Chapter 2.

~Percy~

Her big brown eyes looked tiredly at me. But in the depths, there was something else, something she was trying to hide. The emotion wasn't lost on me, it was what I saw in the eyes of everyone who crossed me, everyone who believed themselves to be stronger than reality would have them be.

Fear.

I stood from my desk and walked around it, I walked slowly, taking in her appearance.

Her body was small, smaller than the average she-wolf. She was lean with a nice curve down her hips and a full chest. She hadn’t gained her wolf yet which meant she would change more after she turned eighteen. She would be breathtakingly beautiful. More so than she already was.

‘Keep your head in the game’

I groaned internally and slapped away all thoughts that were making the bulge in my pants throb in pain.

I was standing in front of her, staring down at her fragile being. She had mastered the art of hiding her emotions, or at least so she thought.

We didn’t speak, not a word left her lips. I felt the grin tug on my lips.

But the fear in her eyes made everything much less enjoyable.

‘This is not the plan, what are you doing?’

I’m not so sure

I needed to do something, I needed to stop this infatuation I had for her. But it was hard, she was so much fun to play with.

I raised my head and took a step back, scanning her up and down. The thing was, however, there was more to her than she showed. There was more to Selene than this fragile, scared little girl.

Normally I just had to look at a she-wolf and her dress would come of, whatever I asked for, they obliged, therefore, I had never pissed any of them off. Other males had, but I had it too easy. Behind every wolf, there was a raging fire, one you couldn't get away from, one that drove you and competed with you and I believed that Selene's fire was hungrier than she would let on.

I internally smirked and raised my head further, narrowing my eyes on her own.

“Strip,” I said and placed my hands in my pockets.

Her gaze lifted and her eyes narrowed at mine.

There she is. I thought to myself.

“Excuse me?”

“Did you not hear what I said?”

She gulped and her hands formed into fists as her lips were pressed in a firm line.

I took another step closer to her. Towering over her I saw how she crawled back.

“I want you to take off your clothes,” every word cooked carefully.

“ And if I refuse?” she asked me. Her voice shook and her hands started to tremble.

My consciousness was nagging at me. I knew I was being a dick, I knew she would hate me but then again, I’m not the one to care.

“If you refuse," Be smart.

"you have to attend the Winter Jule,” I said. Her eyes widened. Selene wasn’t a girl who others wished to see. The less she was in the eyes of others, the better for her, especially the she-wolves. The truth was that they were jealous. Everyone could see how beautiful she was, both male and female. The males wanted her, craved her and her innocence was noticeable by anyone.

“I will not,” she said and crossed her arms over her chest.

I leaned my head down, letting my lips grace her ear, a small gasp left her lips and I could see the hairs on the back of her head raising.

“You don’t have a choice,” I whispered. Selene’s body shivered beneath me and I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips.

The truth that had been suppressed since I turned eighteen was getting harder to hide. Her beauty held me captive, always had. I always knew when she had entered a room because the chatter would cease and my body would stiffen. Everyone’s breathing would get heavier and eyes would be glued to her person.

It wasn’t until she had left the room that people could relax. The female wolves hated her because of the attention she was getting from the others, and also the way she looked. The way her hips swayed as she walked. The way her eyes could make the meanest Alpha fall to his knees and worship her.

She was malnourished, yes, and some of her bones were showing which pissed me off. I had told the Omegas on multiple occasions to get her to eat but it seems as though the message hadn't been received. It wasn't only in her physical appearance, though, that her beauty lay, it was how she carried herself.

.

I looked up and saw the questions in her eyes. I had zoned out. I bit together and formed my hands into fists as I pressed my nails into my palms, relishing in the pain and feeling all the emotions being suppressed.

I raised my chin and drew to my fullest height.

I watched as Selene gulped and shrunk back, her mind objecting to her body's disloyalty.

I stepped around her and exited the office. I needed a run, I needed my wolf to break free and then I needed a plan.

~Selene~

My mind was racing. Feelings, emotions, questions, and confusion.

I was standing in the office, ten minutes after he had left. I couldn’t get my limbs to work. I screamed for my legs to run but they were glued to the floor.

What had just happened? The Alpha had zoned out, he had been so close to me and my body reacted by getting warm and fuzzy. He had never been nice, he hadn’t been mean but not nice either. There was a line he never crossed. He always remained...neutral.

I remember when we were both kids when I first arrived. Percy was my first friend. He was nice, playful, and cheerful. We would go out and play in the woods together.

One day, just like that, he wouldn’t acknowledge me. I would try and talk to him but he would act as though I wasn’t there. Eventually, I gave up.

I was out in the woods one summer day and sat on a rock, taking in the silence and absence of people. Thinking about the family I didn’t have.

That day, he came up to me, and for the first time in a year, he talked to me. He told me how his father had ordered him not to be my friend.

I remember him sitting down on the rock, beside me. We held each other's gaze and his hand gripped my cheek.

That is a secret I will always hold on to. Good or bad, I couldn’t decide. Percy was my first kiss, my first friend, and the first person to turn on me.

The first tear rolled down and I angrily wiped it away. I couldn’t cry, because once I started, I couldn’t stop.

I was finally able to move my legs and with my shaking arms, I gripped the bucket and the whip and I left the office.

I placed them all back in the scrub before walking to my room.

As I walked down the hallway, someone shouldered into me and I flew down to the ground.

I heard the giggles of several girls and looked up.

The front girl, the one I referred to as the ringleader of the group was Bella. The others I didn’t know the names of because and I quote ‘ I wasn’t allowed to’.

I rolled my eyes as I remembered the moment and pressed my hands down to get up.

Before I could stand, Bella kicked me down again, her foot landing on the side of my face.

I groaned and placed my hand on where her foot had met my cheek.

There was a crack but nothing seemed to have broken. The pain throbbed through my entire face and up to my head.

“Stay down, you filthy mutt,”

“Can you call her a mutt? She doesn’t wolf,” one of the girls countered with a confused expression on her face. 

Not the brightest of the bunch, I see.

I rolled my eyes and looked at Bella.

“Shut up, Jackie. She will have a wolf soon so the name applies. Or maybe she won't,” Bella continued and turned her head to me.

“Maybe she’s wolf-less. Wouldn’t be a surprise, you’re already so pathetic,” she said with a wicked grin on her face. Her voice sounded cheery and sweet, she took joy in the torment.

Wolf-less?

I didn’t know one could be wolf-less.

I hoped to the goddess that I wasn’t or I had nothing to look forward to. I would have nothing to live for.

The girls walked away, throwing their heads back as they laughed.

Once the pain had subsided a little, I got up and this time no one pushed me down. My eyes were closed and my head was spinning. I grabbed the wall to steady myself and when I felt like my balance was regained, I opened my eyes.

I gasped and lowered my hand, keeping it at my side as I bowed my head.

“Beta,” I said without looking up.

He was big, not as big as the Alpha but enough to be intimidating. He also had that aura that demanded respect.

He didn’t say anything. I saw his feet move closer and then two of his fingers pressing under my chin. He lifted my head and turned it to the side.

“Who did this?” His voice was gruff and dangerously dark.

This hadn’t been the first time someone got physical, but it was the first time I hadn’t gotten away afterward.

I had never been caught In pain.

“I fell,” I said. The lie was surprisingly believable.

My bottom lip was trembling from the pain. My head was pounding and the light from the lamps was making it worse.

“Lie to me again and I won't ask nicely a third time. Who did this?” My eyes shot to his. Fear was starting to creep in.

“I-“

I couldn’t tell him, I knew it would only get worse. They would get no punishment and I would be in for more pain.

I couldn’t risk it.

“I fell. Nobody did this, it was my own fault.” I said again, more steady this time, and willed my hands to stop shaking.

He clenched his jaw and his grip got tighter. The Beta scanned my eyes and when he saw that he wouldn’t get anything else out of me, he roughly removed his hand. I winced from the pain and once again my hand shot out and gripped the wall beside us.

I gulped and hoped that he would leave so that I could walk to my room.

“Adam, take Selene to her room.” I looked behind me and saw the Betas brother. He was the same height but had a bigger build.

A smirk grew on his face and when I looked back, I saw something dark in the depths of the Beta's eyes.

“Sure thing,” Adam said and placed his hand on the small of my back. I jumped from the sudden touch and looked pleadingly at the Beta.

“Thank you, Adam, but I can handle walking on my own,” I said in the hopes that they would leave.

“It’s no problem,” he said and urged me forward.

I let go of the wall and immediately I fell into the side of the big man beside me.

I guess a little help would be useful.

The pain from the kick- with the fact that I hadn’t eaten- made me nearly pass out with every step we took.

When we had walked a few steps, I looked back.

My eyes were heavy but I saw his figure. The Alpha was standing there with the Beta, whispering something in his ear. Percys' eyes locked with mine and his body looked stiff.

I turned my head and focused on walking, and hopefully not falling.

“Thank you,” I said weakly when Adam opened the door for me.

“Here, let me help you,” Adam walked me over to the bed and I sat down.

I waited for him to leave before lying down. But he didn’t, he stood there and looked around the room.

I followed and saw what he must be seeing, which wasn't much. I had nothing. Most rooms had pictures on the walls, books, and normal things that people have. Mine wasn’t personalized. I had a small table in the corner, a dresser, and a bed. That was it. It was all I needed.

I had to go to the bathroom and stand up. When my legs wouldn't hold me up, I fell forward. Two strong arms came underneath me before I hit the floor.

“What happened to you?” He asked me with a smirk on his face.

“I fell.”

“Damn,” he helped me up with no further questions. At least he bought it. I thought to myself in relief.

I turned to move but his grip tightened.

“Adam,” he didn’t react, it was as though he didn’t hear me.

I looked at his eyes and they were dark, not with rage but something else. Something I had seen in many others.

“Adam?” I called again.

I tried wrangling free from his grip but he was twice my size and then some.

He leaned his head down, his hand coming up to cup my face.

“You’re beautiful.” His voice was low and breathy.

“Um,” my heart was pounding, I was uncomfortable. His face was so close and his hand was keeping mine still.

“Ad-“ before I could finish, his lips came crashing down on mine. I shirked and tried shaking my head free but to no use. My voice was muffled by his lips.