"Forced union is a chain that suffocates love."
{ROXANNE'S POV}
I couldn't summon the strength to escape Seth's grip as he dragged me upstairs. He had seemed gentle before, but once we were out of sight, his demeanor shifted, revealing his true nature. Without warning, he shoved open one of the many doors and hurled me inside, then stepped in after me and slammed the door shut.
The chandelier hanging from the ceiling cast shimmering light on him, giving me a clear view. Moonlight streamed through the windows, scattering silver rays across the room. He was dressed in a plain black suit. Without warning, he removed his jacket and shirt, revealing a bare, chiseled chest—his build strikingly similar to Nathaniel's, complete with defined eight-pack abs. He began to walk slowly toward me, and as he did, his eyes started to glow red, a clear sign of his Alpha status. Fear gripped me. I backed away in a panic, but my foot caught on something, and I stumbled, falling backward onto the bed.
"You're such a stubborn bitch. I've been fantasizing about this day, and now it's finally here," he sneered. "I told you earlier to eat enough so you could handle me, but you refused. Still, don't expect any mercy."
My heart pounded louder than ever. This was the man I never wanted to marry—he was a pervert.
He suddenly grabbed the hem of my gown and tried to tear it to pieces. If I let him, he would see me nearly naked—only my bra and panties beneath. I remembered slipping on a pair of high heels after getting dressed in my room, and without hesitation, I drove one sharply into his chest. He hadn't expected it and failed to dodge. The heel pierced his bare skin, drawing a few droplets of blood. He winced in pain and staggered back.
"Bitch. When I'm done with you, you'll regret ever being born," he snarled. "I'll fuck that pussy until it's worn out and torn to pieces." His eyes blazed with fury as he spoke, and to my horror, the wound on his chest began to close up almost instantly. The realization hit me—there was no easy escape from him.
This was supposed to be our wedding night. I had promised my mother I wouldn't cause any trouble, that I'd try to accept my fate with grace. But now, trapped in this moment, every part of me screamed that something was horribly wrong. This marriage felt like a cage tightening around my soul. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind—fear, shame, confusion—but one rose above the chaos, sharp and clear like a blade: Nathaniel's voice, dark and certain. "Kill Seth" or "Leave the pack."
Killing Seth seemed impossible—he was an Alpha, and I was just a Beta. Even if I managed to do it, it would spark a war between our packs. Worse still, if his father took the matter to the Prime Alpha, justice would be swift and brutal—total extermination of my pack. Leaving seemed like the safer option, but could I survive on my own out there? Was I strong enough? Or should I simply accept my fate and surrender to the life I never wanted?
I didn't hesitate for a second. To Seth's surprise, I rolled off the bed and lunged toward the closed windows. I summoned every ounce of strength and bolted toward them. As soon as my body collided with the glass, Seth was on me in an instant, his speed shocking. But perhaps driven by my desperate desire to escape, his fingers missed my gown. The windows shattered, and countless shards tore through my skin, sinking deep into my flesh and bones. I groaned in pain, but I didn't stop. The ground seemed impossibly far away, but I fell quickly. As I neared the earth, I tucked my body and executed a forward roll.
As soon as I completed the forward roll, Seth leapt down right behind me, landing not far from where I had fallen. The noise was like a wildfire, drawing everyone in. Werewolves—men and women alike—emerged from their homes, and soon both my parents and Seth's family were there as well. I looked around, feeling the weight of their eyes on me, and realized I was surrounded. My gaze shifted to the exit. Our territory was uniquely positioned deep in the forest, surrounded by towering trees. It was so remote that even humans wouldn't dare venture inside. I quickly assessed the situation. There were countless houses in the pack's territory, and judging by the distance between them, it would take me several hundred meters to break free from their land.
Was this even possible? There were three Alphas: my father, Seth's father, and Seth himself. Two Prime Betas—Malachi and Liam—stood nearby, along with several other Betas. Even Nathaniel was present, standing beside his father, his face one of shock. He hadn't expected me to follow through on his vile advice. My father's expression was one of deep disappointment, while my mother's face was filled with pity. Alpha Lucien looked at me with disgust, and his wife wore a sickening smile. Even Martha's gaze was filled with ridicule. In fact, everyone around me regarded me with that same condescending look.
"Augustus, what is your daughter doing?" Alpha Lucien's voice turned cold, laced with accusation. "I noticed her strange behavior during the dining ceremony. Did you bring my family here just to disgrace us?"
Ignoring Alpha Lucien, my father kept his eyes on me as he spoke. "Is this truly the path you want to take?"
As if responding to the tension in his voice, a few Betas began to inch toward me, cautious but alert. From the corner of my eye, I saw Nathaniel take a step forward. I couldn't tell what he intended to do, but whatever it was, his father quickly stopped him with a firm gesture.
I looked around, my eyes landing on the broken heels at my feet. I had no chance—escape was futile. I was completely surrounded. It was impossible.
"Roxanne, it's useless. You shouldn't do this," my mother said gently, her voice soft but heavy with sorrow. Deep down, I knew she was right. The odds were stacked against me. They would catch me—and the ceremony would continue, whether I wanted it or not.
I looked at Seth. His eyes, which had been blazing red moments ago, had returned to normal—his fury seemingly gone. Now, he gazed at me with concern and affection. But I knew better. It was all an act, a carefully crafted facade for the crowd.
"Roxanne, why must you do this?" he asked, his voice laced with false tenderness.
"You, of all people, know that I don't love you. This concern you're showing—it's just a façade for the crowd," I said loudly, my voice trembling with anger. "You're a pervert. And honestly, your whole family is the same—starting from your father, to your mother, and even your sister. I hate all of you. I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with any of you."
My words hit their mark. Seth's expression twisted into something ugly, and his family's faces darkened with outrage.
"Augustus, will you control this foolish girl?" Lydia shouted, her voice sharp with fury. "Does she really think my family will tolerate such insults?"
Her eyes flashed an icy blue—a clear sign of her Beta rank, just like my mother.
"What the hell is your daughter saying? It seems we'll have to call off this marriage," Alpha Lucien snapped, his anger no longer restrained.
And in that moment, I felt a flicker of relief. This was exactly what I wanted. I was provoking their fury—pushing them to end the marriage themselves.
"No!" my father and Seth shouted in unison.
My heart pounded, racing with confusion and unease. Why were they so determined to force this marriage?
I turned to my father and yelled, "Why are you so desperate to marry me off to this bastard?"
I didn't hold back—I had no intention of softening my words.
"You won't understand. I'm actually doing this for you, Roxanne. You'll understand sooner, you just have to be patient." For the first time, my father's facial expression was softened, even his tone was soft.
"If you don't want this marriage to be cancelled. Then, tell this daughter of yours to watch her words." Alpha Lucien spoke once more.
"How dare this slut insult my family? She must be tired of living! Who does she think she is? What a crazy bitch!"
Suddenly, Seth's sister, Martha, snapped.
I found it almost amusing—she hadn't responded the moment I said it. Why now, after several minutes had passed? Maybe she was just waiting for the right moment to make her outburst. Or maybe, she simply hadn't found the courage until now.
Alpha Lucien and his wife seemed somewhat pleased that their daughter had spoken up—after all, it would have been beneath them to trade insults with someone from the younger generation.
"You must be slow, Martha—completely out of sync with the pace of this conversation. I wouldn't be surprised if you got that from your mother. You're both pathetic."
My words struck like venom, aimed straight at Martha and Lydia—and almost instantly, low growls rumbled from their throats.
Perhaps Seth couldn't keep up the act any longer. He snapped, shouting at me.
"Watch your mouth, bitch. I've had enough of this. Who the hell do you think you are? What makes you think you're special? Just so you know—you're nothing but a worthless piece of trash."
I locked eyes with him. "See? You can't even keep up the act."
Then I turned to my father. "Is this the man you still want me to marry? Can you really not see him for who he truly is?"
"Enough of this! Capture her!" my father commanded.
I dropped into a battle stance, bracing myself. The Betas began to advance — but then, something strange happened.
As if drawn by a magnet, every head tilted upward, eyes fixed on the sky. Something was whizzing through the air— a black trench coat, tightly wrapped into a compact bundle, as if concealing something inside.
Time seemed to slow as the bundled trench coat landed beside me. Maybe it was a coincidence—but it didn't matter.
Everyone grew tense, their eyes locked on the strange object.
What was this?
Under the weight of gravity, the trench coat slowly began to unravel on its own. Bit by bit, the fabric unfurled, revealing its contents—and when it finally opened fully, a few gasps rippled through the crowd.
Five heads lay there.
I recognized every face—they belonged to the men my father had sent after Michael.
A wave of confusion swept through the crowd. Some were enraged, others devastated, and many stood frozen in shock.
I turned to look at my father. His eyes flared red—he was struggling to contain his fury.
Who threw it? Someone had to.
As if we all came to the realization at once, our heads turned in unison, scanning the area for the culprit.
And then—we saw him.
He stood at a distance, clad in formal attire: a crisp white shirt, plain black trousers, and what looked like fine Italian shoes. But what truly caught our attention was his striking white hair, cascading to his shoulders. A black fedora rested on his head, tilted at a rakish angle, casting just enough shadow to give him the air of a villain.
Indeed, he was a villain.
This was Michael—the one who had gone mad. Lately, I'd heard whispers. They called him "The Mad Wolf". And he truly must be mad. Why else would he show his face here, after killing more of our people?
But then again, how had he even managed to take down five werewolves?
As if answering my unspoken question, his eyes met mine. They weren't blue. They weren't red.
They were a deep, terrifying black.
What was this? What had he become? Was he still a werewolf?
I couldn't be the only one asking these questions.
But then, why had he come to the pack? What was his goal? Did he truly think he could take on everyone here?
Impossible.
Whatever his purpose here, it was none of my concern. In fact, this was the perfect opportunity to slip away. Once the fight began, everyone would be too distracted to notice me. This was my chance to get free—and I wouldn't let it slip by.