I paused.

Maybe waiting for him to blink and then tell me this had been a big joke, but he never did. His face remained stern.

"Moon what?... Wait a minute, I think I know what's going on here. You're mistaking me for someone else," I chuckled dryly. "Right?"

His face remained unchanged. "I only entered the party to grab a bite. Okay, I'm sorry I barged into your party..."

He blinked. A flicker of doubt wavered through his eyes but disappeared almost immediately.

I exhaled slightly. I didn't even realize I'd been holding my breath all this while.

A ball of red fluid fell from his nose. My face flushed. "OMG, you're bleeding!" I screamed.

His hand felt for his nose, and the thick blood stained his palm.

I pushed my back against the door, my legs shivering.

"Look what you've done?" His eyes lasered into mine as he marched towards me. I pushed harder against the door. "I didn't do anything," I replied, my lips quivering.

His hands reached for my shoulders, and I scrambled, but he caught my wrist. I pulled… He lost his balance, falling, his weight resting on mine on the floor.

The door slid open. Our eyes shifted to the door where the hotel manager and hotel security stood frozen.

"We're so sorry, sir. We saw her display in the hallway through the CCTV and thought she was an intruder." They closed the door sharply after dipping into a deep bow.

Alpha Damian shifted his gaze to me under his weight. Our eyes met; something intense lingered in the stare.

He stood up and felt around his nose. His gaze turned back to me... He was gone the next minute, leaving me locked in.

I sat up, paced around, pushed and kicked against the door until I could feel my strength seep away from my legs. I allowed my body to fall to the floor. Tears welled in my eyes.

This wasn't how I planned to end my life. This wasn't how I wanted to join my parents in heaven.

A letter slipped in under the door. My eyes shifted down. A tear fell on the letter. My palms worked their way to my cheeks, wiping out the rolling tears.

I picked up the letter.

Hi! Stranger,

I hope you are safe. If you aren't dead by midnight, tap the door twice. I'll put a ladder by the window on the right corner of the room. All you have to do is climb down. Don't let Alpha Damian find out any of this... Slide the paper out immediately after you're done reading.

My eyes darted around the room like a hunter. I sighted a pen placed on a magazine – probably a business magazine.

I wrote:

What is Alpha Damian, a ghost? Because I seemed to be the only one seeing him as he dragged me up to his chamber. Can you help me now before he returns?

I slid the note back out, my fingers dancing on my lap as I awaited the stranger's response.

Tap the door twice and I will howl. That will be your cue to climb out the window.

My forehead creased. He didn't answer any of my questions. I wrote and slid the note back out.

Waiting for his response, yet no sign of a note.

The doorknob shifted. I stood, eyes focused on the door, legs ready to scramble.

Alpha Damian stood at the door. I shifted back. He walked in and locked the door from inside.

"You're probably not who I think you are, Celine Xing."

"That's exactly what I've been trying to say," I retorted.

His gaze glistened, this time not surprised but suspicious, and like the last, his expression darkened almost immediately.

"I’ll keep you still… if you try to run, Ella will be dead," his voice firm with unwavering authority.

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead, my heart throbbing against my chest. "You... I... Why run a background check on me? I have no business with you..."

He glanced at me.

My brow raised.

His gaze shifted to the window. The bustling sound of cars honking filled the room. He looked lost.

"I'm sorry, I promise, if you let me out now, I'd never ever come close to this hotel ever again," my voice low, pleaded.

His face tilted slightly, his gaze met mine, he smirked. "I guess we really can change the hands of time." His eyes were distant.

He continued, "In a few minutes, there will be a full moon and you'll be my new mate.”

I scoffed, “That will be over my dead body.” The blood in my veins boiled. Who did he think he was to be throwing orders like that? Yes, I was an orphan, but it wasn't an excuse to be condescending.

That smirk played on his lips. “I'll walk away and leave the door open. Join me on the altar or watch Ella die because of your stubbornness. My guards are at the orphanage already.”

I stiffened. Not Ella. I have watched her since the nuns found her at the orphanage gate. She literally meant the world to me. My world disappeared each time she giggled. I swore on my life to protect her, and now this.

I fought hard to stop the tears forming behind my eyes. “Leave Ella out of this," I swallowed to hide my quivering lips.

His glance darted to the wall clock and he walked out of the room. I followed his eyes – 11:55 pm.

The door shut. My head dropped... the weight heavier than ever. Do I throw his warnings into the air and run for it, or just stay back for the sake of Ella?

By 12 am, I had made up my mind. If I escaped fast enough, I could save Ella and myself too. I tapped the door twice, and then a loud howl came. I went to the corner as instructed, and there it was – the ladder.

The guy standing at the other end was the third man from earlier. I climbed out, my legs pushing down the steps… halfway in, I heard a gunshot. My body stiffened.

"Really?" His eyes bloodshot under the flickering lights emanating from the hotel.

I turned. The man lay on the floor, tugging at his leg, screeching in pain. Alpha Damian stood next to him, his gun still oozing out smoke.

My fists and jaw clenched.

"So much for the love and care I hear you pour on her," his face now expressionless.

“Don't lay a finger on Ella!" I rushed down to stand on the ground with him.

“You made me wait at the altar,” he thundered.

I walked up closer, daring to hold his gaze.

"I made the mistake, right?..." He raised a brow.

“Shoot me.” My voice firm and fearless.

He took a step backwards, I noticed his finger shake on the trigger. I didn't flinch. My eyes shut… my pulse echoed in my ears.

I'd rather die in the hands of this psychopath than have him hurt Ella, or worse, climb that altar with him.

"Alpha Damian, we've just been ambushed!" a guard called out.

He ran towards the guard, his custom-made suit ripping as his figure changed. Right before my eyes, he changed into a hairy beast.

My eyes narrowed. "What is he?”