Chapter 1.Ariella POV
I ran fast, as fast as my legs could carry me through the bushes, the air tearing past me. I stumbled and hit the ground but forced myself up and kept running. I can't waste a minute being late; I would lose everyone I care about.
When I reached the pack, lifeless bodies lay scattered on the ground. I cried out and ran toward my home, screaming for my mom and dad.
“Mom! Dad!” I yelled. I screamed but got no response from either of them.
I walked further into the living room, where I had just left them a few hours ago to deliver a message to a neighboring pack, only to crash into them on the floor. My father wasn’t breathing. My mother was, but only barely.
I fell to the ground, grabbing her hands, pinning them to my chest. I tried to talk, I wanted to say something, but the burden in my heart and the tears I was holding back wouldn't let me. After a few seconds that felt like minutes, I finally did,
“What… What happened here? Why… Why is there blood everywhere?" I cried out.
“Ariel… I.. I'm sorry." She could barely speak.
“Don't say anything. I'll call for help. I'll take you to the hospital immediately. My phone? Where's my phone?” I muttered.
“Leave Ariella… Get out of here!” She commanded.
“I can't leave you here. I definitely can't,” I told her.
Just as I bent to lift her from the floor, I heard footsteps approaching. I couldn’t see the person’s face, but I heard his voice loud and clear, more like he had been expecting my arrival.
“Look who's here…it's Ariella. Let's save the introduction , honey; I have a lot to do." His claws emerged with a sharp scrape of bone and metal. He moved forward to me, closing the distance between us.
And just before he struck,
I jolted awake, gasping for air. My heart raced, my breathing came fast and shallow, and sweat soaked my skin. That was when it dawned on me that I had the dream again.
I dragged myself out of the bed, headed to the bathroom, and in a few minutes I was done with whatever I went in there to do. I grabbed a black skinny gown from my wardrobe. I allowed my hair to fall on my shoulders. I applied light makeup on my face and stood in front of the mirror, admiring my reflection.
I picked up my purse and my phone before heading downstairs for breakfast.
Oh! I forgot something!
I'm Ariella Hastings, a twenty-three-year-old lady who is striving for something better in my life. I lost my parents at a young age and was taken in by the Sterling family, to be precise, Alpha Eduardo Sterling took me in.
This family was known for wealth, power, and fame. You could hardly not recognize someone who is a member of the family because it's clearly written all over them…riches!
I've lived with them since I was twelve, and as fate wanted it, I found my mate among Eduardo's grandsons, and it was Corbin Sterling, the most handsome of them all.
Now the question is, where is Corbin, my husband?
“We should be asking you that, Ariella. He is your husband, you would know where he is,” Aunt Anna answered.
She was Corbin's aunt and the only daughter born to Eduardo Sterling.
“I wouldn't be asking if I knew where he went to, Aunty,” my voice , softened as I spoke.
“He left very early in the morning. I saw him while I was preparing breakfast,” Mane, our chef, interrupted. “Maybe he went for a business meeting or something like that. You know how he can be when it comes to business matters.”
“You should give him a call if you are bothered,” Aunt Anna suggested.
“I propose you go see him in the office. He didn't eat anything before leaving, you can just as well bring him some food. I'll pack it for you,” Mane proposed, and that was a brilliant idea.
“Thanks Mane,” I appreciated, a cute smile crawled towards my lips.
When Mane finished packing the food into the lunch box, I took it from her, grabbed my car keys, and walked out of the mansion. Moments later, I was driving toward the company. After a few minutes on the road, I arrived.
With every step I took inside, I could feel eyes on me, watching, judging, whispering. I was already used to it. Rumors had spread that I was sold to the Sterling family to repay my family’s debt, but I cared little about what they said.
I walked over to Corbin's secretary's office, but she wasn't there. I wanted to be sure whether Corbin was in a meeting or not. I dialed his number, yet it wasn't going through.
“Did something happen?” I whispered to myself. I had to signal a passerby who I was certain also works here, “Where is Manager Corbin?” I asked him.
“I saw him last in his office, and he hasn't left his office. I'm sure of that,” he responded. Words displaying how certain he was.
“What if he is currently in a meeting?”
“He isn't. All meetings were cancelled until noon today. Maybe he is just resting or something.”
“Thank you.”
I headed inside his office without bothering to knock. It's something I do frequently, so I didn't bother disturbing him since I was just told that he might be resting.
I walked in fully, but there was no sign of Corbin. If he isn't in his office, then where could he be? I placed the lunch box gently on his table moved towards the curtains to roll them up when I heard noises coming from the inner room.
First it came more like a moan…then stopped.
I slowly trailed to that corner only to hear words that shattered my heart.
“How is that possible? She won't just agree to donate her organs to me,” a female voice spoke.
“Don't worry, sweetheart. Ariella can be such a dumb fellow. I've been giving her diluted drugs to make her fall sick, and in due time, she would become the perfect donor for you,” Corbin's voice echoed.
What the f**k!
