Alpha's Cage Bride

Pain was the first thing I felt. My body ached so much that moving any part of it—including my eyes—felt impossible. Still in darkness, I felt the bite of cold iron shackles around my wrists, followed by a dull, throbbing ache in my skull. A whimper escaped my lips as I tried to flutter my eyes open. I blinked against the dim torchlight illuminating the cell. Panic surged within me. "Where is my brother?" The question escaped before I could stop it, though I desperately wanted answers. Memories flooded my head like a raging storm—the attack, my pack's desperate screams, the stench of burning flesh, the metallic scent of blood bitter as ash. My father is running instead of fighting. I remembered dragging my wounded brother toward the woods when black wolves with eyes red as burning coals surrounded us. Then darkness consumed me. Now I was in his dungeon. Footsteps echoed outside the cell, slow and deliberate. Snarling, I forced myself upright, teeth gritted against my stiff limbs

My heart thundered in my chest as I stepped into the great hall. Everyone fell silent, their eyes boring into me—some hostile, others curious, a few unreadable. I forced myself to focus on the Alpha standing at the altar, his back to me. Even from behind, he looked commanding, his broad shoulders and defined silhouette radiating power.I shook my head, reminding myself he was the reason I was here. Taking a steadying breath, I walked forward until I stood before him. His dark eyes raked over me from head to toe, and I couldn't tell what he was thinking. His intense gaze made my breath catch, and against my will, I found myself wondering what was going through his mind. After a long pause, his eyes met mine, neither of us willing to look away first."Today, we gather for a sacred rite in the Black Shadow Pack," announced the elderly woman officiating the ceremony. Her voice carried across the hall with practiced authority. "We celebrate the mating ceremony of our Alpha and his chosen m

~Lael~My eyes fluttered open, and I yawned as I stretched my body. Sitting upright, I expected to see Jared in the room, but the sheet beside me wasn't ruffled, showing that he hadn't slept on the bed with me. I felt quite relieved and got down from the bed, ready to take my bath, when a knock on the door stopped me."Luna, are you awake?" It sounded like a young lady's voice.'Luna!' I still didn't feel comfortable hearing that word. Nevertheless, I told her I was awake, and three ladies walked in with supplements, rose petals in a bowl, and other essentials."We are here to prepare you for your bath," one of the ladies said. From how they were dressed, I could tell they were maids.My eyes narrowed as I repeated their words. "Bathe?""Yes," they said in unison. This felt so weird. I wanted to tell them to leave—I had always prepared my own bath when I was in my former pack, and hearing this made it feel so foreign. Before I could utter any words, they entered the bathroom. After a