It's with a sigh that I open my eyes, the shrill voice of my mother-in-law filling the house. Couldn't she just shut up for once? I hate waking up like this.

After yawning for a long time, I reluctantly got up. I force myself to the bathroom. I hate mornings. I wash up and get ready for school. I'm sure if I didn't have the dream of going to college to leave this house, I would have quit school by now.

I apply a little concealer and my mascara. I don't like to wear makeup, but it's better to be presentable. No one would want to see my dark circles.

I stand in front of my wardrobe. Maybe it's time to do my laundry. I don't have much left to wear. I opted for my last black jeans and a white top. I grab my bag and leave upstairs.

My father is sitting at the end of the table with this morning's newspaper in hand, as always.

- You took your time, my mother-in-law gets angry, leaning against the work surface, you need to learn to get up earlier and get ready faster. It's always the same cinema every morning.

I don't bother to answer and sit in my place, opposite my father. I spread the chocolate on my bread and bite into it. I'm not in the mood to argue with her.

- The least we could have done was to apologize, she spits.

- It's me who will be late and not you, I reminded her quietly, and I never am.

- You're going to stop being smart. Did you see that ? she asks my father, turning to him. It starts in the morning!

- What can I do if my daughter does not have an education?

I let out a sigh at the same time as my bread. My eyes focus on a point behind him to avoid crying. How can I tell you that it was your role?

I get up and go out, taking care to slam the door. The wind hits me in the face, forcing me to zip up my jacket.

Every morning it's the same thing. My mother-in-law finds a reason to criticize me and my father agrees with her without even bothering to give his opinion.

Since my mother died, nothing has been the same. My father remarried two months after his death to this awful woman. I never understood why she hated me so much. Maybe it's because I'm my father's only memory of my mother? I do not know. I only know that I'm waiting to go to university, far from here.

Arriving at school, I look for Julia. It's no surprise that I found her in front of the bathroom door. A habit I never understood. She always waits for me near the toilets.

- Hi.

- Pink! I want the truth!

- You are beautiful Julia, I laughed.

- No no. This time it's serious, is my makeup good?

I observe him. Dark brown eyeshadow, eyeliner, a thick coat of mascara, a line of pencil under her eyes, and beige lipstick. She's wearing a lot more makeup than usual, but it's not ugly. I will never understand why she makes such an effort every morning to come to school.

- Do you think that's a lot? She questions me in front of my silence.

- It's very beautiful, but...we're at school, not in a marriage.

- We do not care! It’s a sacred day!

Faced with my perplexed look, she explained to me:

- An alpha will arrive any minute.

I nod, that makes more sense. Every month, an alpha arrives with a few people from his pack to find his soul mate. Everyone prepares as if it were the event of the year. This is absurd because no alpha has ever found their soul mate in our small town.

“You don’t understand,” she continues, seeing my blasé expression. He's not just any alpha. It's the alpha! No one comes close to him. He is the strongest and cruelest there is. Imagine being his soul mate? It's simply brilliant!

- Would you like to be the soul mate of a cruel alpha? I asked incredulously.

- Yes, I like psychopaths!

I burst out laughing. This girl is crazy. There is no other possible explanation!

The bell rings and we head to class. Classes go by at a breathtakingly slow pace. I just stare out the window at the forest. I'm so excited to go to college. To start living for real. I smile seeing myself becoming a great architect. It's my dearest dream.

Suddenly, the alarm I hate so much goes off. I get up sighing. We all head towards the courtyard to line up. I laugh as I see James push a girl closer to the door.

As usual, I'm heading towards the end. What do I like most about these visits? These are the despairing looks of alphas.

- I feel that this time it's the right one. Julia whispers against my ear.

- If you say so.

- Oh my god, they are beautiful!

I turn my head towards the door. Two men enter the courtyard through the gate. One is blond and rather thin while the other has black hair and is broader. I observe them briefly until a third arrives and stands between the two. The alpha.

I am surprised by so much beauty. Julia was right, he is breathtaking. An imposing build. His white shirt, unbuttoned at the top, reveals the muscles hidden behind the fabric. Well-groomed brown hair. A confident approach. He exuded domination.

My gaze meets that of the black-haired beta, he offers me a broad smile. I look away and stare at my shoes. I have a bad feeling.

They whisper something I don't understand before the alpha begins to examine each person one by one. I glance at Julia who is fixing her neckline. I smile, shaking my head.

My gaze stays on my shoes. I hadn't noticed I had tied my shoelaces incorrectly. This is what happens when you leave your house quickly.

I hear a few girls begging him to watch them again. I hold back laughter as I bend down to tie my shoelaces. These girls can't sink any lower.

When I finish my knot, I see men's shoes in front of me. Oh.

“Look at me,” he orders in his deep voice.

I bite my lip as I stand up. It's only when I'm completely upright that I allow myself to raise my head.

My whole body remains frozen as if it had just pinned me to the ground. I had never seen eyes so green before. They are of...magnificent intensity. Stunning. I feel like it would only take one step for me to fall in and let myself be carried away by...

- oh my God.

Julia's voice brings me back to reality. I blink several times as I examine the alpha, perplexed. And when he says these three words, I understand everything:

- You are mine.

Panicked, I turn my head towards Julia. She shrugs. This can't be true? I take a step back, looking everywhere but at him. Without me realizing it, my legs start running. I run straight until I reach the forest.

I stop for a moment to turn around and go in another direction. What an idea to enter the middle of the forest to escape from the wolves! But I see them coming and continue my race.

I run as much as my legs allow. My heart seems to beg me to stop, but it's not possible! I can not stop!

I ended up stopping a few minutes later. I lean forward against a tree, propping myself up on my knees and trying to calm my breathing. I think I sowed them.

But when I open my eyes, his betas are leaning against the two trees opposite. I feel a presence behind me and it scares me. I don't dare turn around.

- You're done? he asks annoyed.

- I...I can't, I managed to articulate while staring at the tree in front of me, I can't come with you.

- It's a shame no one asked your opinion in this case.

I turn around and face him. He crossed his arms and looked at me from his full height.

- You can't bring me back by force.

-And who will stop me?

He is right. Who will dare to say something in front of this half-human man? Person.

Thinking I'm going to be captive, not going to college, I refuse to cooperate. I can't give up on my dreams so easily!

- I have a family, I tried kindly, I still go to school. I can't drop everything and come with you at the drop of a hat.

He nods. Ah, it's not so hard after all. He seems to understand. So I continue:

- It's my last year before university. I'm planning to go far away from here. Maybe we could agree on college? I would be willing to go to an establishment not far from your town. And then, I'm not always easy to get along with.

He still stares at me without saying anything. I think he will accept. He seems like a reasonable person. We do not even know each other. So why would he want me to go with them? Is it absurd anyway?

- If you're done, I can't wait to leave this village.

- Yes of course. I hastened to say happy.

- With you, he adds.

It would have been too good to be true.

- What if I refuse?

- It's not a problem, I have my methods.

- You can't force someone to come with you.

This time, it's him who sighs loudly. He takes a step forward and I take a step back. He can't force me! It is not possible! There's no way I'm going to an unknown place with this stranger.

- I would be you, I would avoid annoying him. Advises me one of his betas behind me.

My heart beats faster. I looked everywhere for a way out, but where could I escape into a forest? And with three extra wolves? I'm done. I refuse to give in to this man who thinks he can do anything!

He walks forward and grabs my arm. I struggle to get him to release me but in vain. He doesn't even move while receiving my blows. We are heading towards the end of the forest.

Tears of helplessness fill my eyes. I can't let him take me away from my world! Far from my dreams. Far from Julia!

- That's enough ! he roared, picking me up.

My tears increase when I find myself on his shoulder. I hit him on the back, screaming for him to let me go. Struggling as much as I can. He has no right to do that!

Once in front of the school, he drops me to the ground and blocks me between the car and his powerful chest. I hit him while screaming:

- I'M NOT GOING TO COME WITH YOU! YOU BADLY RAISED ASSHOLE! HELP ME!

I feel pain in my arm. Wanting to turn my head to see where such pain is coming from, I meet Julia's gaze. His blue eyes look at me sadly. I read a “farewell” on his lips. No...

My head turns. I don't see anything anymore. Everything seems to be moving around me. My eyelids are getting heavier.

No, I don't want to give up everything I have left...