ANMELDENAshina pov
My heart pounded so violently, it felt like it was trying to break free from my chest.
By sunset, I would be dead.
I stood motionless while the maids fastened the last buttons of the black ceremonial gown. Their hands moved quickly, efficiently as though they had done this countless times before.
Maybe they had.
Maybe every woman before me had stood exactly where I was standing now...
Waiting to become the Rogue Alpha King's next dead mate. I stared at my reflection as the black gown fit perfectly, flowing to the floor like a shadow. Silver embroidery curled across the bodice, catching the moonlight spilling through the tall windows.
A beautiful dress for a doomed bride.
"You're going to survive." The words echoed inside my head not because I believed them Because I needed to.
I hadn't endured eighteen years of my father's hatred just to die in a kingdom that wasn't even mine.
I refused so I would have to survive If only to return one day and make every single person who called me cursed regret it.
A knock echoed against the door as Kaia stepped inside.
"It's time." My stomach twisted without another word, I followed her. The fortress was unnaturally quiet only the distant sound of guards changing shifts beneath the full moon.
The closer we came to the ceremonial hall, the harder my heart beat as Every step reminded me of the stories. Every woman who became the Rogue Alpha King's Luna died before the moon set.
would I be any different?
Or was I simply the next name added to the list?
The enormous doors opene as Cold night air swept over me. The ceremony had already begun as a people stood around the stone altar.
The King's adviser stood near The dying Alpha King sat upon an elevated throne overlooking the ceremony, his breathing slow, his face pale with illness.
Draven.
He stood before the altar dressed entirely in black, Tall and Broad shouldered immediately his silver eyes found mine immediately for a long moment neither of us spoke.
The Moon Priest stepped forward.
"The full moon has risen."
"It is time." I climbed the final steps until I stood beside him close enough to feel the cold radiating from his body. it was as though winter itself lived beneath his skin.
The priest began reciting the ancient vows as his words blurred together. I barely heard them as my heartbeat drowned out everything else. When instructed, I repeated the vows so did Draven.
His voice never wavered but Mine almost did.
The priest produced a ceremonial blade as a shallow cut opened across my palm another across Draven's. When our blood met...A sharp pain shot through my chest as I gasped immediately.
It felt as though something invisible had wrapped itself around my heart.
The mating bond.
The priest raised both hands.
"Before the Moon Goddess and all who stand witness..."
"I declare you mates." No one moved because They were waiting for me to collapse dead but I didn't immediately my breathing quickened.
I looked down at myself and I was still standing. The guards exchanged uneasy glances as the Moon Priest frowned.
The King's adviser checked the position of the full moon before looking back at me in disbelief.
As Draven's silver eyes narrowed as he reached out and gripped my wrist. His gaze remained fixed on my face.
"You're still alive???"
Before I could answer, a deafening roar erupted somewhere beneath the castle.
The King's adviser turned sharply toward the guards.
"Take His Majesty to the lower chamber." His gaze shifted to me.
"And prepare the Luna." My pulse spiked.
Prepare me?
Two maids hurried forward leading me to the inner chambers as they removed the ceremonial cloak from my shoulders before wrapping thick white robes around me. I stared at them, confused.
"What are you doing?" No one answered.
The castle shook again as I immediately recognize the roar wasn't human.
It wasn't wolf, was something far older. Something that made every hair on my body stand on end. The adviser met my frightened gaze.
"If the curse accepts you..." He paused.
"You may save the Alpha King." His expression darkened.
"But if it doesn't..." The iron gates beneath the fortress groaned open.
"...you'll become its next meal before the moon sets."
Ashina pov The castle wasn't silent. It only pretended to be. I stood in the doorway of my chamber, my fingers tightening around the wooden frame as two women dragged a dead body leaving a thin trail of crimson behind them. My stomach twisted as one of the women caught me staring."You'll get used to it." Used to it? I watched them disappear around the corner only then did I realize where I truly was.The Rogue Territory, Growing up, the women in my old pack loved gossip. Whenever Mother entertained guests for afternoon tea, they whispered about the Rogue Alpha King. They called him a butcher, a monster. A man whose kingdom survived because fear ruled it. I had always believed they exaggerated. Standing here... I realized they hadn't exaggerated enough. The rumors hadn't even scratched the surface."Enjoying the view?" The deep voice made me jump as I turned as Draven stood at the end of the corridor, dressed entirely in black as his silver eyes fixed on me. "I wasn't." He walke
Ashina's POVThe morning after my failed escape, the castle felt colder not because of the weather but because of him. I hadn't seen Draven since the curse had nearly consumed him the previous night and part of me hoped I wouldn't.The other part knew that was impossible.A maid silently handed me a dark blue dress before lowering her head."The King requests your presence." Requests It sounded polite but we both knew it wasn't.I followed two guards through endless stone corridors until enormous double doors came into view as the doors opened.My footsteps faltered as dozens of warriors lined both sides of the room, their heads bowed. Ministers stood in silence while several prisoners knelt in the center of the hall, their hands bound behind their backs.As Draven sat on the throne his posture was relaxed as he watched the prisoners with unreadable silver eyes.He looked Bored and obviously Angry as usual.A guard shoved me forward."My King, Your Luna is here ." His gaze shifted to
Ashina pov The heavy doors slammed shut behind me as my heart pound against my ribs.We were alone.I took an instinctive step backward but Draven stood near the bed, his broad shoulders tense, his silver eyes fixed on me with unsettling calm.He wasn't the beast anymore, He was the man.The Rogue Alpha King and somehow that frightened me even more as He started walking toward me.Slowly and Deliberately as Every step made my pulse race faster."Don't come any closer," I warned, forcing my voice to stay steady but He didn't stop."I said don't.""I make the rules here Sunshine ." His deep voice was calm enough to send a chill down my spine as my back hit the wooden door.There was nowhere left to go. He stopped only inches away towering over me as his silver eyes searched my face before one hand slowly reached up, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my eyes.I jerked my head away."Don't touch me." I voiced as his brow lifted."Are you afraid of me?" My terrified eyes met his g
Ashina pov My wrists burned beneath the cold iron shackles. The chains rattled softly every time I moved, the sound echoing through the enormous underground chamber.They had chained me because if I died It would be easier to drag my body back out.The thought sent another wave of fear crashing through me. I pulled against the chains instinctively before stopping.There was no escaping especially not from him. The air smelled of damp stone and iron.Torches flickered along the walls, their flames barely reaching the darkness ahead.A low growl, Deep and Heavy.The kind of sound that didn't belong to any ordinary wolf.My heart slammed painfully against my ribs.Slowly as a massive shadow emerged from the darkness.The beast, He was enormous twice the size of any wolf I'd ever seen, his black fur shimmered beneath the torchlight while glowing silver markings crawled across his body like living veins.His eyes were silver.Col
Ashina povMy heart pounded so violently, it felt like it was trying to break free from my chest.By sunset, I would be dead.I stood motionless while the maids fastened the last buttons of the black ceremonial gown. Their hands moved quickly, efficiently as though they had done this countless times before.Maybe they had.Maybe every woman before me had stood exactly where I was standing now...Waiting to become the Rogue Alpha King's next dead mate. I stared at my reflection as the black gown fit perfectly, flowing to the floor like a shadow. Silver embroidery curled across the bodice, catching the moonlight spilling through the tall windows.A beautiful dress for a doomed bride."You're going to survive." The words echoed inside my head not because I believed them Because I needed to.I hadn't endured eighteen years of my father's hatred just to die in a kingdom that wasn't even mine.I refused so I would have to surviv
Draven povThey call me the Ruthless Rogue Alpha King.The Butcher, The Devil of the Rogue Kingdom's The monster who laughs while kingdoms burn If only they knew the truth that monsters don't remember every innocent soul they've failed to save.Monsters don't wake in the middle of the night hearing the screams of women they couldn't protect and monsters certainly don't pray for death.I do, Every single day.The wind howled beyond the towering windows of Blackthorn Keep as I stood overlooking my kingdom.Thousands of lights flickered below, scattered across the Rogue Territory. How long will I protect them?They had no idea I was the greatest threat they would ever face."Your father grows weaker." The voice slithered through my mind Ancient and Cruel, The beast it self."Soon his heartbeat will cease..and when it does the blessing dies with him." My jaw tightened."I know." As a low laugh echoed inside my skull."Do you?""Then why







