ALINA It was my wedding day, and I was bursting with a mix of excitement and nerves. I sat in front of the mirror, my heart racing as my mother fluffed out the skirt of my dress, her hands gentle. I couldn’t believe this was finally happening. After everything Kai and I had been through, we were here, about to say our vows. It almost felt like a dream that I was going to be woken up from. I was so happy that it felt like there was an end to it. That I was just deluding myself by being happy. I glanced at my mother, her face calm and focused as she adjusted the veil atop my head.“You look beautiful, Alina,” she said, her eyes softening as she took a step back to admire me. Her voice was full of pride, and I could see a shimmer of emotion in her gaze. “You’re radiant.”I took a deep breath, feeling my nerves intensify. “Mom, I’m nervous,” I confessed, fidgeting with the lace on my dress. “What if something goes wrong?”She chuckled softly, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Ev
Four years laterALINA Years had passed, and life in the pack had settled in a way I had never imagined. As I stood in my bakery, gazing out the window and watching children run around, a warm smile played on my lips. It was one of those beautiful, crisp autumn mornings when the sunlight filtered through the trees, casting soft golden shadows across the cobblestones. My heart felt light, a rare but cherished feeling I’d come to treasure over time. My life had felt unreal for the past years. My two children, Kian and Liana, were heading off to school for the first time today. The thought made me emotional, but it also made me proud. Watching them grow up reminded me of just how far we’d come. With a sigh, I turned back to the bakery, smoothing my apron. The smell of freshly baked bread, warm spices, and sweet pastries filled the room. I had opened the bakery and bookshop a few years ago, not long after my children were born. It had quickly become one of the most beloved spots in the
ALINA I wore the revealing clothes that were laid on my bed that had been provided to me by Beck, my step-sister. Every night, she made sure that I dressed like a stripper and danced in front of her and her friends. If I did not do that, then I would not be able to eat and I would have to go to bed hungry. But it was going to be over soon. The son of the alpha, my boyfriend, was going to save me from all of this soon when we got mated. “Alina.” I heard Beck sing from outside the door of my room that was in the basement. Since my mother died, I have not been able to sleep in the house anymore. My father is the beta of the pack and despite that, I was still treated like a maid. He did not mind that Beck was doing all of this to me because my step mother had him wrapped around her finger. “I am coming.” I choked out as I clasped the necklace on my neck that was the last remaining piece of jewellery I had from my mother. I remembered the night when she died. It was in the middle of the
ALINA Next day“Come to Daddy’s room. He is calling you.” I heard Beck say from the other side of the door to my room. She did not like to come in. She always told me that my room smelt cheap and she was afraid that if she stayed there for too long, she was going to start morphing into a lowly omega like me. “Okay.” I managed to reply to her. I looked down at all of the scars I had incurred from yesterday when Beck and her friends had beaten me. Alex was angry, and he said that I was rude to accept his rejection so fast so he made Beck and the others beat me. They managed to not hit my face because Alex was afraid that the lycan king would ship me back after he saw my ugly face marred with scars.My injuries did not take too long to vanish. I wondered if it was because I was too used to having them which was why they took very little time to heal. I did not have a wolf so my healing powers were not supposed to be strong. It was strange… but I did not tell anyone about it because I w
ALINAIn the morning, the guards from the lycan king came before the sun was even completely up. My step mother had come to drag me out of the cell and then she pitied me by throwing some of my clothes in my bag and some cheap candy bars. “Keep this with you and nibble on it on your way. You are going to need it because the journey is long.” She thrust the bag at me. “Thank you, step mother.” At least I was not going to be starving on the way. I have not eaten for two days straight. My body felt like it was about to give up on me but I stayed strong. My father did not even bother to say goodbye to me. I saw Alex and Beck on the couch making out while I was led outside, and my heart hurt when I saw it. I could not believe that this was my life. It was already bad before, but getting to this level was something I never thought was possible. My eyes filled with tears because I had not said goodbye to my mother or my pet stray cat that I found during one of my walks in the pack.The gu
ALINA “What are you doing here?” Jezebel hissed, rushing towards me and grabbing my arm. Her eyebrows were drawn into a frown, and she looked pissed. Have I just managed to make an enemy only a few minutes since I came here?“I wanted to get food for myself. I am sorry.” I muttered as I tried to scurry away but the people that were in the room came out, the man— my mate with a towel hung dangerously below his waist and the other woman had worn a shirt. The man was the most beautiful man I have ever seen. With his long black hair and grey mesmerising eyes, he looked like he came straight out of heaven. He might be an angel for all I could tell. He had a strong muscular build, and his skin glistened, probably because of the activity he was just partaking in. Strangely, I felt my chest tighten from that but it was fleeting as the lady beside him yelled at me. “What the hell are you doing here?” She hissed, looking down at my body with contempt. “And who the hell are you? Who allowed y
ALINAThe next day, Jezebel came to wake us up. I heard her as she barged into the room, shouting at the top of her voice.“Wake up you lazy arses. It is time for work.” She sang. I was used to being woken up abruptly back at the pack to work. But I was feeling tired. After the trip yesterday, I didn't really have the energy. But I did not want to upset Jezebel any more than I did last night so I woke up. Katy had gotten up too and was already arranging her bed. “Good morning, Katy.” I greeted her with a smile. She looked at me, and gave me a quick nod before she looked away. Why did I always have the luck of meeting the rudest people? I shrugged it off and proceeded to arrange my own bed. Jezebel came in a second later. The sun was barely out but she had already dressed up in her long red dress and heavy bold makeup, “Good that you are awake. I do not have to force you to get up like most girls on their first day. I hope Katy has told you what we are about to do now.” “Yes, of cou
Five months laterKAI I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and a smile made its way to my lips when I saw the person staring back at me. Being the king has always been what I have been looking forward to in my life since I was a child. It might be cruel, but I have always wanted my father to die. I did not believe the old man loved me for even one day of his life. All he could say when he looked at me was how much of a disappointment I was because I couldn’t match up to him in a sword fight. I was pretty good, but he expected me to be as good as he was when he had decades of experience and I didn’t. When he died of a brain aneurysm a few months ago, I was the happiest about it. I arranged for the coronation to be as soon as possible because I did not want to wait any longer before I sat on the throne. When I was done getting ready, I turned and I saw Lydia come into the room. She was the happiest I have ever seen her. She was dressed in a long pink dress and her hair was curled