Chapter 2

AYLA BAILORE

As usual, I was given a ton of work to do during the ceremony. But that didn't stop the plans we made to escape. Emily should already be waiting for me at a hidden spot close to the pack's border.

I glanced around the kitchen as soon as I was done washing the dirty dishes. The ceremony just ended and most of the pack members were still having fun and enjoying the after-party including Alpha Garrick.

This was my chance to slip out without anyone noticing me. Hopefully, by the time Garrick discovered I was missing, Emily and I would be long gone.

I successfully made my way out of the kitchen and took the quickest route into the woods that would take me to the pack borders.

It wasn't easy running with my legs, I bet it'd be much easier if I had my wolf. Luckily I found Emily just in time with our small bag.

We made our way to the end of the pack, avoiding patrolling guards. Security was not as tight at the pack borders and I sent a thanks to the Moon goddess.

Then we ran, using the nearby tree as cover.

I felt bad for Emily. She could have easily morphed into her wolf and covered more distance but because of me, we had to use our legs.

We had gotten so far from the pack that we stopped to rest a little. I just hoped Garrick hadn't discovered we were missing yet, that would buy us some more time.

I had no idea where we were but it was safe to say we were lost in the middle of a forest. But suddenly, a sharp scream pierced through the darkness. Emily and I immediately exchanged quick glances as it was coming so close to our right.

We moved closer until we could see a clearing field from a close distance, and heard hush voices. I took a step closer until I could clearly see four figures. Three were huge bulky men, and the one in the middle had his hand wrapped around a woman, pinning her against a tree.

“If you kill me now, you're all dead as well when the Alpha finds out. This plan is doomed from the start, does the Alpha even know that?” The woman bit out as she struggled to set herself free.

“Remember slut, I'm the one in charge here,” The man in the middle muttered, sounding pissed.

“And I am the one that'll be going into the palace, risking my life being close to the King. And if he learns the truth about me, I'll be the one ending up dead, Arnold,” She muttered again.

“Not if we kill the King first. After all, that's why you're joining the Queen's selection, isn't it? To get closer to him. Make him fall for you if you have to, and when the time comes you kill him. That's what you've been trained for,” The man, Arnold, growled in anger.

“It's still a no. I have to speak with the Alpha first before I enter into the Alpha King's den, I'll tell him you're unfit for this mission and—” Before she could finish her words, he snapped her neck mercilessly, tossing her harshly against the tree.

Silence filled the air as I brought my hands to my lips to stop the shocked gasp about to escape my throat.

Fuck. He killed her. He fucking killed her. I glanced back at Emily whose face was also pale from fear, after watching what had just happened. We had to leave before they saw us.

We turned slowly to leave. We had only taken a few steps when one of them spoke up.

“She's dead,” I heard one of the men say in the darkness.

“What do we do now, Arnold? We need to act fast, if the Alpha learns she's dead, he'll kill us all,” Another said looking at the guy who seemed in charge.

“Stop whining. All we have to do is find someone who can fill in her position, after all, no one is irreplaceable. And besides no one from the palace has seen her face and—” He suddenly stopped talking. I couldn't hear anything anymore and Emily and I didn't stop walking either.

I thought we had covered a safe distance between us when suddenly we were surrounded by some wolves, and to my horror the three men stepped out of the woods.

Two men gripped Emily, and before I could run to her aid, something hard collided against my head, forcing me to the ground and I lost consciousness.

***

I wasn't sure how long I'd been out, but by the time I regained consciousness, I found my hands and legs bound to a chair, and in front of me stood the three men from earlier.

My heart drummed in fear as I glanced around and couldn't find Emily.

“Where's she? Where's my sister?”

“Alive,” The man from earlier, Arnold, who had murdered that woman in cold blood said, stepping closer to me. “For now,” His dark eyes narrowed on me. “And if you want it to remain that way, it's your choice as well,”

My lips sealed shut at the obvious threat. I knew we were doomed. There was no way they'd let us go after knowing we saw and heard everything.

“Please don't hurt us,” I begged, tears slipping from my eyes as guilt rocked through me. This was all my fault, We were in this situation all because of me.

“What's your name?” He leaned closer and I could see the visible scar on his face.

“Ayla,” The name left my lips in a whisper but I knew he heard me.

“Full name, please,”

“Ayla Bailore,”

“I'll keep this short, Ayla. You and your sister saw and heard something you shouldn't have tonight and that alone should cost you both your lives. But I'm willing to make an exception, that's if you do exactly as I say and you and Emily might just survive,”

His words sent a shiver down my spine. He leaned closer. “Do you understand?”

I nodded once and a smile covered his lips.

He walked away, stopping a few inches away from the dead woman's body. Now I was up close, I could see what a beauty she was. She was dressed nicely and looked like someone from a ranking position or just maybe dressed to look that way. “It's simple. All you have to do is take her place in the palace and join the upcoming Queen's selection,”

The Queen selection? I'd heard whispers about it back in Garrick's pack. It was more like a contest to choose a bride for the Alpha King since he hadn't found his mate already. Every pack was to choose a she-wolf from their pack to join the contest in the palace. Points were awarded to each contender and at the end of the day, whoever caught the interest of the King or the people became the Luna Queen. This system of choosing a queen was rare and hadn't been used in a long time.

But that wasn't the problem. The real problem was, that I'd never even qualify to begin with. I was of low ranking and didn't even have a wolf at all. And just like the dead woman had said, if somehow I got caught impersonating someone else, I was as good as dead. The Alpha King wasn't just called a beast for nothing. His ruthless nature was a known knowledge. This wouldn't work.

As if reading my thoughts, Arnold took a step closer in my direction. “You refuse? Well, that's fine. I guess I'll just have to kill you and your sister then,” He gestured to one of his men and immediately, Emily was dragged out from the woods, and thrown on the ground, bleeding and crying.

“What did you do to her?” I struggled against the chains binding me, not that I had the strength to break them off anyway.

“She's quite a stubborn one. Anyways since you've made up your mind, I guess I should start by killing her first,”

“Wait,” I stopped him from taking any more steps in Emily's direction. “You don't understand, I won't even be able to last a day. I don't have a wolf, and I bet they'll be able to see through my lies,”

His brow crippled. “You don't have a wolf?”

I nodded. “So please, just let us go. I swear we won't say anything about what happened tonight,”

He ignored my words. “Odd. I've never seen a wolfless she-wolf before. You don't smell like rogues. What pack are you from?”

I paused, hesitating for a second, wondering if it was a good idea to give him more information about us. “Red River Pack,”

Arnold furrowed his brow, his eyes fixed on me for a minute. “Well, that's fine. Your wolflessness is not an issue. For the first half of the contest, each contender is forbidden from using their wolves anyway. And by the time it's time for the second half, hopefully, your mission would be complete,”

At his words again I froze. My mission? He meant killing the Alpha King.

“Yes. Your mission in there is to get close to the Alpha King and kill him. Honestly, I don't think that'll be a problem, you're beautiful. Work your charm, warm his bed if you have too, or better still, make him fall headlessly in love with you. That'll be easier, and then when we give the order, you kill him,”

My mouth was left agape. That was suicide. Even if by some twisted luck I managed to make it that far, there was no way I'd ever escape a place such as the palace after killing the Alpha King of all people.

“We won't leave you hanging, I promise. We'll have people in the palace that'll extract you after your mission is complete. And of course, you'll be reunited with your dearest sister,” He smiled psychotically, moving to stand behind Emily. He grabbed her neck, but his eyes pinned on me. “I'm giving you a last chance to save your life and that of your sister.

One glance at Emily and I knew I had no choice in this. I didn't know I was escaping Garrick's hell to another hell. And this was far worse because I had no idea just how I'd end up. I had a disturbing feeling in my gut that everything would blow up in my face.

What if Garrick found me? What if the Alpha King discovered my true intention? What if these people betrayed me and harmed Emily? There was no guarantee I'd survive this, but again, I had no choice.

My eyes went up to the moon, and I wondered just how much the goddess hated me to make me suffer so much.

With tears in my eyes, I inhaled with resolve. “I'll do it,”