Chapter 01

AMELIA

I fixed the strap of my red dress over my shoulder and inspected my reflection in the mirror. Everything was in place. My red gown hugged my upper body and flowed down my legs.

My bare pale arms, void of any visible scars, remained on display like my shoulders and a small part of my cleavage.

My gaze rose to my face. I had gone with a minimal makeup look but had opted for painting my lips red.

But even with all the makeup on, the exhaustion still marked my features.

I didn’t even feel like getting out of my bed today. But I had to.

My whole family was invited to the Eastcairn Citadel—the palace, where a return party for the Alpha King Tyson was held. He was missing for the past 2 years and had just returned home so the whole kingdom was celebrating it tonight.

Like the Kingdom of East, I didn’t feel happy to be attending this event though.

The thought of facing the people scared me.

And the mere thought of crossing paths with the Lycan Alpha King made my heart stop with dread. He was my mortal enemy who could do anything in this world to make me suffer. He would love to watch me squirm and cry and beg with his dark eyes. His perfect thick lips would stretch into one of those beautiful smiles that I could never get out of my mind if he ever saw me broken.

Sighing, I shook my head.

Thinking about him was not an option right now. I had to be prepared to avoid him at any cost.

What choice did I have anyway?

Refusing to attend the event would anger my father. That was something I couldn’t afford to do.

As if on cue, my father’s heavy footsteps echoed in my ears. I stiffened and instantly stepped away from the mirror.

The door to the room was slammed open. My gaze lowered to the floor.

He stalked toward me, causing my body to start trembling already. I clasped my hands in front of my stomach and swallowed the fear that threatened to consume me.

My father was the Alpha of one of the most giant packs in our Kingdom. Our pack was named Storm Riders Pack because our pack had remained stoic in the face of all threats for hundreds of years. We had protected East, fought, and died for our Kingdom. Now, my father held a strong position in the King’s council as the General of his Army of wolves…

But that didn’t change his violent nature. It fueled the desire in him to hurt others more.

My thoughts came to an abrupt halt when my father’s hand rose in the air and the back of it struck me across my cheek.

The impact caused my ears to ring. My head turned to the right. Something wet trailed down my cheek.

I glanced at my father’s signet ring and found my blood trailing down it. I gulped and straightened up. He didn’t like weakness. I must get back in position and get ready to be hit again right after he was done delivering each blow.

“ I heard you refused to accompany Daniel to the woods. ” He spoke in his deep voice that sent chills down my spine.

“ He—I told him I should ask for your—your permission first. ” I lied through my teeth.

It earned me another harsh backhanded slap that left my cheek bleeding.

“ When he tells you to do something, you must do it. ” He hissed. “ He is Alpha Garrett’s son. Don’t you know how important our alliance with him is? Don’t you care that he might break his engagement with you? ”

How was I supposed to tell him that my fiance wanted me to accompany him to the woods so he could bend me against one of the trees and fuck me?

But maybe, Dad would ask me to do it because Daniel was the man he chose for me.

“ I understand. ” I swallowed the words. “ I will be careful next time, Father. ”

“ You be careful. ” He let out. “ or your sister will suddenly become a better match for Daniel. ”

“ No. No, Dad. I will be better. I will never refuse him again. ” I picked my head instantly.

“ This is your last chance, Amelia Kingsley. You better get your act straight. ” He hissed as his eyes flashed green.

Shooting me a last hateful glare, he turned to the door and slowly walked out of it. My breath remained stuck in my throat until his footsteps sounded around me.

When I couldn’t hear him anymore, I let out a huge breath and slumped on my bed. My hands curled around the edge of the mattress as I closed my eyes.

Daniel would be at the event today. And I had no doubt he would try to take me to some corner again. I had been denying his requests as politely as possible, but it still angered him every time. Now, he was complaining to Dad and I had no choice but to do as he wanted or else…

Dad would sell my little sister Adelia to Daniel. I couldn’t bear that. From the time she was born, I had done everything in my power to protect her from the evil that was my father. This duty had left me exhausted and sleepless over the years but I never fell short.

Ultimately, Dad had come to know this as my one true weakness. He would always threaten to hurt Adelia—innocent and kind Adelia when his beatings wouldn’t work.

But, this had to end soon. I couldn’t let this go on for much longer. Once I had a chance, an opening where my father was missing from our home for even one night, I would make Adelia escape so she could find a life for herself out of this shithole. Whatever happened after that wouldn’t affect me as long as she was safe and happy somewhere in the world. Until then, I had to keep my mouth shut and endure everything.

Sighing, I got up and walked to the dressing table. Grabbing some tissues from the box, I wiped my cheek which had blood over it.

As expected, the wound had healed. My skin was left smooth. No one could ever know that I was hit and bled. Like they never knew over the years about all the wounds I had suffered, all the nights I had cried in pain.

I couldn’t tell if healing was a blessing or a curse anymore. People couldn’t see my emotional wounds, and this fast healing had kept them from seeing the physical injuries too.

“ Amy. ” The soft voice whispered from the doorway.

I dropped the bloody tissue on the dressing table and turned around to face Adelia who was standing at some distance.

She looked beautiful in her golden gown. Her similar green eyes stared back at me. The worry was not hidden.

“ Did Dad…hit you again? ” She grabbed the doorframe as her body trembled slightly.

“ Ady. ” I sighed, walking to her.

“ Did he say he will hurt me if you don’t listen? ” Her guilty gaze dropped to the floor.

“ No, Ady. He just asked me to get ready for the event. ” I placed my hand on her arm and assured her.

“ Whatever he says, don’t do it. I am a woman now. I can look after myself. You don’t need to make sacrifices for me. ” She mumbled.

“ You just turned eighteen last month. ” I chuckled, shaking my head.

“ That makes me a grown woman. ” She pouted.

“ You act like a child though. I don’t think anything will change that. ” I shrugged my shoulders.

She picked up her head and shot me a nasty glare. I smiled at her, and she immediately grinned back.

No matter how dark the rest of the world was, I had Ady to lighten it up for me. She was my sole support. The only thing which kept me going when I wanted to end myself.

“ Are you sure you can handle this? ” She spoke.

“ Handle what? ” I wondered.

“ Meeting the King, I mean. Alpha King Tyson. ” She whispered in a scared voice.

My heart skipped a beat. The simple mention of his name could make my body shudder. My heart knew no bounds when it came to him.

“ It’s fine. ” I gulped, curling my hands into fists.

“ Do you think he is still the same? ” Ady wrapped her arms around her chest.

“ Let’s not talk about it, Ady. ” I uttered.

“ Are you still scared of him? ”

Still scared would be the wrong term. I was not scared of him before. But right now, I was so terrified that my soul trembled at the thought of catching his eye. He would kill me for sure, and he would take pleasure in that.

“ Do you think he hurts other girls…like he hurt you? ” Ady added when I didn’t answer.

“ Ady! ” I hissed, as my eyes widened. “ what did we talk about before? ”

“ That we will never mention him ever again. ” She muttered.

“ That’s right. We will never mention Tyson ever again. ” I whispered.

Maybe not mentioning his name would make him disappear.

If only it was possible.

“ Let’s go, Amy. Dad must be waiting. ” Adelia whispered and grabbed my hand to drag me downstairs.

My feet grew heavy with each step forward. There was only one thing I could pray for right now.

Please Moon Goddess…

Please don’t make my path cross with his.