Aria's POV:
I lived my whole life under a dad who made every day a war. He drank. He gambled. And somehow, I carried the weight. I scrubbed his debts, nursed his hangovers, and cleaned his messes.
And now? Now I was on my knees in a slave camp. They told me I’d be a breeder for an Alpha the whole realm feared.
Acidic bile rushed up my throat. I collapsed, shaking as my forehead hit the dirt. “I don’t want this!” I sobbed, my voice cracking. “I won't be a breeder! Please, don’t do this!”
I reached out, pawing at the suited man who orchestrated this nightmare. I needed to make him see my panic.
The sharp crack of his boot against my chest stopped me. Agony exploded through my ribs, but it couldn’t silence my screams.
He leaned in. “You can go to Alpha Draven and spread your legs as his breeder, or I can sell your body to a brothel, where the abuse will be worse.”
I froze, my mind spinning. “No... Please!” I begged. The thought of rotting in a brothel or submitting to a cursed Alpha was a fate I’d fight until my dying breath.
The man ignored me. He gestured for us to stand, ordering a march to the stream. I refused. I hit the dirt again, shaking, completely paralyzed.
“Take me home! Just let me go!” I wailed, my chest aching.
His dark eyes locked on mine. “What home?” he asked. “Your dad sold you. You are unwanted there.”
I gulped, swallowing my terror. It wasn’t about returning to my deadbeat dad. It was about dodging a slave collar.
Tears streamed down my face. “I don’t care about home! I won't accept this!” I screamed, my chest heaving with grief.
The man stayed calm, but the brute guard snapped. Angry at my defiance, he lunged forward and stomped on my spine.
Every blow ripped a scream from my throat.
“Enough!” the suited man barked, stopping the guard before he shattered my bones.
“Are you stupid? These girls must be flawless for Alpha Draven. Stop before you ruin her face.”
I gasped, bruised and trembling. The man crouched in front of me. “I stopped him because your flesh has value,” he said softly. “But listen closely. If you throw another tantrum, I will kill you myself. I'd rather you died than risk my neck.”
My sobs hitched in my throat. “Once you reach the Hellbound Pack, you can throw all the tantrums you want,” he added. “But tread lightly. Alpha Draven lacks my mercy.”
He stood and signaled a new guard to lead us to the stream. Before turning away, he delivered a brutal kick to my ribs, leaving me gasping on the dirt.
The new guard stepped up. “Stand,” he commanded. I dragged myself to my feet.
The other girls followed in silence. We marched to the stream where a servant handed out fresh clothes. Reluctantly, I stripped off my rags and waded into the water.
The icy water shocked my system, washing away the grime. I caught the other girls glaring at me. They hated me for nearly ruining their shot at becoming the Alpha’s breeder. To them, offering their bodies to him beat rotting in a brothel.
I ignored their hateful stares and scrubbed my bruised skin.
I stepped onto the bank and pulled on the sheer garments. A sudden commotion broke out. A scout ran up, whispering that the Hellbound carriage was here.
The guard nodded and herded us forward. We marched single-file toward a black carriage. The guard halted us, conferring with two mounted soldiers.
Coins jingled, changing hands. The soldiers flanked the carriage, and they shoved us inside.
The carriage lurched forward. We bumped along the forest path for hours until we reached the iron gates of the Hellbound Packhouse.
A soldier yanked the door open. We spilled out and were marched into a courtyard to wait.
My heart hammered against my ribs. Minutes later, two men approached. The leader possessed a lethal grace. From the deadly coldness in his eyes, I instantly knew he was Draven Darkmoon. He matched every bloody rumor.
Draven stopped. His piercing gaze scanned us with utter disgust. He paced the line, studying us like a predator eyeing fresh meat.
As he neared me, my wolf stirred frantically. My chest tightened. My body locked up, and a deep, throbbing ache pooled in my core as my wolf let out a needy whimper.
MATE. MATE. MATE!
My eyes widened in sheer shock. The cursed Alpha—the monster I was supposed to dread—sent an undeniable, scorching pull through my veins. As his dark eyes zeroed in on my face, my wolf howled with primal hunger. I staggered, my mind reeling. The ruthless Alpha who just bought my flesh was my fated mate.