ARTEMIS' POV:-

　　I was quietly staring into his eyes. I was supposed to be afraid of him. Instead of being terrified of that strange man, I was staring into his eyes. His eyes were different. They looked cold. But for some reason, I felt comfortable while staring into his eyes. I felt that warmth while around him that I had forgotten years ago. I was barely breathing while around him. My heart was hammering my rib cage to break free. There was something inside my stomach. It was tickling the insides of my stomach. He leaned closer and I closed my eyes. I was not sure what he was doing. But I was shocked that I didn't even flinch. Although I had never been this close to any men in my life.

　　My father has been strict with me since mom left. Or I thought that he was strict. He never allowed me to be around boys. I was never allowed to date. I was never even allowed to be friends or talk with the boys. I never understood why my father would be so strict about keeping me away from boys. Not that I cared. I was more engrossed with my studies. I wanted to study, get a job, get a place for myself and find my mom. That's what I have always wanted to do. But I was not sure if that could happen anymore. Tracy freed me from one prison. But my bad luck was that I got stuck in another prison.

　　I gasped as I felt his skin on my skin. I felt his warm breath fanning over my cheek. "You try that trick again, I will break your bones so you will never even think about running away." He whispered in my ear. His tone was threatening. But despite that threatening tone, I moaned softly in response. By the time I realised what I had done, it was too late. He had already heard me moaning. I opened my eyes and looked at him. There was a mischievous grin on his face. It looked more like a winning grin. I bit my lower lip so the moan on the tip of my tongue would not break free that easily, like the last one.

　　He let go ony hands. The satisfied look on his face burned me from inside. But at the same time, my heart went crazy seeing that stupid smirk on his face. I sat up on the bed but I kept my head narrowed. My eyes were itching to look again at his face. But my ego didn't let me turn my gaze back at him. "My name is Elijah Wilson. You can call me Alpha, like the rest of the pack. I am sure your wolf might have told you a lot by now. I can even smell your wolf." He finally introduced himself to me. At first, it really didn't make sense what he was talking about. Then he mentioned my wolf.

　　He was talking about this new world I just learned about. He pinched my chin lightly and guided my eyes towards his. "I don't know anything about this world. I was not even sure why I was captured and imprisoned. Please, don't imprison me again. I am afraid of the dark. I will do whatever you want me to do. Just don't throw me in that dark and scary place again." As soon as I looked into his blue eyes again, I started begging. It felt like he would listen to my pleas. It felt like he was not going to ignore it like that man in Queens did to me. Those people were scary. I couldn't imagine being back in that place again.

　　"What did they do to you?" Elijah asked me in a low tone. I couldn't ignore that hint of concern in his voice as he asked me that single question. I was not sure why but it felt like I was safe. Thirteen years later I felt that same safety for the first time. The same as it used to be whenever I used to be with my mother.

　　"They were monsters. They locked me up in a dark dungeon. I couldn't eat the food they offered me. As I was allergic. I almost died in that place. It was painful and scary. I don't want to go through that again." I couldn't stop my tears at all as I told him everything I went through in that place. I covered my face with both of my hands as I cried my heart out.

　　I was surprised again as he wrapped both of his arms around me. He pulled me in a warm and cosy hug. A hug that reminded me of my mother. His musky scent helped me calm down. "If that's what makes you feel better. I will allow you to become a part of my pack. You will be under my wing. But you will not be allowed to go anywhere. You will stay in my penthouse. Whatever you will need, I will get it for you." He replied to me in a low tone. His words excited me a little. Then he gave me the conditions he had in his mind for me.

　　Gulping hard, I pulled away from him to look into his eyes. He was dead serious about everything he just told me. "What's the difference between that place and here? I will be your prisoner. Please don't do this to me. You can't do this to me. You don't own me. I know I have no idea about this new world I just discovered. That didn't give you any right to imprison me. I didn't do anything to anyone." I yelled at him in response. I was not sure at that moment if I was actually crying or yelling at him. Or maybe I was doing both. I could feel burning rage inside my chest while my heart kept melting. I felt my face getting wet with the fresh and warm tears that flowed freely from my eyes.

　　He grabbed the back of my neck and slammed me with the bed again. Our faces were inches apart. He was dangerously close to me. I was not sure what I was supposed to do at that moment. "You are a werewolf now. You have no idea how our world works. But let me tell you something. Werewolves don't survive without a pack and their alpha. If you want to go, fine by me. But do you remember that big black wolf from that night? The one that bit you and turned you into a werewolf. Do you still remember him?" He spoke in a low tone. No! His words came out as hushed whispers.

　　I could taste his minty breaths inside my mouth. Although I was fighting against him for my freedom, my heart skipped a few beats every single time he exhaled. I nodded my head in response as I heard his questions. How could I ever forget that thing? "He was a wild Wolf. It makes you a wild Wolf too. As a wild Wolf turned you. Now the pack you ran away from and the wild wolf pack, both of them would be looking for you everywhere. If they capture you, any of the packs, they will not imprison you this time." He added in the same hushed whispers. As if he was trying to scare me.

　　It sounded like I was supposed to be scared of his words. At that moment, I was not sure how to react. My whole body was a mess. While my brain was full of ego, my heart felt like it would break free any moment. "What will they do to me then? If they capture me this time, what will they do to me?" I asked him in the same hushed tone he was using. I couldn't contain the curiosity that he created. He was not telling me. So I decided to ask instead. I was not sure if I made a mistake or if it was for good. I just wanted to know if I would ever be able to go back home safely.

　　That same winning smirk appeared on his face. He might have been expecting me to ask that question out of curiosity. And I was a dummy because I did exactly as he had expected from me. "They will kill you. If the pack you ran away from got you again, they will kill you. And if wild wolves got their hands on you, they will turn you into a prostitute for themselves. You will be nothing but a sex slave for them. That's how wild wolves live. They don't follow any rules at all." He answered my question while staring into my eyes. His thumb was caressing my lower lip. I was not sure why he was doing it. And I was surprised why I liked it.

　　I closed my eyes and started crying again. It felt like there was no way out of this. Like it was my fate to live in that cage forever. I gasped loudly as he snuggled his face in the crock of my neck. "I am doing everything I can to keep you out of their hands. I am the only one who can protect you. If you want to live, you have to do whatever I ask you to do. Do you understand?" He asked me in a low tone as he pulled away from me. He was staring into my eyes. I saw nervousness and impatience in his eyes. But he was quick to mask it with that same dominating look in his eyes. As I was left with no other choice, I nodded my head in agreement.