Ella’s

The air in the room felt tight and heavy. It smelled like the cheap wine and greed of my adoptive parents. I stood in the middle of our small, cramped living room. My hands were clenched into tight fists at my sides. My heart was hammering so hard against my ribs that I thought it might actually burst.

“I do not want to marry him!” I yelled. My voice cracked as the sound echoed off the peeling wallpaper. “You cannot make me do this!”

My adoptive mother, Carol, shot up from her wooden chair. Her eyes were blazing with a mean light. Before I could even move to defend myself, her fingers tangled deep in my hair. She yanked my head back so hard that my scalp felt like it was on fire.

I gasped for air. I felt my breath catch in my throat as she dragged me closer to her. Her face was only inches from mine, and her breath smelled sour.

“You do not have a say in anything, Ella,” she hissed at me. “You will marry the Alpha whether you like it or not. Do you think you are too good for a man like him? You are absolutely nothing.”

She shoved me away with all her strength. I stumbled back and hit the wall hard. My knees were shaking, but I forced myself to stand up straight. I glared at her and my adoptive father, Gerald. He was sitting in his chair, looking at me with cold and unyielding eyes.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I asked. My voice was trembling with both rage and hurt. “What did I ever do to deserve this? Why are you selling me like I am just an object?”

Gerald stood up slowly. His movements were deliberate. His heavy boots made a thudding sound against the creaky floorboards. He crossed the room in three quick strides and slapped me across the face.

The sting of the blow exploded across my cheek. I tasted the copper flavor of blood where my lip had split open.

“You should feel grateful,” he snarled. He pointed a thick, dirty finger at my face. “You should be grateful that the Alpha even wants a low-ranking nobody like you. Do you think a girl like you would ever find real love? We have fed you and clothed you since you were a brat. How dare you try to defy us now?”

I blinked back my tears. I refused to let them fall in front of these people. My cheek throbbed with pain, but I forced a bitter laugh.

“I know I am not your real daughter,” I said. My voice was low but steady. “But you want me to marry a man who is broken? Why doesn’t Mara marry him instead if he is such a great prize?”

A sharp, cruel laugh cut through the room. My adoptive sister, Mara, was leaning against the doorway. She had her arms crossed and a smug smirk on her lips. She walked over to me, her boots clicking loudly on the floor. She stopped so close that I could smell her fake floral perfume.

“For a low-rank like you, Ella, you sure are brave to say my name,” she said. Her voice was full of mockery. “You are nothing but a stray we dragged in from the street.”

Before I could say a word, Mara’s foot lashed out. She kicked my leg out from under me. I hit the floor hard, and a sharp pain shot through my knees. She grabbed my arm and yanked me up. Her nails dug deep into my skin.

“The Queen is offering good money for you,” she spat. “Real money. Do you think we would let that much cash go to waste? No way. You are marrying the Alpha.”

She turned to her parents with a smug look on her face. “We need to take her to the Queen now. We already accepted the payment. We have to deliver the goods.”

My stomach twisted. I felt bile rising in my throat. I was just a transaction to them. A deal had been sealed behind my back. I wanted to scream or run away, but Carol’s grip on my arm was too tight. Gerald’s glare kept me in place.

“Get her to the car,” Gerald growled. “We are done talking.”

They did not give me a chance to fight back. Carol and Mara dragged me outside. The cold night air bit at my skin through my thin shirt. The gravel crunched under my feet as they shoved me into the back of their rusted pickup truck. Mara sat beside me, still smirking, while Gerald drove.

The drive was a blur of dark trees and green leaves. My mind was racing, looking for a way to escape. But I knew the truth. I was a low-ranking werewolf. No one in the pack would ever help me.

We pulled up to the Queen’s mansion. It was a massive fortress made of stone and timber. It looked giant against the dark sky. Torches lined the path to the entrance, their flames flickering in the wind. The guards at the gate did not even look at us. They just waved us through.

My legs felt like lead as Mara pushed me out of the truck. Her hand was clamped around my wrist like a metal shackle. We walked through a long hall with marble floors. The walls were covered in portraits of old Alphas. My bare feet felt the cold stone, and I shivered.

At the end of the hall, the Queen sat on a dark wooden throne. Her presence filled the entire room. She had silver hair and eyes that looked like cold chips of ice. We all dropped to our knees. Carol, Gerald, and Mara did it easily, but I only did it because I had no choice.

“Is this the girl?” the Queen asked. Her voice was smooth and very cold.

Carol nodded her head quickly. “Yes, Your Majesty,” she said in a fake, sweet voice. “This is Ella. She is honored to serve the Alpha. She is very happy to be here.”

The Queen looked at me. I felt the weight of her stare. “Are you happy, child?” she asked. Her voice was a bit softer, but still dangerous.

I looked at my adoptive parents. Their glares were as sharp as knives. They were warning me to stay quiet. My throat felt tight, but I forced a small smile. “Yes,” I whispered. “I am happy.”

The Queen nodded. “Very well,” she said. “Bring my son.”

A servant ran off to get him. The room became very silent. Then, I heard the sound of slow, heavy wheels on the marble floor.

He entered the room, and my heart stopped. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. He had a sharp jawline, dark hair, and deep green eyes. He was wearing an expensive black suit that made him look powerful.

But he was sitting in a wheelchair. His legs were covered by a thick blanket, and his expression was completely blank. He didn't look at me. He didn't look at anyone. He looked like a man who had lost his soul.

“This is Noah,” the Queen said. “He was the strongest Alpha we had until the accident. Now, he needs a wife to care for him. He needs someone who will not complain about his condition.”

Noah’s eyes flickered for a second, looking toward me. They were sharp, intelligent, and filled with a cold, hidden anger.

My stomach dropped. This was the man I was supposed to marry. A fallen king who looked like he hated the entire world.