Chapter 1 1

VALERIA’S POV

Where am I?

I roused from my sleeping state, wincing at the excruciating throbbing of my temples.

The dark, dusty nature of the room had me choking. I coughed uncontrollably, whilst staring around, trying to figure out where this is and how I can get out of here. My panic increased as I realized that it wasn’t any ordinary room. It was a dungeon cage.

What am I doing in a dungeon?

The last thing I remember was having breakfast with my stepbrother, Max. I’d confided in him about my plans of escaping the loveless and political marriage our Father was trying to shove down my neck. I’d pleaded with Max to help me execute my escape. He promised he would. He swore he would, and then he urged me to finish my breakfast, and then we’ll set off to some private yacht of his.

So how did I end up here? And where is he? How did we get separated? How did I end up here alone?

The tiny window far up the wall was illuminating the room with a shred of light. That was all the light I had access to. The door was made of heavy iron bars. I shuffled to it, banging my hands on it.

“Someone, please get me out of here!” I cried out. My hands hurt already from hitting the door but I didn’t stop. “Please get me out of here. Max! Please come save me. I’m being held hostage here!”

My yells and cries seemed futile. There was no way anyone could hear me over these bars. I dropped to the ground, crying my soul out. Was this going to be the end of me? Rotting in here kind of sounds like the perfect miserable ending to the miserable life I’ve led for twenty-one years. No one’s going to miss me when I’m gone. No one except Max, and I’m gonna miss him too. So I really don’t want to die here. I want to reunite with my step-brother. The only family I’ve got. The only one who cares for me.

“Please let me out, I beg you!” My tears made my words come out croakier than a yell.

The clanging sounds echoed in my ears, forcing me to a sudden silence. Did someone really hear me yelling? Was it Max, perhaps?

The door opened with a loud bang, cooking up more dust in the air. I went into another coughing fit. A figure stepped inside. I froze, realizing that my wish did come through. It’s indeed Max.

“Max, oh my God.” I leaped off the ground, going into his arms and holding him so tightly. “Max. I was so terrified. Thank you for coming to save me.”

“Valeria,” his voice sounded weak, almost defeated. Maybe he was just exhausted. He probably fought his way to get in here.

“Please take me out of here. Take me far away from here. I beg you.” I sobbed, cupping his face.

There was an unfamiliar iciness in his eyes and then I got the shock of my life when he dropped my hands from his face. My heart tightened anxiously. What’s going on?

Two more figures stepped inside. I gasped at the sight of Father and his righthandman, Derek.

I dropped to my knees instantly, holding back my tears. So, does this mean I’m being held hostage in the Pack’s dungeon?

“You little, treacherous, whore.” Father spat out. His anger made the walls of the cage vibrate.

“Father, please forgive me,” I pleaded in tears, rubbing my hands together. I wasn’t sure how much he knew about my plans. But I had to plead, or he might kill me. His voice held such intentions.

“Give me that,” he stretched his hand to his right-hand man. Derek bowed and handed him a club. My breathing hitched as Father looked at me, while twirling the club in his hands.

It wasn’t the first time he had abused him. It wasn’t the first time he’s hitting me. I’m literally his punching bag at this point. But that doesn’t mean that I’ve gotten accustomed to the pain.

“I never thought I’d see the day you’d dare to defy me,” he began, stalking me. I scurried to the wall, breaking into sobs as I realized there wasn’t any escape route for me. I glanced at Max and his gaze on the floor. It made me want to cry even more knowing he betrayed me.

“Run away?” Father hissed, halting in his tracks but he was already too close to me. “You want to run away from me? Where would you run to? Where did you think would be safe enough to keep you from my grasp?”

I knew it was almost impossible to run away from him. Even with Max’s help, I still knew Father would find me in no time. But it was worth a try. I couldn’t stomach the thought of being pawned off to the most notorious alpha twins of the region to be their bride. The thought of living the rest of my life in their care made me want to take the risk of running away.

“You’re my daughter. You belong to me. And I have every right to do whatever I wish with you and all you have to do is obey me!” he kicked my back really hard.

I cried out in agony. He kicked me harder and harder. And then he raised the club to hit me with it. I shut my eyes tightly, expecting the pain.

“That’s enough, Father,’ Max’s voice came up. I opened my eyes instantly and saw him blocking Father from hitting me. His hand was tightly wrapped around the club. “I told you about her plans because I believe she should marry the alpha twins. They already helped our Pack a great deal and we must return their good gesture. And also because we can’t handle the amount of heat and anger her disappearance would stir up. But if you hurt her again, I’ll be forced to help her escape and I’ll go with her too. What will your life be without both of us, huh?”

Father’s eyes fluttered weakly and he backed off with a grunt. I flinched when his angry gaze found me again. “The wedding is tomorrow. If you try any more unhealthy stunts, I’m going to cut those legs off, and not even your brother can stop me.

I nodded frantically, holding in my cries. He left angrily, and Derek followed him. With just Max and me now, I let the tears fall profusely.

“How could you betray me, Max? I trusted you with my life.”

He didn’t look at me. But then he replied. “I had no choice. I couldn’t watch everyone get in trouble because of you.

“What about me? What about what I want? I can't marry those twins. My life will become more hellish than ever!”

“I’m really sorry,” that’s all he said before leaving. His apologies crushed every teeny bit of hope I had about escaping this wedding. I wept over my ugly unavoidable fate of becoming the bride of the most ruthless twins ever.