ALPHA'S PREY

CHAPTER SEVEN: SEDUCTIVE MANIPULATOR

The atmosphere grew tense immediately. Even the breeze stopped moving, as if sensing the weight in the room. A soundless scream built inside Kathy's chest.

She stared at her mother in disbelief. " You did what?"

" I forged your signature and signed it with mine," Carol whispered while still holding her daughter's wrist tightly. " I'm sorry dear, but I can't bear this shame anymore. I can't even show my face in church. "

Kathy yanked her arm free from her mother's grip and dragged her fingers through her tangled blonde hair in frustration, the strands curling around her hand like a noose. She could barely believe what she was hearing.

Was this her mother's excuse? Shame?

Why was she even ashamed? These people talking: Where were they when they were homeless five years ago? When they begged on the streets for scraps? No one cared then. Now that she was finally doing fine for herself, suddenly everyone had something to say.

" Do you hear yourself? Does… Does this sound right to you? " She asked, her voice trembling. She still didn't want to accept this reality that had unexpectedly come to her. " Let me see the document. "

Carol, whose eyes were soft with guilt, nodded. " It's in my room. Let me get it"

She quickly rushed to her room and returned with a file. Pulling out a single sheet, she handed it to Kathy, who was still restless and boiling inside.

" Here it is "

Kathy snatched the paper and stepped towards the wall lamp. Her eyes read through it and then stopped when something caught her eyes. A clause written in fine print.

" You... you're lying, "Kathy whispered, her voice cracking as her eyes scanned the tiny letters on the back of the contract.

IF THE BRIDE BACKS OUT, THE MOTHER SHALL REPLACE HER AS THE BRIDE AS COMPENSATION FOR HEARTBREAK AND FINANCIAL EXPENSES. THIS IS A NON-NEGOTIABLE CONTRACT...

The other words blurred as she wasn't able to complete it due to the shock that came with the news.

What kind of monster replaces a bride with her mother just because she refused to marry him?

Her hands trembled. In a rage, she threw the paper across the room in anger and faced her mother.

" What the f**k did you sign us into mom? What is this?"

Carol stepped back, startled. " What...what is it? Is it bad? "

" Of course, it's bad!" Kathy shouted. This time she didn't care if her mother was hurt or not. She brought this to herself. " Who the hell gave you this paper? Are you sure he's the answer to your prayer or a devil sent to punish me? Because this document looks like it was drafted by the devil himself. "

Carol's brow furrowed in confusion, she asked gently. " What's wrong with the document?"

'Everything! Kathy wanted to scream but halted as she realized that her mother had been tricked. " You didn't read the damn fine print, did you?"

" I didn't. The tiny letters hurt my eyes. " Carol mumbled, bending to pick the paper off the floor. " But I don't think the contract is too bad. Look here, " she pointed to a paragraph that Kathy didn't read and showed it to her. " It says here, if you agree to this marriage, you will receive five million dollars. "

Kathy stared at her mother, heartbroken.

So that was it. Money.

She didn't want to tell her the contents of the letter because it might worsen her heart condition. Though it might help ruin the perfect image her mother had created in her head of this stranger, one thing she didn't want to do was to spend the rest of her day in the hospital.

" So you saw the money and decided to sell me out? " Kathy asked, blinking her lashes to prevent her tears from falling. Her mother might not know it, but she had hurt her deeply. " Do I not give you enough every month?"

" You do, " Kathy admitted. " But God condemns how you make it. I can't keep pretending it was okay. "

Kathy nodded, tears slid down her cheeks. So all the sacrifices she made for this family after her sister's death meant nothing to her mother. She even dropped out of school to take care of her. All she cared about was the f*****g church!

She didn't choose to be a stripper. No one dreams of stripping under flashing lights for leering strangers. But when the streets are bed and hunger your closest friend, you take what you can.

" And why didn't you consult a lawyer?"

" He said he needed an immediate answer. And…and lawyers are expensive..." Carol trailed off. " I don't think it's that bad. Why don't you give it a chance? If it doesn't work out, we will figure something else out. "

" f**k that, " Kathy hissed. " I'm going to his house right now. " And I'm telling him to take back this document if he values his life. And if she doesn't ...I won't speak for now. " Kathy stormed toward the door, but halted as she touched the doorknob. Then, turned to her mother. " Did he give you his address? "

Carol was hesitant. She didn't want her daughter to ruin this perfect and only chance of getting married. But she also didn't want to make her more annoyed. Without any other choice, she slowly walked to the table and picked up a card the handsome man had given her that morning. " Take, and be careful of the way you speak to him, okay? "

Kathy ignored her and collected the card and the contract papers from her hand before quickly leaving the house.

The dark clouds had started to clear, and the empty streets were slowly waking up when Kathy walked outside. Sighing heavily, she put the contract papers in her handbag and stepped onto the sidewalk.

Wrapping the rope of the fur coat tightly around her waist to hide her bikini, Kathy flagged down a taxi and hopped in.

" Take me to the Blackwood... mansion?" Kathy stuttered as she read the address that was written on the card with a frown.

She was expecting the driver not to know the place, but the next reply from him left her utterly speechless.

" Are you sure?"

Kathy's frown deepened as she stared at the back of the driver. " Yes... why? "

" That will cost double. Seven hundred bucks."

Kathy's jaw dropped upon hearing such a deafening amount. " What the.. Why?"

" Big risk going up there" he shrugged. “ A recent rumor came out that a werewolf was spotted there. ”

“ Why hasn't it been killed? ” Kathy demanded with a curious tone.

“ Those creatures are fast,” the driver replied, and her face fell in disappointment. “ It escaped before we went to catch it. It was such a waste of effort and the price of werewolf meat had doubled in the market. ”

Kathy sighed in frustration. Catching a werewolf means endless wealth to the captor. Ever since she heard about a werewolf killing her only sister, all she ever wished was to catch one day, torture it to death, then kill it and use it to cure her mother's heart condition. But recently they seemed to be hidden. Only the rich and powerful people in the country had the power and resources to buy or capture one.

However, this was a problem to be solved later. Right now, a pervert has tricked her mother into forcing her to marry him, and she needs to stop him before this goes overboard. But what she didn't expect was for this pervert’s man house to cost this much. But whatever it takes to make this demon take back that document, she was ready to do it. " Fine. Just go"

The ride was long, and as the car pulled into a private road, Kathy's eyes widened.

The place was f*****g unreal.

The house wasn't just any house. It was a palace. A sprawling mansion wrapped in beautiful flowers and garden trimmed like an art installation. The gates were carved with gold and lions in stone guarding a marble path.

After paying the taxi, Kathy marched to the entrance, but before she could reach the gate, a bulky armed man stepped into her path. His biceps bulged beneath his black singlet, a red skull tattoo with two axes crossed over his shoulder.

" State your business here" he asked, glaring at her like she was already in trouble. But she wasn't afraid. She was too angry to be afraid. Putting her hand inside her bag, she took the card and handed it over to the man. He collected the card, scanned it slightly and then straightened it.

" Come in. Mr. Blackwood had been expecting you. "

He stepped aside and opened the gate. Kathy entered slowly, and her heart pounded as she noted at least ten men with guns in the garden.

" What the hell is this place?" Kathy thought, but quickly snapped out of it when she heard the guard speak again.

" Wait here", the guard said before vanishing into the house.

Moments later, a naked lady ran out of the building, clutching a duvet around her. She was crying while white fluid trailed down her thigh as she ran towards the gate.

Kathy watched in silent horror, daring not to say anything.

What the hell did mom sign me into? She asked silently within herself.

Then, the doors opened again, and a man in a white robe stepped out. His raven hair looked messy, as if he was just waking up from sleep. Sweat clung to his toned chest beneath an open silk robe. He looked exactly like the man from the club...only more dangerous in the daylight.

" Well, well, " he said with a mocking smile and Kathy turned around quickly, only to meet the amber eyes of this stranger. " Look who it is. My stripper mate. I told you freeing a captive means giving away your freedom. "

Kathy stared at this devil in front of her with rage. Indeed, he was too handsome to be a man. And too evil to be trusted.

She didn't know if she did it intentionally or mistakenly, but her gaze fell on the huge bulge beneath his robe before looking away with a flushed face.

The man wasn't just a pervert but a seducer.

He wasn't even wearing anything beneath that rope!

Was he intentionally trying to seduce again, just like back then in the club?

Clearing her throat, Kathy snapped. " How petty can you be? Tricking an old woman into signing a slave contract? Really?”