" I've always known that Asteria wasn't my place, " I murmured to myself.
Dawn fell and soon the gates of Asteria could be seen from a distance.
The intricate walls of Asteria held so high made my spine shiver.
" I don't think this is a good idea, Kayla, I spoke out.
" I know my Lady, we've both had our fair deal of sufferings behind these walls, mine was worse than yours my Lady, my mother was raped and killed in front of me, they made my father burn the corpse of his wife, and set him up in her pyre, you saved me my princess from being burned in that pyre and I pledged my allegiance to you from that day."
" The case is otherwise Kayla, no one can be saved from the king and his queen," I said lowly.
" Whatever the case may be my Lady, I'll always be there with you, and for you, even if it takes my life, " Kayla said, holding her hands up to her chest.
" The princess is here, open the gates of Asteria, " one of the guards shouted, announcing our presence.
The large gates were open and the castle was filled to its brim.
" I've never seen such a large homecoming celebration, my princess, I can't help but feel apprehensive, " Kayla said, interrupting my thoughts.
" Neither have I Kayla, seems more like a wedding celebration," I said, gasping at the beauty of the Palace.
The paths were cleared as I walked in the middle of the red carpet and laid on the floor towards the throne.
" Aha, welcome my amiable daughter, " the king said from his throne, stretching his hands out towards me.
I raised my head at him, in his eyes I could sense the hidden contempt of hatred, so much hate, in them.
I stood In front of him, bowing my head, and I greeted him.
" I bow before you, your highness, please accept my greetings."
" Aye, Fenrir, welcome, you do not need all these formalities, come into my arms, " he said with a slight grin on his face.
I walked towards him apprehensively, each step slower than the other, into his arms.
" It's good to see you again Fenrir," he said, patting my shoulder softly.
" Fenrir, the queen called from where she sat, it's very good to have you back in Asteria," she said with a slight smile on her face.
I bowed from a distance before I took my seat beside the king.
" Now that the item is here, let the bidding start.
I turned my head in an instant when he said the words.
" What item, who's the item?" I was puzzled.
" My dear Fenrir, you're the item, and you're going to be sold to your future husband today, " the queen said from where she sat.
" Father, what is she talking about, whose husband, and what is she talking about bidding?" My body got uneasy from where I sat.
" Fenrir dear, your mother and I have decided to give you off in marriage, " he said nonchalantly.
" I refuse to be sold like a slave father, I've every right to decide who and when I want to get married, I stood up from where I was seated.
" Shut up you this shameless daughter, I've got every right over you, I own your life and you do not get to tell me or exercise any order over my decisions," he argued back.
" I should have known, coming to Asteria, was a bad decision, for once Father, I thought you wanted to give me the love I deserved as a daughter, don't you have any ounce of love or sympathy for me." I talked back arguably.
" Sit, Fenrir, lest you get on my nerves, I can choose to have you locked if you refuse to obey my commands" the king bellowed."
" I refuse to follow your commands, lock me up if you deem fit, but I swear by the day I was born that I would not give in to your demands, I argued.
" Fenrir, the queen called out to me, what nerves you've gotten to talk to the king like that, have you forgotten that you're just a spineless wolf that cannot shift, you cannot move from this form that you're Fenrir, you're of no use to the pack and yet you stand so proud talking like that to the king." Her voice filled the grand Castle.
The scornful and mocking laughs from the people in the castle made me bow my head in shame.
" Am I that useless to you Father, do you hate me so much because I'm unable to become the warrior daughter that you want, " I said with a quivering voice.
" Yes, Fenrir, your mother was a lowly slave who threw herself to me and bore you, you grew up again to be a spinless wolf, tell me Fenrir, what would you have done?" He said disgustingly.
I could feel the contempt in his voice, and could only sit back down where I sat.
His words stung like a dagger, as tears fell from my face.
" My lady, Kayla called, running towards me, she sat at my foot, not daring to anger the king and his wife.
" Now, we'll call out all the Alphas who are in this ball, and whoever wishes to own you, will you follow, we will ally with them, and you will be our exchange," he said before sitting back down.
The large table in the Castle was soon filled with alphas of different packs, the rebels, the lords, and the powerful ones.
I could feel my world crumbling at my feet.
Was I to be a bride, a slave, or a sex slave to these Alpha's, I could only imagine the rest of my life in horror.
Stand up Fenrir, let them see you for the trash that you're, the Queen said tugging at my hands.
I was held by Kayla from tripping and the loud sound of a slap resounded on her face.
" Who are you to hold her, from tripping, " the queen bellowed.She stood up from the throne she sat on, making moves to walk towards Kayla, I felt my world pause for a moment, she'd kill her." Go back to sit my queen, Don't waste your strength on this slave, Fenrir would need a companion when she's finally been sold," the disdainful mocking voice of the king could be heard." Save your stars or I'd have shown you what or was like to be a dog meal." She threatened as she walked back to the throne." I'm my lady's maid, my queen," she said, bowing her head in fear." Warn your maid Fenrir, lest you both end up in the dungeons." She snarled.I walked in front of the large table, where the alphas glared at me.Their lustful and dirty stares made me stagger for a moment, bumping into one of the men seated.Pak, the large palms of the man hit my face, making me dizzy in an instant." Watch your ways, princess," he growled.I batted my eyelids full of tears and walked slowly in front of th
He held my hands and then pulled me into his arms. His warm arms and muscles brought me a different kind of feeling, a feeling of safety or more that I couldn't decipher." Alpha Zeev, Interrupted Alpha Loki, that's my slave, " he said, pulling apart with his Sturdy hands. " Let her be, she's my slave, he growled, tugging my hands."" Not anymore Loki, she's mine, " he spoke, yanking Alpha Loki's hands off me strongly." She's my mate and she's to head to my pack with me as my Luna, Alpha Zeev said, emphasising his words." What a surprising twist I'd say, the most ruthless Alpha seated here today is taking you Fenrir, a spineless wolf as his mate, you're not even a shifter are you, Alpha Loki jested." And on whose orders will she leave, she's mine, Zeev, take your hands off her, Alpha Loki glowered back at Alpha Zeev." You don't want to see whose orders she wants to follow, Loki, get off from my sight" Alpha Zeev snarled." You're going to have a much worse life being his luna than
A smile formed on her face before she closed her eyes slowly and fell back asleep.I felt a sudden wave of spark in my soul ,that little crease on her face." She's fine now Alpha Zeev, Little stress and a lot of care, make sure she's emotionally fine, that's all the important ones. " The physician said ruining the flush of happiness inside me.We're leaving for the Isle now, I commanded the guards each scattering back to their position, I sat in the carriage holding my mate carefully. The sudden feeling of familiarity I felt was overwhelming, maybe it was the mate bond, I didn't despise her touch, her contact with my body, it all felt soothing and warm.I held my hands behind her head creating a comfortable headrest with my palms for her to rest on as the carriage drove to the Isle.Sahrani IsleThe bumpy road on the outskirts of the Isle had me getting on my nerves. The thought of Fenrir still sleeping was getting me worried, it's been hours and she was supposed to be awake now.The
Mara's pov"Mom" , Mara calls out, stomping her feet on the ground as she walks angrily towards the queen."What is the matter Mara? Why does your face carry so much anger?" she asked concerningly."How could you let that happen, Mom? How could you let Fenrir be taken away by Alpha Zeev? You and I know how much I've been trying to form an ally with him. Fenrir can't have him, only I have the right to be his Luna, and wife." She said fuming with anger." Mara!How dare you talk to your mother like that," the king thundered, obviously angered at the turn of events." I've every right to be angry, I have every reason to talk to her like that! why? why did you both let that happen, Alpha Zeev was mine to begin with, how could that spineless bitch that cannot shift, be his Luna?. I, Mara, is the only one who will be by his side." Mara shouted back at the king" Calm down Mara, her life with Alpha Zeev is going to be worse than even being here don't you see," the queen said, trying to take
Alpha Zeev's POV "Good morning my dear Luna," I said walking towards the bed she lay on, her scarlet red face resting lazily on the bed. " Good morning Alpha Zeev", her melodious voice filled the room," "How was your night rest my beautiful Luna?" I asked sitting at the edge of the bed. Handing her a cup of water, her face carried a hint of surprise and she hurled down from the bed. " Sit Fenrir, you do not have to be scared of me, you are safe with me," I said moving closer to her, holding her jaw in my palms as I looked into her eyes. " I'm not scared of you Alpha Zeev, I'm just not used to being treated like this by a stranger," she said with a quivering voice. " I'm not a stranger, Fenrir, I'm your husband, your Alpha," I said back almost with a voice of urgency, the urgency for her to take me in as hers. Her eyes were laden with tears as she looked at me. " I don't know if this is the effect of the mate bond, but I want you to accept me Fenrir, open your heart, and let m
ASTERIA Mara walked around the palace as she awaited the return of the messenger. " Isn't he back yet?" she asked with urgency in her voice. " No my princess, there hasn't been any word from the crystal moon pack either, I guess Alpha Zeev is making his decision," the maid behind her said in a low voice not daring to anger her. " He should be back with that bitch, he must come back to Asteria with her," she said pacing around unsettlingly. " I'll go and check if he has arrived, my princess," the maid said, walking away in a hurry. The quickened footsteps of the maid was no longer heard in the corridor and Mara was left alone to her thoughts. " I'll make sure I kill that bitch once she gets back to Asteria, how dare she follow Alpha Zeev instead of Alpha Loki, she sure has some guts to covet my things," mara murmured to herself. " I never thought of her as a threat, it seems like I've to eliminate her and then everything will be in my grasp," she
" What do we do now mother, the thought of Fenrir staying in crystal Moon pack with Alpha Zeev is getting on my nerves. Didn't you see how he treated the messenger because of her? we have to make haste about it Mother, before it gets too late," Mara said tentatively." Bring me a man from the council of the elders, a high-ranking one, and ask that we meet privately, Alpha Zeev won't be able to reject this offer." The Queen said decisively.FENRIR's POV Kayle walked into the bedroom with a wide smile on her face. " Good morning my lady," she greeted with a happy face." Why do you look so happy, has anything good happened," I asked, sitting up from the bed." Of course, my lady, I'm glad you made the right choice of following Alpha Zeev, everyone in the pack has been talking about how he carried you into the park yesterday," she said giggling with smiles." Why is there so much talk about him carrying me here, I was not fit to walk by myself," I said back to Kayla who cared less about
" Good day my lady," a man in full cladded robe greeted as he walked into the meeting room. " Good day elder Aztec," the queen responded. "Please do have a seat," she said as she gestured to the chair in the room. Mara walked into the room behind Elder Aztec as he made his way to sit opposite the mother-and-daughter duo. " What can I do for you my lady," he asks, settling down. " We er..." Mara makes attempts to state the reason he was summoned. " Let the queen do the talking, my princess, " elder Aztec said, shutting Mara up in an instant. His eyes swept over Mara in a portent manner. " Elder Aztec, I asked that you be brought here because of a very important matter that needs urgent solution," she said and continued. " I know you must have heard about Fenrir being taken away by Alpha Zeev of the crystal moon pack," the queen said, looking into the eyes of elder Aztec for any reaction. " Yes, I've also heard about the messenger and the shenanigans that happened on his arriva