AZALEA
I make my way down the corridor towards the Alpha King's quarters. I'm excited to see what he's gotten me. I quickly arrive at the room, and even though it is heavily protected, the guards let me in. When I walk in, the room is dark, but after groping around in the darkness, I find the light switch and turn it on. The room lights up, and that’s when I see it—a red box on the king-sized bed.I approach the box and pick it up, excitedly biting my bottom lip. I eagerly unwrap the red wrapper until only a tiny black velvet box remains. I carefully open it, and my heart leaps at the sight of a stunning ruby necklace.I gently place the box on the bed, taking small steps towards the nearest mirror. I put the jewelry around my neck. It complements my porcelain skin and chocolate hair.I take up the box and set the necklace inside before leaving the room to go to mine.As I dash down the hall and into my room, I throw the package on my bed, grab a towel, and run into my small bathroom to shower.The shower is quick, and I'm soon standing in front of my mirror in black jeans and a blue t-shirt, my semi-damp hair in a loose ponytail. I wrap the jewelry around my neck again, giddy with delight at how lovely it looks against my flesh.This is stunning, but it would be prohibitively pricey. Still, I must thank Alpha Hunt for this gift.I leave my room and skip down the hallway, rounding a turn to reach his office's large black mahogany door. I raise my hand, preparing to knock, when I hear hushed whispers, and I freeze instantly.I hear Landon's anxious voice, and my interest is quickly awakened. I press against the door, eager to catch up on this conversation."I can't believe you right now, Dad. Are you asking me to be kind to her when you already know I can't stand the sight of her? Is it your intention to drive me insane? Because if so, you’re doing a damn great job.”At his words, my heart sinks. I know it's a bad idea to give him another chance.Alpha Hunt's lethal snarl sends chills down my spine. "Landon, how stupid can you be? I expected you to be smarter than this, as the future Alpha of this pack and my son, but you aren't. The only thing that exists in your mind is how to get laid. I have my motives for telling you to accept her as your mate, in case you haven't noticed, you fool."His motives? What on earth is he on about?Landon's flare-up interrupts my thoughts. "Oh, yes? So spill the beans because I am completely unconvinced and angry with you.""Open your brain and ears to the story I'm about to tell you, and so help me if you fucking misbehave again.” Alpha Hunt sighs, clearing his throat.What on earth is Alpha Hunt talking about? I lean in closer. A chill runs down my spine, and the horrible feeling from earlier returns."When I discovered Azalea nineteen years ago, she was just a baby wrapped in a thick fur blanket, with the body of a pale woman lying next to her. A locket on a silver chain was in her death grip. I moved in closer and picked up the locket... it appeared to be quite expensive, and underneath it were the initials, K.S.”I take a breather. This tale was never conveyed to me by Alpha Hunt. If I ask him about my childhood, he tells me I am the sole survivor of a rogue attack on my clan. This story has been fed to my ears for years, so what the heck am I hearing now?"You know what 'K.S' stands for?" Alpha Hunt goes on. "This is King Silverman. That meant the woman on the floor was the supposed new Luna of the Alpha king, Queen Jade, and the baby was the new pup everyone in the realm was talking about. I opened the locket to confirm my suspicions, and there was a picture of the King standing lovingly with his wife, who was holding a newborn in her arms. Behind the image was a small note that read, 'property of Azalea Silverman.' So now you have it, Azalea Silverman is that Alpha king's daughter." I slump backward as he finishes, and the room falls silent.To say I'm surprised is an understatement. This astounding discovery has left me stunned and speechless. I was born into royalty? I am not a weak wolf or Omega, as I've been led to think for years. My father is a powerful Alpha king, and my mother is no longer alive. I can't believe what I'm hearing."Rumors of an assassination attempt on King Silverman drove him to flee for his life. He most likely sent his wife and child to flee, but she did not survive. Some think he's dead, while others think he's still alive. The council, as a major party, has refused to hold an election for a new monarch, and the Alphas of various packs are not happy with this. As a result, whoever discovers ruler Silverman's lost ring, which serves as the royal seal, will be anointed the Alpha ruler of all the werewolf territories."I can hear Landon's skeptical scoff. "And where are you going with this? I do not understand this story."Alpha Hunt growls again fiercely, pounding his massive hand against the table. "I told you to open your brain and ears; don't get me any angrier than I am. Can't you see the connection between two and two? If Azalea is truly King Silverman's daughter, it implies that I can use her connection to his blood to find the King. If I can track him down, I'll murder them both, seize the ring, and become the Alpha king. We'd be unstoppable and the most powerful wolves in the area. Do you not get this, Landon?"His confession nearly causes my heart to burst. Alpha Hunt isn't being friendly to me because he has a good heart or is a fair man. No! He's using me because he has dark motives. I am only a pawn in his quest to become the most potent Alpha King in the entire werewolf community. Oh my goodness, I’ve been so foolish.How could I have been so naive?Landon's defeated sigh fills the room, startling me from my reverie. "So you want me to pretend to be in love with her while you put your plan into action?""Yes!" Alpha Hunt half yells. “You're now using your nuggets. Consider yourself a man, son. That's the essence." His tone reflects his satisfaction."And how long do you plan on this charade going on, huh?""Long enough till she helps find her father." Alpha Hunt reacts. "Then we can dispose her as quickly as we found her."Damn! I am foolish, and while I listen to their ongoing discourse, my heartbeat thumps violently. My eyes well up with tears as I wait for Landon to say anything.I hear him sigh again, and he says. "Fine. Fine. I'll do it."As Landon delivers his decision, my jaw hangs wide, and the worst of my fear returns.They're going to murder me...Alpha Hunt will kill me and my father if they find him alive. I can't believe that all these years of him being good to me were a ruse. I am nothing to him. I'm just a ticket to power.With tears streaming down my cheeks, I sniff and start running to my room, not stopping until I'm safe inside. As I shut the door, I drop to the ground.What is going on with me? What have I done to deserve all of this? They don't want me to be here... I'm not supposed to be here. So, with all of this knowledge, what is the point of remaining in this hell?As a notion crosses my thoughts, I sniffle, wiping the tears that have stained my cheeks.If they believe I'm a moron, they are mistaken. I will show Alpha Hunt that Azalea Silverman is more than meets the eye. I'm going to stomp on his cruel scheme and completely demolish it. I'm not going to let him use me the way he wants. He will not see my father, and he will not have me.So, with this resolution in mind, I get myself up off the floor, straighten for a few moments, and smirk at my unexpected decision.I'm going to look for my father. I'm unsure where or how I'll look for him, but I won't sit back and let these people decide my fate. Our fate. I'll go to the ends of the planet if necessary, but there's one thing I must do first.Run! I have to Run!AZALEA'Run, Azalea, run. Don't ever look back.' This sentence echoes as I move discreetly and try to blend into the darkness. It's nearly 4 a.m., and I'm taking advantage of the early morning hours to escape. I pray my timing is correct since the last thing I want to do is run into the castle's security.I rush down the long row of buildings, avoiding the dense wall of shrubbery that leads to the garage. I quickly arrive and dash inside the dark room, grabbing my cell phone and putting on the flashlight. All I have to do now is find Landon's car, and the rest will be history.Earlier, it appeared that the stars aligned in my favor because, as I was preparing to flee, I discovered Landon's keys on the dining table. It's not surprising that he'd forgotten it there — he is always so careless. No one else was nearby, so I stole the keys discreetly. I soon notice his shining black Ferrari, and I run towards it, gently sliding in the keys while looking around to see if anyone is approa
AZALEA 'You've been purchased to become my Alpha's surrogate.' Purchased? Slave-trader? Surrogate. None of the words make sense, but then again, I am in an unfamiliar room. My mouth falls open in surprise as I stare at the stranger, whose name I now know as Donovan, and I hold back my words. But the earnestness in his eyes tells me he's not bluffing at all. He is dead serious. And I'm scared shitless. I should sprint towards the door. I should scream as well. Maybe someone would hear and come to my rescue. But I know better. Doing all those things would be a complete waste of my time because this is his territory. I'm alone with this man—the Beta of a pack I've never heard of, and from his fierce features and stoic stance, I know he'll have no issue subduing me. He’s stronger than me and can snap my neck in a second if necessary. A chill runs down my spine. "I…You’re joking, right?” I ask, the question spilling from my mouth before I can stop it. There is complete silence—an uns
ALPHA ANDRAS"If I complete this surrogacy deal, will you let me go?" The girl asks again, a little less confident this time, and I clench my teeth.My wolf begins to emerge due to her arrogance, and I look at her, puzzled as to how someone so small could be so daring. Daring enough to challenge an Alpha who has dominated werewolf packs for years. Brave enough to question me. Me?! Nobody, not even other Alphas or Betas, dares to disagree with me or query my decisions. But now I'm being interrogated by a petty woman who isn't even royalty! A woman who is now at my mercy. As I irritably rake my hands through my hair, my wolf stirs within me again, restless and agitated, questioning her stubbornness, and I'm discreetly reminded of the gory reason I'm here in the first place. I stare at her, my jaw clenched, and my mind wanders back to the day I made the most crucial decision of my life. The day I accepted Jenna as my Luna, my first love. Our mating rite was performed years ago, and our
AZALEA After an hour, we reach our destination, and here I am, staring blankly at my new home - Alpha Andras' Moonheart pack. When he first introduced himself as an Alpha, I never thought I’d attach the title to his name. But when I'd asked a simple question, and he'd tugged my hair so hard I thought I'd become bald, I saw I shouldn't have doubted any of his statements.Landon and Riley used to be the meanest individuals I'd ever met, but now I know better.My thoughts return to the incident at the motel. Not only was I chained like a prisoner, but I was also bundled and thrown into a car full of hulking guards three times my size! The recollections send shivers up my spine. I have no idea what will happen to me now because Alpha Andras has made it apparent that he will not let me go. And I shake a little more as his words replay in my head.'You are now mine, in spirit, soul, and body.' In a day, I went from being the mate of a cruel prince to a runaway wolf and now a breeder for
AZALEAEvening comes sooner than I expected, and I'm in my room with the Luna Queen, whom I now know as Jenna.She's doing a great job reminding me of who and what I am in this place. "You're just a surrogate in the making.""A breeder owned by Alpha Andras and the entire Moonheart pack."“Consider yourself fortunate to have been picked. Most female werewolves your age would take this offer without hesitation."'Most female werewolves would take this offer without hesitation?' The ironic comment makes me scoff internally. An offer for which I will receive nothing in return but suffer the most? I respectfully disagree. I attempt to remain calm as she speaks, but her words and the rude attitude accompanying them irritate me! And I can't stop screaming in my head. 'I understand my role. I fucking understand it. I don't need you or anyone else to remind me!’One thing I must acknowledge, though, is how gorgeous Jenna is, even if her face looks awful when she frowns. I wish she would smi
AZALEA‘YOUR DUTY BEGINS TONIGHT.' At first, I thought my ears were playing tricks on me, but when I looked at Jenna's face and saw how serious she was, I knew she meant exactly what she said. I'd heard her remarks clearly, and that was the end of it. "What! Why?" I'm unsure how I manage to say such words, but they come out. My heart is racing, and I can feel my wolf stirring restlessly. "You dare question me?" I shrink backward as she deadpans, her eyes glowering at me. "I apologize, ma'am. I…I… I had no idea I'd be starting the duty tonight." I stammer, unsure of my responsibilities. "We need a baby from you as soon as possible." She disregards my apology and continues in a more solemn tone than before. "As much as the thought of sharing Andras with another woman, one who's also a fugitive, irks me to the core and makes me want to vomit, I have no choice." I swallow, my gaze never leaving hers. I noticed she hadn't finished her speech. She clenches her teeth, and her eyes fla
ALPHA ANDRAS"Strip!"The petite lady in front of me looks at me with fear, but she does as I command. As she strips, my wolf stirs within me, and a weird surge of need envelops me, making me feel things I've never felt before for any woman. Not even for Jenna.I should kick her out of the room since I'm not in the mood for any sexual hijinks, no matter what Jenna wants, but I can't bring myself to do it. As I analyze the intense and strange feelings that the sight of her half-naked body elicits in me, she keeps stripping, and I can't help but look. Fuck! I'm already hard. Her breasts are an excellent medium ground, neither too little nor too huge - they are simply the perfect size. I imagine myself holding them. They'd be comfortable in my hands. Fuck! I swallow hard and attempt to close my eyes, but I can't. Instead, my gaze moves down her chest, tracing the smoothness of her tummy down to the line of her hips, and an uncontrollable moan of need escapes my lips.With a primordial
AZALEA When I tell Alpha Andras that I'm a virgin, he pushes himself away from me and gets out of bed. He begins to pace restlessly around the room, wrapped in his robe, and I can see the searing wrath in his eyes. It frightens me. It shakes me to my core. I'm not sure what he's thinking, but from the looks of it, it's not good. Occasionally, his face would curl into a grimace, and I'd hear him scoff nearly instantly. He's also oblivious to his surroundings, so engrossed in his seething thoughts that he wonders aloud."Why would Jenna keep something as important as this away from me?"A brief pause. Then he turns to confront me, his voice thunderous. "Did Jenna know you were a virgin!""Yes." My voice is hardly loud, but he hears me.Another pause follows, this time stretching into an unpleasant silence. Then he growls and strikes his right-hand fist into the nearby wall."Jenna knew you were a virgin, and she insisted on us having sex tonight. What the fuck?!”It's on my tongue to