Before my father left, he held me close and whispered, "You're special, Alma. Remember that always. When the time is right, you'll understand."

I nodded, trying to hold back tears. After the ceremony, he departed, leaving me in the care of the Blood Moon Pack.

I had no idea just how lonely and sad I would be until my father left.

I wonder how he would cope without me and my little brother. My mother abandoned us when I was just 5, and my brother was 2 years old. The departure of my mom made my dad even more lonely. I had planned to go in search of her soon until the marriage alliance. Will I ever get to find my mom or get to know the reason she left us?

☆☆☆☆

I expected to be taken to a luxurious room, but instead, I was led to a dark, dingy cell. It was damp, smelly, and hadn't been cleaned in ages. I can't believe this.

Trina, my personal maid, was furious. "This is unacceptable," she fumed. "We should refuse this alliance at once!"

But I knew it was impossible. The king's power and influence were too great. Plus, I'd seen his ruthless side earlier.

"Don't take it to heart, Trina. We'll survive."

"My lady, we might be from a small pack, but at least we live in a comfortable environment." Trina complained bitterly. "You are an Alpha's daughter, married to a king. How dare they treat you like some prisoner?" Trina lashed out.

I was mad as well concerning this ill treatment, but I don't have a choice. I have to find out the reason I was chosen. There must be a catch, that's for sure. In my thoughts, my mind drifted to the man who defended my father earlier. He left way before I could get to thank him. During the marriage ceremony, he was never on site.

Why was I thinking of him even now? It's not like I've seen his face. I want to thank him for standing up for us. But at the same time, I knew what I wanted most was to see what he looked like.

I won't deny the fact that I find him attractive; even my wolf was taken off balance by his presence.

At night, Trina tried to make do with the little supplies we were given. She lit the fire to make the room warm so I could sleep when we suddenly heard a sharp knock on the door.

We both took our gaze swiftly to the door, which was instantly pushed open to reveal no one else but Alpha Lucas. He looked calm and collected, but I was terrified. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Lucas was not drop-dead handsome but had a tall frame, was a little muscular, had short brown hair, had an oval face, and had brown eyes with a tattoo on the left side of his face that made him look even more dangerous. I guess he still has what it takes to capture the females, but not me. He's so not my type at all.

One glance at Trina, and I noticed she was almost on the verge of peeing her pants.

"Trina, it's okay," I said through mindlink, and she hastily left the room.

Lucas approached me with a few strides, covering the distance between us.

He gazed in my eyes for a few seconds before finally taking his eyes down to the rest of my body.

Well, I wasn't bad, with a long curly dark hair, dark eyes, and a shapely slender frame, I knew I made heads turn in my pack.

I hated how he was checking me out. He had the eyes of a pervert, I swear.

His stare felt like a physical weight, cold and leering, and it crawled over my skin like a disease.He seemed not to be seeing me as a person but as a prize. I hated the way he said my name, the way the syllables of "Alma" stretched out and lingered in the stale air of the tiny room.

"You're indeed a beauty to behold. "Good thing you met me," he muttered and suddenly grabbed a handful of my hair and sniffed like I was some flower. I hated this gesture of his, but I knew my greatest card right now was patience.

"Give me an heir," he commanded, the words a hammer blow, "and I will give you a luxurious room to sleep in."

The offer was so absurd, so cheap and insulting. It took a moment for my mind to process it. A room. A few gilded walls and a soft bed were all he thought a woman like me was worth? Was that all he believed I desired in life? That a luxurious cage could make up for the loss of my home, my pack, and my freedom? The thought was so demeaning it made my blood run cold, and I felt my wolf stirring inside me, snarling at the humiliation.

He moved even closer, but I took a step back, my heart pounding against my ribs, but his hand shot out and gripped my chin. "Don't be shy," he purred, his foul breath on my face. "I am the king. You will learn to enjoy this."

He moved to kiss me, but I twisted my head away with all the strength I could muster. His grip tightened, but I refused to let him. My defiance seemed to surprise him, and a shadow of anger crossed his face.

"Don't test me, little bitch!" he hissed. "I can have your pack destroyed with just one command." He leaned towards my ears, "Give in while I'm still being nice." His eyes were red with a predatory fire, but then, just as quickly, the fire faded. "I am tired now. The show can wait until tomorrow. But tomorrow," he said, his voice dropping to a low, chilling whisper, "you cannot escape."

That night, I barely slept. His threat hung over me like a suffocating shroud, and the thought of being trapped in this place was unbearable. I couldn't just sit in my room and wait for him to come for me. The walls felt like they were closing in, and my wolf's restlessness clawed at my insides.

"Alma, he makes me sick!" My wolf growled in frustration.

The next morning, driven by a need for fresh air, I found myself wandering toward the pack's training grounds. The sharp clang of steel on steel and sounds of gunshots were a far cry from the suffocating silence of my room. My wolf, so anxious just moments before, began to feel a pull, a strange sense of recognition.

It was there, in the midst of the chaos and sweat, that I saw him. Our saviour.

He was sparring with another soldier, his movements a blur of controlled power and effortless grace. His hair was dark, a stark contrast to Lucas's pale looks, and the way he moved spoke of strength, not cruelty. As he finished his match, his eyes swept the grounds and landed on me. The moment our gazes met, something within me clicked into place. It wasn't just my eyes that saw him; my wolf howled with recognition, a deep, primal song of belonging that echoed through my very soul. He was the one. My mate!