Assholes!

Forcing in my anger and pain, I make my way to the living room. I’ve just reached the doorway when a new scent hits me, a different scent.

I instantly freeze, recognizing it.

Shit. No.

I turn around, planning to hurry to my room, when I hear Chris’s voice from inside, “Come on in, Thea!”

His voice is pleasant, but that has never boded well for me.

I pray to every deity out there before walking inside.

After our parents died, Chris became the Alpha of our small pack, the pack we had previously joined upon arriving, having kicked us out. I thought he would make a good Alpha, but I was proven wrong.

The large television screen is showing some football match, but nobody is watching. All five of my brothers were eyeing me, along with their sixth guest.

Nolan Claw, the Alpha of the Black Claw Tribe, is watching me with a smile on his face.

Nolan may have been handsome once upon a time, but his vicious and bloodthirsty ways had left his face with plenty of scars. However, deep inside, I know that even if he were still good-looking, I would throw up at the sight of him. He’s a terrifying panther, and I have enough knowledge about the females in his pack to know that I should never be alone with him.

My eyes flicker toward my brothers. I am the youngest of them all, the only daughter. In his mid-thirties, Chris is the oldest of us all, the Alpha of our tribe. Darius is his second-in-command, mostly because he’s the second son of the family. Charlie, Beau, and Lee fall in quick succession. Lee is two years older than me.

There had been a time when they had adored me and treated me like their little princess. But times have changed, and now their presence terrifies me.

“I told you to come home early today,” Chris watches me, a smile on his lips.

My blood turns cold.

“I – “I struggle to speak under the pressure, “I tried, but I have to walk so-”

His eyes darken, and I instantly snap my mouth shut.

“Aren’t you going to say hello to our guest?” Darius sneers.

Had they always been hiding this side of themselves?

Was this the same brother who had once carried me on his shoulders and helped me pick apples?

“Hi,” I say stiffly to Nolan, who smiles.

Chris straightens up, “I wanted you to come home because we had a surprise for you.”

“A surprise,” I echo, careful to keep my voice blank.

“Yes,” I can see Chris studying me. “Nolan has offered to help us set up a subsidiary construction business in town.”

I’m silent.

When I don’t react, he narrows his eyes, “Aren’t you going to ask what he wants in return?”

A sick feeling of dread is forming in the pit of my stomach.

“I – Yeah.”

My oldest brother’s smile is vicious and cruel, “You.”

I would have fallen to the ground if I didn’t grip the table next to me for support. My eyes instantly fly towards Nolan, my heart racing in sickening fear, “What?”

My voice is hoarse.

“He wants you as his mate.”

“Well,” Lee corrects, “his second mate. He already has a first mate.”

Nolan’s history with mates is notorious.

“I-” I can feel the panic setting in. My throat constricts, and I stare at them all in shock, my body numb.

Nolan gets to his feet, “I think she needs time to process all this. Send her to me tomorrow.”

He walks towards me before grabbing my jaw and forcing his mouth on mine. I let out a panicked cry, flailing, but he forces his tongue inside my mouth, tasting me before discarding me almost instantly.

I slump to the ground, my face wet with tears, as he walks out.

My brothers don’t even comment, all of them turning back to the game. All except Chris.

“Go and get dinner ready.”

I know that I can never act rebellious in front of my brothers. They take pleasure in hurting me. But if they hand me over to Nolan, the fate that awaits me is torture.

“You know,” I say hoarsely, grabbing the edge of the table to get to my feet. “You know what he and his mate will do to me, what they’ve done to other females he’s brought to his home! Why would you agree to this?!”

Chris’s eyes turn sharp, “Are you questioning me?”

I’m frightened out of my mind, but I know if I don’t try, I’m going to die a painful death.

“They torture the second mates together!” I cry out, my voice cracking. “You know that! You’ve seen their bodies! You’ve heard it directly from his tribe members! How can you send me to him?!”

Chris gets to his feet, his eyes flashing dangerously, and I see the violent panther behind his eyes, “Maybe if you contributed to this pack-”

“You take my entire salary!” I scream, snapping. “You take everything from me! You keep me around to maintain your homes! What more can you take from me?!”

He raises his hand, snarling, only to be stopped by Darius, “He won’t like it if you touch her.”

My heart is pounding, “You know that Nolan and Clarice are sadists, and they will torture me. You know they will break me. And yet you don’t care.”

Chris tightens his jaw, “We need the income. And I know you can survive. Just please Nolan, and get rid of Clarice. Easy.”

He grabs me by the chin, forcing me to look at him, his voice whisper soft, “Only the strong survive. The weak will get eaten. This is the law of the jungle and the law of our people. So, if you want to live, then survive.”

He drops my face as if disgusted and walks away.

I stare after him, my heart thudding unevenly in my chest.

And for the first time since my parent’s death, I feel a flicker of hatred in my heart.