Two

The whole hall fell silent as my words echoed in their ears.

The Alphas looked at me with rage and shock in their eyes.

The Alpha king himself looked at me with an expression I couldn't understand. But I didn't wait for him to speak.

No one had ever rejected a king and lived to tell the tale.

So, instead, I ran.

I ran without looking back. I ran to my house at the edge of the city, away from civilization, and I began to pack my things and my mother's things. It wouldn't take much time before my mother and I are found, so we had to hurry.

My mother lay on the bed, her eyes shut, and her fever was high. Dread filled my gut. How would I run away with my mother? I couldn’t just leave her here.

I lifted her frail body off the bed, and I hurriedly went to my neighbour's house.

"What?" My neighbour answered angrily.

"Please, help me hide my mother for a while. I'll do anything you ask." I pleaded, looking over my shoulder.

"Why?" She frowned, suspicious about my actions.

"I'll tell you. Just please help me."

She took my mum from my hands, and immediately they were settled, I turned into my wolf and ran towards the border.

The wind whistled in my ears as I raced through the forest. My wolf's instincts guided me, weaving through the dense trees and underbrush, taking me farther from the pack lands. My heart pounded with fear. What if they found my mother?

I had never defied an Alpha, let alone the Alpha King.

I had no idea what would happen if I was caught, and I didn't want to think about it, so I ran as fast as I could.

Behind me, the sounds of paws hitting the grass reached my ears.

Two big wolves emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with a predatory hunger. They were Alpha King Seth's enforcers, ruthless wolves known for their loyalty to the king.

I increased my speed, the sound of breaking twigs reaching my ears as they got closer.

"Naomi," one of them sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "You really thought you could run from the Alpha King?"

They must not get ahold of me. If they do…

I increased my speed, and then a root came out of nowhere from the forest floor, hidden by the shadows and the underbrush. In my desperate bid to escape, I didn't see it until it was too late.

My paw collided with the root, and I tumbled forward, my body crashing to the ground with a painful thud. Agony shot through me as I struggled to get back on my feet, but my leg wouldn't cooperate.

The enforcers closed in, their eyes gleaming with triumph. I was trapped, injured, and defenceless. I had run so far, only to be captured so close to my goal.

"So stupid!" One snarled at me, and before I could register what happened next, I was knocked out.

Consciousness returned to me in fragments. The first thing I became aware of was a dull throbbing in my head, followed by the sensation of being carried. My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself in a cold cage.

No, no no!

I tried to push the cage open but instead I found myself locked inside, my limbs weak and aching.

I strained to sit up, taking in my surroundings. The cage was small, barely enough room to move, and the cold metal floor sent shivers through my body. I could see the dark outlines of other cages nearby, but they appeared to be empty.

Panic surged through me as I realized the dire situation I was in. I was a captive, a prisoner of the Alpha King, and there was no escape.

Tears welled in my eyes and I sobbed. Today was supposed to be my day. The day I finally found my mate who would save me. Instead I ended being the King's mate.

What have I ever done to deserve this, moon Goddess? Making the person who I hated the most to be my fate.

And now, I would be his prisoner, until he decides to kill me.

I curled up in a ball, wallowing in self pity. Maybe death would be a relieve from this cursed world I was put in.

Footsteps echoed from beyond the cages, and I could feel the weight of someone's presence approaching. Dread settled in the pit of my stomach as I knew who it was before he even came into view.

The Alpha King, Seth, stepped into the dimly lit cell.

His regal posture and commanding aura filled the space, and his cold, calculating eyes locked onto mine. There was no warmth, no empathy in those eyes, only a sense of ownership.

"Naomi," he said, his voice like ice on my skin, making me shiver, "you've managed to cause quite a stir."

I didn't respond. What could I say to the man who had not only been responsible for my father's death but was now my captor and, unbelievably, my mate?

He approached the bars of my cage, his gaze unwavering. "You rejected me in front of the entire pack. Do you have any idea what that means?"

I knew all too well. A rejected mate could only bring shame to an Alpha, and it was a mark of dishonor that was rarely forgiven. But I couldn't bring myself to care about his pride or reputation. All I could think of was escaping this nightmare.

"I don't care," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Seth's lips curled into a humorless smile. "You should care, Naomi. You should care very much."

He turned away from my cage, his footsteps echoing as he paced around the dirty cell, touching the weapons that laid on the wall. He took interest in a whip, and I swallowed.

"You see, rejecting me is not an option," he said, his tone turning deadly serious. "Our mating was ordained by the Moon Goddess herself."

"She probably made a mistake." I spat, glaring at him.

Seth chuckled, a dark and unsettling sound. "You have a sharp tongue, Naomi. It's a shame you'll need to learn some respect."

He approached my cage again, his fingers curling around the cold steel bars as he leaned closer. "You will come to understand your place here, and you will obey me. Whether by choice or by force, it doesn't matter to me. But I can assure you, I prefer the latter."

I shivered, both from fear and from the chilling certainty in his voice. I had no doubt that he would follow through on his threats.

"What do you want from me?" I finally managed to ask, my voice quivering.

Seth turned to face me again, his gaze piercing. "Your obedience, Naomi. That's all I ask. Follow the rules, and your mother will be safe. Defy me, and I can't guarantee her well-being."

My heart sank. My mother was my world, and now she was being used as a pawn in this twisted game.

"Leave my mother out of this!" I shouted and he chuckled.

His eyes turned to me and I could see the sick amusement swimming in them.

"I will. But it depends on you." He smirked and I knew his condition was going to be one I would hate.

"What do you want from me? Do you want me to be your queen?" I cried.

Seth burst into laughter and I watched, the sight but handsome and chilling at the same time.

"Oh, that was a good one. But no, a weak omega like you would never be my mate."

"Then what do you want?"

Seth's laughter faded, and he regarded me with a predatory glint in his eyes. "I want your submission, Naomi. I want you to acknowledge that I am your Alpha, your mate, and your king."

My stomach churned at the thought of bowing down to this ruthless man, but the well-being of my mother weighed heavily on my mind.

"Fine, I'll submit." I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Seth's smile returned, but it was as cold as ever, "You don't seem to understand, Naomi." He said my name like it hurt his tongue.

He moved closer to the cage, so that his face was inches away from mine, with just the iron bars separating us.

I could see gold flecks swimming around the cold orbs of his eyes. And the sharp cut of his jaw.

A scar tore across his eyebrow, adding to his dangerous look.

He was handsome, and a demon.

I hated him.

"I mean you would become my slave. In everyway possible."

I couldn't hide the shock that washed over me as Seth's words sank in. He wanted me as a slave, to bend to his every whim, to be utterly powerless in his grasp.

"You're insane if you think I'll ever be your slave," I hissed, anger coursing through me.

Seth's smile didn't waver. If anything, it grew wider, revealing a hint of those sharp, white teeth. "Oh, I think you'll find that I have very persuasive methods, Naomi."

He straightened and turned away from the cage, strolling casually towards the exit. His voice echoed through the cell as he spoke, "But don't worry, I'll give you time to reconsider. But your mother doesn't have much time."

My mother needed me. Being a slave meant I was even lower than an omega. I was like the furniture in the king’s room, his property. Never to have a will of mine anymore.

But I couldn't leave my mother. A tear rolled down my eye as I realised this was my last moment of freedom.

I had no choice.

"Wait!" I called, and he halted in his steps.

"Yes, omega?" He smirked, knowing what I was about to say, but I would say it anyway.

I took a deep breath, "I'll be your slave."

Seth turned slowly to face me, his eyes locking onto mine with a gleam of triumph. It was clear that he had expected this outcome all along, that he had pushed me to the point where I had no other choice.

"Good girl," he purred, "That's a very wise decision, Naomi."

I could feel my stomach churn with disgust and anger, but I had made this choice for my mother's sake. As much as I despised Seth, her well-being was my top priority.

"I should probably let you out now. But…" his wicked eyes gleamed and I felt dread wash over me.

"But what?"

"I'll let you sleep in this cell. Consider this your punishment."

I gasped realising I was going to spend the night in this cold and empty cage.

"No, wait please..."

He ignored my pleas and walked out, slamming the door after him.

I fell onto the floor, my body wracked with sobs. My life was over.

Fatigue washed over me and I curled into a ball, falling into a deep sleep.