"We can't keep harboring you, Riley. You're old enough to take care of yourself and it will be best if you leave now."

Nothing shocked me more than hearing Beatrice tell me that a few days ago. She was the head of the orphanage center that I grew up in. The same orphanage center that raised me since I was a kid after my parents died. Except now they can't afford to keep taking care of me.

Like every other day since I was forced to leave the orphanage center, I find myself walking around aimlessly in search of a job or something to sustain me. This was the harsh reality of life I was made to go through now.

My legs are weary already from the long walk and I was sweating profusely. I couldn't stop though. I just couldn't. But the sudden sound of my stomach rumbling brought me to the realization that I still haven't had anything to eat all day.

It is at that time that I catch sight of a place where people were trooping into. The aroma of cooked food coming from that direction hits my nostrils and I know I have hit a jackpot.

Quickly I begin to walk in the direction of where the supposed event was taking place and I sight two huge men in corporate wears guarding the entrance.

I didn't even care about them as I moved to enter until one of them uses an arm to block me from going in.

"No card, no entry," he announces and then pushes me aside.

There was no way I could fight my way through two hefty men like this. I just have to figure something out because this looks like my only chance at having something to eat today.

Ten minutes later, I was inside the event. And it wasn't through the entrance. Let's just say I have a pretty good skill at climbing my way through scaled fences.

This location seems to be packed. Obviously they were having some kind of high class event judging from the expensive wears a lot of them have on. But that's not my business. My business here is to fill my hungry stomach and that's what I set myself to do. Surely they won't mind an extra hand.

"Give me this, and this, and that," I say cheerfully to the caterers in charge of the meal after I approach them and they do as I requested, filling a dish up in no time.

I couldn't contain my excitement when I'm finally handed the plate. And as I walked away from there after shoving a spoonful into my mouth, I didn't fail to notice the weird stares I received from the caterers. Who cares?

Instead of finding a place to sit so I can enjoy my meal, I decide to have a view of my environment.

Maybe I shouldn't have done that because I somehow noticed how literally everyone around was either making out with the opposite sex or looking like they're about to get laid. How didn't I notice this when I first got in?

Amidst the whole erotic showdown going on around, what caught my interest was a particular man who didn't look like he was going to participate in whatever was happening. His expression was stoic but he had his eyes fixated on me like he could see deep within my soul.

To my surprise, the man walks over to me.

He doesn't say anything for a long while, but instead keeps staring at me with those eyes that looked like he yearned for something.

I can't really explain what his expression depicts but it had this longing in them. More like he wanted me. I could swear that I was feeling a bit aroused and uncomfortable at the same time.

"As much as I hate doing this, I'll just say it," he pauses. "You're my mate."

My face is instantly lit up with confusion. "Come again. Is this your attempt at flirting?" I have to ask.

He finally responds to my question: "Look, I'll give you the option of accepting or rejecting the bond now. Let me know where I stand from this moment."

I'm still not on the same page with him which is why I ask in my still confused state: "What bond?"

He looks a bit frustrated at this point but I should be more frustrated knowing I have no damn clue what's going on here.

That didn't faze me though as I calmly said, "I don't even know what you're talking about."

For a while he says nothing. He just stares as if scrutinizing me. The longing in his eyes was still there, and this time more sensual than before.

When he takes a step closer to me, I respond by taking one backward.

"I think I get it now," he finally speaks. "You're human." He says the last word with a bit of disgust attached to it. Makes me wonder if he's crazy or something.

"Aren't we all?" I ask. "Aren't you?"

"There's obviously a lot you don't understand."

"Am I supposed to understand that a crazy man has been asking me questions and talking about weird stuff that makes no sense? Or am I supposed to understand that there's a lot of kissing going on around here?"

I expected a good response to my supposed confrontation. Instead I get a much weirder response.

"Come with me."

"Well I don't want to talk to you again. In short, I'm leaving. You can have this place to yourself."

"I'm sorry but you're not."

That is when I see him gesture with his hand. Almost at the same time did two men begin to walk toward us from both sides, building up an unknown fear in me.

From the corner of my eyes I begin to plan an escape route. But I'm not able to come up with anything as those the man signaled to were already coming toward me.

The men charge at me so I quickly defend myself by throwing my plate of food at them, slowing them down for a bit while I seize the chance to run out of this place for good. And as I do, I could feel them hot on my heels.

I didn't let the fear of the fact that I was being chased down overwhelm me as I swayed past different bodies. And when I thought I had finally found a route out of here, I found myself bumping hard into someone, sending me crashing to the ground.

When I look up, I am surprised to see it's the strange man that I bumped into. How did he get here so fast?

I was surrounded now and I knew there was no way out of this for me. I have to resign to my fate while hoping he doesn't hurt me.

In a trembling voice, I ask, "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing. But until you accept or reject the bond between us, you are mine," He then looks toward his men. "Take her!"