CHAPTER 9

MIA POV.
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. The reality of her situation started to suffocate her. The thought of being forced into marriage to a stranger with no love or passion, was… a frightening thought.
“Don’t I have the right to have a say in this?” I asked and Dominic straightened his shoulders and pocketed his hands into his pants. He was looking at me strangely. A look I couldn’t decipher. “I’m afraid not, little wolf.” He said and I swallowed audibly. This can’t be right! I thought. This is my life, and I do have a say in it.
“No.” I uttered as I looked at him straight in the eyes. Not only was Dominic surprised by my short reply, but I was surprised as well at how strong my voice came out. I took a breath and gathered some courage to continue. “I will not marry some stranger, even if he is your son.” I said and a hard look crossed his face. I suddenly knew I should not have said that. His whole demeaner turned cold as his eyes darkened.
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear.” He said and a shiver ran down my back at his cold tone. In an instant, Dominic turned into the cold alpha that I have heard and read about. "In our world, the Pack comes first, and pacts of marriage must be honored, Mia.” He spoke. His expression was unyielding as he held my gaze. “And I will use any means necessary to make sure you keep to the arrangement between me and your father.” He with a threatening undertone before he turned on his heel and was about to leave when I spoke again, making his stop in his tracks.
"B- but what about me?" I asked, my voice shaking. "What about what I want?" Dominic turned to face me in a sideways stance. His gaze was still icy as before. "What you want does not matter, Mia. Your obligations remain the same. You were born into this life, just like I was. We have duties and responsibilities. Pack alliances through marriage is crucial for our survival." He spoke.
I swallowed hard, trying to process Dominic's words. What he said made sense and I knew he wasn't bluffing; he'd do whatever it took to ensure the Pack's interests were protected. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized I was trapped, but I couldn’t give up. I just needed him to think that I agreed to this in order to buy me some time. "Okay, Dominic. I'll do what's best for the Pack." I said and something shifted in his gaze before he narrowed them on me in suspicion.
"Good. I knew you'd see it our way." He said. I looked away but I nodded in agreement, hoping that he wouldn’t see through my deceit. "Can I... can I go back to my apartment to get a few things?" I asked, praying that he would agree.
I held my breath as Dominic hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Fine. But don't think about trying to escape, Mia. I'll have someone guarding you at all times."
I swallowed nervously before nodding, unable to say anything as I was afraid to give away my plan.
As soon as he turned his back and left the room, I let out a silent sigh of relief. I had a small window of opportunity, and I knew I had to use it.
***
As I made my way up to my room my mind was still racing with ways to escape. Some of Dominic’s men followed behind me, watching my every step that I made, and this was going to be a problem. I needed to get away from them. I got curious stares from some of my fellow students as I passed them in the hallways, but I ignored them.
Finally, I reached my door and unlocked it. I had barely stepped in when I turned to close the door in Dominic’s men’s faces but the guy grabbed the door to stop me. “What are you doing?” I asked as he pushed open the door, but I held strong. “I’m going to need some privacy to get my things together.” I said and cleared my throat before continuing. “Unless you want to explain to Dominic why you know what color my underwear is?” I asked and taunted him with a possible problem that he had to explain to his boss. I saw the guy’s eyes widen slightly before his eyes darted to what little he could see of the room. He let go of the door and stepped back. “You have ten minutes; otherwise, we will be coming in to get you.” He said in a serious voice. I nodded before quickly shutting the door and locking it.
As I ventured further into the room, I was surprised to see Emma, my roommate, lounging on the couch. She clearly looked like she had a crazy night of drinking behind her, and I felt my anger stir in my chest towards her. “Emma!” I called her and she looked up groggily at me. “Where the hell did you run off to last night?” I chastised her. She at least had the decency to look regretful as she got up from our couch. “I’m so sorry, Mia. I met this guy on the dance floor and…” She was busy explaining but I didn’t have time for that. Making a split decision, I grabbed her arm and started to pull her along towards the window.
“Save it for later.” I said as Emma’s eyes grew wide with my sudden change of pace. “We have to get out of here. NOW.” I said an urgent whisper. “What? Why?” Emma asked as she looked to have sobered up instantly. “Shh.” I shushed her and held a finger to my lips before darting my eyes to the door in warning. “I don’t have time to explain, but trust me, we have to go.” I said lowly, but Emma tried to pull out of the grip that I had on her arm.
"Not until you tell me what is happening?" she whispered back. Reaching the window, I pushed it open and motioned to the fire escape stairs on the outside of the building. "We have to go down this way. Come on, quickly." I said as Emma looked at me in shock with wide eyes as I climbed out of the window first.
Emma hesitated for a moment before scrambling out the window after me. I was a few steps below her, and I don’t know if it was my nerves or the situation that I was now caught in, but I swear I could feel eyes on us. I knew Dominic's men would realize what was happening soon, so we had to move fast.
I finally came close enough to the bottom to jump off the ladder and turned to face the ally that would take us away from her, but I suddenly froze. "No," I whispered, my mind racing. I heard Emma also reaching the bottom and she must have turned to face the way I was currently facing because I heard her suck in a sharp breath. In front of us stood Dominic’s men… all of them, but how did they know. The main man smirked knowingly, and I tried to swallow the panic that was starting to well up inside my chest.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emma turn to me, her eyes wide with fear. "Mia, what's going on? Who are these men?" She asked but I couldn’t answer her. My eyes were on the leader and his men who was tasked in escorting me. “You know, I expected a more creative escape but whatever gets the job done quicker is fine by me.” He spoke. His eyes glinted with amusement as they darted to Emma. He gave her a quick look of approval before he lifted his one hand up to snap his fingers. “Get her.” He commanded.
To my surprise, the rest of his men didn’t make a grab for me, but for Emma instead. “NO!” I yelled as I tried to get in between them while Emma screamed at suddenly being grabbed by strange men. "Let her go!" I shouted, trying to pull on one of the guard’s arms, but a pair of strong arms circled around me from behind, trapping my arms to my sides.
I watched as one of the men pulled out a rope and tied Emma's hands behind her back. Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked at me in desperation. “MIA! HELP ME!” She pleaded as she tried to pull against the restraints.
“Let her go!” I demanded but of course they didn’t listen to me. Why would they? In their eyes I was only the omega that was forced to marry their alpha’s son.
“Not going to happen, miss.” The man said that still had my arms at my sides. He was so strong that I couldn’t wriggle my arms free. I would probably have bruises later. A car made its appearance. “Take her away.” He said and I felt panic rise in my chest as I saw the men start to drag Emma away. “NO!” I yelled. Emma was a sobbing mess as they forced her into a car, and it was only when the car disappeared around the corner, did the man let go of me.
“You son of a bi…” I started to scream and hammer the man’s chest, but he grabbed both of my wrists and held them tightly. “He looked down at me with serious eyes. “My orders were to make sure that you keep to the arrangement that you have towards the Dark Moon pack and alpha Romano told me to use any method to my disposal to keep you in line so if you try to escape again… your friend will suffer the consequences.” He said and I could see that he was serious. I felt the strength leave my arms as the last bit of hope I had to escape, die away as the reality of my situation became painfully clear. I was trapped, with no way out. This was my fate and if I had just accepted it, Emma wouldn’t be in danger right now.
He let go of me and stood back. Tears started to run down my cheeks as I stood there. “Your friend will be safe as long as you do what your told.” He said. “Now come on, we must not keep the alpha waiting.” He said and indicated for me to follow him.
What other choice did I have and what type of life awaited me? I wondered to myself as I started to follow him as I was filled with a sense of foreboding for my uncertain future, but I knew my life would never be the same after this.