roman style and rosy lips. His hair were cut short, formed into small curls. Granduer was held in the Alpha's features, but within the colour of his iris was trapped death, danger and coldness.

„M-mate?" Alpha stuttered, coming closer and closer, his steps forcing me to back up, at first slowly, then much more quickly, trying to avoid touch of his claws on my sweaty skin. But pointlessly. He was faster than me, violently locking me whithin his boiling musculine chest and brawny arms, claws of his beast browsing my pale skin under the light material of my maroon T-shirt.

„You can't deny me, mate," he whispered slightly amused, „don't even try it," His nose trailed down my neck, causing goosebumps appear on my skin, not from pleasure, but horror, „Your scent is mouth watering, little moon." He was aroused, his member hard, poking into my stomach. I closed my eyes with disgust.

I needed a plan. A good one.

He was the most powerfull of all and I was his mate. I could persuade him to let them go. I could save them, save our whole pack by accepting him as my soulmate, save Jacob by killing myself. While Alexandra's words were resonating in my head, I made my choice.

Alpha relaxed into me, giving me a chance to escape his dangerous proximity, but not completely. Beast's claws captured my forearm, making me stand still.

„Let. Them. Go," Every word said separately through clenched teeth was the only protest I found a courage for. Alpha only smirked.

,,I will give you everything you want," my voice was trembling, ,,I will let you treat me as your mate," I paused for a moment, ,,including touching, kissing, marking, and even sleeping with me. You and your wolf will not have to hold back from claiming me as yours."

His eyes were fixed on my features, I could feel it.

His fingers softly brushed across my cheek, leaving me with the feeling of disgust. I hated to be touched, to be hold...I had always felt like I was drowning, I couldn't breath, I couldn't move, I couldn't do anything. My body froze. But I knew I have to do it. I was left with no other option. I had to make a deal with him and I needed to do that now.

He came closer, his fingers not leaving my face. ,,There is something more you want in return, istn't it? What do you want from me, mate? What do you want for letting me have what's rightfully mine? What do you want in exchange for giving up? Tell me, mate. Tell me now."

I found courage to look into his eyes: ,,I want my revenge, Alpha. I want to see my father burn alive, I want you to kill him for me. But, at first, I will take everything from him, I will destroy him. I will torture him to the point, when he will be begging me for death. Promise me to fulfill my wish and I will be yours, without fighting, without screaming and pleading to let me go. I will be yours, willingly."

He just stared at me. No words, no growling, no emotion, so I continued: ,,Do we have a deal, Alpha?"

He smirked. ,,Deal, mate."

The last thing I heard were shouting, roaring, shrieking sounds persuading me to don't submit, don't sacrifice myself, don't give up. But I did. And If I had a chance to watch my father burn in the flames of suffering he threw me in years ago, It was worth it.