002. HER FATE NOT BY CHOICE

AYLA

Later that day, Ayla ran into her room and slammed the wooden door shut behind her. Her heart was racing, her breath short and shaky. She felt trapped. How could her own father do this to her? He knew what kind of man the Alpha King was. Everyone did. His name was feared across the land, spoken in whispers only. The king was cruel, cold, and dangerous.

Ayla collapsed onto her bed, clutching a soft pillow tightly as tears poured down her face. Why did some women actually fight for a chance to be with him? How could they want to belong to a man like that?

The Alpha King had once rejected his fated mate, something so serious that it had angered the Moon Goddess herself. Because of that choice, he was now cursed. His body was failing, his power weakening, and death slowly creeping closer. He was no longer the mighty king he once was. And now, her family wanted to offer her to him, as if she were a gift. As if she was just meant to be his future widow.

A deep pain spread through her chest as the tears kept falling. She knew that crying wouldn’t change anything, but the hurt she felt couldn’t be stopped. Her own family hadn’t even asked how she felt. Not once. They had decided her future without a single thought for her heart.

A sudden knock on her door made her jump. She wiped at her wet cheeks quickly but said nothing. She didn’t want to talk. She didn’t have the strength to argue anymore. A moment later, the door creaked open, and her father stepped inside.

Ayla slowly got up from the bed. Though her heart was full of anger and pain, she bowed her head out of habit and respect.

“Ayla,” her father began gently, his voice soft and sad, “I never meant to hurt you. That was not my intention.”

She still didn’t look up at him. Her eyes stayed on the floor.

“Please don’t think I’m sending you there because I don’t love you,” he continued. “That’s not true.”

“Then why?” she asked, her voice cracking as she lifted her eyes to meet his. “Why would you send me to him? You know what kind of monster he is. You know he’s dying!”

Her father nodded, his face tight with pain. “That’s exactly why, Ayla. Maybe you can heal him. Imagine if you saved the Alpha King. You could become his queen. You would rule beside him. Do you understand what that could mean for you, and for all of us?”

He took a deep breath and continued, “It’s not just about money or power. This is your chance to change your life. People in this pack will never forget where you came from. They’ll always remember your mother. But in the Sea Moon Kingdom, you could start fresh. A new beginning.”

He walked out without saying anymore words. The door closed immediately and he stepped out.

His words hurt her even more. They felt sharp like knives, cutting deep. But there was still something she needed to understand.

Her mother. She never knew who her mother was. What she looked like, or what she did. The only thing she knew is that the pack hated her for something her mother did.

“Maybe marrying the king won’t be that bad,” Maya, her wolf, spoke softly in her mind.

“I don’t know, Maya,” Ayla replied. “I’m confused. Everything is happening so fast. But my father has already decided. Maybe this is the only way out.”

“Exactly,” Maya agreed. “This could be the beginning of something better. Maybe you can even heal the king.”

Ayla thought about it. Everything she had heard about the Alpha King had come from rumors. Maybe there was more to the story. Could he really be saved?

“Let’s go for a run,” she told her wolf. “I need to clear my head.”

She slipped out of the house quietly and headed for the forest. Once there, she removed her clothes and shifted into her wolf form. Her fur was pure black, her body slightly larger than most wolves her age. The transformation was smooth, and in moments, she was running.

The wind pushed through her fur as she raced across the woods. Her paws hit the earth hard, her breathing even as she made lap after lap. She must have run a hundred times around the forest, but she still felt full of energy.

Then, suddenly, she stopped. Something near the river caught her attention. A presence, powerful and calming.

A dark shape appeared near the water, and Ayla’s body froze. She shifted back quickly and pulled on her dress, bowing her head as she looked at the river.

There, in the water’s reflection, stood the Moon Goddess.

“Ayla,” the goddess said, her voice soft and strong. It sent chills over Ayla’s skin. “Do not be afraid. I have come to guide you. Everything happening in your life has a purpose. Do not lose hope. You must go to the Sea Moon Kingdom and marry the king.”

Ayla’s eyes widened. She couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Why would you want me to marry a king who was cursed?”

The goddess gave her a gentle smile. “I did not curse him. His pain is the result of his own choices. He rejected his true mate and brought sorrow upon himself. But he can still be healed. And you, Ayla, are the one who can do it. Only you can bring back balance.”

Before Ayla could ask anything else, the reflection faded. The goddess was gone.

Ayla stood quietly by the river for a moment, the wind whispering through the trees. Then she turned and began to walk home. Her mind was full, but her heart felt different now. This was no longer just about escaping her past.

But this felt different. If the goddess wanted her to do it, then she would.

She had already been thinking about escaping the nightmare she was living in.

Now that the goddess had given her a sign, she had no reason to be afraid anymore.

As she walked forward, she felt like someone was watching her. She turned around, her eyes looking everywhere. But she saw nothing.

Suddenly, she felt something touch her most private part. Her heart stopped. She looked around again. Everything turned dark.

Just a moment ago it was daytime. Now she was in a dark forest. She was naked. Her hands were tied to a tall tree. Her legs were spread apart. Her body was shaking, and her mouth was covered.

A very tall man came toward her. She couldn’t see his face. But she saw what was between his legs, and that’s when she knew. He had finally found her.