To @honourcrown Thank you for voting and reading. (ಥ﹏ಥ)  Here is a flower for you (◕‿◕)ﾉ✿

- Five days till the ceremony -

I sat on the desk, twirling the pencil between my fingers. I made a rough sketch of the buildings we had seen when I was outside and marked the only exit with a big cross. If I wanted to get out of here, I needed to think every aspect of the plan through. I wasn't going up against normal people, I was running away from animals in a sense. Predators.

I drew a mind map, glad of my meticulous personality as I highlighted every way possible out of here. There weren't that many.

I sighed. There were five days left till this ceremony. I had to avoid it at all costs but considering my circumstances, it was becoming more and more improbable. The security was tight around here. Every time I looked out of the window, I would see guards patrolling, disappearing in and out of the forest. Then there was Jacob who remained within a metre of my door, even at night. Somehow, every time I even thought about trying to unlock the door, he would release a warning growl.

They couldn't read minds too, could they?

I opened up a paper titled 'Questions to ask Amara' and added to the ever-growing list of things I wanted to know. But to ask those questions, I needed a chance to see her again.

I began to write some more when suddenly, there was a loud knock on my door.

"The Alpha wants to see you", Jacob grunted. "Come out within five minutes or I'll drag you out with whatever you're wearing".

I scrambled up quickly because he would actually do that and assessed the room. I had to hide these papers - especially the escape ones.

What's the one place that no one will ever check?

I would have thought amongst my bras, but I didn't trust Mikhail to not go through it. Everything else seemed really obvious like under the mattress or in the rug. Could they smell paper somehow and notice it?

I glanced upwards at the light fixture. Bingo. I picked up the chair and placed it down softly underneath the overhead light. I folded it, then tucked it into the casing and observed it from all angles. It was barely noticeable, I noted, smugly. I placed that chair back where it came from and headed to the bathroom where I washed my hands furiously in the floral body wash, spreading the scent on my neck and arms. It was better than nothing.

I opened the door and left, Jacob quietly leading me to Mikhail's office.

"Do you know why Mikhail wants to see me?" I asked, worried.

"The Alpha will tell you when you get there", he said, emphasising on 'Alpha'. I ignored him. He wasn't my 'Alpha', so I didn't need to give him any kind of respect. Jacob knocked on the door and then told me to go in.

Mikhail stood by the window, swirling a glass with some sort of amber-coloured beverage in it. He looked at me briefly as I came in but otherwise ignored me.

I stood there impatiently, tapping my foot to get his attention. "What did you call me for?" I asked, impolitely.

"What's the rush?" He asked, smirking. "You and I, we have forever. Can't I enjoy your company?"

"No, you can't", I said, angrily. I couldn't help it. Even though I knew he liked to provoke me, I struggled in restraining my anger. "You know very well I don't want anything to do with this".

"Well, that's too bad", he breathed out. "You have everything to do with this now".

"Why?" I asked. "I know I might mean something to him so I'll just quit my job and move back home. He loses out either way".

"No, no", he chuckled. "He needs to feel this burn as I take away what he wants, needs the most. I need him to suffer and be tortured by seeing you with me, his brother, his flesh and blood. He needs to be neglected and forgotten. Alone. Hurt". He tilted his neck upwards, looking at the darkening sky through the window, a shadow cast across his hair, making it seem almost black. A smile slowly crept across his face, his teeth glinting, catching the light of the setting sun as he took another sip.

"What did he do to you?" I whispered, curious as to where all this raw hatred was coming from.

Suddenly, I was pinned against the window, the panes rattling against my back as his breath mixed with mine.

"Everything", he hissed. "And nothing".

"Please", I begged, stoically, keeping my face straight. "Let me go. I swear on my life to never see him again".

"Your life means nothing to me. You're insignificant apart from that bond. Can you offer me something more valuable?"

I gazed back at him, my heart pounding. What was more valuable to me than my life? Nothing was and he knew it. There was nothing else I could offer him.

"Go on", he whispered, his nose nuzzling the inside of my neck. I froze and tried to push him away.

"Don't be such a tease", he purred. "I don't mind you touching me. Now tell me, what can you offer me that I don't already have?" His finger slowly trailed down my arm which I tried to shrug off unsuccessfully.

"So why do you need me then?" I exploded, furiously. "You have everything! You're 'the Alpha' of this pack! Isn't that the highest you can go?"

"Oh, I can go higher", he snarled. "I want to see him crash and fall. I want to see him burn. I want him to be consumed by his emotions. I want him to feel the other half of his soul be stolen away from him, whilst he can do nothing but helplessly watch and suffer". As he said every sentence, his voice became louder until it was almost a roar.

"Why?" I asked, barely hiding the tremor in my voice.

Mikhail gazed back at me, his eyes dark and murky, like a shadow was cast over the molten brown pool in his irises. "He has had everything. He got lucky. So fucking lucky. Why should I have to be blindsided because I didn't come from that bitch's womb first? Doesn't matter how much better I was, Malik was always fucking better. He has had EVERYTHING". Mikhail was shouting now. His hands were embedded into the wall beside my head and I could hear the trickles of plaster crumbling to the floor. His eyes were now completely blackened, his canines elongated. I shrunk further back in fear, almost wishing to be swallowed up by the wall, fearing the monster I had just provoked.

"That bastard, he knew it. He would flaunt those fucking gold eyes everywhere. Should I start with those? Should I cut them out and place them over our bed?" His voice had now dropped to a deadly whisper and I shuddered in horror. He was more than crazy, he was a psychopath. He continued, ignoring my visible panic. "Should I pull out all of his teeth one by one and make you a necklace as a gift? Should I make him shift, kill him and then skin him? Make you a rug? Should I fuck you on that rug?"

I held my breath and clenched my fists tightly.

"Why are you so silent now?" He said, hoarsely. "Cat got your tongue?"

I stood frozen in panic. I was never afraid to cry but always alone. For the first time in a long time, I felt as if I was holding back a wave of hot tears. His words unsettled me to the point where I felt real, cold fear creeping up my back. He leaned in closer and I flinched back away from him, turning my head to the side to avoid eye contact.

He released his hand from the wall, sighing and wrung his hands through his hair, the plaster leaving a white residue in his hair.

"Don't provoke me", he said through gritted teeth. "Do you understand?"

I nodded silently.

"I can't hear you", he spat out.

"Yes", I whispered. Oh, trust me, I wasn't going to be provoking him. Not with the outburst of anger he just displayed. My Psychologist mind was having a mental field day with him whereas my rational side was trembling. He really needed help. He was carrying out this resentment around and had a massive superiority complex. People here were obviously a little scared of him and he would harm too many when he finally lost any control he had on this unstable side of his.

He moved away from me and I took in a huge breath in relief.

"Go talk to Amara about the mating ceremony", he said, dismissing me. "Ask her what you need to prepare for it".

I nodded, stiffly and headed for the door, glad to be out of the room, far away from him.

"What did she say to you?" He said just before I left, stopping me in my tracks.

"Who?" I responded, keeping the shake out of my voice.

"That woman you bumped into when you were outside. Did she say anything?"

"No..." I trailed off, confused. Wouldn't he be able to hear anyway? Why was he asking me?

He smirked, looking out of the window. "How exciting", he murmured, taking another sip of his drink. I almost got whiplash with how fast he switched through his moods. He was unpredictable and unpredictable meant dangerous.

I sighed. None of this was remotely exciting. Why did she hate me anyway? Was it Malik related? I felt jealousy raise its ugly head and I forced it down before any resentment took over me. I barely knew the man but he bought me more trouble than he was worth. I aimlessly followed Jacob to the kitchen, lost wallowing in my thoughts.

Malik could probably take care of himself, and anyway, it's time I put myself first. I needed to get out of here. I don't know how far away help could be so I needed to prepare. While I was in the kitchen, I could ask for some long-lasting items and bottled water to tide me over during the potential escape.

Amara stood as we walked and smiled warmly. "I was wondering when you would visit me again", she said, happily. "Come, sit. I will give you some food".

Jacob, as usual, scowled at me as if to remind me how much he hated my presence and slammed the door shut behind him.

"Oh, don't mind him too much. He really does have a kind heart".

Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it.

I sat down eagerly and immediately she placed a dish down.

"I'm sorry dear, but we are all meat-eaters. I'm not sure how to make a purely vegetarian dish. I hear that some humans don't eat meat anymore, I don't understand what crazy ideas you lot come up with nowadays".

"Oh, don't worry", I said, reassuringly. "I'm completely fine with meat".

"Good", she sighed in relief. "You'll have to get used to it as you will eating it for all your meals".

Way to ruin the mood. Thank you for reminding me that I might be stuck here forever.

I ate quickly so I could talk to her and savoured the food. She really was a good cook. Every bite was simply delectable and I would have asked for more if I was comfortable.

"Is it okay if I ask you my questions before you talk to me about the ceremony?" I asked. "I know Jacob is going to try to drag me out and make me go back to that room".

"Yes, that's fine. You are taking this rather well, you know".

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I have been around for some time so I have seen my fair share of human mates even though they are rare. Some cannot take the idea very well".

"I haven't exactly taken to the idea. I'm just realistic. Running will be useless against wolves".

"Exceedingly smart", she commented. "You will make a good Luna".

"What does that mean? Is that another Greek term?"

"You will find out in due course. Now ask your questions".

"How do humans mate with another species? Isn't that impossible? Crossing over species only leads to infertile offspring", I asked, excitedly.

"Hmm, I guess it's because we are mostly human?" She said, thoughtfully. "I do not understand the science behind it though. Maybe, that is something you can look into?"

"Can you turn humans into what you are?"

"Not exactly. The ability to shift is a dominant trait but it has to be inherited. However, during the mating ceremony, you are marked with a wolf's bite which will at least increase your physical capabilities".

"That's quite interesting", I murmured to myself.

"How can you..." I trailed off. Jacob was outside and could hear everything. I made a killing gesture, hoping Amara would get the hint.

"Aah, it is difficult to do that, isn't it?" I nodded subconsciously to her words. "Oh, did you try that on someone?"

"Yes", I sighed. "But it was in self-defence and didn't do much harm anyway".

"We have a very fast rate of healing. It is quite curious, isn't it? I think I know who you tried it on", she said, giving me a sly wink. "But the higher up in the hierarchy, the more difficult it is to... take them down".

It would be slightly easier though still difficult to take out Jacob. Noted.

"And, what about the mind link you mentioned. I've noticed something really weird; Jacob told me on the first day that the Alpha said I could come in, but I never heard anything. Is there some sort of telepathic communication?" Even as I said those words, I felt ridiculous. That was a new level of impossible. Telepathy? How would that even work? I felt my head nearly explode with anxiety when she nodded.

No fucking way. How? Our brains use electrical impulses to carry information, how do they transmit that to another person? Does it only work in close range?

The urge to take one for research purposes began to grow even bigger. Even though I got my degree in Clinical Psychology, I was still a researcher at heart; A scientist. This was like opening Pandora's Box of the unknown but there was still that thrilling excitement of new discoveries and trying to figure out what made them tick.

I opened my mouth to ask her more questions but she hushed me, sensing the number of questions I was about to ask. "Please, do not ask too many questions to this old woman. I know little about how it works". I closed my mouth and nodded, disappointed.

"Tell me about this ceremony".

"It's when mates announce their mating formally to the pack and allows the families to become more intimate with each other. After the consensual vows are said, the marking takes place and then there is the ritual run".

"What do you mean by the marking?"

And, did you just say consensual?! If it couldn't be forced, then what was Mikhail planning to use as leverage to make me do this? Apart from my own life, that is.

"It is when the mates mark each other with their canines. It acts as a deterrent to unmated wolves. It's also a declaration of the eternal company" She sighed, nostalgically.

"Eternal?!" I squeaked. "What if you perform the mating ceremony on someone who is human?"

"Well, obviously the human cannot mark so only the wolf will".

"What about someone who is not your mate?"

"Cases like that are really rare. I do not wish to scare you but it will be painful for all parties involved. The real mates will also feel the pain and separation of their soul mate, like something being ripped away from their body. You don't need to worry about that, do you? The Alpha said you were his mate". She said that last bit loudly, for some reason. She grabbed my hand and massaged it reassuringly. "Do not worry about it too much. Things often end differently to what we expect".

Amara confused me. She spoke in riddles, sometimes indirectly helping me, then other times dismissing me. I was never truly sure if I was safe in confiding in her or not.

"The ceremony will happen in five days' time, starting during the day and ending with the run under the full moon. There is a ceremonious dress you will be made to wear, so someone will come to take your measurements soon".

I sighed in anger. This was making me more and more frustrated. Not only was I expected to stay with this delusion, dangerous man but it would cause me physical pain and I would be marked? Every word was increasing my determination to get the hell out of here.

"Time's up", Jacob said, from outside.

"Before I go", I rushed out, trying to act nonchalant. "Can I get some water and snacks to take to my room? I get quite peckish and thirsty at night and I'm not allowed to go anywhere"

"Do you?" she said, grinning. "Well, it would discourteous to say no so help yourself. Actually, I'll send you a basket up so Jacob won't see anything and harass you. It can be our little secret". She winked at me and ushered me out of the kitchen.

I followed the sullen Jacob back to my- no, the room where I would be temporarily staying. I glared at the locked and closed the door and felt the urge to pull my hair out in frustration. This was a cat and mouse game that was driving me crazy. As I slumped on the bed, I noticed that the bathroom door was slightly ajar and the floral body wash was gone.

Fuck.

Hello, tis I

I have some good news and some bad news.

Good news is that umm

The bad news is that I am on Hiatus - check next chapter, don't panic.

Anyway, we are at 9.6K reads lmao (Bruh I wrote this chapter yesterday but didn't upload it. We're at 9.8K now T-T). That is unreal. Hopefully, we can hit 10K soon?

Question for today:

When did you start reading on Wattpad and why?

Also, do you think my book should be classed as mature? (There is a lot of swearing and Mikhail is quite touchy)

Thank you for giving me the support to go on

ANd WE HAVe a NEw CHampion: @Mystic_xx_Wolf  (Haha luckycharm you lost 😛)

Whoever was first, comment here -->

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