CHAPTER 2

ARIA

I ran through the forest, my breaths ragged and my heart pounding rapidly in my chest. The howls of the rogue wolves echoed behind me, sending shivers down my spine.They pursued me relentlessly, their growls echoing through the night. I pushed my body to its limits, each gasping breath a reminder of the danger lurking behind me.. 

My legs ache badly, but the fear of getting killed fueled my desperation to escape. Without thinking twice, Laila took control of my body and I transformed into my wolf. It was easier to run faster, see clearer and navigate through the trees in the forest in my wolf form. 

I suddenly screeched to a halt as I realized I had unknowingly crossed the boundary of another pack. My heart skipped a beat as I saw two figures approaching. From their stance, I could tell they were the guards patrolling the border. Their vigilant eyes met my fearful ones.One of them opened his mouth like he was about to say something but the snap of a twig sounded from behind me. 

The rogues emerged from the shadows, their snarls and bared teeth painting a vivid threat. The pack guards immediately shifted into their wolf form and a fierce battle ensued, the clash of fangs and claws echoing through the night. I stood on one side watching as the pack guards bravely fought the rogues. The rogues were killed in no seconds. 

The guards turned their attention toward me with suspicion lingering in their wolf eyes. One of the guards growled dangerously at me, making me take a step back in fear. I quickly transformed back to my human form. I was stark naked so I used both hands to cover my breast and my private area. 

Nudity was common among werewolves but I wasn’t comfortable showing my nakedness to strangers.They also transformed into their human form. They were equally naked but they didn’t seem to care one bit about it. 

“ Who sent you here, Rogue? ” The guard who growled at me spat harshly. My eyes widened in panic as he glared at me murderously. 

He thought I was a rogue??

“ Who are you and why are you trespassing? ” The other guard asked. He doesn’t sound as aggressive as the other one but he still held a stoic expression.

“ I-I didn't mean to. I’m not a rogue. I was running from the rogues. ” I replied, my voice trembling with fear and at the same time, exhaustion. 

They exchanged wary glances and their eyes glazed over. They were mind-linking. They both nodded in acknowledgement to whatever they were discussing in their mindlink. Before I knew what was happening, the guards seized me and dragged me from the woods into the pack's territory. 

I was led to a dungeon, cold and dimly lit. The guards pushed me inside a cell and I landed with a thud on the cold floor. The door creaked shut, leaving me in chilling isolation. I laid on the floor and wrapped my arms around myself, thinking about the judgment that waits for me ahead. 

“ I’m sure everything will be fine. I can sense something good coming. ” Laila said to me just as I was about to sleep off. 

I opened my eyes the following morning, the cold floor beneath me a harsh reminder of the situation I found myself in. I looked around me and saw there were others like me in the dungeon confined in their cells. I sat upright with my back resting on the wall, folded my knees and placed my head in between. 

Just then, I heard the dungeon door creak open. A shift in air alerted me of the extraordinary presence coming in. The temperature seemed to drop low as an awareness tingled down my spine. A profound sense permeated the atmosphere with a low hum of authority. 

The dungeon seemed to respond to this person’s presence. The ambient hushed and everywhere became so silent, one could hear a pin drop. What stood out in all, was the sweet musk scent mixed with a subtle hint of sandalwood I was perceiving. 

The door to the cell I was held captive in opened up. As the person entered, an aura of command enveloped my whole body but for some strange reasons, my body relaxed in its embrace. When the person finally stood before me, I raised my head slowly from its position to see who had graced me with this formidable presence. 

Then my eyes met his.

In a deep voice that resonated through the cold walls of the dungeon, he whispered a single word that sent shivers down my spine. “ MATE. ”

Laila yipped and wagged her tail. “ Mate. Mate. Mate. ” She chanted happily in my mind.

The weight of this word mixed with that of Laila’s finally registered in my brain. My eyes widened in astonishment and a mix of emotions surged within me – surprise, disbelief and…..fear. His eyes, deep emerald green,pierced and bored deeply into mine with an intensity that made my heart race rapidly. I shifted nervously under his gaze and took my eyes away from him as different thoughts went through my mind.

He’s my mate?

But how???

“ He’s our second chance mate. ” Laila replied. She sounded happy as she sighed dreamily.

Was there anything like a second chance mate?

Just as my mind was in turmoil, I used the chance to take a good look at him. Standing tall and imposing, his presence commanded attention. He stood at 6’2 ft bearing a physique sculpted with both grace and strength. His face is well-defined with chiseled and sharp jawline, a straight pointed nose and high cheekbones that contributed to his overall aura of dominance. 

Everything about him exceeds perfection to the core.It felt like the Moon Goddess really took her time to create him to be different from every other being. A growl that shook the whole dungeon brought me out of my thinking. I jumped in fright and whimpered quietly, while staring at the floor. 

“ Get her some clothes. ” His deep, baritone voice commanded.

“ Yes, Your Majesty. ” One of the guards replied.

I turned red at his words. I had totally forgotten I was naked all this while. I used my hands to cover my breast and parts. I know it was too late because he had seen everything. Just then the guard's response registered in my mind. 

Your Majesty?

He’s the Alpha King??

I snapped my head up and stared at him in astonishment. No wonder his aura exuded powers and authority. His expression remained stoic and unwavering as he stood before me. The guard came back with a baggy shirt and I quickly put it on, still overwhelmed by the revelation that the Alpha King was standing before me.

I have heard different stories about him and they weren’t nice. I have heard how ruthless he is and how people think he kills for fun. Just the mere thought of those stories were enough to make me almost pee on my body. After a while of just staring, he gave the guards some more instructions and left without saying a word to me.

Laila whined in my head as I stared at the back of his retreating figure. As the door shut behind him, an ominous silence settled. My mind raced with different questions because he had neither accepted me nor rejected me as his mate, leaving me in a state of uncertainty and confusion.

Would he accept me as a mate?

Or would he reject me like Jackson did?