The sun was shining through the curtains when I woke up.
For a moment, I lost track of where I was. Then I remembered. The sale. The cage. The man with gold eyes who bought me like I was nothing.
My friend.
I sat up and looked around the room. It was very big. It was bigger than any other bed I had ever slept in. The bed was soft, the sheets were nice, and everything smelled fresh. There was a dresser against one wall, a door that probably led to a bathroom, and tall windows that only showed trees and sky.
Pretty. It's cold. Nothing.
A jail.
I got up and walked to the door. I knew it would be locked, but I still tried the handle.
Locked.
Of course.
I put my ear to the wood and listened. Someone is walking down the hall. People speaking Italian too quickly for me to understand. The house was awake.
And I was stuck.
Instead, I turned around and walked to the window. The view was amazing. Vineyards cover rolling hills. A stone wall goes all the way around the property. Guards with guns on their hips walking around. I could see the city in the distance. It might have been Milan. Close enough to see, but not close enough to touch.
I tried out the window. Shut.
I was three floors up anyway. If I could get it open, I would break my neck trying to get down.
My wolf was angry and restless inside me. She wanted to leave. She wanted to get away. But I pushed her back down and made myself breathe.
Panic wouldn't help me. It never did.
I had to think. I needed to make a plan.
But I heard the lock click before I could make one.
A woman came in through the door with a tray of food. She was older, maybe fifty, with grey hair pulled back into a bun. She didn't look at me. I just put the tray on the dresser and turned to leave. "Wait," I said.
She stopped for a moment, but still didn't look at me. "Please," I tried again. "Where am I?" She said softly, "The Salvatore estate." She had a strong accent. "You need to eat and get ready. In an hour, the Alpha wants to see you.
After that, she left.
I looked at the tray. Eggs. Loaf. Fruit. Coffee. The smell was nice. I was so hungry that my stomach hurt, but I did not touch it.
What if it was high?
What if this was just another test?
I turned around and went to the toilet instead. It was just as nice as the bedroom. Floors made of marble. A shower that can fit three people. Bottles of shampoo and soap that cost a lot of money were lined up like soldiers.
I saw myself in the mirror and jumped.
I looked awful. My hair was a mess. My skin was light. My arms were bruised, and there were dark circles under my eyes from where the guards had grabbed me.
I looked just like what I was. A target.
I hated it.
I took off the thin dress they had given me at the auction house and turned on the shower. My skin felt great in the hot water. I scrubbed until my skin hurt, trying to wash away the last three years. The worry. The hurt. The feeling of being nothing.
But some stains stayed on.
When I finally got out, I saw that there were clothes on the bed. A plain black dress. Pants. Shoes that fit well.
I put them on because I had to.
After that, I sat on the bed and waited.
The door opened again exactly one hour later.
This time, it was him.
Dante.
He stood in the doorway as he owned it. He probably did. He wore a clean white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Pants that are dark. No tie. His hair was still wet, as if he had just taken a shower.
When he looked at me, I could feel the bond between us grow stronger. Hot. Insistent. Not right. "You're awake," he said. I didn't have many options.
His lips moved. Almost a grin. "Did you eat?" "No." "Why not?" Because I don't trust you.
He walked into the room and shut the door behind him. My wolf reacted right away, wanting to get closer to him. I stayed right where I was. He asked, "Do you think I would poison you?" I believe you would do anything to have power over me.
He thought about it. Then he walked over to the tray, picked up a piece of bread, and ate it. He chewed slowly and looked at me the whole time. "See?" he said. "Not poisoned." "Eat." I'm not hungry. You are not telling the truth.
He was correct. My stomach was rumbling. But I wasn't going to let him see me do what he wanted.
He let out a sigh and put the bread down. "You're going to be hard, aren't you?" I said, "You bought me at an auction." "What did you think would happen?" I thought my friend would be thankful.
I thought it was funny. It tasted sharp and bitter. Thanks? For what? For putting me in a room and locking me in? Because you treated me like a piece of property? "I saved you," he said. His voice was calm, but I could tell he was angry. Do you know what would have happened if someone else had bought you last night? You would be dead by now, or worse. And this is better? Yes.
He said it as if it were clear. I should be on my knees thanking him for putting me in a golden cage.
I got up and faced him. "I am not yours." The bond says something else. I didn't ask for the bond. I didn't either. He moved closer, and I felt the pull again. This time, stronger. My body wanted to get closer to you. My wolf was howling for it.
But I stood my ground. He said softly, "You are my mate." "That makes you mine." And I take care of what's mine. I don't need your help. Yes, you do. You don't know it yet. You are wrong. Am I? He reached out and ran a finger down my arm. I flinched, but I didn't move away. You've been getting by, piccola. Not alive. "There is a difference." And you think you can show me the difference? He said, "I think you are stronger than you think.
But power without direction is just a mess. You need some order. "Purpose." I need to be free. "Freedom?" He laughed, but it wasn't funny. "There isn't such a thing. Not in this world. Everyone works for someone. Everyone has to answer to something.
You can either choose your master or let someone else choose for you. Then I pick myself. Not the right answer. He leaned in, and his breath was warm on my ear. "You picked me the moment fate brought us together. You are mine now, whether you like it or not.
I pushed him away. He hardly moved, but his eyes shone gold. I said, "Touch me again without asking, and I'll make you wish you hadn't."
For a moment, I thought he was going to grab me. Give me a punishment. Show that he could.
Instead, he smiled. He said, "I like your fire." It will be so much more fun to break you. You will never be able to break me. We will find out.
He turned around and walked to the door. Then he stopped and turned to look at me. Put on the right clothes, he said. "You are meeting the pack tonight." What? You are my Luna now. The group needs to see you. "Accept you." I haven't taken anything. You don't have to. He unlocked the door. "They will see you at dinner." It's seven o'clock. "Don't be late." What if I say no?
He smiled again. That smile was cold and scary and made my wolf whimper. He said, "Then I'll pull you down myself." "And believe me, piccola, you don't want that."
After that, he left.
I stood there, shaking with anger and something else I didn't want to name.
He thought he could boss me around. He thought I would do what everyone else did.
He was wrong.
But as I lay down on the bed, I realiz ed something scary.
Some of me wanted to see him again.
I wanted him to come back.
That was the most dangerous thing of all.
The afternoon felt like a punishment.
I tried the door again. Still locked.
I tried the window. Still locked.
I walked around the room over and over until I thought I would go crazy. Then I lay down on the bed and looked at the ceiling.
The older woman came back at six. She brought extra clothes. A dress that looks better. This one was a dark green colour and fit me perfectly. How did you know what size I was? I asked.
She didn't respond. You just put the dress on the bed and left.
I put it on because I had no other choice. It was lovely. Too much money. The kind of thing I had never worn before.
I looked like I belonged here.
I hated it.
Someone knocked on the door at six forty-five. "Come in," I said.
The door opened, and a woman came in. She was younger than I thought she would be. Maybe in their mid-twenties. Dante's hair is dark. Sharp features. Eyes that are cold.
She looked me up and down like I was something stuck to the bottom of her shoe. Okay, she said. "You are the partner."
I put my arms across my chest. "And who are you?" Isabella Salvatore. Dante's sister.
She was, of course. I said, "Nice to meet you," even though it wasn't.
She laughed. You don't have to lie. I don't like you either. Good. We're on the same page.
She walked deeper into the room and circled me like a predator looking for prey. You are not what I thought you were. What did you think would happen? Someone who is weaker. Someone who is more... thankful. Sorry to let you down. You should feel bad. She came to a stop in front of me. My brother is the strongest Alpha in Italy. He could have had anyone he wanted. And fate gave him... you.
I didn't let her words hurt me, though. "I didn't ask for this." No one asks for their partner. But you still got him. "Now you are our problem." What's wrong with you? "You are a weakness," she said. "A distraction. And in our world, distractions can kill people. Then you might want to talk to fate about it.
She smiled. It didn't get to her eyes. Oh, I will. But first, you should know something. You are not unique. You don't matter. You are still alive because Dante hasn't made up his mind about what to do with you yet. He told me I am his Luna. The pack must accept you before you can be a Luna. And believe me, piccola, they won't make it easy.
She turned and walked to the door. She looked back at me one last time. She said, "Dinner is in ten minutes." Don't make my brother look bad. And don't make me wish I hadn't killed you myself.
Then she left.
I stood there, my heart racing.
This was not good.
Worse than bad.
I was going into a room full of wolves that already hated me. The only person who could keep me safe was the man who bought me like I was nothing.
I took a deep breath and looked in the mirror again.
I wasn't weak.
I wasn't anything.
And I wasn't going to let them see me fall apart.
The door opened at seven o'clock sharp.
It was time.