C1 1: Prolog

In front of the city's central public hospital was parked an MG Hector SUV, which had tinted windows, preventing anyone from seeing who were in.

Inside, there were three men whose attention were fixed towards the exit of the hospital, supposedly looking at nothing but with such keen attention.

"Alpha, I don't think she is here," spoke George, known as Gamma who had already begun showing obvious signs of boredom.

"We've been here for hours, perhaps it was just a mistaken insinuation"

"I don’t make mistakes,” replied Beta, who was sitting behind the wheel, but as for the man sitting at the back, his attention never wavered from the hospital’s exit, and just then, he saw her.

Both Gamma and Beta had to stop their squabble once they noticed Arthur open the door and hastily get out, leaving them confused.

Coming out of the hospital, Amelia held her mother's health files in her hand and with every time she looked at it, her heart grew heavier.

She had come out here because she didn't want to cry in front of anyone, and now that she was alone, she tried holding back her tears

The hospital had refused to commence her mother's treatment till the bill was paid, and if immediate action wasn't taken, she could die within a week.

A tear threatened to fall from her eyes, but she held it back, this wasn't the time to cry, she needed to start looking for a way to gather up money.

Perhaps she could get a quick-paying job, but then again, the bill was too much, even three months of work wouldn't cover it.

As she looked down at the file again, a shadow caught her attention, causing her to lift her face and see a man standing in front of her.

A confused look covered her face when he didn't say anything.

"Can I help you?" She asked but he still didn't say anything, his expression resembled that of a person who had just sighted something incredibly rare, and discovered for the first time.

Since he wouldn't say anything, she tried to walk past him, but he moved, obstructing her path

"Excuse me," now she sounded offended and when he wouldn't move away, she became frightened, hopefully. she hadn't encountered a mental patient at the hospital, did she?

No, he didn't look like one, in fact, he looked oddly familiar but she didn't have time to ask herself questions, although his features were undeniably good-looking, supposedly a good meal for the eyes.

She tried moving away again but he did same thing as before, obstructing her path.

Frightened at this man, she tried to push him away but he grabbed her hand, pulling her to himself, his hand going around her in a hug.

Shocked at his action but once her mind got itself back, she struggled out but rather, he retorted by hugging her even tighter as though wanting to suck the air out of her.

A whisper of something left his lips but she failed to hear what it was

What is this? She became alert instantly as the feeling of uncomfortable washed over her.

Strongly, she struggled to get out but then she heard a

Was that a… growl?

××××××××××

Arthur felt like he had finally landed in paradise having his mate in his arms.

Currently holding her within his grasp, he began to wonder how he had gone all those years without her, he wondered how he would be able to go another day without her.

The tingling sensation she brought to him and his long dead heart was beyond what he would have ever wished for.

He took back all the curses he had laid on this world, all those painful years of being without a mate.

Finding comfort in her warmth, the irritating movement of her trying to free herself annoy him and he growled in displeasure.

Pulling away, she tried to move away from him but he grabbed her hand firmly, preventing her from doing so.

She was reluctant in staying still as she kept trying to struggle out and this irritated him.

Pulling her forcefully, he lifted her and threw her over his shoulder, unaffected by her petty attempts of hitting behind his back as he walked back to his car.

Putting her inside, he was quick to sit beside her, preventing her attempt to go out.

Closing the door, Amelia noticed the two men sitting in front of the car, the one behind the wheel began driving and soon they drove away from the hospital.

"Sir, please let me go, please" she begged

"Please, my family do not have money for ransom, please"

“Ransom?” Arthur became confused, but then realized she thought she was being kidnapped. If that was how claiming his mate would be referred to as, he could care less.

"Please sir," she begged and all these while, Arthur's gaze at her stayed unmoving. His brows creased at the tears, which fell from her eyes. He didn't like it.

Moving closer, his hand moved up but she flinched causing him to growl lowly in displeasure.

Moving his thumb, he rubbed off the tears from her cheek.

“Don’t cry, my love,"

“Love?” Why was he calling her that. What kind of kidnapper was he, she wondered.

Once they got to their destination, Arthur got out, waiting for her, but realized that she wasn't going to come out, he leaned into the car, grabbed and dragged her out, then threw her weightless body over his shoulder, although not liking the petty wiggle her body kept making attempt to be let down, he walked into the manor, up the stairs to an elevator which led him straight to his bedroom and once he got there, he intended to drop her gently but ended up throwing her down to the bed due to her hand jerking at his hair.

He stood erect, looking at his mate who looked slightly petrified.

He didn't know what to say, so he just said the first thing that popped on his head.

"Welcome home," he said, but instantly, she jumped down from the bed to her knees.

"Please sir." She clasped her hand together.

"I don’t have any money, please, my family won't be able to pay you," she begged, although internally, from what she saw, he didn't look like someone who would be involved in collecting money by kidnapping petty people, but then again, who was she to judge. After all, the rich ones were the nastiest.

"Please sir, I promise I won't file a case, I won't tell the police, just please let me go," more tears flooded her eyes, she already had a lot to worry of on her plate and now this. How would her family cope with her being kidnapped, what would happen to her mother.

Let her go? Arthur felt a rumble in his chest at her words, letting her go was the last thing he'd ever do, finding her after waiting for so long. His blood boiled at the mere thought of it.

He noticed her expression turned into a scared one as he approached and irked him.

She was already frightened and he wouldn't want to vent in front of her, that would get her more scared so instead, he simply walked out in hope that she'd calm down eventually.

In the evening, while he was in his enormously luxurious parlor, his Beta, Noah came to him.

"How's she?"

"She hasn't stopped crying Alpha," a heavy breath left Arthur's lips as he stared at a far distance, looking at nothing in particular.

His mind was bothered, he didn't really think his mate would act hateful towards him at their first meet.

Oh! Universe, why punish me so

What could he do to appease his mate. Time and time went by with Noah coming to report to him of his mate who still remained in same condition as before but soon after few more hours into the evening, reported of her sleeping.

Dismissing his Beta, Arthur walked up the stairs, as the elevator led him to his room, a heavy sigh left his lips and he opened the door but at the greeting of an empty room, a growl left his lips and once he noticed the broken glass window, his eyes changed to a dark shade of red.