Melissa.

Oh Moon Goddess... please help me.

The prayer formed silently in my mind, desperate and raw, clinging to the last thread of hope I had left. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest as I stood there, surrounded by powerful men who spoke of me like I was a prize laid out on a table.

Darren can’t win.

The Quadruplets can’t win.

And that random Alpha... he absolutely cannot win.

I squeezed my eyes shut briefly, my lips pressing together as if that alone could keep my fear from spilling out. I wasn’t asking for much, just mercy. Just a miracle. Anything that would keep me from being handed over like property.

The sound of a chair scraping against the ground snapped my eyes open.

The random Alpha stood.

"I guess I’m in," he said calmly, his voice carrying an unsettling confidence that made my stomach twist.

My breath hitched.

He stood tall, broad-shouldered, his presence commanding without him needing to raise his voice. Unlike the others, he wasn’t smirking or posturing. He looked... composed. Too composed. His eyes swept the gathering briefly before settling on me, and when they did, something strange stirred deep inside my chest.

A flicker of recognition.

It was faint, fleeting, like trying to recall a dream after waking, but it unsettled me nonetheless.

Davian’s brows drew together slightly as he studied the Alpha. "Alpha Daniel," he said slowly, clearly surprised. "We have always known you as a quiet and reserved man. Are you truly participating in this?"

The garden seemed to hold its breath.

"Yes, I am."

Daniel’s answer came without hesitation. His gaze never left me, steady and unreadable. My pulse quickened under the weight of his attention, my fingers curling instinctively into the fabric of my dress.

Why did he feel so... familiar?

I searched my memory desperately, but his name echoed hollowly in my mind, refusing to connect to anything solid. I was sure I had seen him before, felt his presence before, but where? When? The harder I tried to remember, the more my thoughts scattered.

Adrien let out a low chuckle as he rose from his seat, the sound light but edged with something sharp. "The games won’t be easy," he said casually, as though he were discussing sport rather than my fate. His eyes flicked briefly toward Daniel before he returned to his seat.

The tension shifted.

Servants moved quietly among the Alphas, refilling goblets with practiced ease. The sound of wine being poured felt absurdly loud in the thick silence. One by one, the Alphas raised their glasses.

"To the competition," someone muttered.

"To strength," another added.

I stood there, invisible yet exposed, as they drank, celebrating a contest that revolved entirely around me without once asking what I wanted.

The clink of goblets echoed softly through the garden as they gulped down their drinks, laughter and murmurs rippling through the crowd. My heart sank further with every second that passed.

"When will the competition begin?" Darren asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the noise as he lowered his empty glass.

The moment he spoke, my body tensed involuntarily. I didn’t turn to look at him, but I could feel him, his impatience, his entitlement. The same man who already had a wife. The same man who still thought he had a claim over me.

Before anyone could answer, another Alpha from the gathering laughed loudly. "You still have a wedding to plan in a month’s time," he said teasingly. "Why don’t you quit, Alpha?"

Laughter erupted instantly, spreading like wildfire through the garden.

Some Alphas slapped their thighs. Others shook their heads in amusement. Even a few servants struggled to hide their smiles.

The Quadruplet jaw tightened.

I watched from the corner of my eye as their fingers curled slowly around the stem of their goblet, their knuckles whitening. The laughter hadn’t amused them, it had challenged them. And that frightened me more than anything else.

This wasn’t a game to them.

It was ownership.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I shifted my weight slightly, suddenly hyperaware of every gaze trained on me. The night air felt colder now, the warmth from earlier replaced by a creeping dread that settled deep in my bones.

The noise that followed Davian’s declaration was deafening.

"There is a wedding," he said firmly, his voice ringing with authority, "that is for certain. But the dignity of we brothers must be held intact. This competition..." his lips curled slightly, "...will commence in fifteen days’ time."

For a split second, the garden was still.

Then it erupted.

A thunderous roar rose from the gathered Alphas, their voices merging into one overwhelming sound as they lifted their goblets high, wine sloshing dangerously close to the rims.

"To the peace of all packs!" Damien bellowed, his voice thick with drink and pride.

"To the peace of all packs!" the others echoed back in unison, their cheers rolling through the night like a war chant.

I stood there, unmoving, watching them celebrate with wild smiles and flushed faces, their laughter loud and careless. They toasted. They drank. They rejoiced.

And I was the prize.

My chest felt tight, my breath shallow as the reality of it all settled heavily on me. They were celebrating me, not as a person, not as a woman, but as something to be won. A reward. A trophy meant to stroke their egos and prove their dominance.

Could my fate get any worse? I wondered bitterly.

The night dragged on endlessly. More drinks were poured. More laughter followed. One by one, the Alphas drank until their words slurred and their steps became unsteady. The moon climbed higher into the sky as the garden slowly emptied, the once-grand gathering dissolving into drunken disorder.

Eventually, the Alphas began to drift away, one after another, their earlier bravado dulled by drink and exhaustion. Their footsteps were uneven, their laughter slurred, until the hall slowly emptied. What they left behind spoke loudly enough, empty goblets scattered across tables, chairs pushed back and overturned, the sharp, bitter stench of alcohol clinging stubbornly to the air.

Only the Quadruplet remained.

The silence that followed was oppressive, settling heavily over the room like a thick fog. It pressed against my ears, my chest, my thoughts, until every small sound, my breath, the faint rustle of fabric, felt unbearably loud. Instinctively, I lowered my gaze, my shoulders stiffening as my body tensed. Every nerve screamed at me to brace myself, warning me that whatever came next would not be gentle.

I didn’t dare move.

I didn’t dare look up.

The quiet stretched, thin and fragile, threatening to shatter at the slightest provocation. My heart pounded violently, each beat echoing with dread, as though it already knew what my mind was struggling to accept.

Then Aidan’s voice cut through the stillness,sharp, cold and merciless.It tore through the silence like a blade, leaving no room for escape.

"Whore!"

I flinched violently, my head snapping up in shock.

"What did you do?" he snarled, striding toward me with unsteady steps. His eyes burned with something ugly, rage, jealousy, and humiliation tangled together. "What did you do to them, huh? What did you promise them that made them want to fight over you?"

My lips parted, but no sound came out.

Adrien laughed, a harsh, drunken sound, as he staggered slightly, steadying himself against a chair. "Yes," he slurred cruelly, pointing at me. "Answer him. Did you open your legs for them?" His eyes dragged over me with disgust. "You must be feeling like a champion right now, right? Every Alpha wants a piece of you."

Each word struck harder than a slap.

I felt my throat tighten, tears burning behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I would not give them that satisfaction.

"Come, brothers," Davian said suddenly, his tone cold and detached as he turned away. "Don’t waste your breath on her. I am leaving."

Without another glance in my direction, he walked away, his footsteps steady despite the alcohol, disappearing into the shadows of the corridor.

For a fleeting moment, I thought it might end there.

I was wrong.

"It’s all right, brothers," Damien said quietly, stepping forward. There was something in his voice that made my blood run cold. "I will handle her myself."

Before I could react, his hand shot out.

Pain exploded across my scalp as his fingers tangled brutally in my hair. A sharp cry tore from my throat as he yanked me forward, forcing me to stumble as he dragged me toward his quarters.

"Let go of me!" I gasped, my hands clawing uselessly at his arm, my feet struggling to keep up as he pulled me along without mercy.

"Quiet," he snapped, tightening his grip. "You don’t get to make noise now."

The garden blurred behind me as tears finally spilled down my cheeks, the celebration lights fading into darkness. My heart pounded wildly, terror and despair crashing over me in waves.

The cheers from earlier echoed mockingly in my mind.

To the peace of all packs.

Peace.

I had never felt farther from it in my life.