Janelle woke up in an unfamiliar room, with a dim light from a candle as the only source of light in the room. She tried to sit up, but felt very weak and gave up trying to sit up. She sighed heavily and laid back on the bed. It was a small bed which could accommodate only one person. She looked at her surroundings and noticed the room was a small one, with only one bed, a wardrobe with a mirror, a small table and a large water jar. Water! She bolted to the water jar, forgetting about how weak she felt a few minutes ago. She opened the jar and found a cup floating on top of the water in the jar. She scooped a cup full and drank it without a second thought. After emptying the cup, she began to panic. 'What if the water was poisoned?' Janelle thought. She knew she had to keep her guard up since she was in her enemies territory as a slave. She saw the door and slowly turned the knob, hoping it wasn't locked. Lo and behold, it was unlocked. She slightly opened the door, and peeped outside. No one was passing nor guarding her door. She slowly stepped out and looked at the long corridor, illuminated with burning torches. Janelle quietly closed the door and began to walk, making sure her footsteps were as quiet as possible. Since she found no one on the corridor, and saw an opening to a garden as she walked, she began to think of escaping. Yes, if she got the chance she was going to escape to Blue Moon Pack, to find her sister, the Luna of the pack, and ask for her help to rescue her people. She hurriedly walked towards the entrance, without realizing she was being followed. When she got to the entrance of the garden, she had wanted to rush towards the wall, surrounding it, yet felt like she needed some time to plan her escape. She couldn't do anything to jeopardize her people and herself anymore. Because their current state was honestly her fault. She was being selfish, yet she had the undying support of her family even when they knew how things could turn out. Her family wanted her to be happy and didn't want to see her yield to the matebond out of fear but she should have thought of her pack and not just about herself. She was to blame for everything.
As she stood there watching the walls, she broke down.
"Papa, mama, Jimmy and Lace, I'm so sorry" Janelle said as she teared. She felt her heart ache, the pain was unbearable. She felt she could die but she knew she wasn't going to die because she couldn't, not until she's rescued her people, not until she's set every single one of them free. As she wept, she heard voices approaching and rushed to hide behind a shrub in the garden. The smell she despised the most, hit her nose and she knew he was there.
The moment Gideon and his beta entered the garden, they knew Janelle was there; behind the shrub to be precise. Yet they ignored her and went on with their discussion.
"The King wants you to be in charge of the Silver Moon Pack. Now the future of the Silver Moon Pack is in your hands." Cillian said.
"I understand. Let the General know I would like to hold a meeting with him, just the two of us, tomorrow hopefully" Gideon said
"Yes, Your Highness" Cillian replied.
"You're dismissed"
Cillian left the garden and dismissed all the guards in and around the garden, leaving only Gideon and Janelle in the garden. When Gideon could no longer smell anyone apart from Janelle, he asked;
"How long do you plan to hide behind the shrub?"
Janelle knew she's been sniffed out and there was no need for her to keep hiding. Feeling awkward, she slowly stood up.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I never intended to" Janelle apologized.
"I know. I'm glad you didn't try to escape because who knows what would have happened" Gideon replied wearing an annoying smile.
Janelle suddenly felt relieved for listening to her instincts, it was undoubtedly a trap meant for her. Gideon couldn't resist the urge to touch her, when she stood in front of him with head bowed. Her white hair was fascinating, yet Gideon knew it wasn't the reason why he so badly wanted to touch her. It was the bond. The mate bond was at work! He didn't stop himself from touching her and touched her head. Playing with her hair, he slowly moved his hand along the edge of her left jaw, until he reached her chin. He slightly pushed her chin up, having Janelle's eyes look at him.
Janelle felt like screaming when Gideon touched her. She wanted to curse and fight him yet she could do none because she was only a slave.
Gideon, knew the mate pull worked on both of them but it was their choice whether to fall in love or not and he knew better than anyone, Janelle hated him. One thing she didn't know was, the feeling was mutual. He won't waste a second to humiliate her.
"Undress" Gideon said, when her eyes met his.