Chapter 1: The Devil’s Bride

Kyra's POV 

Pain exploded across my back.

"Tell me the truth, you worthless child!"

"I swear, I didn't take it!" I pleaded as my father whipped me.

Behind him, Myra and my stepmother stood laughing while I choked back tears.  

My father's most prized possession, a golden ring made for him by the Pack's famous goldsmith, had suddenly gone missing.  

I didn't know anything about it until he stormed into my room, dragged me out like a ragdoll, and ordered the guards to tie me to a pillar in front of the Pack house.

I only realised the gravity of the situation when Myra pointed at me, accusing me of stealing the ring.

I tried to deny the accusation.

I told him it wasn't me, but it was futile. My words meant nothing to him. He only listened to my stepmother and stepsister.

"She's a thief! A useless princess who steals," my stepmother shouted.

Her words were like fuel to a raging fire. It made my father whip me even harder.

I begged and pleaded with him, but each plea was met with a harder strike, and another, until I hung limp over the pillar. 

"Mother, please help me," I cried out to my dead mother, wishing she had never left me alone with these cruel people.

"Worthless, good-for-nothing, wolf-less brat!'' Father cursed, whipping me one last time.

I sagged against the pillar, too weak to move anymore. My back burned. I could only imagine the number of scars this would leave. 

"Since you've decided to act like a criminal, you'll be treated like one. You will be locked in your room with no food or water until you return my ring,” Father declared. 

I didn't respond. I could barely lift my head.

“If anyone gives her food or water, they'll answer to me," he threatened everyone.

He tossed his whip aside and ordered the guards to take me to my room and lock me up.

I watched as two guards untied me and dragged me to my room like I was a corpse. 

They gently placed me on the bed. They apologized for the pain before locking me up in my room.

I understood why they were hard on me in front of their Alpha.

I wept all alone in bed. 

"Why didn't you take me with you?" I sobbed; I couldn't feel any part of my body.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on my door, followed by laughter. 

"How's your back?" Myra taunted.

“You think you're smart.” 

"You're worthless, always have been, and always will be. Remember that next time you want to play smart," my stepmother added. 

They snickered and laughed as they walked away. But their words lingered like poison, making me wish for death.

When night finally came, I felt a bit better. 

The pain had dulled just enough for me to breathe easily. This wasn’t the first time I’d been beaten, I’d learned how to survive pain. 

My heart skipped when the door creaked open and a guard stepped inside.

"The Alpha wants you to join him outside," he reported.

My breath caught in my throat when I heard this. I wondered what my father wanted.

"Has he forgiven me and now wants to hear me out?" I mused, thinking my dream for a fatherly love was finally coming true.

I followed the guard outside the mansion. 

The entire Pack was gathered along with my father, stepmother, and Myra, all looking grim and sullen.

"What's going on here?" I asked the guard, but he didn't respond.

"What took you so long?" Someone growled from behind, sending shivers down my spine.

I turned to see who it was and froze.

Alpha Roderick. 

The Devil Alpha, feared by many. 

His red eyes glowed as he glared at me. 

He came closer, and I instinctively stepped back. I felt my knees go weak, but my father caught me and shoved me forward before I could fall.

"Behave yourself before your husband, Kyra," Father announced, shocking me to my core.

"Husband?!" I looked at him, stunned. 

Tears welled in my eyes as I realized why I was called outside.

My father had sold me to the Devil Alpha for the sake of his Pack and home.

"When you're done, bring her to me," Alpha Roderick said, walking past with his eyes on me.

I trembled at his cold gaze. I couldn't marry that man. 

Once he was gone, I dropped to my knees, crawled towards my father and held his feet.

“Father, please,” I begged. “Don’t make me go with him

"Is it because of the ring? I'll look for it, Father. I'll find it, I promise!" I cried.

"I'll do anything! I'll work with the servants, wash with the Omegas… anything! Father, please, I'd rather die than go with him!" I pleaded, not minding the looks the Pack members gave me.

"If you say you'd do anything, then go with your husband! He has paid for you. You have no choice," Father concluded. 

I fell to the ground, devastated.

"See this as a chance to be useful to your people for once. You're bringing peace by being his Luna. Don't bring us any more shame," my stepmother reprimanded, digging her fingers into my arms. 

She dragged me towards the guards, and with a signal from Father, the guards pulled me away, taking me to meet Alpha Roderick.

I thrashed and screamed for help, but no one cared. 

"Father, please! I don't want to go!" I cried, but no one listened to my pleas. They all acted like I never existed, and that shattered me even more.

The guards brought me before Alpha Roderick, who had seen the whole drama between me and my family.

His red eyes darted to me, chilling me to my bones. He grabbed my wrist tightly and whispered.

“You are my bride now, Kyra. I own you.”

Goddess! I've been given out to the devil himself as a bride.