Chapter One

*****

It was a day like every other, dreary. Blackway Prison always have that aura of abandonment and hopelessness, because no one was coming to save us.

Turning eighteen today, didn't stop the shouting, curses and leering the Warden always throws at us. From the side rumours that course through between the prisoners, I know that he pays some of the female prisoners late night visit to satisfy his sick urges. In Blackway Prison it was no better than being dead. Forgotten by the rest of the world. So at the mercy of the Warden, the female would put no resistance from the onslaught and violations that happens to them.

By the mercy of the moon goddess or some higher power, I was one of the few spared from such violations. Each night after my sixteen birthday I would lie awake, praying to the goddess to save me from this hellhole. Fearing the Warden would come for me. But he never visited, my fears subsided a little. That doesn't stop his obvious leering and curses he would throw at me at every given chance.

I have been here since the Revolution of the Black Moon Pack. A decade now, I was brought in here since I was eight. The fight against the Black Moon Pack to overthrow my father, Alpha Adios. My parents were killed in cold blood. Instead of being killed, Alpha Krist saved me and kept me in Blackway Prison. At eight I was reduced from being the Princess of Black Moon Pack to a common prisoner shoveling dirt's and juggling with the kitchen chores. Meals here consist of stale bread and porridge. My belly always ache from hunger pangs but I dare not complain least the Warden hears it and punish me. Two portions meals per day was served to eliminate the hunger that gnaws at us, didn't do much nutritionally. At eighteen, I was so skinny and unattractive.

"Freya, You have a visitor," the Warden voice boomed from his office.

A chilly fear crept through my spine. Alpha Krist. A foreboding feeling knowing he has come for me. I knew there was a reason I was kept in the prison instead of being killed like my parents. Alpha Krist was formidable gaint at eight when I last saw him, now he looks even more dangerous as he lounge on the Warden's couch. His beards were almost closing his mouth. He looks foreboding and I'm sure his wolf is a gaint too.

"The girl looks underfed and malnourished, look how tiny she is Warden," Alpha Krist's anger was well written on his face and tone. The Warden that I always knew to be undefeatable cowers before Alpha Krist. Of course who wouldn't, the man was basically a gaint.

"You know that's how these young girls are, Alpha Krist, " The Warden mumble with fear," they hardly put some flesh, makes them more irresistible."

"Hmmm," Alpha Krist seems to appear convinced.

I stood there motionlessly as he examine me like a sheep for slaughter. "Not too bad I think, I'm sure Amanda would perform some magic on her to make her look more appealing."

"Have you gotten your wolf yet, little princess? You seemed to be of age already, " Alpha Krist said frowning at my tiny frame.

I shook my head, " No I haven't."

" Too bad then but I'm sure once you get close your wolf would surely emerge. Little princess I'm sure you would be delighted to know that you are now free from this hellhole and to the real world where you belong. You are part of the upcoming Bride Selection. You should be delighted dear, freedom at last."

"Bride Selection?" I frowned. Though delighted at the thought of being free, I guess Alpha Krist has big plans for me, The Bride Selection? All I knew about it was that my Mom was choosen after the Bride Selection held in Black moon pack. They were both two powerful bloodlines and mates. A Bride Selection was held for the most powerful Alphas that couldn't find their mate, so the maidens were gathered all through the globe to participate, luckily the alpha finds his mate. Or someone from a strong bloodline is chosen.

"The Alpha King Damien wants a Bride, so little princess you are participating in the Bride Selection, You're eighteen and eligible. And I'm sure you won't need to say goodbye to your prison mates cause we need to be in town before sunset. Amanda needs all the time to get you ready. Let's just hope the Alpha King Damien likes skinny girls because there's no time to get you to fatten up."

"What if I don't want to participate in the Bride Selection? " I dared voice my thoughts.

Alpha Krist face crunched up in anger at my outburst.

"You will, little princess. As you have no choice at all. I kept you alive solely for this purpose and you won't dare back out of this."

"I... Why do you want me to participate in the Bride Selection, there are many elegant women I'm sure the alpha king won't even choose me," I burst out frustrated.

He chuckle. "You will win I assure you," Alpha Krist sharp wolf fingers trail across my pale cheek almost drawing blood. "Because I'm sure the Alpha King Damien has all his senses intact."

*****

I kept silent through out the drive from the prison. Fearing not to upset Alpha Krist anymore. I was scared about my fate and there's nothing I could do to change it. Servants rush to serve Alpha Krist as soon as he arrived at his mansion. It was so sureal being out into the world. The bright beauty of everything eased away my anxiety.

"Get her clean up and presentable," he ordered. I was whisked away into a beautiful bathroom stripped off my dirty prison clothes, while the servants tried to scrub me clean. I let them get their way because the idea of being cleaned up was thrilling. Maybe they could wash every trace from my previous life away.

Food tray was brought in immediately after my bath and I quickly devoured everything, fearing the food would disappear. Munching on every bite like a starved lion. Maybe being part of the Bride Selection was not a bad idea. Years of being hungry and malnourished has clouded my mind. I want a good life too. Like the life I use to have when I was Black Moon princess. If participating in the Bride Selection would make me have such glorious meal everyday, I will do it.

"Look at you, eating like a wild pack of hungry wolf." The beta woman that walked in was exquisite. I can easily tell that she doesn't like me, the disdain was written all over her face. Amanda catwalk around the room marking her territory. She's a beautiful woman, everything about her speaks prestige. "You must be Freya the little princess of the lost black moon pack. Well, I'm not sorry that your family was killed, they deserve it."

If hurting me was her aim she surely succeeded. She laughed thrilling at my silent anger. She knows I can do nothing even if I want to. I don't have a wolf and she knows it as she showed me her vicious claws.

"Stand up," she ordered. Abandoning my food I scrambled up to my feet. "Very unattractive, I wonder how Krist thinks you are suitable for this job." She eyed me with disdain. I watched her pull out a blood dagger and handed it to me. Bewildered I took it. My eyes shooting a million questions at her.

"Participating in the Bride Selection is just a tip in the ice," Amanda laughs enjoying my distress. "What matters is that you must kill the Alpha King Damien as soon as he marks you as his bride."

I let the blood dagger fall to the ground in shock. They are sending me to kill the Alpha King Damien. Her words and her laughter rang through my thoughts. "...Kill the Alpha King Damien."