Chapter 3 - The Past

“My name is Mary, there’s a section of the closet that I've put up for you. Well, I'll leave you be," she said, gesturing to the left half of the wall.

I chose not to respond.

“They haven't given you a name yet, I guess. That's okay, I'll bring you some food because I know you're starving."

She gave me one last fake smile before slamming the door shut and vanishing from the room far enough to create an echo.

Aside from a phone charger, an alarm clock, and some headache medication, the bedside tables were nearly empty when I turned to investigate the bedroom. The majority of Alpha's wardrobe was made up of button-up shirts and black jeans, so I went on to the closet area. The accessories exhibit was adorned with around twelve pairs of shoes, timepieces, and ties at its base. I questioned how he'd amassed such wealth.

I figured he must be old enough to have amassed this kind of wealth and influential enough to have housekeepers calling you "master."

I carefully closed the closest, seeing that the left side was absolutely empty.

There was a door to my right on the bed that I had not yet opened. There were two bowl sinks behind a wide square mirror in the spacious bathroom, which was further adorned with more striking lightning. There was a stand-up shower and a stand-still tub at least a few meters apart. I was feeling around the marble surfaces when all of a sudden I remembered turning on the water in my father's small country flat and myself.

I had just gotten off work and was getting ready for a shower. My dad was allowing himself in, but I didn't think he would be back for a few more hours.

"What are you doing back so early?" I asked, peeping out of the small chamber.

"There was no more work left for us to do today," he was saying," they sent us home."

I recall scowling and asking, "Why is that?" as I felt rapidly agitated.

"The wolf-men came back, took another girl from a few streets down, scared everybody away." Am I acquainted with her?

"Clarice, the small blond girl, her father works with me, Devin."

Clarice must have been nineteen years old when I recalled who she was. I can still picture how upset her father must have been. I still recall questioning whether I would suffer the same fate.

Surely, I thought, I am. I glanced out the window to take in the scenery. With miles and miles of trees as my backdrop, I faced the back of the house. I cringed at the sound of the knock on the door. Like a kettle that is overflowing, panic started to bubble. I was wondering if I would be meeting the alpha all of a sudden.Running to the bedroom, I saw a teenage boy unloading a trolley full of metal containers and letting himself in.

"I came to bring you some dinner- I hope that's alright," he said, blushing red at my sight.

I responded enthusiastically, "Yes, thank you," as my stomach growled at the scent of something delectable.

After partially emptying the water container onto the ground, he apologized and quickly left the cart. I pulled open the four tin canisters to reveal the food within.

In addition to roasted chicken, there was mashed potatoes, salad, and cake for dessert. I quickly drank the remaining water and then the juice. It must have been my first in ten years, and I ate the delectable dinner as if it were my last.

As I bit into the rich chocolate cake, I realized it was my birthday. Something about Tessa's earlier statements kept coming to mind.

"Do you think that all you gotta do is look pretty and make him a baby, you just wait and see, he's gonna ruin you like he's ruined everything, you won't be so pretty for long-"

Was my purpose for coming here to create a baby for the alpha? If that's the case, what further actions will he take against me? Being thrown into a ten-year sleep cycle and then awakened to be utilized to create a child was beyond comprehension to me.

Did the werewolves lack females to breed with?

Abruptly, there was a second knock on the door. I quickly wiped my face.

"May I enter? It's Maria."

Without waiting for me to respond, she ran inside carrying a rolling clothes rack. Shoes were stored on the lowest shelf while dozens of garments were strung on the rack.

Boots, high heels, sneakers, slippers...

"Are these for me?" I was dying to get my hands on the clothes. I couldn't recall ever having that many clothes. I thought of my clothes from the village, which consisted of a few shirts, slacks, sneakers, and a jumper for the winter.

"Yes, the deliveries are coming in a little delayed, this should have been here yesterday!" "I'll send Tessa in here in a little bit to come organize these for you," she said, opening the closet space designated for me.

"There's no need, I can hang them up myself."

Slowly, she turned to face me. "We don't live in the village anymore, Ana," she said, her expression part amused, half sorrowful.

"How did you know my name?"

It appeared as though she had realized, "I'm sorry, ignore me! I'll return soon with further of your belongings."

She bolted from there, not waiting for me to step in.