Chapter 1
Cries.
That is all I can hear around me.
Wherever I look, all I can see is tears.
Tears of pain, agony, helplessness and fear.
Fear of what is waiting for us.
My whole body is shaking due to fear and my mind is developing many worst scenarios about our future.
I couldn’t bear to witness the painful expressions of people around me who are like a family to me, crying desperately for help. That is why I shut my eyes tightly.
I brought my knees closer to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs. I rested my head on my knees with the hope that if I can’t see anyone than it will hurt me less.
But whom am I even kidding?
No matter how much I try, I can’t block the sound of painful cries surrounding me in this place. I can’t block the memories that are repeating in my head again and again like a movie, shattering my insides into million pieces.
Memories of my pack warriors dying while trying to save us.
I never thought that something so horrible will happen when I had closed my eyes to sleep two days ago.
And I am sure that no one in our pack have ever imagined that something like this will happen to us.
That our pack will be attacked by none other than The Dark Shadow Pack, the most dangerous and powerful pack on this territory.
No one dares to go against them. Every pack is scared of them to their core. And it is all because of the Alpha of Dark Shadow Pack,
Alpha Damien.
Rumors says he is cruel beyond words. He doesn’t even know the meaning of the term mercy as he shows none.
He is heartless and doesn’t tolerate disobedience and disrespect from anyone. He kills others like a killing machine.
And the worst thing I have heard about him is that he had killed his own mate. When I had heard this news, I couldn’t believe my ears.
How can someone kill his mate, the love of his life chosen by moon goddess.
Because death of your mate is very painful moment for the one who is alive.
There is no proof that he really killed his mate. It is just a rumor.
He is so strong that no one can beat him.
Two days ago he attacked our pack and killed our Alpha and Luna and took control over our pack.
His warriors captured every single pack member of our pack and locked us in a cell.
It wouldn’t have been very difficult for a pack like Dark Shadow Pack which is filled with skilled warriors to beat a pack with hardly three hundred members.
Our pack is very small as compared to other packs. Maybe that is why he chose our pack as his next target.
Yeah you got it right.
By next target, I mean he attacks any pack and take control over it after killing Alpha and Luna of that pack. Sometimes he makes pack members his slaves to use them as he pleases.
Otherwise he would simply kill every single member of the pack destroying it’s existence.
You might be wondering why other packs or royal pack doesn’t take action against him or his pack.
So let me tell you the reason.
Our Alpha king is as cruel as Alpha Damien. And to make things worse, I heard that they are good friends as well.
Alpha king believes that if an Alpha can’t protect it’s pack at the time of war then he doesn’t deserve to be a leader. It’s better for that pack to have a new leader, who is undefeatable after killing the previous Alpha.
I just hope that if only Alpha king would be someone with a good heart, many packs wouldn’t be suffering like we are suffering now.
We are scared because we don’t know what will happen to us.
Whether we will be turned into slaves or we will be killed brutally.
“Sage” I came out of my thoughts when I heard my name.
I lifted my head up from my knees and looked at my sister who is staring at me with her tired eyes.
“You woke up? How are you feeling?” I asked her slowly caressing her head. She was so tired after crying for so long that she fell asleep.
“I am scared” she muttered slowly causing fresh tears to fill inside my eyes.
I had promised myself that I won’t cry in front of Hazel but I am getting weak with each passing second.
My heart clenched upon hearing her fear filled voice.
“Don’t be, I am here” I said wrapping my arms around her, hugging her tightly.
I told her not to be scared but even I am shaking from inside.
Hazel snuggled more into me, hugging me as if her life depends on it.
Hours passed by, we are still sitting side by side without uttering a single word.
There is nothing we can say to each other. All we can do to provide comfort to each other is by staying together.
The sound of other pack members cries has died down a little but I can still see tears rolling down from their eyes.
Mom’s are doing their best so that their children won’t cry.
Mated wolfs are giving comfort to each other with their mere presence.
I wish even I had my mate with me right now who would have given me assurance that everything will be alright.
But I don’t have anyone to say such comforting words to me. Not even my parents.
My mom died while giving birth to me. My father couldn’t bear the pain of loosing his mate and died after few months of my mother’s death leaving me alone in this cruel world.
But I guess god had some mercy on the little Sage as he sent my uncle and Aunt like an angle who took me under their care and raised me with lots of love.
Hazel is their daughter but I love her just like she is my real sister.
Three years ago my uncle and Aunt died during a rogue attack.
I couldn’t even say my goodbye to him as he died on spot but Aunt was still breathing and was taken to hospital by warriors who had reached the location and took care of those rogues.
'Take care of yourself and Hazel. I love both of you so much' These were her last words to me.
Tears were streaming down from her eyes continuously when she uttered these words. Her voice was laced with pain and her eyes showed sincerity.
That day I promised myself that I will always protect my sister at any cost.
That day was really difficult for me as I had to be strong for my little cupcake who was just six at that time.
It was really difficult for me to answer her innocent question, 'when will mom and dad come home? I miss them very much'.
I didn’t know how to answer these question to someone who doesn’t even know the meaning of death. But I had to.
“Where are we Sage” I heard my cupcake asking me.
I looked at her and kissed her head before answering, “we are in our pack, just hiding here from bad people. We will go out soon”.
I managed to say firmly but I have no idea till when we will be locked in the dungeon of our pack.
Yeah we are still in our territory.
I don’t know why they haven’t done anything to us.
Sound of the door being opened caught my attention and my breath got caught in my throat.
Not only me but everyone present in this room looked in the direction of the door. I could hear some wolves heart beat quickening because of fear.
My own heart is pounding in my chest.
My grip on Hazel tightened protectively when three masculine man entered inside the cell.
The aura surrounding them tells me that they are high ranked wolves, especially the one standing ahead of the other two.
He has black hairs and dark blue eyes. His sharp features, tall figure and masculine body makes him more dangerous. And the way he is staring at us coldly makes me to shiver due to fear.
“Everyone gather in the garden area within five minutes” he commanded in his deep voice.
He shifted his gaze from us and looked at the man standing on his right side, “if anyone tries to run away, kill them instantly” Saying this he left the cell with other man.
Sweat buds formed on my forehead and few painful gasp escaped from my pack members mouth.
“What are you waiting for. Get moving” the man who is supposed to kill us if we try running barked causing pack members to get up.
I got up on my wobbly legs and helped Hazel to get up as well and held her hand in mine tightly.
We began walking in the direction of garden.
With each step the thumping of my heart is increasing.
“Aah…” a scream escaped from my mouth seeing the scene in front of my eyes. My free hand covered Hazel’s eyes who is trembling beside me.
Even my whole body is trembling. My legs are losing its strength and I feel like I will fall down any moment.
New tears rolled down from my eyes. My heart is beating wildly.
Karl one of our pack members tried to run the moment we came out of basement and instantly that man from Dark Shadow Pack grabbed him by his neck and ripped his heart out of his chest.
“Walk” he again commanded as most of the pack members stopped walking because of fear.
His one word was enough for my trembling legs to move. I picked Hazel up in my arms and whispered in her ear, “keep your eyes close”.
I don’t want her to see such horrendous act again.
Finally we reached garden and I saw our other pack members who were in the cell beside us.
My eyes desperately searched for Jane, my best friend. A sigh of relief escaped from my lips when I saw her standing at some distance.
She too is searching for someone in the crowd and I guess it is me.
I took a step in her direction but a voice stopped me,
“Everyone stay where you are. No one will move from their places. If anyone does you know the consequences” it is the same blue eyed man who came to our cell and ordered us to gather here.
He is standing on the stage which our Alpha used to use whenever he had to announce something.
“You can put me down sage” Hazel whispered very slowly.
I looked at her with concern.
“You sure?” I asked her and she nodded her head.
So I placed her on the ground beside me and once again held her hand.
I looked around to find we are surrounded by the warriors of Dark Shadow Pack. There are so many of them here.
Suddenly every dark Shadow Pack warrior bowed their head.
Even that man standing on the stage bowed his head in respect.
That is when I realized that the garden has became pin drop silent.
The air around me has turned thick and all I can sense around me is fear.
And it is all because of the man who just walked on the stage and stopped in the middle of the stage.
Alpha Damien.
His dark eyes are roaming around with satisfaction seeing the fear of my pack members who are also bowing their heads and looking down.
I was about to look down as well when my eyes locked with his.
Instead of moving away from me to look at others, they stilled on me.
I couldn’t look away.
His dark eyes turned a shade darker and I saw an evil glint shining in his eyes which caused a cold shiver to run down my spine.
My heart stopped beating for a moment and my breath got caught in my throat.
Goosebumps covered my body and a tear escaped from my eyes followed by another and then another when my wolf uttered one single word in a voice laced with fear, which shook me to my core,
'MATE'
