fourth chapter

POV Lily

I slowly opened my eyes due to the bright light, my head ached, and I couldn't recall what had happened in the past few hours, just a few flashes appeared in my mind. I sat up on the bed, and the memories started to resurface. Furthermore, I should be dead. I took a deep breath, trying to fill my lungs again.

 

"Are you alright?"

 

I turned around, startled, and there stood the most handsome man I had ever seen. He was undoubtedly an alpha, his perfectly defined body, dark eyes, and firm jaw exuded power and authority.

"Who are you? And where am I?" I asked nervously.

 

I looked around, finding myself in an incredibly luxurious room. Not only that, but I had lived a reasonably comfortable life, but nothing compared to the opulence of this palace. The curtains were embroidered with golden threads, and the bed was extremely soft; it was like royalty for wolves.

 

"Which of the twins are you?" he asked coldly, ignoring my previous question.

 

"My name is... Lily Brooks," I replied, trembling.

 

"Alright, they gave me the weakest one, idiots. I should have chosen which of the twin sisters I wanted. In any case, you'll serve my purposes," he said, staring at me sternly.

 

"Tell me, who are you? And what do you intend to do with me?" I shouted nervously.

 

I noticed his eyes turn a vivid shade of red. He took a deep breath, seemingly trying to remain calm, and walked towards me. Fearful, I took a step back; he was incredibly strong and dangerous.

"Don't scream at me again!" he said rudely.

 

I merely nodded, my body trembling with fear.

 

"Do you really not know who I am? Or why you're in this place?" he asked, looking fixedly at me.

Reluctantly, I shook my head.

 

"I see, those wretched fools!" he seemed irritated.

 

The door opened, revealing a young woman who appeared to be my age and an older lady.

"Johanna and Jennie, help her get dressed and answer her questions. I'll be back to see her in an hour!" he said seriously, slamming the door.

 

"Yes, alpha," both women bowed their heads in respect.

 

My forehead was sweating coldly. I should be dead, killed by an indescribable beast living in the mountains far from the village. Last night, I saw it observing me with its red eyes, just like this alpha's eyes... I wondered if he was the same monster I saw the previous night.

 

"Good morning, Lily. We've come to help you get dressed," the older woman said, placing towels on the bed.

"Who are you both, and why am I here?" I asked nervously, not allowing them to get closer to me.

"Speak softly; the alpha hates loud noises," the young woman said fearfully.

 

"Sit down, my dear. I know you're frightened," the older woman said, approaching and gesturing for me to sit beside her on the bed.

 

I took a deep breath and moved closer. The young woman watched me from a distance, holding a silk dress in her hands.

 

"I want to know why I'm here!" I said firmly.

 

"You're part of a tradition, you're the chosen Omega," she said apprehensively.

 

"Chosen for what exactly? Shouldn't I be dead?" I asked nervously.

 

"You're chosen to become the king alpha's breeding slave," the young woman gulped.

 

Silence fell, and they couldn't look at me. This was worse than death; they condemned me to be a reproductive slave for the rest of my life.

 

"I'd rather die than be a sex slave! Who is this king alpha?" I asked, confused.

 

"Luke Blackwood, the supreme alpha. You've just met him," the young woman said hesitantly.

My eyes widened. I'd heard rumors about the supreme alpha, the most powerful werewolf to have existed for over a thousand years. I thought he was merely a legend, but he was the one who protected me last night in his wolf form.

 

"I heard he was one of the first werewolves to exist," I stammered, my lips trembling.

"Yes, and now you belong to him. There's nothing you can do to change that," the young woman shrugged, wiping my body with a damp cloth and removing the dirt from my arms.

 

"I can't, I'm engaged!" I said, looking at my ring.

 

Both women exchanged nervous glances, and Johanna checked if anyone was listening behind the door.

"You don't understand; you have no choice. If the alpha finds out you had a relationship with any man before him, he might come back and exterminate your entire pack in revenge," she said nervously.

"I don't understand," I stuttered, trying to stay on my feet.

 

"The tradition is simple: the slave must be untouched, or the agreement is broken," Johanna said seriously.

"Does that mean I would be free?" I said with a glimmer of hope.

 

"No, you would die, burned at the stake along with your entire family, and you'd watch the alpha tear the heart out of the man you love right in front of you, unable to do anything!" the young woman said while trying to remove the ring from my finger.

 

"What are you doing? It's my only keepsake," I said, trying to hold onto my possession.

 

"This is for your own good, Lily. If the alpha finds out, you'll be punished, and your companion may end up dead. I'm sorry!" she said, taking the ring and hiding it in her clothes.

 

Tears streamed down my face; I could see my dreams crumbling slowly before my eyes. I was bound to a cruel alpha.

"Will I never see him again?" I asked tearfully.

 

Johanna and Jennie exchanged glances, both looking hesitant and full of sorrow.

 

"It's highly unlikely. The alpha will keep you confined here in his palace, and you'll be his breeding slave forever," Johanna said softly.

 

"No! I won't accept this! I won't let him ruin my life!" I said, mustering up whatever courage I had left.

Jennie and Johanna exchanged worried glances. They knew resisting the supreme alpha was almost impossible.

 

"You have no choice, Lily. The sooner you accept it, the better," Jennie said.

 

"No, there has to be a way out of this!" I cried.

 

As the reality of my fate settled in, I felt a deep sadness and anger boiling inside me. I couldn't let this be my life. I had to find a way to escape, to be free from the clutches of the ruthless king alpha.

 

"It's better this way; if he keeps looking for you, he might end up dead. He should never find out where you are. You need to forget about him. From now on, you're one of the alpha women in this palace," Johanna said seriously, staring at me.

 

"Is there any way I can free myself?" I asked with my eyes closed, trying to contain my panic.

 

"Well... if the Supreme were to find his mate..." the young woman whispered through her teeth.

 

"Don't fill Lily's head with nonsense. You know that's impossible," Johanna scolded her, pinching her arm.

 

"What did she mean by that? Please, Johanna, if there's a chance for me to go back and find Ethan, I need to know," I said anxiously.

 

Johanna looked into my eyes, she could see my desperation at being separated from the man I loved the most.

 

"Lily, I'm so sorry, what she said is impossible!" Johanna said, wiping away a tear that insisted on running down my face. "The alpha searched for her for many years, and when he was close to finding her..." Johanna closed her eyes, unsure of how to utter the words that would follow.

 

"She died... some say the Supreme couldn't bear the fact of having someone tied to him, someone he loved and cared for. For the first werewolves, love is just a weakness. They mated with their females solely to procreate and ensure their descendants. After mating, they would impregnate them and then leave, while the females raised the babies alone. There are rumors that he killed her to become the Supreme Alpha and eliminate his only weakness, making himself indestructible," the young woman said in awe.

 

"He killed the woman he loved?" I said surprised.

 

"These are just rumors, my dear. Don't listen to the nonsense Jennie is saying. She's just trying to scare you. Let's make you beautiful for your first meeting with the alpha," Johanna said, brushing my long hair.

 

Everyone fell silent, and I noticed Johanna gesturing to Jennie as if she had said too much. I swallowed nervously; if this man was capable of killing the only woman he loved in his entire life, what would he do to me? A simple, fragile, and useless Omega? I tried to push away the dark thoughts and find a way out of my predicament while they dressed me up to see him again.