Rejected by the Alpha, wanted by a lycan.

chapter four

"Hey little girl, come out now!" Someone shouted at Anastasia as she sat on the cold floor of the dungeon with her head lowered.

She sighed. She's been starving the whole day, and her body is almost frozen from the cold. She felt she didn't deserve the crude treatment, even if she was now a slave.

She sluggishly made an attempt to stand.

"Oh. Damn it. I forget that she is dumb!" The man grumbled to himself before opening the cell door and dragging her out forcefully.

Anastasia frowned. She hasn't said a word or reacted to anything since she arrived; hence, they thought she was deaf and dumb as well.

She looked at the man with fear in her eyes. There was nothing more she could do. She hated black magic, and even if she didn't, she is incapable of using one. She had no means of defending herself.

She has only a weak wolf who can't fight back.

Tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision as she felt like she was better of dying instead of ending up being tortured bya her master.

"Master Damon wants to see you." Anastasia gritted her teeth as she was yanked up forcefully from the filthy cell by the man. She didn't hesitate or struggle, given that the only strength she had in her was to enable her to breathe normally.

She was taken to Damon Salvatore and her knees where kicked at the back forcing it to fall heavily on the floor and kneeling before him

"I have brought her, master, as you requested," the man said in a solemn voice as he lowered his head.

"Don't tell me, you kept her in the dungeon?" Damon gritted his teeth. "You can leave us, Aiden," he ordered in a cold tone as he stood up majestically from his chair.

Damon walked slowly to where Anastasia had been dropped on the floor. She was terrified; her breathing was more rapid than usual.

She was so scared at the sight of the man. He was big and looked more like a giant to her. He stopped in front of her and lowered himself above her, looking deep into her eyes with scorn and malice.

"Such beautiful eyes for a poor little runt!"

Anastasia threw her face away, but it was forcefully brought back into position. Damon's grip was so painful that she thought it would crush her jaw bones in a short period of time.

"Undress and go have your bath," Damon said coldly, with no emotion. He slowly stands up and awaits her to obey his instructions.

Anastasia was more shocked; she knew what he meant by that and stepped back slowly, holding her chest tight.

"Did you not hear what I just said?"

", P_Please..." She muttered in tears. Her heart was so heavy that it could explode because of the pain she was harboring. She would rather die than let a man she doesn't know have her.

Damon furrowed his brows at her reaction. " Thank goodness you are not deaf and dumb."

"You have just an hour to make a decision. Did you forget that yesterday was your last day being twenty-one?

"H_How d_did you k_know that?"

"Before that, what happened to your voice? Aren't you a bad stammerer, or were you just pretending all this time? Wow! Damn, I'm definitely impressed. Damon smiled as he ran his hands through her messy hair.

"Go and wash yourself. You wouldn't want to find out what would happen to you after midnight. I am also curious, but you know this thing with money. I can't let my money go to waste. I mean, what if you actually die?"

"There is no s_specified p_punishment for not c_consuming on my 22nd birthday. It s_seems y_you know so much about me. H_ow? I don't e_even know you at all.

Damon chuckled, a cold and heartless sound that sent shivers down Anastasia's spine. He circled her, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Here you are at it again, stammering? We need to work on that vocal disability of yours.. He stopped for a moment, as if to keep his temper in check.

"I have my ways of obtaining information. Let's just say I have connections in high places. As for you, my dear, you'll find out soon enough why my money won't go to waste."

Anastasia felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as she realized the gravity of her situation. Consummating on her twenty-second birthday was a custom she was aware of, but she never imagined it could turn into a nightmare like this.

"P_please, I b_beg you. D_Don't do this," Anastasia pleaded, her voice trembling. "I-I can't... I won't survive it."

Damon tilted his head, studying her with a smirk on his face. "Survival is a luxury not all can afford, Now, go and clean up. That's all you need to do now. Remember, you have an hour."

With those words, he gestured for the guards to take her away. Anastasia stumbled as she was led to a small room, tears streaming down her face. The realization that her life had taken such a dark turn hit her like a tidal wave.

As she entered the dimly lit room, she saw a simple bath prepared. The guards left her alone, and she sank to her knees, sobbing silently. Her mind raced, searching for any possible escape from this cruel fate.

Time seemed to blur as Anastasia bathed, the water mixing with her tears. She felt a sense of violation and despair, trapped in a world where her freedom was stripped away.

Once she was done, she dressed in the white long-collar shirt that she saw in the room.

Anastasia was led back into Damon's presence. The ominous air in the room weighed heavily on her shoulders.

"Well, now you have forty minutes until 12 a.m. Have you made your decision?" Damon's cold eyes bore into hers.

Anastasia hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding. She knew that refusing would likely lead to more suffering, but the thought of submitting to this man felt like surrendering her soul.

"Please... I_ w_will find a_another way. Don't make me go through with this B_Besides you are n_not m_my mate," she whispered, her voice desperate.

Damon sighed, seemingly unimpressed by her plea. "You leave me no choice. Since you're so adamant, we'll do it my way. You'll learn the consequences of defying me."

The shirt Anastasia was wearing didn't do justice to covering her up completely. She kept dragging it down, feeling more uncomfortable with Damon's stares.