Chapter 3: Rejected
Natalie~
When the knock interrupted Alpha Darius, I had felt a glimmer of hope—a chance to escape.
"What is it?" Darius snarled at the door, his voice sharp with annoyance.
A male voice from the other side responded, "Alpha, your nephew, Alpha Griffin, has arrived on pack lands."
Darius straightened, his face briefly softening. "Fine. I'll be there shortly," he barked, sending the man away.
The footsteps outside receded, and his dark gaze swung back to me. I was shaking, pressing myself into the door like it could swallow me whole. My voice wavered, desperate. "Please, Alpha Darius, don't, Please..."
"You can go for now," he said, his tone dangerously calm. "But don't forget—you wear my mark now. Once I've welcomed my dear nephew, I'll claim you completely. Keep that in mind."
"Please," I begged, my voice breaking. "Don't do this to me. I'll do anything, just don't—"
The sharp sting of his slap cut me off, snapping my head to the side. I gasped, clutching my cheek as my vision blurred from the impact.
"You should be grateful I'm taking you as mine. A wolfless thing like you has no value," he hissed. "Defy me again, and I'll throw you to the unmated males. They'll take turns with you until there's nothing left."
His words settled over me like a suffocating fog. I nodded weakly, fear wrapping itself around me like a second skin.