--Alyssa--A gentle knock echoed through the room, signaling Emily's arrival for our highly anticipated sleepover. I swung the door open to reveal her beaming face, her eyes shimmering with excitement. Without hesitation, she enveloped me in a warm hug, as if afraid that letting go would make me disappear into thin air.Her exuberant greeting elicited laughter from me, but I noticed a fleeting shadow cross her face, a hint of concern. With a reassuring smile, I silently conveyed that everything was alright, despite the complexities of my situation.Glancing discreetly towards the nearby guard, a stalwart figure stationed in the background, I was reminded of the delicate circumstances dictating my every move. Their watchful presence served as a constant reminder of the restrictions imposed upon me, but in Emily's company, those constraints felt momentarily lifted."It's true then, about the house arrest," Emily remarked softly, her embrace tightening briefly in empathy.I nodded in res
--Alyssa--Emily revealed to me the whirlwind of rumors swirling around, all centered on my relationship with the Alpha king. It seemed like everyone had an opinion—some wished they were in my shoes, while others pitied me, fearing the consequences of being mated to such a powerful figure.She recounted how the entire pack was effectively put on lockdown to prevent any word from leaking out about my whereabouts, all out of concern for my safety. This revelation left me astonished; I hadn't realized the extent to which my connection to the Alpha king had put me in the spotlight.Emily didn't hold back, sharing even the intimate details of my grandmother Dorothy's worry and tears upon hearing the news. Despite her attempts to downplay it, I could tell that my grandmother's concern ran deep.What surprised me most, though, was the revelation that the Alpha king hadn't treated my grandmother as harshly as everyone had expected. In fact, rumors suggested he even pleaded with her for inform
--Alyssa--As we huddled together in the dim light of my room, our voices lowered to conspiratorial whispers, the sudden interruption by Grandma's inquisitive voice caught us off guard. Her presence, though not unexpected, served as a reminder of the precariousness of our situation."What are you girls talking about?" she queried, her tone tinged with both curiosity and concern. I exchanged a quick glance with Emily, silently conveying the need for discretion."We're just catching up," I replied with a forced smile, hoping to assuage any suspicions that may have arisen. Grandma nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response, and bid us goodnight before retreating from the room.I couldn't shake the feeling that Grandma was hiding something from us, her attempts to mask her true emotions failing to go unnoticed. Beneath her facade of stoicism lay a deeper turmoil, one that left me uneasy and unsettled.Turning my attention back to my surroundings, I found myself drawn to the familiar glo
--Alyssa--I looked at the man standing in front of me. He didn’t have the typical guard vibe; instead, he exuded an air of royalty and authority. That was when it clicked – he was the Beta. Despite this realization, I didn’t bow or smile. I feigned innocence, pretending I hadn’t figured out his true identity.He simply smiled at me, seemingly unfazed by my demeanor. "I have a message from the king," he said, which piqued my curiosity. "He said to tell you that you will be leaving tomorrow afternoon."That was when I sprang up from the chair, anger bubbling up inside me. Why was the king not understanding that I did not want to go anywhere with him? Every fiber of my being rejected the idea of leaving with him."You can tell him that we have heard. We will prepare and then we will see you tomorrow," Grandma said calmly, but I knew she was lying to him. She wanted him to believe that we were complying with the king’s orders.I smiled inwardly, admiring how well Grandma was handling the
--Alyssa--It was already in the Evening, and Grandma had not packed anything of hers.“Grandma, we need to leave soon. Should I go and pack for you instead?” I asked with urgency. We had to leave.“No, I will do it,” she said, and I nodded, feeling a mix of frustration and concern.We had to leave now.“Grandma, if you’re not feeling well, I’ll do it for you,” I offered, taking a step towards her. She held my hand gently. “Don’t worry. I will do it,” she reassured me and got up from the chair. Grandma was behaving strangely. I was busy packing everything, including our food supplies, but she just sat there, watching TV as if we weren't in a rush to leave.I glanced out the window at the guards who were patrolling the outside. I had observed their routine since morning: they changed shifts every four houses, with a brief two-minute interval before they returned to their posts. We had exactly one hour and thirty minutes before their next shift, and that was our window of opportunity to
--Alyssa--In the shadows, there stood the Alpha King, staring right at me. That was when I knew that this was the end. I could never run away. The ominous presence of the Alpha King filled me with dread, making my knees weak and my heart pound uncontrollably. How did he know we were running? The question plagued my mind as I turned to look at Grandma. Her demeanor changed instantly; she became suspicious, and the guilt was unmistakably written all over her face.It all began to make sense. Why did she do this to me? Was this the reason she had resisted packing her things and pretended to be unwell? The betrayal stung deeply. Grandma, the one person I had always trusted and loved unconditionally, had sold me out. My chest tightened with grief and disbelief. She had always been my rock, my confidant, and now she was the one who led the Alpha King to us.She stared at the floor now, avoiding my gaze. Tears began to pour from my eyes, hot and bitter, as the reality of her betrayal sunk i
"What does protecting me have to do with this when you just endangered my life? Have you not heard what people say about him? His ruthlessness, his unforgiving personality, his need to repay people with evil. Do you want me to go on and on?" I said, my voice low and heartbroken. The betrayal and confusion I felt were almost too much to bear."I did it to protect you, Alyssa," she repeated, the same justification she had been giving since we came back home. Her words felt hollow, like a mantra she was trying to convince herself of as much as she was trying to convince me."Then explain to me how what you just did has protected me. You should have just left me with him," I said, turning away to look out the window. The view outside was a blur, my mind too preoccupied with the turmoil within to register anything else."You would be safer with him. He would protect you. Forget what everyone is saying about him; he can never hurt you," she insisted, but her words felt like they were meant
--Alyssa--It was already morning, and I had woken up at 2 a.m. to see if I could run away again, but what I saw shocked me. There was a guard stationed in front of my bedroom door and another beside my window. My heart sank as I realized escape was impossible.I had cried the entire night, leaving my eyes puffy and red. My tears were a mixture of frustration and helplessness. I had told Grandma not to come into my room again, so she had retreated to her own room, respecting my wish for solitude. This isolation, though self-imposed, only added to my sense of despair.It was now time to go, and the bags I had packed were being held by one of the Alpha King's maids. She had arrived early in the morning, introducing herself with a politeness that felt out of place given the circumstances. Her presence was a stark reminder of my lack of control over my own life. I was furious, but I kept my calm, knowing that anger would do nothing to change my situation.Outside, people were milling abou