CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA

CHAPTER THREE

FEODORA POV;

What have I done? Feodora, what misery have you brought upon yourself? If only I had known, I wouldn't have disobeyed the rules. I would have reported him to my father right away!

This was all my fault. If only I had been smart enough….if only I had been obedient….if only I had stayed at home… But there is no room for 'ifs' anymore. The deed has been done and now I'm left to live in regrets of what I had done…or what I could have done.

Strangely, I had a strong urge to laugh and scream at the same time, though I could hardly do the latter—my throat was hoarse already. I wanted to laugh at my instant misery and scream at my naivety. Look at me, 18 years of age, wasn't it enough that I was mate–less? Already doomed to be lonely for the rest of my life? Now, I'm not only mateless, but I'm now an orphan, an orphan at the mercy of this deranged man! An orphan who had played a part in her parent's death!

I looked up at him from where I sat weakly on the ground. How I longed to rip that face apart with my paws, to dip my hands into his naked chest and squeeze out his merciless heart. I have never killed anyone before but the hatred and anger in my heart was enough to make me long to see him die by my hands in the goriest of ways. But I couldn't do anything.

Why? Because I was weak and my wolf was even weaker. If my parents couldn't even get a scratch on him, who was I to stand a chance?

I sobbed quietly as my gaze fell on the bloody and lifeless bodies of my parent's body again.

My 18th birthday has turned out to be the worst day of my very existence. Dragging my eyes away from them, my gaze traveled to the person who was still standing at the door in shock. Randolph.

He was still staring at the person behind me. I had just told him that this person was responsible for the massacres of half of our pack members and my parents.

Maybe he could save me. Randolph was the Beta of our pack, second in command to my father—he would save me because I was too scared to move from where I sat at this man's feet. It had taken blind courage to even get this close to him to hit him and now—I couldn't move an inch.

My eyes met Randolph's and I'm sure he could see the plea in them. He looked up at the man and let out a growl, it was a form of intimidation on his part. But it didn't work.

The terrifying sound that came from behind me, made my heart jump. Even Randolph flinched as well. Was that supposed to be the growling of a wolf or the devil?

I looked back at Randolph and I knew he had changed his mind about trying to attack the madman behind me. The expression on his face gave him away, even an i***t wouldn't dare to go against this monster.

"Feodora, come," Randolph said to me and my eyes moved to him. He stretched out his hand towards me. I was scared to move at first or turn around to see if I was being stared at by the gleaming gray eyes of the monster.

"Come, Feodora," Randolph repeated.

I gulped as I started crawling towards him. Maybe If I could reach him fast enough, we could run away. I was still edging towards him when I felt someone step right in front of me.

I looked up, to see the gray eyes staring deep into mine almost looking into my very soul. For the first time since I met him today, he said, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Let me go…" I wasn't sure if he heard me.

The man before me chuckled as he smiled down at me. What he did next surprised me and Randolph. He grabbed me, hurling me up off the ground as he forcefully wrapped an arm around my waist.

"Hey!" Randolph took a step towards me in panic.

"Don't you dare move?" He howled.

Randolph and I halted. I stopped trying to get away from his grasp and Randolph didn't dare take another step, it didn't matter if it wasn't me he was talking to—I didn't dare to move because he sounded like the devil himself.

"Don't even think about taking her away from me," he continued in his deep menacing voice, "no one touches my woman."

I'm sure even Randolph was shocked. Who wouldn't be shocked? What the hell was this insane man saying?

"Wo…woman?" Randolph repeated, his green eyes shifting back to me when they went to the bodies on the floor.

"Yes," this man said, his grip tightening around me. "Feodora," he said, dragging my name, "is now my woman and is going to be my wife."

"What?!" I said as I turned sharply to meet his gaze that was directed to Randolph as if daring him to oppose. And of course, he didn't.

I couldn't believe what was happening right now. How could this…this lunatic, expect me to marry him after he just murdered my parents? And why won't Randolph say something, wasn't he the Beta of this pack?

"Well then…" I finally heard Randolph say, and both I and this monster leaned in to see what he was going to say next, "If that is your wish….my..my lord, I'll ask the servants to start the preparation." He cleared his throat before bowing down.

"What are you talking about, Randolph?" I snapped, finally releasing myself from this man's grip. " I am not going to marry this man!"

Randolph motioned for me to calm down. I turned around to stare into the eyes of this monster who stood before me, "You're out of your mind if you think I'll marry the man who just murdered my parents! A stranger….."

"My name is Ares," he interrupted. I paused, not even knowing what to say next.

"Ares," he repeated like an i***t.

“I'm sorry, was this an introduction? Who asked for your stupid name? You could be nameless for all I care!” I snapped at him, totally miserable and bleak.

"You," he said, pointing to Randolph.

"Randolph Wulf, Milord," Randolph said as he bowed again. What was going on for heaven's sake! Randolph doesn't bow to anyone. The beta doesn't bow to anyone, but the Alpha.

"Randolph, what the f**k are you doing?" I asserted, gritting my teeth, before sniffing the tears that had started to form in my eyes again. I was so pained to see him bowing to the same man who killed my father- his Alpha, right in front of his body.

Randolph sighed as his head went up again, he looked at me and back at this monster.

"I want the wedding preparations to commence as soon as possible.” Ares declared, and I snapped back to him.

"I will never marry you…." The next thing that happened scared more than angered me. This man pulled me to him and grabbed my chin, forcing me to stare into the coldness of his gray eyes.

"Randolph, commence the preparation." His face was only an inch away from mine, his eyes still staring at me, making me weak in fear.

"Don't fight it, Feodora," he said, calmly. I felt humiliation, I felt anger.

"Yes, Milord. But we need to step into the next room." Randolph said.

"Why?" Ares asked, looking at Randolph from the side. He finally let go of my cheek and I felt a burning sensation where he had pressed them.

"So the servants can be called to….clean up," I could hear Randolph gulp, "and so we can announce you…. announce you as the new Alpha."

"What?" I gasped in disbelief. What the hell is Randolph talking about? How could the man who murdered my parents, be forcing me to marry him, and take my father’s position to become the new Alpha?

"It's the Law, Feodora." Randolph mumbled, "By right, the one who can defeat the Alpha earns his title."

I know the law dammit! Who is he to teach me the pack rules? But how…how will he allow this….this… The tears were choking my throat as I sobbed.

"Shall we commence to the next room?" Randolph asked Ares and I saw him nodding.

And we went into the next room. Leaving this one that holds the memory and evidence that my old life and happiness are dead forever, as we stepped into the next room, I stepped into my new future, one I can be sure is filled with dark clouds.

The coronation did not even last for ten minutes because this man, this Ares couldn't wait that long. He didn't want to.

I glared at him from where I sat in the throne room, on the little throne that belonged to me, the daughter of the Alpha and Luna. The dead Alpha and Luna now, I guess. I turned my head to look at Ares.

There he stood in the middle of everyone, wearing my father's Alpha uniform and not even a respectful smile on his face as he accepted the title of 'Alpha' with obvious satisfaction.

"...And I crown you, Alpha Ares, leader of the Ironclaw pack." Randolph's husky voice bounced off the wall as he pinned the royal crest on Ares.

I was on the verge of a breakdown, but I still watched, I watched as Ares immediately shifted into his wolf and let out a howl, the finalization of the coronation.

The others; the five head Elders, servants, and Delta nobilities followed in the howling, everyone except me.

If he expected everyone to accept all of this just because they feared him, he was wrong. I will not dishonor the spirit of my late father, my Alpha by accepting this man.

I continued to look on, grabbing the sides of the dress I had been forced to change for this occasion. Ares majestically walked to my father's throne and instead of sitting on it with respect, he shifted into a huge black wolf, bigger than any I've ever seen, and hopped on the seat of the throne before letting out a deep growl.

Everyone's expression was filled with anger, surprise, and fear at the same time. Anger that he would do such a brazen thing, surprised at the size and ferociousness of his wolf and afraid of him entirely. Shifting back, he relaxed lazily on the throne and that was when he turned his eyes at me.

"Feodora," he called and I looked up at him, hoping he could see the hatred in my eyes. I had stopped crying, I refused to give him the satisfaction of my tears or show any weakness.

"Feodora," he called again. I'm sure he was waiting to see how I'd address him.

Biting my tongue from calling him the evil bastard he is, I answered, "Milord?"

He smiled and then beckoned to me, "Come and sit next to me" he said, "let's have a little talk.”

I blinked twice. What was he saying? I looked around to see the expectant faces with forced smiles. As an alpha, it is compulsory to give a short speech, a pledge that you will fulfill your obligation as the leader of the pack, and here he was, asking for a chat like it was just the both of us in the room.

"Come." his voice turned deeper and a slight frown appeared on his face.

Gingerly, I walked towards him and very reluctantly gave him my hand which he held for longer than necessary.

"Sit" he ushered me to the seat next to him—on the Luna's throne.

"No.." I immediately said, dragging my hand away from his, "I cannot disrespect my mother like this. I'm not the Luna."

"Sit," he said again. But I refused.

"I'm not the Luna." I gulped angrily.

"I'll make you one then," he said and turned to the crowd, looking directly at Randolph.

"Start the preparation, already. Let the wedding be tonight so I can make her my Luna."

It’s not as if I wasn't shocked, I was but I've gone through so many emotions today that I felt numb. I mean, what could I do?

"Pardon me, Alpha," a gruff voice from the small crowd said and I turned to see who it was. It was Rafe Oberin, one of the five pack elders. He was in his late fifties and the second oldest Elder.

"What is it?" Ares's voice held no respect whatsoever for the elderly man. He was like a brute. A good-looking brute.

Elder Rafe seemed to ignore the rudeness in him because he continued speaking. "It's not possible for…a wedding to take place tonight."

"Why?" Ares said, standing up instantly, his powerful frame casting a shadow on everyone before him as a deep frown appeared on his face.

"The death of her parents forbids it," he answered.

"It's true, Alpha" Elder Everon, the fourth Elder concurred. "It is taboo and bad luck for a marriage to take place on the day of a funeral.

"I don't care,” Ares growled lightly.

"Please," I begged. Even if I were to be forced to marry this man, I wouldn't want my marriage to be filled with excess misery. He turned to me, the stoic look in his eyes, still there.

I gulped as I stared into the orbs of his eyes, searching for any underlying traces of empathy. "it's…..an abomination," I began, "if the marriage takes place…..our…our future will be affected." He raised an eyebrow at me and I sighed again, "Even our…the pups." I reluctantly added.

For a moment, he had a quizzical look on his face as if he didn't understand what I was saying, and then later he chuckled slightly. I hate to see the smirk on his face.

"Another day then, but soon," he said, evident satisfaction in his voice over what I said. Pups? I wouldn't even bear the thought of giving my body to him, let alone have…. his pups! I only said that to persuade him, nothing more. And he better don’t even dream of it!

I looked up to see him striding away from the throne room, everyone adjusting to the side to let him pass. Just look at him, not a fiber of respect in him. Pushing past even the elders themselves.

"Feodora” he called and I frowned inwardly. What now?

I unwillingly walked toward him, as he waited by the door for me. When I reached him, he fiercely grabbed my hand and took me out of the room with him.

We walked in silence along the hallway, I tried not to look at him. My gaze was somewhere else, it roamed the walls—I needed to escape.

"Take me to your room" I heard him say and my head snapped around.

"What?" I looked at him in shock.

"Take me to your room," he repeated. I gulped as I saw my sad reflection in his eyes.

I started walking and he followed. I sighed as I continued to walk, the door to my room was a few steps away. My body was hurting from the stress and my head ached from all the crying.

I finally reached the door to my room and I opened the door, stepping aside for him to walk in. He looked around, his gray eyes taking everything in, I heard him sniff the air with his eyes closed for a second.

"What scent do you use?" He asked. What a strange question!

I rolled my eyes before answering, "Umm…roses."

"Where are they grown?" He moved closer to me.

"They are wild roses from the mountains," I answered and saw him smile as he kept looking around. I was standing close to the door and it was open.

Two more steps and I bolted like the wind out of there. I turned the whole house, going behind pillars, just zig-zagging in case he was following me. I didn’t even know why I was doing it, it was probably the adrenaline rushing through my brain. I found the back door and I ran in the direction of the woods.

Stones pricked my feet, but I ran, the snow bit into my skin, but I kept on running. The moon was still up in the sky which made me wonder if time had passed at all. Heaving a deep breath, I shifted to my wolf form, my dress ripping to remain in rags on my body. I looked ahead, just a few steps away was the border. When I'm past the border, I will be okay. I will be safe. It was when I thought everything would be okay then I heard the biggest bark I have ever heard in my life, and before I could turn around, I had been pushed to the ground.

It hurt so bad but the feeling was not as bad as the fear I felt, looking at the huge black wolf pinning me down and I whimpered in fear. The rage in Ares's eyes weakened me and I was so scared that with that sharp claw of his, he would end my life.