Chapter 2

　　　JASMINE

　　　I turn to my mother one last time as the man stuffs me inside one of the black SUVs, crying my eyes out. 

　　　“Where are you taking me?”

　　　I don’t know if they hear me or choose to ignore me, because who am I anyway? I’m just collateral for the debt I have no idea about.

　　　As tears blur my vision, streaming down my face, the SUV drives off, and I’m getting far from Mom.

　　　I still refuse to lose hope. Maybe one day or next month, Liam will pay, and I’ll have the chance to go home and see my mother again. Right now, I’ll endure the pain from the hands of a stranger.

　　　After almost an hour of driving, we arrive at the private airport. I’m surprised to see a private jet is ready at the tarmac.

　　　I willingly get out of the SUV before someone drags me out. I’m still pretty shaken up from what happened earlier, watching the chaos, the fear in their eyes, and the blood oozing from Liam’s thigh. The last thing I want is to provoke the man in charge. 

　　　The other two SUVs drove back after sending their boss, I suppose.

　　　With steady legs, I climb up the jet, and the man on a motorcycle is already sitting. Without a word, he pats the empty seat next to him.

　　　“I can take—”

　　　“Don’t make it a habit of defying me, Jasmine.” His voice rolls through the jet. His eyes were cold as the Arctic, but that’s not what surprised me. Why the hell does he know my name?

　　　I accept my defeat. I have no choice but to take a seat next to him.

　　　The pilot emerges from the cockpit, finding his gaze at the man next to me. “Alpha Alek, we’re leaving in ten.”

　　　Alpha Alek? Why does his name sound familiar?

　　　I swallow hard as I turn my head at him. Now, I remember. I’ve heard of stories about him, and mostly nothing good, but terrifying. 

　　　He comes from an organized crime family in Europe, expanding their business in the US, especially in the pack in Pennsylvania. His father was an alpha, but his parents were murdered when he was still eighteen years old. 

　　　When he found the people involved, he killed every last one of them. At twenty, he ran the family business and became alpha of the pack. 

　　　Liam is lucky to be alive. 

　　　But I still don’t understand why he takes me and not Liam’s bride.

　　　I barely say two words throughout the flight. I refuse everything but a blanket because the air conditioner is like needles against my skin.

　　　I turn away instead of asking questions, and yes, I have thousands of questions that need answers.

　　　After we land, there is a sports car and two more black SUVs waiting. The drive to our destination, wherever it is, may take another hour or so. 

　　　The sun is rising from the horizon, a reminder that I’m away from home and with a man I know nothing about other than a name with a terrifying history.

　　　He lives in a mansion on the hill. For a mafia alpha, the design of his house is modern, which takes my breath away, and the interior is even more impressive and warm with luxurious finishes. There are also paintings and a huge family photo on the wall.

　　　“Follow me.” He climbs upstairs.

　　　My heart races as I take off my heels.

　　　He frowns and stops in the middle.

　　　“My feet hurt.”

　　　He doesn’t say anything after that as he leads me to the third floor. Along the hallway, he finally speaks again, “My men will bring the things you need to your room.”

　　　“How do your men know what I need?” I stare at him, anger and disbelief boil in my blood. Now, I see him up close. Suffice to say, he’s attractive for a leader of organized crime. He’s like one of those men’s fragrance ads. 

　　　Alpha Alek is fit that the sleeves of his suit jacket are too stretched for his huge biceps. His steel gray eyes feel like they hold a lot of stories. He has a straight nose. His clenched jaw is covered with bristly five o’clock shadow, and his full lips are red and look soft. 

　　　Instead of giving me an answer, he groans, pushing the door open. “This is your room.”

　　　I walk in, tailing him because, honestly, I’m exhausted, and my heart is broken. I can use a sleep rather than argue with my handsome captor.

　　　When he slides the door to the balcony, the gentle breeze carries the scent of sunshine and forest. I stand next to him in awe. The woods are like anything I’ve seen in Illinois, where the pack went for a run.

　　　“Wow.” That’s all I can manage to say before a soft knock interrupts us.

　　　“Come in,” Alek says.

　　　Two of his men are carrying paper bags and boxes, placing them on the floor and leaving without a word.

　　　“There’s an adjacent bathroom. You can change out of the dress.” He walks to the door.

　　　“Alpha Alek,” I call his name before he can hold the doorknob. “How long are you gonna keep me here? What if Alpha Liam won’t pay you next month?”

　　　His head snaps at me, eyes narrowing like a predator to its prey. “Then I will kill him, and you will become my property.”

　　　The door shut close minutes ago, but I’m still standing, shaking, and crying for my fate. My world doesn’t just turn upside down. It shattered.

　　　By the time I get to change from the gown, I’m beyond exhausted. 

　　　As I curl in bed, crying alone, the room feels like it’s closing in on me, the walls moving closer, suffocating me until I cry out. 

　　　***

　　　I wake up, and the room is already dark, nothing but the moonlight brightly illuminating through the window. 

　　　My stomach just growls. I haven’t eaten even before the wedding ceremony.

　　　I was upset. I was mad at Liam for lying to me, for using me, and he still chose my stepsister over me. I realize maybe this is the reason. He’s drowning in debt, and if he can’t pay the mafia alpha, I’ll end up a widow or worse, dead just like him.

　　　I still don’t deserve to be here, though. I have nothing to do with Liam anymore.

　　　I quickly use the bathroom and go to the door. I’m shocked that it’s locked from the outside.

　　　So, I’m not just collateral, I’m officially a prisoner.

　　　“Hey!” I bang the door. “Can someone open this for me?”

　　　I bang the door until my fists hurt, but no one seems to hear me, or they’re ordered not to let me out.

　　　Tears well in my eyes as I press my back against the wall, sliding down until I hit the floor.

　　　“I have nothing to do with Liam. I don’t deserve this! Alpha Alek, please, just let go. He chose Danya over me! You should have taken her. He won’t pay you because I mean nothing to him.”

　　　A clinking sound behind me makes me jump. I crawl away from the door, and it instantly opens. 

　　　The shadow of a man looms over me. “Alpha Alek requests your presence at the dining table, Miss DeWinter.”

　　　I don’t bother changing. I slip into the slippers immediately and follow the man downstairs. 

　　　The man is tall. I can barely keep up with his long strides. By the time I reach the dining hall, I’m catching my breath.

　　　The man pulls a chair for me next to the host. 

　　　“Thank you.” I slightly smile at him.

　　　“Leave us, Mirom,” Alek says, his elbows on the table. He changed from his suit to a black shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. 

　　　I notice tattoos on his forearms with symbols I don’t recognize, instead of maybe a dragon, skulls, or roses. Tattoos don’t usually stay on werewolves’ skin for long, and I don’t know how he makes it possible.

　　　“These are not tattoos.”

　　　Wiping the remnants of my tears on my face, I stare at him. “Do you read minds?”

　　　“No.”

　　　“But you heard what I said, right?”

　　　“Liam Griffin is an arrogant, selfish asshole. He doesn’t deserve you. Your stepsister is a narcissist, and she’s been mistreating you since her father married your mom. If you stay with me, I’ll take care of you and your mom, but she can’t stay with Allan Pine. But if you choose to go once I receive the payment from Liam, I’ll make sure you’re useful during your stay.”

　　　My heart thuds in my chest with dread. I swallow hard. “What do you mean? Should I work for you?”

　　　“No. I want more.” He looks at me with such intensity that it makes me squirm with fear… and need. “I want you, and let me get this straight, Jasmine. I’ll get what I want from you one way or another. So, you’d better agree, or suffer the consequences.”