Bound by Fate, Freed by Love

Lila's POV.

My heart pounded like a drum in the silence of the dense forest, my breath ragged as I darted through the shadows, my feet barely touching the ground.

Behind me, I could hear the heavy thudding of boots ominously drawing closer with each passing moment. Fear gripped me, a cold hand squeezing my heart as I pushed myself to run faster, the branches whipping at my face and tearing at my gown. My heels ached but I couldn't afford to stop for a break right now. There was too much at stake.

As I sprinted desperately, a sudden snag halted me in my tracks. I looked down to see my blue gown, which was stained with dirt and sweat, caught at the hem by a thorny plant.

"Oh, no." I cried as my heart hammered wildly against my ribcage, audibly. Panic surged through my veins as l struggled to break free. With a final, desperate tug, I wrenched myself free from the plant's grasp, but it was too late.

Strong hands closed around my arms, pulling me back forcefully. My eyes widened in terror as they spun me around to face the guards father had sent after me. "It's the end of the road for you, princess. "

I let out a piercing scream of protest. "No! Let me go! I don't want to go back there." My voice echoed through the forest. One of the men picked me up and threw me on his shoulder and marched back in the direction I'd just run from. I wailed and thrashed about in his hold, "Let me go, please." Tears streamed down my face. My mind raced with thoughts of the cruel things my father would do to me once I got back.

"Get your hands off me!" I spat as the guard who carried me dropped me in a heap on the cold floor. The double doors were shut behind me as he left the room. I heard footsteps approaching from the inner chambers but I kept my head lowered, inspecting the cuts and scratches on my arms and legs.

"You little, ungrateful witch!" Bhavanya spat. She was my father's wife. I was used to her words so that didn't hurt one bit. She held up my face, her red-manicured nails digging into my skin.

"Let me go!" A slap landed across my face. "How dare you?" She sneered. My hands flew to my cheek. Tears stung my eyelids but I swallowed, pushing them back. I'm not going to give her that satisfaction of seeing me cry.

"You keep bringing shame upon this family, running away like a wild animal. Your father is doing the best he can for you but still you choose to repay him this way. You're good for nothing."

"And you deserve to rot in hell." I retorted. She raised her hands again to slap me. I flinched, bracing myself for the impact.

"That's enough, Bhavanya." My father's voice thundered. Her hands froze in the air. "Leave her to me." With a grunt, she lowered them and stomped into the house, the train of her dress trailing behind.

My father was the Alpha of our pack - the Blood Moon. He stalked towards me, flanked by two guards. " Lila, Why did you pull a stunt like that? " He asked in a calm voice that I recognized so well. It was the calm before the storm.

I kept mute.

"I need answers, Lila."

My eyes roamed as I racked my brain trying to come up with the right words to make him understand me. "I don't want to go with Alpha Hector, please. I want to stay here with you. If it's because of my attitude, I promise that I'll change. Just please, don't send me to him." I pleaded.

He circled me, "You have to learn that everything I do is for your own good. It's all in your best interest. "

"Not this one, Father. You sold me off like a mere article in a market without considering how I feel."

"Your feelings don't matter, Lila. Alpha Hector's men will come for you tomorrow and you must go with him without hesitation." For the first time in forever, someone wanted me but, it had to be the cruelest Alpha who didn't care about anyone but himself.

"But, Father? I'm as good as dead if I go with him. He doesn't care for anyone apart from himself. Please, father. I know we're not on the best terms but please, have mercy."

He lowered his gaze in contemplation then suddenly, he raised his head with a fiery look in his black eyes, "If you try to double cross me again, I'll have you locked up in the dungeon without food and water until he comes. "

He signaled to one of his guards, "Take her to her room so she can freshen up. Double the guards at her door. She mustn't leave this house unless I say so."

"Father, please. Please, father reconsider." I kept begging until the guards led me out of his sight. I sighed wearily once I stepped into my room.

I headed towards the bathroom and stripped off the dress which now looked like a cotton scarf draped around my slender frame. I turned on the shower and shut my eyes as the warm water cascaded down my body.

" What good father would sell his daughter off to a man as wicked as Alpha Hector? You know what, that was not important anymore. The deed had been done. He never liked me anyway so this is sure good riddance for him. What I should be concerned about now, is how to survive once I get there. " The water got cold as I stood in the shower with more thoughts crowding my mind. I turned off the shower and stepped out, wrapping myself in my old coarse towel.

As I reach for the bathroom door, I hear the main door creak open, and the sound of footsteps approaching.

"Who's there?" I called out. There was no response. It could be my stepmother. She often came in without knocking. I open the door, expecting to see her but instead, William stands before me, both hands in the pockets of his coat.

I grit my teeth in frustration. Now I had to deal with my stepbrother too. Why couldn't they just give me space to think clearly before going to the land of my death?

" What do you want, Will?" His eyes trailed down from my upper body to my legs and back upwards. I felt my skin crawl in disgust at his open perusal.

" It's a question of what you actually need, Lila." He stepped closer.

I shifted backward, "I don't need anything especially not from you, Will so get out of my room this minute."

He chuckled and drew closer, ignoring my order. "I like my women fierce too."

"What? What are you.." I sputtered in confusion.

"I know you want me too, Lila. There's no need to pretend. I see the way you look at me."

Warning bells rang in my head. Where were the guards that father placed at my door? He must have distracted them.

"Maybe you've had too much to drink, Will and it's clouded your mind. If you're quite done spewing your rubbish, then you can leave now." I motioned to the door and brushed past him. His facial expression hardened and he drew me back by the arm, making my body collide with his.

"We either do it quietly or you can scream the roof off but no one is going to hear you." He whispered into my ear with a sinister look in his eyes.

My heart raced. "Let me go!" I screamed, struggling against his grip. He clasped a hand over my mouth and pushed me on the bed. I could feel his hot breath on my face as he leaned in closer.

He held my hands in place above my head. My eyes watered. "Let me go, Will. "I struggled to free myself, thrashing about in his hold.

"Shut up, you little bitch and stay still." he growled, his voice low and threatening. "I've wanted this for so long." He licked his lips as he loosened my towel and his eyes took in my body, greedily. I tasted salt as tears ran down my face.

"Please, Will." He pressed his lips to mine, swallowing my protest. I kept struggling but his muscled arms held me down. He took off his clothes in a frenzy and parted my legs forcefully.

"Help me," I screamed hoping that someone, anyone, would hear me. He slapped me. My eyes rolled to the back of my head. He positioned his dick at my entrance as tears kept rolling down my face.

"You're going to enjoy this." He said with a wry smile.

Why did bad things keep happening to me?

Alpha Hector's POV.

"It's been confirmed, Sir. "Beta Ryan announced. He was my right-hand man. Anger swelled in my chest at the information.

"What right does that filthy, half-baked fool have to touch my property?" I growled.

"He is going to pay. He will feel my wrath. Ready the horses, Ryan. We leave at once!" He bowed and stepped out.

"The chariot is ready, Sir." He returned almost immediately.

"Very well, then." I marched downstairs, blind with fury.

Once the chariot stopped outside Alpha Griffin's house, I strode out, my cloak billowing behind me. My guards rushed to my side, trying to keep up with my long strides. There was a group of guards stationed at the double door. They bowed in respect as I walked through. The entrance door swung open and Miriam stood at the center, arrayed in a lilac ball gown. She had always been a woman of vain things.

She curtsied, "We weren't expecting you so early." I looked past her shoulder to the courtroom. "Where's he?"

She looked around nervously then plastered a smile to cover up, "Who? My husband? He's.."

I gritted my teeth, " Where's Your Son?" I growled. She shrank in fear, her lips trembling.

"Welcome, Hector." Griffin greeted as he came down the flight of stairs that led to the balcony. "You came earlier than expected." He stretched out his hands for a handshake. I shook it firmly, trying hard to keep the lid on my anger.

Two maids entered followed by Lila. My eyes softened as I took in her appearance. She was dressed in a blue silk gown, cinched at the waist. Her hair was in an updo. My, did she aim to please. She curtsied in greeting.

"Lila, Alpha Hector. Hector, Lila." Griffin introduced. I held the back of her delicate hands and placed a kiss. She lowered her lashes avoiding my gaze.

I clenched my fists as I noticed who was behind her. "You remember my son, William?" Griffin gestured to him.

"He has done nothing worth remembering." I seethed, "When did you plan to tell me?" There was pin-drop silence in the room.

"We sent emissaries to you this morning but you arrived here.." Griffin broke the silence. I raised my palms, stopping him mid-sentence.

I turned to face the boy. In comparison to my son, Kyril, he looked like one barely out of diapers. "Do you realize the gravity of what you have done?"

His eyes darted around the room, refusing to meet mine. " I am truly sorry, Sir. It was a momentary weakness. It won't happen again." He apologized.

I cackled and held him up by the collar, knocking the air out of him, "Of course it won't because after I'm done with you, you'll be begging to transition to Hades." I landed a punch on his nose and smiled satisfactorily as the cracking of bones reached my ears. I watched my lead guard land more blows on him until his face was battered, each one harder than the last. He cried out in pain, fueling my satisfaction.

Griffin and his family stood there, silent and still, as they watched the scene unfold. They knew better than to interfere. I kicked him in the gut and that sent him flying back into a wooden chair.

"Griffin, do something. Save our son." Miriam cried out.

"He's paying for his sin, Miriam. There's nothing I can do." That's right. Stay where you are or else I'll beat up you two. I advanced towards him on the floor. "Please, spare me."

" I'm sure she cried out more than that yesterday but you were too blinded by lust to listen." I punched his nose again.

" How does it feel to be at my mercy, huh?" I twisted his arm back and elbowed him in the neck, simultaneously. He groaned.

"You're so damn lucky that I don't have a knife with me, I'd make minced meat of that dumbbell between your legs." I stepped on his crotch with the heel of my boots. "No, please." He wailed, blood flowing from his bruised lips and nose.

I bellowed, "Shut up!" He pushed me back in self-defense. Blood rushed to my face. I saw red. I drew him backward by the shoulder as he tried to escape and fed him another punch to his right jaw.

"Oh, so you think you're smart huh? Well, this will be the last time you use your legs." With a swift, brutal motion, I snapped his legs, the sound of breaking bones echoing through the room. They gasped in shock. He screamed, his cries echoing off the walls.

Griffin dropped to his knees, " please, have mercy. You've punished him enough. Please, spare him."

I seethed and threw him to the floor. "Take him away," I ordered, my voice cold and detached. The guards rushed forward, their faces grim as they dragged him out, Miriam in tow.

I stood there, my chest heaving, my eyes still blazing with fury. I adjusted my cloak and turned to Lila. I could feel her gaze on me all the while. Her eyes were filled with tears.

She looked scared. I held her chin, tipping her face upwards to meet mine. "It's over now," I said in a gentle tone. "He will never hurt you again." She nodded.

"My business here is done. We leave at once."

"Can I say goodbye to my father at least?"

"There's no time for trivialities. Let's go." I replied in a tone that gave no room for protest. I marched outside, Ryan in tow.

This would be a warning to anyone else who dared to tamper with what was mine.

"Is it done?" I asked Ryan. He nodded. There was a loud scream from the house. Lila ran out, her gown bunched to her knees. "What have you done to my father?" A maid lingered behind her. So that was the informant?

I stared blankly at her tear-stained face. "I did what was necessary. You're too young to understand."

"Where's my father? Why can't I see him?"

I snapped, " Stop whining, you're hurting my ears. Someone had to pay for your stepbrother's sins. Did you forget that? Your time with them is over. You do not belong here anymore."

I turned, "Get her in the carriage." I ordered the guards and marched ahead, ignoring her loud sobs.