Chapter One

* Althea *

I watch my reflection in the tall mirror in front of me and wonder how I become this beautiful. Dressed up in a fancy white long dress that fitted my upper body and flowed onto my heels like a fairy. My hair is skillfully tied upwards in a neat bun and my ears are adorned with white pearls that my mother owned when she had her wedding. Other than that there is no particular jewels on my body.

"Oh! You are looking so lovely, Althea! I was sure that light makeup would do on your bare face since your skin is so smooth and you possess such natural beauty."

Rima expressed her thoughts while standing behind me. She is a distant relative who volunteered to do my makeup for this special day. Yes, today is a special day as I will stand on the altar and change my surname to the wolf who bought me. Reminding myself of this fact brought fear to my heart but I have to be strong!

"Thank you, Rima! I couldn't believe, that the person inside that mirror was me. You did a great job!"

My smile didn't reach my eyes as I met her gaze, she knew that today someone from the royal family would pick me up for the wedding together with all my luggage and things that I wanted to bring. I would leave this house and go live with my husband, and only the Moon Goddess knows what fate brings me after that.

"Not too much work Althea, even if you deny it again but you are by far the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen. No wonder the royal family bought you."

I saw the envy in her eyes when she mentioned the word bought. It was a pity that a lot of girls had envied me ever since they'd heard the news, and right before we moved into this huge Villa the girls wouldn't stop asking why the royal family chose me.

But if only I could trade places with Rima, maybe I already did. Nothing in this arrangement is beautiful and not once did my husband visit me or come by to ask me how I'm doing before the wedding. All I know is that his name is Zed Greyback of the Greyback royal family and rumor has it that he is handsome and all the female wolves in the royal Palace would fall on their feet to have his attention.

My reply towards Rima was stuck in my throat when the voice of my mother came through the open door and she came inside.

"Oh! My goodness, Althea! You are looking so pretty, my dear."

She smiled at Rima and came forward extending her arms to hug me. "Thank you, Mom."

"I know that this day would come my dear daughter but I cannot be saddened. You know all the mothers of the village would have bet their lives to be in my place. Your future is now in the Royal Palace sweetie, and I could be sad for missing you but I am more than happy for you."

I wanted to cry but to be practical, my mother was right. Our life in the village was hard, being the lower class of wolves who only live on hunting our food in the forest that most of the villagers hunt too. Sometimes we even need to fight the others just to get food, while the vast lands and the other abundant areas are forbidden because they belong to the Alpha King and his royal family.

"I know Mom and it's alright, please don't feel lonely without me Dad might not be here but my brother is still around and he would keep you safe."

The heaviness in my heart when I thought about my father and the reason why he died made the tears swell around my eyes. Rima bows her head in front of my mother.

"I would take my leave now Mrs. Blanco."

My mother removed her arms around me and turned towards Rima. "Yes, thank you Rima for your help."

"Don't mention it Mrs. Blanco, goodbye Althea! Congratulations once again!"

I just smiled at her when she took all her things and slowly walked out of the door. Again my mother hugged me before she noticed that I was almost crying. The worried frown on her face was evident when she held both my shoulders. I know that she was just trying to be strong, but my mother is sad too.

"Don't cry Althea, please don't do that dear."

She shook her head and then before I knew it, the tears fell down my cheeks. She grabbed the tissue on top of my small bedside table and gently wiped my face. I inhaled and calmed myself before the situation could take me further.

"Oh, Mom! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to."

I took the tissue from her hand and blew my nose. "Look you ruined your makeup, goodness! What would your husband say when he sees you like this? That's the Alpha King Althea!"

Suddenly my Mom felt nervous so I calmed myself and then held her hand. "It doesn't matter Mom, with makeup or not I don't think that the Alpha King would turn me away just because I don't look beautiful enough."

She looked at me and fixed my face a little before she smiled. "That's never going to happen Althea. He would love you and claim you, my dear. You will become his Luna, the wife of the Alpha King. I am so proud of you sweetie!"

The confidence in her voice made me feel a little at ease. Even though we both know that I am only going to marry the Alpha King because of his father who bought me and why he bought me? That would be because of a deeper reason, something that only my father and the old Rodolp Greyback the Alpha King's father know.

Our attention moves to the door when the footsteps coming from my brother are heard. "Wow! Look at you, Althea! You are looking great dear sister."

His strides quickly stopped in front of me and when he saw the sign of tears in my eyes, he groaned. My brother was against the idea of giving me off to the Alpha King. He saw him once and he said that his wolf is arrogant and displays a sign of violence towards the other wolves who are being trained to become the Royal pack army.

"It's not too late to run away Althea, I can hold the Alpha King's Beta while you and Mom escape if you change your mind."

With his strength and determination displayed on his face, I know that my brother truly cares about me. But we all know that there is no escaping from this or he would die and suffer because of me.

"Aldin!"

My mother spoke his name with horror. "What are you saying? How far do you think we could run to before the Alpha King and his warriors would catch us? And what will you do, fight them until you!"

My mother couldn't say the words die. I shook my head and held my brother's hand. "It's alright brother, I have to leave now. Instead of me, you must protect Mom while I am in the Palace. Who knows? The Alpha King might not like me and return me."

I opted for a little humor but my brother raised her upper lip in a smirk. "That's impossible dear sister."

He looked at me up and down and slowly bestowed a kiss on top of my forehead before meeting my gaze again. "I could only hope that the situation will change when he sees you in person, maybe you can tame his beast and make him fall on his knees for you."

That would be impossible, I smiled at his humor before he escorted me out of the room, followed by my mother. I felt the tension in the air when we took the stairs of the huge house towards the living room. "Oh, they are already here?"

I can sense two strong presence in the living room and it made my throat run dry. "Yes, they are already here. The Alpha King's Beta and the driver."

My mother gasped and it made me look back to see if she was alright, she smiled to give me relief as we walked slowly towards the living room to meet the people who would take me away.