KIRA'S POV
He held my gaze, and I could see in his eyes the disgust that radiated in it.
My breathing became laborious, as I wondered what his next move was going to be.
Keeping my eyes on him even though I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole, I watched as his gaze went beyond me.
"Alpha Leon!" He suddenly growled.
The growl was so powerful, the walls of the room vibrated.
I felt my father step forward, amidst the murmurings that had begun in the room.
"Alpha Cade," my father said, as he bowed respectfully.
That action broke my heart a little. My father was older. He had been an alpha for way longer.
However, the circumstances we found ourselves in, required for him to be extremely humble.
"You lied to me!" Alpha Cade declared strongly.
At this point, I felt my heart at the brink of a collapse.
It didn't help that Ayana was prancing about, trying to get noticed.
"Never, alpha Cade! I would never lie to you," my father defended himself.
Through my lower lashes, I observed my father.
He had grown even older in such a short time.
The grey all over his hair told a sad tale. A tale that shaped the destiny of many.
Alpha Cade began to pace, his steps trodding loudly across the floor.
"Then tell me something, Alpha Leon. Tell me why I can smell the lack of innocence coming from your daughter!" He accused, and the crowd gasped in unison.
My hands began to perspire, as the weight of the world came crashing down on me.
"With all due respect, Alpha Cade, that is simply ridiculous. My daughter is as innocent as the day she was born. She is not promiscuous. She never leaves her room. I swear before you, and the moon goddess that my daughter is untouched!" My father defended my honor sternly.
Those words from him pushed me to the verge of tears.
I couldn't understand why the alpha was doing this.
He was the one that kissed me first. He made me surrender to that urge inside of me.
That urge that had resurfaced again, the moment I discovered it was him I was to be tied to for eternity.
Alpha Cade started to laugh. What started as a demure laughter, soon graduated into a loud, mocking bellow.
Fear welled inside of me, threatening to burst out in the worst way possible.
In all of this, my heart went out to my father the most.
I didn't want to see him suffer, but it wasn't looking like he wouldn't.
"Don't you dare lie to me, Alpha Leon!" He marched to my father, and grabbed both his shoulders with his mighty hands.
"No, don't hurt him," I screamed internally, but physically, I was too weak to do anything.
I saw the fear in my poor father's eyes, but still, he defended me.
"I know my daughter. She is innocent. Please, don't conclude before you give her a chance."
"Nonsense!" His head spun towards me, but I was slightly relieved he wasn't gripping my father's shoulders with that strength of his anymore.
"Look at me!" He ordered.
My head quickly flew up, but I tried to keep my shaky fingers hidden.
"Tell me– tell them. Swear before the moon goddess that you're still untouched. Swear it!"
His eyes were like hot fire, piercing through the very depths of my soul.
He was setting me up in the worst way possible.
I couldn't swear I was innocent. Just the way I couldn't tell everyone he was the reason for my lack of innocence.
This was the most cruel twist of fate, and I was stuck in the middle of it.
"Common, Kira. Tell them. Tell him. Tell everyone that you're innocent," my aunt urged from behind.
"Yes, sweetie," my father turned pleadingly to me. "Tell us." He nudged his head in encouragement.
My lips began to quiver as I tried to speak, and that action caused the crowd to flare up again.
"You've brought us a whore!" Someone suddenly screamed.
"Our alpha deserves better. Not a silly whore!" Another voice followed.
My body vibrated even more, as my eyes sought the alphas in hopes I could beg for mercy.
"You heard them, Alpha Leon. You heard my people. They don't want a whore as their luna."
"My niece is not a whore!" My aunt screamed in my defense.
"You will remain silent in my presence!" Alpha Cade growled at her, and her lips quickly tightened.
I couldn't hold back anymore, as a tear rolled down my eyes from the unjust treatment we were receiving.
"Defend yourself!" A voice in my head screamed.
I couldn't do that. It would just make things worse.
The alpha turned to my father again. "My father was nothing but good to you. He saved your pack from the rogue wolves, and tragically died. I grew up helping your pack, because you never recovered from that brutal attack. And this is how you pay me? Whore your daughter to another man, then give me the scraps? Well this is my verdict."
I began to panic anew, and for the first time, I looked behind to my aunt for help.
She started to move closer to me, but two guards sprung out of nowhere, and held her back.
"You will be sentenced to death by hanging for breaking our deal."
I couldn't hold back anymore, as I let out a cry of protest.
"No! You can't do that!" I dashed forward, and grabbed the alpha by his chest.
The moment I touched him, that sizzling heat from before, jolted in my body.
He felt it too. I saw it in his eyes before he swiftly switched it off.
"How dare you touch me with your filthy hands?" He slapped my hands away.
The force of the hit pushed me to the ground, and I fell hard.
"I, alpha Cade of the blood moon pack, hereby reject you as my mate! But you will remain in bloodmoon to serve as my slave for the rest of your miserable life!" He spat at me.
"I don't mind being a slave. Don't hurt my father please," I crawled on the ground, and grabbed his leg. "Please! Don't hurt my father. He doesn't deserve any of this. He's innocent!" I cried, and begged him.
"Take him away!" He ordered, as he dragged his legs away from my weak hold.
"Father!" I screamed, trying to jump to my feet and go after him.
"Kira!" My father yelled back to me, as two guards bundled him away.
I had successfully arose, when one hefty guard grabbed me from behind.
"Kira, don't be scared, okay?" I heard my aunty call, as she was also roughly led away.
"Father! Aunt!" I screamed, heavy tears falling down my face.
I didn't see the alpha walk up to me from behind, until I felt another touch that wasn't the guard that was just holding me from running after my family.
My body reacted, despite the pain it was in.
He pushed his mouth into my ears from behind, and whispered.
It was one word. Just one word that shook the foundations of my being.
"Mate," he snickered, and stepped back. "Bring me the slave!" I heard him say, as he walked away.
In that moment, I saw my future, and it was completely bleak.