Chapter 2 A rogue in the Black Moon Pack

♥︎Davina's POV♥︎              My eyes fluttered awake as I found myself locked up in an ancient dungeon plunged into darkness. Its weathered stone walls are adorned with mystical runes that pulse with faint energy. A thick layer of dust blankets the ground, and the air is heavy with an otherworldly mustiness. The only light emanates from the torches lining the corridor ahead, casting long shadows that seem to dance with a life of their own.              I reached for the rusty iron bar that barricaded me in the smelly little cell and shook it several times. I tried to call for help but my throat was so raspy and dry that I could only let out a cough which made my throat hurt the more.               "Please help me, is somebody there? I need water." I hollered as I continuously shook the cell gate.              "You should save your breath, child." A frail voice cautioned from behind and it startled me. I didn't know the cell housed someone else with me. There was a small window up that made sunlight streak into the dark cell.               I turned around to face a wrinkly old lady who was curled into a small ball in the darkness and the in-depth part of the cell. She was so lean that her bones were pretty obvious and it looked like her skin was melting off like candle wax.              I swallowed. "What is going on here and who are you?" I raised my voice even louder but met with silence.               "Will I ever get out of here?" I tried again but she didn't respond.               She let out a dry wry chuckle. "It's been my tenth year in this cell. Do the maths yourself."               I resumed back to banging the cell gate. "Please where is my daughter? Clara?!" I sobbed and leaned my back on the bar before slowly sliding down and becoming a sobbing mess as I cried my eyes out. All I wanted was freedom to take care of my pups and live healthily. Perhaps if Father had taken her, she wouldn't have had to suffer this way. I blamed myself as I worried for the safety of my one-day-old child. She didn't deserve to be starved of food and motherly affection.              Nine months ago, after Father, Andrew Gregory made the verdict that I was going to marry the Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, Magnus Kane, despite being pregnant, that was when my misfortune started. Father owed a lot of money, and I was his ticket to becoming debt-free. I was tasked with saving the prestige of a family that had loathed me since I was born. I thought perhaps, moving in with Magnus would make my life better but little did I know that was going to be the subscription to my worst nightmare.              "What stinks so bad? Have you had a bath today?" A drunk Magnus had sauntered into the chamber we shared with two whores hanging on both sides of his shoulders as they giggled.               "Yes, I have, you should try getting one too, it's probably what you are perceiving." I had replied politely but the whores gasped and instantly detached from a furious-looking Magnus.               Magnus narrowed his eyes at me and made a beeline towards me before grabbing a fistful of my hair. "How dare you slutty pig insult me?" He had yelled into my ears with so much venom that made me flinch. The hatred in his eyes was so obvious.               We were never compatible. I had no idea why the moon goddess had made us mate, to begin with. I was sure Magnus would have rejected me at the spot he found out had his father not insisted on our union so instead he transferred his aggression on me.

Magnus stood at a confident 5'8 with a strong athletic build. His muscles were well defined, his short black haircut framing his slightly irritated face. He had green eyes that reminded me of emeralds if he wasn't so wicked to me.              "Magnus, you are hurting me." I sniffled as bile rose in my throat. I had the sudden urge to throw up. It was my pregnancy hormones messing with me. I suffered from loss of appetite, and I threw up a whole lot.              "Please," I added when he wouldn't budge.               "You are lucky my father fancies you." He had pushed my head with his index finger. "Left to me, I would have had you whipped to death a long time ago, you stinking fool."               "Ma-gnus." I stuttered as I tried to hold it in. My stomach upset was getting worse, and my eyes widened in discomfort.               "I repeat for the last time, who is the owner of the bastard in your stomach?" He stabbed his finger in my chest repeatedly as he probed me and that was his undoing.               Before the blink of an eye, I had emptied my stomach on his face and clothes before letting out a sigh of relief. The whores gasped in unison and that was when I realized that Magnus was covered in vomit. He stood there with fists balled in anger as the slimy contents slid down to the floor. His eyes were bloodshot veins were throbbing in his neck.               "Oh my God, I am so-" I tried to apologize when Magnus interrupted me by shoving me violently to the wall and I fell with my head hitting the wall and my back landing on the floor.               I remember screaming in pain and begging for help as blood trailed down my legs and stained the tiles. I thought I lost my pregnancy, so I lay there crying for help.               "Nobody will help you in the palace because I have ordered them not to." Magnus bent a little to my level. His green orbs held no sympathy for me as his black hair fell to cover a side of his face like a mini bang.              "When you are done pretending to be hurt, you will come to my chamber and get my bedsheets washed thoroughly because now, I'm about to go have a nice time." He spat in my face and kicked my thighs before beckoning on the whores to follow him to his chamber.               "Someone is coming." The old woman in the cell muttered and just like that I shoved my thoughts aside to focus on what would happen next to me.               I could hear some heavy footsteps and the jiggling of keys, and I felt hope simmer in my heart. Maybe I could finally get a stale bread to eat or something to curb my churning hunger and like my stomach could read my thoughts, it led out a loud rubble.              "Please give me water." The other prisoners from the other cells begged who looked like the prison guard but he turned a deaf ear to everyone and did not stop until he got to the front of the cell, I was locked in.               "You!" He pointed at me. "Your presence is being requested." He slid the key into the lock and began to unlock the cell.               I swallowed nervously and stood up while dusting the back of my clothes. "By whom?" I asked timidly.               He opened the cell gate and yanked me out by grabbing my arm, he clasped my hands with a handcuff and My legs fumbled to walk like I was a toddler learning how to take my first step. I had no idea I was that weak.               "Try not to say a word unless you are asked a question, Child." The old woman yelled as I was dragged away. "I have heard that the Alpha King has quite the temper."               I felt a sudden shiver run down my spine at the warnings I got. Goosebumps rose in my body. In my pack, my Alpha was a monster who made my life a living hell. I have heard Alphas are dangerous so having to stand before one not only made me nervous, but it also scared the shit out of me.               I was dragged through a dark stair and slowly, the natural light began to illuminate the environment. I was dragged through a series of doors before I found myself in the throne room and only after that was my handcuffs taken off.               There were palace guards littered around, some nobles I suppose because their robes and silk screamed of gold. They sat around a large table and on the throne, sat a man whom I presumed to be the Alpha King.               "What is your name and what were you doing, invading into my territory." His baritone was thick and scary.               "I'm Davina Gregory, I am looking for a safe passage to the next pack. I have a friend who has been waiting for me since last night." My chest rose and fell with rapid breath as I massaged my wrists.              "Why were you traveling with a new pup that late at night? Did you steal her?" One of the nobles queried me.               "The pup is mine, my father wants to put her up for adoption so I can be fully committed to the Alpha of my pack so I ran to save us both." I bowed my head down, hoping they believed me.               A lady dressed in a ragged dress rushed in abruptly and whispered something to the Alpha king's ear which made him rise from his seat abruptly.               "Bring him in." He had ordered while the nobles looked confused. "Everybody out!" He yelled at the nobles who immediately stood up and rushed out of the throne room.              A baby was brought in, wrapped in a shawl and the lady was trying so hard to stop the baby from crying. The baby looked like it was convulsing and struggling with breathing.              "Call the palace physician immediately." The Alpha king ordered but I felt there was something that could be done to stabilize the child for now so without thinking twice, I approached the lady and collected the pup.               I patted the child on the back several times and the cries stopped. And positioned him to the side to help with his breathing and slowly, the baby was restored to normal.               The Alpha was standing right before me all the time, but I didn't notice because I was too focused on the child. The child was all red but stable for now.               "When the palace physician arrives, make sure to check the baby's heart." I bowed my head a little as I handed the child back.               "That was impressive, thank you, Davina." The Alpha King stood towering over me. He had the most gorgeous brown orbs that reminded me of my favorite black coffee, and he had a clean haircut of brown mane. He smelled exotic like an Arabian cologne and overall, he looked as powerful and dominating as a Greek god.              "My pleasure, your highness." I bowed my head again.               "Welcome to the Black Moon pack, now that you have proven yourself, would you like to live in the palace and act as the nanny to my pup?"               "It seems like the child likes you, he didn't stop crying ever since he was brought to the palace last night." The maid had a small smile on her face.               "Is my pup alright? Can I see her at least?" My hands dangled at my side as my heart skipped a beat.               "Absolutely, we don't harm children in my pack." The Alpha spoke again. "I'm Antonio Wells."               "Thanks for the warm hospitality, I would like to take your offer, sir Antonio." I knelt and bowed my head to him while I felt relief flood through my intestine at the prospect of securing a new home for Clara and me and a job to take good care of us. I'd be crazy to reject such a benevolent offer.