The space between me and Damon Thorne’s eyes like steel was very narrow. When he said, ‘I want my mate, and from what I see, you look like a woman who loves to be owned,’ it sounded more like a decree by a superior, than a confession.

That statement was intrusive. My human defenses were cut off, and I was at the mercy of the Alpha’s instinct who stood in front of me.

The most pitiful and small words left my mouth, and I said to Damon, ‘’you are insane.’’ I merely choked those words out because it meant nothing to the arrogant man.

The pull towards him was strong, and it took everything in me to fight it, but the Alpha was gripping me, and his grip was like iron. I felt the connection between us, like electricity, entering me and flowing through my veins.

‘’Elara, if I dare to chase a negotiable debt while I have a non-negotiable solution to it, then I will be crazy.’’ Damon’s voice dropped lower, and I could hear the annoyance and hunger carried through the vibration of his voice.

‘’Your debt stopped being a financial one after you walked into my territory by yourself, with your scent, Elara. It is now a biological debt we speak of.’’

Damon released his grip on my wrist, and I was feeling relieved until I felt his other arm snake around my waist. I felt every ounce of his body heat as it radiated through my cheap clothing.

He shifted his weight and stood straight, and suddenly, I was pressed against his solid chest.

My breath ceased when I slammed into his chest. His powerful heartbeat thudded against my ribs; it was very steady, as if it was a drumbeat with rhythm. Slow and steady.

‘’You said you had leverage. My sister...the company.’’ With the last bit of control, I had in me, I pleaded for Damon to be understanding, instead he said;

‘’You are the leverage.’’ I heard him growl out those words. ‘’I already have leverage, the ultimate prize, security, and more. Little birdie, do you think I will let go of a gift that the Moon Goddess created solely for me? Just because of some flimsy money, I should lose a divine gift?’’

‘’We are going to make a very simple transaction,’’ he said, brushing his lips against my ear. ‘’I will forgive your sister’s debt, and sign for it in paper, while you will sign the papers that will bind you to me.’’

I was going to refuse, but before I could desperately state my refusal, Damon moved, revealing just how strong and powerful he was. Before I knew what was happening, he carried me and tossed me over his shoulder. It was as if I weighed nothing. His move was so powerful and terrifying.

I started to pound his back, which, I must tell you, was like a mountain. He barely even felt my fist pounding so hard against his back. ‘’Even though you are a billionaire, you can’t just kidnap me. It is still a crime, and you will be punished,’’ I cried.

Yet my cries fell on deaf ears as Damon didn’t even reply to me. He just carried me and walked deeper into the house through the main doors.

‘’In my territory, I make the rules.’’ His voice vibrated against my stomach. ‘’You no longer belong to the human world, Elara, you belong to the Alpha now.’’

I was speechless. The doors of the office slid open gently, and on the other side, I saw a man, tall and imposing, just like Damon, but this one hard dark eyes, passive and deep. His name was Rys, he was Damon’s Beta.

I saw a leather bag in Rys’ hand, it was elegant and unique, and from what I could tell, it belonged to me. Rys didn’t express any emotion, all he did was nod when he saw us.

‘’Rys, prepare and hold on to the documents to secure the debt release for Vance Group. Make sure I am able to sign on them by tonight,’’ Damon commanded, and with a flat voice, Rys replied, ‘’yes Alpha.’’

Rys still didn’t spare me a stare. I was draped over the shoulder of his Alpha, his boss, thrashing at the back, but he didn’t even look at me. It didn’t take me long to understand that I was merely a piece of commodity now that had been acquired.

Alpha Damon took me through a secret door that led to an elevator which went downwards, taking us away from the corporate floor. When the door opened, I saw that we were still in a penthouse, but this time, it was a residential penthouse. While we were going down the elevator, I thought we will end up in a parking lot or a lobby, but I saw a vast residence, the home of Alpha Damon.

The home was lavish, impossibly classy and elite. It was of minimalist design, but there was something about the aura the home carried; it was cold. It felt like somewhere one would preserve something precious which was long gone. Like a morgue, but an expensive and highly elite and private morgue.

I was still on Damon’s shoulder as he carried me through the space he called home. We crossed a kitchen made of black marble; it looked like an Island, large and terrifying. Then he took me into his bedroom, which was the size of my entire old apartment.

Damon tossed me rudely on the bed which was covered in silk. I scrambled away from him, inching backwards until my back slammed against the headboard. My heart thundered against my chest as I felt trapped and afraid.

Loosening his tie, Damon towered above me. He inhaled, and his chest expanded as he perceived my scent that pulled him to me.

‘’Little birdie, this is your new cage,’’ Damon said. His wicked eyes burned with victory and ownership, possessive ownership. ‘’Don’t bother to do anything because the windows are protected with reinforcement, as well as the doors which will be locked. You will not communicate with anyone, all you will do is wait until I come back; every day.’’

‘’Rys will give you anything you want, food, water, and all.’’ Damon threw the key at me; it was a chrome rectangular object, nothing like the regular key everyone knows.

‘’In the future, please do not make me angry. Don’t do anything stupid. You are my mate, and I will always possess anything that belongs to me.’’

After he said that, he turned around and walked out. His glorious and powerful frame filled up the entire doorway. When I heard the door click after he locked it, I knew my fate was sealed.

Because I came to solicit to pay for my sister’s debt, I was now trapped. I was held up by the Alpha, and this terrifying bond that I didn’t want to feel but couldn’t help feeling.

I looked through the glass walls which were all bullet proof, and then I looked at the key that Damon dropped and I thought to myself that escape was not just an option, but the last hope I had if I wanted to save my identity as a human.