Chosen by the Alpha

 Chapter 1 

     Cassy stood in a line of wrapper-clad women, staring wide-eyed at the castle’s front with the rest of the women. Like them, she was bundled in a colorful wrapper like she was some gift to be offered to someone. She picked at the hem of the obscene material, feeling rather uncomfortable with the way her round bosoms jutted out of it and how it clung to every curve and corner of her body. She might have as well been naked.

    Cassy had no idea why she was there. She had awoken to her father’s howl of pain and her door had been knocked down by men she didn’t know, hadn’t met before. She had been hoisted and tossed over the shoulder of one of the men. Her parents had tried—not that they could do much against the men who had taken her. The power they exuded was nothing an Omega could fight against.

    If her father’s split lip was any indication of that little fact.

   She blinked back the tears that sprang to her eyes from the thought of it. She wondered how they were doing. Her father didn’t seem to have been faring well when the men had whisked her away. She could only hope they were fine. Hopefully, she’d be back home after this was done—whatever this was.

    The sun was at its Zenith and sweat beaded on Cassy’s brow as she stared ahead to the hallway where two men stood.  One of which she recognized as Alpha Lino. His auburn red hair gleamed in the sunlight and she couldn’t help but notice how much it looked like flames. His hazel-green eyes were dull and flat as he gazed upon them, searching for something. . .someone.

    The second man, a dark-haired male with dark eyes, came down the stairs and walked to them, handing each of them a tag painted with different colors.

     Cassy stared at the tag. Hers was an odd shade of green she had never seen before. Her eyes scanned the courtyard and Cassy couldn’t help but wonder what was happening. 

 What was the tag for? Why were they even here?

   The man then ordered the lady at the front of the line to step forward, raise her tag and turn around for assessment. The woman obeyed without question and Cassy noted the sway and swish of the woman’s hips as she did. The man then looked to Alpha Lino as if for approval, but Alpha Lino shook his head sideways, indicating that she wasn't the one he wanted.   Cassy still didn’t understand, but she watched each woman do the same until she was at the front of the line.

   Her hands grew clammy as she raised the tag and spun quickly in a perfect circle, vision blurring. She then raised her gaze in time to see Alpha Lino nod curtly to the man. Her eyes widened. He hadn’t nodded for the rest. Why her? What did that mean?  She was made to leave the line while the rest were sent away. She made to ask the man what was happening but he ordered, “Follow me.”

   Cassy's heart slammed hard against her ribcage, fear increasing with every step she took into the castle. Towards Alpha Lino’s looming figure. She swallowed and tried to calm her raging heart. It only seemed to beat even faster, especially when she realized he was looking at her. 

   They stopped before Alpha Lino and Cassy’s gaze dropped to the floor. She couldn’t hold the Alpha’s gaze.

    When he said nothing, she stole a quick glance at him and she saw that his eyes swept her body slowly in a rather disturbing way that left goosebumps on her arms. His eyes snagged on her generous bosoms that were nearly spilling out of the wrapper and they started to glow with unholy fire. His lips curved slightly and Cassy couldn’t tell if he was laughing or sneering.

    "Take her. Ensure she is ready," Alpha Lino stated and he left.

   The man inclined his head towards the hallway. "Come with me."

    Cassy strode after the man, and he led her to a room filled with ladies dressed in the same uniform. Maids.

  Some blatantly stared at her, some gave her hateful glares, and the rest acted as though she was invincible.

   “Get her ready,” The man said and walked from the room, leaving Cassy, who was confused and too nervous to understand what was going on.

    Before she could speak, she was pushed into the biggest bathroom she had seen. As if it weren’t enough, they started to loosen her hair from the knot she had braided it into the night before and proceeded to yank the wrapper off her.

    She snapped then, holding the piece of cloth to her body. “Don’t touch me! What is this?! What is happening?!”

   It was already a crazy day and from the moment she opened her eyes, the day had gone downhill. She wanted to push them off her but looking at them made her rethink it.

    One of the maids yanked her hair and she whipped her head around to growl at the maid, but someone was way ahead of her.

   “Stop that, Leah.” The older woman chided and turned to Cassy, giving them a small, warm smile. She held up the brush and motioned for Cassy to hand over the towel.

    Cassy eyed her skeptically. “Is this necessary? I can wash myself, you know.”

    The woman’s soft smile didn’t falter as she said, “We must bathe you in the Goddess’s Water of Fertility, to ensure conception. So, yes. It is necessary.”

  Cassy frowned. “To ensure conception?” She muttered to herself.

    The maid noted the confusion on Cassy’s face and her brows rose in surprise. “You do not know why you have been brought here?”

   Cassy shook her head.   A maid behind her snorted. "It is all a ruse. To play the fool. We have seen this before. Should she indeed be telling the truth, it is not your place to tell her anything, Jessica?”

   Cassy’s frown only deepened but she said nothing. Dread recoiled in her stomach and she swallowed. What. . .what was going on?

   "She does not look like she is telling a lie," Jessica said.

  "So you have said thrice now and you’ve had to kiss the ground beneath their feet. Work, Jessica!" The woman replied and that was that.