Etizia’s POV
A flock of birds took flight, following their instincts.
As the night wore on, the sky became overcast.
The moon was hidden behind the clouds, unable to illuminate the dark forest.
When the clouds dispersed, the light shone through. Before me stood a massive black wolf with fiery red eyes.
I held back a groan as I witnessed the wolf pounce on the bear. "Grr," it growled, issuing a low warning.
The injured beast panted beneath its weight, in imminent danger of a deadly bite.
I blinked, tears welling up and a sob escaping me.
Only then did the wolf slowly raise its head, its eyes flickering.
The magnificent creature was unfamiliar, yet I could recognize it in an instant.
‘He is the Alpha King. My mate.’
I took a shallow breath, feeling a surge of fear coursing through my body, causing me to tremble.
Darn it. I had managed to escape, but now I found myself caught once again.
There seemed to be no way out of this situation.
As I desperately crawled backwards, trying to evade the merciless king, something struck me from behind, and everything went dark.
I gasped loudly when I finally opened my eyes.
To my surprise, I found myself in a room instead of the forest.
"What happened?" I questioned, hoping for answers.
Even my loyal wolf, Genivie, had no clue about what had transpired.
"Ugh," I winced, feeling the pain at the back of my head.
I suddenly remembered that someone had hit my head in the forest, causing me to lose consciousness. But wait, didn't I encounter the Alpha King before that?
As I glanced around the enormous room, my eyes widened. The lavish design made me realize that I must have been brought to the Alpha King's residence.
Feeling a mix of emotions, I lowered my head and tightly gripped the blanket in my hands. The Alpha King had saved me from the bear, but that didn't automatically guarantee my happiness. What sets him apart from the bear?
"Are you awake?" a voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned my head and saw a man with blonde hair. Although he was smiling, I could sense that he wasn't the friendly type.
"The Alpha King had to leave because he had some important tasks to attend to. So, he asked me to greet you on his behalf," the man explained. "I'm Beta Dominic. It's a pleasure to meet you, our future Luna." He nodded his head respectfully and placed his hand over his heart.
I was taken aback by the level of respect shown towards me. In my Pack, no one had ever dared to be kind to me.
Feeling doubtful, I asked, "Where am I?"
"Well, you are currently in the Alpha King's castle," he replied.
"Did the Alpha King bring me here?" I questioned.
"Yes, he brought you here after finding out that you had attempted to escape," he revealed.
Those words sent a chill down my spine. I swallowed nervously and looked at him once again. "Was it my father? Did my father inform the Alpha King about my escape?"
"No," he replied. "The Alpha King was aware that there was a chance his mate might flee after getting the letter. That's why he decided to pay you an unexpected visit. Isn't that exciting?"
What I felt went beyond being thrilled. It was absolutely terrifying.
At the same time, I was taken aback by the sight of my mate's magnificent wolf. Its black fur shimmered under the moonlight, and its red eyes resembled sparkling rubies rather than blood.
I tried to convince myself that these intense emotions were simply a result of our bond. There was no way I could ever fall in love with someone like him.
"Unfortunately, you have no choice but to accept the marriage," the Beta interrupted my thoughts. "If you think you can escape from here, think again. This castle is heavily guarded compared to the house you left behind. The Alpha's residence is nothing compared to the security of my Alpha King's castle."
I clenched my teeth as my stomach churned with unease.
"Tomorrow is the wedding day," he informed me. "I will send maids to assist you with bathing and provide you with food. Please rest well. That's what the Alpha King wanted me to convey to you."
I tilted my head and raised my brows.
Is he serious?
“The Alpha King really said that?” I asked.
Known for his evil and selfish nature, it was hard to believe that he would relay such a sweet message to me.
"Well, the actual words were: 'We will get married tomorrow.' Then he just left after saying that. As someone who has served as his Beta for many years, I believe he wanted me to tell you to rest and relax before the wedding," he explained.
I knew it. There was no way that the evil man would actually care for me.
"Do you have any more questions?" he asked, giving me a chance to speak.
Taking a deep breath, I voiced my concerns, "I'm not as pretty as my sister, and I have the blood of an Omega. I was rejected by a cursed rogue before, and even though I have my wolf, I haven't fully transformed yet. If I tell all of this to the Alpha King, do you think he might reject me?"
The Beta flashed me a smile, but his words were icy when he declared, "THE ALPHA KING’S DECISION TO MARRY YOU IS FINAL."
Those words echoed in my mind throughout the entire night.
As the sun rose the next morning, the day of the wedding had arrived.
Etizia's POVThe big day had finally arrived. I stood in front of the mirror, gazing at myself in the wedding gown."Ha!" I couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh. "Wow, I'm actually going to marry the Alpha King."I hadn't even seen his face when he wasn't in his wolf form. Not that I was expecting a handsome husband or anything. I just wasn't thrilled about the whole situation."Isn't she unlucky?" I heard a voice coming from the door.I narrowed my eyes at the door, where two maids were standing guard."Yeah, marrying the Alpha King might make her powerful, but there's a rumor going around that he's incredibly hideous. That's why he wears a golden mask to hide his face, right?"The Alpha King wears mask?That's the first time I've heard that.Intrigued, I approached the door and pressed my ear against it."It's not just a rumor. They say that anyone who lays eyes on the Alpha's face dies instantly.""Does he have a curse?""No. He kills them."I gasped silently, covering my mo
Etizia’s POVIt's official. I've become the new Luna of the Alpha King's Pack, and tonight marks our first night together."Can I come in, Luna Etizia?" the maid asked."Sure, come on in," I responded reluctantly.Hany, the maid, entered the bathroom holding a dress in her hands. "I've brought the dress you'll be wearing tonight."I glanced at the seductive nightgown she held. "Just put it aside for now. I'll wear it later.""The Alpha King wanted me to let you know that he's starting to get bored waiting for you," she said.My fingers twitched. I hugged myself and muttered, "I'll be finished with my bath soon."The maid nodded and replied, "I'll be waiting for you outside the bathroom."As the maid left, I let out a sigh. I couldn't believe I had to serve a husband whom I didn't even love.But there’s nothing I can do.I finished my bath and then I slipped into the crimson fabric that the maid had given me. As I gazed into the mirror, my eyes of warm amber fluttered open, while my ha
Etizia’s POVI let out a gasp as his hand yanked me down.My cheek landed on the soft pillow, and my body jolted. My mind went blank for a moment. Fear crept in as I imagined the worst.Alpha Nox is my mate. His scent captivated me, and my body craved him. But that's where it ended. I never imagined giving myself to someone I didn't love.Yet, I'm just an Omega. What chance do I have against the Alpha's hold?So, when Alpha Nox pulled me onto the bed and positioned himself on top of me, I resigned myself to my unfortunate destiny.‘I just have to close my eyes and endure it all,’ I whispered before shutting my eyes.But then…"Since you made me wait, your punishment is to sleep beside me all night."My husband's deep voice echoed in my ear.As I opened my eyes, I noticed him shifting slightly away.His face was so close to mine, and even behind the mask, I could see the intensity in his dark red eyes akin to a deep wine. The mask couldn't conceal his strong jawline, highlighting his r
Etizia’s POV In the Esquar Pack, I went through the worst. I couldn't eat to my heart's content, couldn't dress up nicely because my stepsister despised it, and was treated like the lowest of the low. I didn't expect my life in the Renoir Pack to be any different. But then, the maid informed me that Alpha Nox had commanded everyone to treat me like their Queen. I couldn't believe it. Why would a merciless Alpha King do such a thing? Could it be because I am his wife? His Luna? His mate? Is it possible for him to do this even without any love between us, but only a bond forged by the Moon Goddess? Days went by, and it dawned on me that Nox wasn't just joking around. "Luna, are you not enjoying the food? You barely touched anything else," the chef in the castle questioned me. I glanced at him and replied, "Oh, I love everything. I'm just too full. You really went all out with this feast. I can't possibly eat it all." "Thank goodness. I was worried my cooking wasn't up to par fo
Etizia’s POVThe first time I experienced love was after I ran away from home.After leaving Esquar Pack, I had to blend into human society. To support myself, I resorted to selling fruits in the market.One fateful day, a charming man approached me and confidently said, "You're an Omega, aren't you?"With just one glance, I could tell he was a werewolf."I've been wondering where that delightful scent was coming from. And it's you," the werewolf said, flashing an enticing smile.Although it was a brief encounter, that's how it all began.I fell head over heels for the handsome werewolf, who introduced himself as Timothy, a rogue residing in the forest.I thought I had finally found my happily ever after. However, Timothy eventually left me.“I found my mate, Etizia. I am sorry. I can’t be with you anymore,” Timothy said, hanging his head in sorrow.Crying, I held his hand and said, “You told me that you don’t care about the bond. That even if you found your mate, you’ll stay with me!
Etizia’s POV I took a deep breath and stood confidently in front of Timothy, with Nox by my side. It had taken a great deal of bravery for me to finally look up and meet his gaze. As I did, I noticed that Timothy's face mirrored my own expression; a strained attempt to remain composed. "Hello, Alpha King," Timothy's wife, a stunning woman, greeted us. Her words prompted Timothy and me to avoid each other's eyes. "It's been quite a while since I last visited," she said, her eyes locked onto mine. Her smile appeared pleasant, but it made me feel uneasy. "And now, I see the Luna. It brings me joy to return, doesn't it, Timothy?" Timothy remained silent, his gaze shifting downwards as he let out a sigh. To my surprise, it was my husband, Nox, who spoke up instead. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it? We just reunited after marrying our respective mates." Observing the two of them, I couldn't help but notice that their smiles didn't quite reach their eyes. They appeared far from ha
Etizia’s POV In the dining hall of the Alpha King’s castle, my heart raced like a horse in full gallop. This was the first time I sat down to dine with my husband and to add to the tension, my ex-boyfriend and his wife were also present. Thankfully, only my ex and I were aware of our shared history. I noticed Timothy stealing glances at me from across the table. To avoid any suspicion from Nox, I kept my gaze fixed elsewhere. As the dishes arrived, I was bewildered to spot my favorites. Was it just a coincidence? ‘There’s no way my husband prepared my favorite foods while knowing that,’ I pondered, glancing at his side profile. The four of us sat in a heavy silence as we began to eat, the only noise coming from the clinking of silverware. In the quiet atmosphere, I glanced around at the group. Clearly, nobody was interested in engaging in conversation over the meal. That’s when my eyes settled on Timothy. ‘He told me he was a lone wolf, but he's actually the Alpha King's br
Etizia’s POV What will happen if Timothy and his wife decide to live here? I might live here with constant fear of getting caught. Although Timothy and I broke up, that won’t reassure me that my husband will be fine. I might really die when it happens. ‘Please. Don’t torment me any longer,’ I prayed to the Goddess of the Moon. My steps halted, and the hand that was intertwined with mine slipped away. My focus shifted from my deep contemplations to my husband. He guided me out of the dining area, and only then did I realize my surroundings. As I glanced around, we found ourselves in the garden. Without turning around, Nox expressed his gratitude, "I appreciate you accompanying me to welcome my guests." I gazed at his strong, broad shoulder. “But there's no need for that. I'll handle our guests," he said. Now that we're alone, it seems like he's dropped the act of being my loving husband. It was all just a show, after all. "I'll head back to my office," Nox muttered as he