Chapter 1
Alina’s POV
“ Is it really okay if we have steak for dinner tonight?” Arlo worried.
“ Don't think too much about it, your big sister saved a lot for today. Even if we can't eat this every other day, let's make today count after all, it's your birthday,” I patted his head and smiled.
“ You're the best sister ever!” His smile lit up my world, I would do anything to protect it.
“ I'm glad you feel that way. Is there anything you'd want for your tenth birthday?” I held his hand as we walked to our apartment which was in the suburbs. Suburbs made it sound a lot more presentable, we lived in the ghettos to be precise. It's not as bad as one might think, at least it's better than living on the streets.
“ I don't need anything, Alina. I'm alright as long as you're with me,” he clung on to me tighter, warming my heart.
If only we were born in a better family, Arlo would be living his best life rather than enduring this poverty with me. Just then about four black cars pulled up by the walkway and some men on black suits came out. They looked more like thugs than bodyguards, not like that was my problem. I held Arlo tighter and moved faster - wherever there are gangs, trouble is bound to emerge.
“ Are you Alina Merkins?” One of the tall thuggish men stood in front of me.
“ Y-yes, how do you know me?” I did my best to keep my composure. I could tell how frightened Arlo was. It was going to be alright - I wanted to tell him.
“ Our boss has instructed us to find you and bring you to him,” he answered before glancing at Arlo.
“ I didn't think we'd need to carry him along,” he remarked.
“ What do you mean? What's going on?” I demanded.
“ You'll find out soon enough once you get there but in the meantime cooperate with us and get into the car,” he instructed authoritatively.
“ Do you really think I'm just gonna get in because you told me to? You have to be kidding me,” I scoffed.
“ Sir, let's just skip this diplomacy and shove her in the car,” another member grumbled. He was losing his patience.
“ Enough, the boss did not tell us to bring her dead, which simply means he wants her alive,” the man who seemed to head the gang that had surrounded me said.
“ I don't know who you people are or why you're here but I have no business with any gang whatsoever. I haven't done business with you so I don't owe you anything,” I was beginning to get pissed but even as audacious as I sounded, my body wasn't aligned with my words. I could feel my legs getting weak as I attempted to move.
“ Don't think because you're a girl, I wouldn't hurt you. You should know better that gangs don't set rules differently and if you want to keep your brother safe, you better get in obediently,” he moved a step closer before leaning down to my eye level.
Looking at a terrified Arlo, I couldn't risk it. I cautiously got into the car with Arlo.
“ We're here,” the scary man who had threatened me announced as the cars rolled in through the gates of a massive mansion. What could they possibly want from me?
“ Get down,” he instructed and I complied. I followed him into the mansion which had nearly everything made with glass from the stairs to the railings.
“ We've found her, Boss,” he announced our presence the moment we walked into the living room. A tall young handsome man with long deep brown hair and amber eyes with perfect tan skin walked down the glass stairs that we stood facing. All the other thugs apart from the one who threatened me got on their knees.
“ It took you lot long enough,” his voice was just as seductive as his looks and his tattoos and piercings weren't exactly helping matters.
“ Sorry for the delay, sir,” he apologized.
“ There's no need to, you did complete the task after all so it's fine, Caesar,” the boss sipped from his wine glass and Caesar went over to his side. Caesar was his right-hand man, that I could tell.
“ Was the ride here stressful?” He smiled at me.
“ Drop the bullshit and tell me why you kidnapped me!” I raised my voice.
“ Don't you think kidnap is a little bit extreme?” He smirked while swirling the wine in his goblet.
“ You drag me here all the way from my house, there must be a reason and I want to hear it. Don't you even think of doing anything stupid because I won't hesitate to call the cops,” I threatened.
“ I thought I took your phone,” Caesar looked pissed.
“ I've lived long enough on the streets not to be aware of how to survive bastards like you all,” I glared. I always kept a smart watch with me, it was a gift to me. The only gift the person gave me that I am yet to throw out.
“ I can tell that you're an Omega but for an Omega you're pretty stubborn. Maybe it's the reason why your pheromones are weaker than usual,” he commented.
“ Shut it,” what the hell did he know to talk about my pheromones? I take it back, he's definitely a thirst trap but his attitude is garbage.
“ Don't you speak to…”
“ It's alright, Caesar,” he stopped Caesar. “ I would be pissed if I were her too, after all it's not her fault that she's here,” I didn't like how sinister his words sounded.
“ Alina!” Arlo screamed as one of the gang members pulled Arlo away from me, handing him over to their leader. I rushed towards their boss and Caesar but the others held me back.
“ Let him go!” I yelled and trashed around trying to wriggle myself out of their grip.
“ If you don't want something to happen to your precious little brother, I'll advise you to stay still,” he stared at me right on the eyes, there was no form of humor on his face.
“ Alina Merkins, twenty-four years old. Ran away from home with her little brother Arlo when she was sixteen because she had walked in on her mom who had been beaten to death by her drunkard father. Ever since that incident you haven't been in contact with your father, right?” He knew everything about me but how?
“ How do you know so much about me?” I was beginning to get afraid, I had made sure no one knew about my origin.
“ I will take that as a yes. Are you aware that your father is in debt?” He asked.
“ Nothing surprises me about that bastard. I bet he's in a lot of debt given how much he gambled and drinks,” I cussed. The thought of him irritated me.
“ To be precise, he owes me a million dollars,” he grinned.
“ That can't be,” I knew dad was in debt but that large of a debt?? What exactly did he do with the money?
“ Why are you telling me all this? If he's owing you, why don't you ask him? I have nothing to do with him so if you plan on holding me hostage and using me to threaten him to pay, it ain't gonna work,” I spewed.
“ Ah, turns out you aren't aware of the situation at hand,” he walked towards me. “ Your dad knowing that his debt was long overdue and that he had nowhere to go killed himself three days ago in his wretched apartment. So what you should be bothered about is how am I going to get my money back?” He crouched and reached out for my chin.
“ I-I don't have anything to do with him, I swear,” tears gathered in my eyes. If he asked me to pay him the one million dollars, where would I get such an amount from? I and Arlo are barely doing fairly, how was I supposed to raise such an amount?
“ Tch. Don't make me look like some kinda thug with how you're crying,” he rubbed the back of his neck in frustration.
“ H-how am I supposed to pay you back?” My body trembled as I asked.
“ Beats me but now that I'm this close I just realized that you're a lot prettier than how they described. It's rare to see a natural turquoise haired werewolf so you'd fetch a lot if you work at a brothel. Your little brother would have also fetched a good amount as a male prostitute if he wasn't underaged,” he sighed.
Did he really want to sell me off to a brothel?
“ Please… I-I don't want to work in a brothel,” I begged in tears. The thought of being forced upon my multiple men horrified me - I couldn't endure it.
“ Hmm, there is one other option,”he smirked.
“ I'll do anything if it means not being sold off,” I was desperate.
“ I'll clear up all the debt on the condition that you become mine. Can you please take Arlo away? I can't be saying dirty things in front of a child,” he ordered.
“ Where are you taking him?!”
“ Relax, they are just going to put him in a room - a regular bedroom,” he emphasized to put me at ease.
“ You know what I mean by being mine, right? It simply means that you'll have to please me down there the way I want, when I want,” he moved his fingers from my neck to in-between my chest.
“ I-I…”
“ I forgot to tell you that I'm not bargaining with you or giving you a choice. You're mine until I get tired of you and your job starts now.”