The Black Widow and Alpha Landlord

Chapter 1: The Bothersome Stranger

Millgrave village…

Jasmine Goddard sat huddled in a dark corner of the Swafford estate's sprawling garden, her breath quick and shallow as she tried to stay invisible. The late afternoon sun created eerie shadows over the ancient trees, but it was not the looming darkness that frightened her. It was the sound of their laughter—cruel and malicious—growing louder as they drew nearer.

Oliver Swafford, the eldest of her cousins, led the torment. His boots crunched against the gravel as he approached, a twisted grin plastered on his face. "Found you, crippled little mouse," he sneered, reaching down and yanking her up by her arm with brutal force. Jasmine winced in pain but bit her lip, determined not to cry in front of him.

Behind him, Faye and Zelda followed, their delicate features twisted with malicious delight. Faye, with her long auburn hair, always looked like she belonged in a portrait of a high-born lady—but her heart was rotten. Zelda, younger but equally vicious, had a smirk that sent chills down Jasmine’s spine.

“You’re such a pathetic thing, aren’t you?” Faye cooed, circling Jasmine like a predator. “Always hiding, always weak. No wonder no one cares for you.”

Oliver tightened his grip on Jasmine’s arm, twisting it sharply until she gasped in pain. "You’ll never belong here, you filthy orphan. Father was kind enough to take you in, but you repay him with this… this sniveling mess," he spat, his words venomous.

Zelda stepped forward, her voice as sharp as the stick she held in her hand. "Let’s play a game, shall we? You like games, don’t you, Jasmine?"

Before Jasmine could respond, Zelda swung the stick and jabbed it hard into her ribs. The pain was immediate and overwhelming. Jasmine collapsed to the ground, her hands scrambling in the dirt as tears stung her eyes. But still, she stayed silent, refusing to give them the satisfaction of hearing her sob.

“Get up!” Oliver barked, kicking her in the side. She curled up, bracing for more.

Faye crouched next to her, grabbing a handful of her dark hair and yanking her head back. “You don’t get to hide away,” she hissed into Jasmine’s ear. “You think you’re better than us, don’t you?”

Jasmine’s chest heaved with fear, but she didn’t respond. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of knowing how much they had broken her spirit. The more silent she stayed, the more enraged they became.

Faye slapped her hard across the face, the sharp sting leaving a red mark on her pale skin. “Answer me when I speak to you, you worthless wretch!” she screamed, raising her hand to strike again, but Oliver stopped her.

"No, Faye. Let her feel it slow," he growled. He knelt beside Jasmine, his breath hot against her ear as he whispered, "One day, no one's going to save you. And when that day comes, I’ll make sure you beg."

Jasmine’s heart raced, the terror almost paralyzing her, but still, she stayed quiet. The Swaffords stood over her with their ferocious and menacing expressions, enjoying every moment of her suffering.

Their torment lingered a few moments longer—Oliver giving her one last shove, Faye kicking dirt in her face—until a loud crack of thunder interrupted them. The sky, which had been growing darker, suddenly split open with a downpour. Rain began to fall in heavy sheets, drenching them all.

Finally, Zelda broke the silence with a cruel sneer. "Come on, let’s leave the little cripple to wallow in her misery," she said with a disdainful smirk.

Zelda scowled at the sudden turn of weather. "This isn't worth ruining my clothes over."

Without another word, the three of them turned their backs on Jasmine, their laughter still echoing as they disappeared into the estate. The sound of their cruel jeers faded into the distance, swallowed by the relentless rain. Jasmine lay there, soaked and trembling, left alone in the mud with nothing but her pain and the cold storm raging above her.

Jasmine lay motionless for a few moments, the rain soaking through her clothes, mixing with the mud beneath her. Every inch of her body throbbed with pain, her right leg, crippled since birth, feeling like dead weight beneath her. But as the sound of the Swaffords' laughter faded and the cold bite of the storm set in, a burning thought cut through the haze of her misery—she had to leave the village.

Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself up with trembling arms, wincing at the sharp pain in her side. She glanced down at her leg, twisted and useless, but she wouldn't let it hold her back any longer. The village had never been kind to her, and the torment from her cousins was just a reminder that nothing would change unless she left.

Her heart pounded in her chest, not from fear but from the desperation to escape. "I can’t stay here," she muttered to herself, barely audible through the pounding rain. The thought grew louder in her mind. She had to leave, even if it meant dragging herself away in the dead of night, even if it meant fighting through the pain.

She grabbed the nearest tree trunk for support, struggling to stand as her body protested every movement. Her clothes clung to her skin, heavy with rain and mud, but she forced herself to move, one agonizing step at a time. Each step sent shocks of pain up her leg, but she clenched her fists, ignoring the tears that mixed with the rain on her face.

Jasmine knew she couldn’t survive much longer here—alone, broken, and at the mercy of her cruel cousins. She didn't have a plan yet, but she knew this was her last night in the village. No matter the cost, she had to get away.

As she limped away, Jasmine set her sights on Bloomsminster Valley, a place that once felt like home. She used to live a simple life there, working as a shepherdess. The valley had been peaceful, far from the cruelty of her cousins, and though the work was hard, it was honest. The thought of returning to the familiar hills and pastures gave her a small sense of hope, even as the pain in her leg and all over her body slowed her down. It was her only chance of escaping the torment she'd endured.

As the sun went down over the green valley, Jasmine Goddard couldn't help but feel amazed that such a beautiful place belonged to just one guy: Lord Aethelwulf. The Alpha billionaire landlord of the Moonstone pack was a mysterious figure, someone whom she had never met but had heard many rumors about.

In her mind, Jasmine saw him as an old man with sharp blue eyes and a long, gray beard. She pictured him as a stern and unapproachable leader, one who demanded respect and obedience from all those who worked for him. He might be a mysterious and distant figure who masks his power and wealth.

She had always been fascinated by Lord Aethelwulf. She wanted to know what kind of person he was. Known for being a smart businessman, he built his empire by working hard and making smart investments over many years. She had heard about how kind and generous he was, as well as how ruthless he was in business and how crafty he was.

She was aware that Lord Aethelwulf owned large areas of land and property spread out all over the state. She understood that the flocks she took care of in the valley were only a small part of his huge empire.

Despite his vast holdings, he was not someone who was often seen in public. Instead, he had a network of workers and managers looking over all of his properties and making sure they were running smoothly.

She had never met him or seen anyone who worked for him. It was common for people in the area to whisper his name. People in the area talked about him with fear and awe in hushed tones, as if he were some kind of all-powerful and great being.

Some people thought that Lord Aethelwulf was invincible as he had immense power and influence over the people and lands he owned. Persons who lived and worked on his properties saw him as a kind of deity who could make or break their fortunes.

As Jasmine led the flocks of sheep back to their watering spot, she couldn't help but think of what it would be like to look into his eyes and see the wisdom and expertise that came from overseeing such a vast empire for so many years.

But the truth of her situation quickly brought her back to earth. She knew that the chance of meeting Lord Aethelwulf was very scarce, if not impossible because his territories were so vast and she was just a lowly worker. She didn't think he would even notice her or give her a second thought if she did meet him.

Those thoughts would have to stay just that for now—a faraway dream or a quick thought in the back of her mind. At this point, all she could do was think about herself and try to figure out how to get away from her aunt's family.

Jasmine lived a solitary life in a remote area, where the vast responsibility of tending to the flocks of sheep fell solely upon her shoulders.

Unlike the other workers who resided in a distant locale, she found herself isolated in this rugged terrain, where the only thing that kept her company was the bleating sheep that grazed under her watchful eye.

Day in and day out, she went through the huge area, making sure the flocks were well-fed and secure. The sound of her presence could be heard in the vast, deserted places around her.

As Jasmine kept walking, her mind wandered, but she couldn't get away from the reality that her limping feet were dragging, which was a steady reminder of how hard it was for her to walk.

While she was lost in thought, watching the flocks drink and play, a feeling of sadness washed over her. She walked aimlessly along the path next to the pond and she didn't notice the stranger coming up behind her until it was too late.

Before she knew it, she was falling straight into the cool pond near the waterfall after letting out a shocked scream as she felt herself losing her balance. The fall was so hard that it took her breath away. She found herself stunned for a moment without being aware of what had happened.

“Damn it!”

Her stomach churned when she heard the man’s curse. She wasn't sure if he was infuriated at her for pushing her into the pond or if he was fuming about something else. It was hard for her to focus as the sheep's bleating made things even more chaotic.