Des Alphas vergessene Königin

CHAPTER ONE

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO

|THE LYCAN CITADEL|

The forest raged beneath Annabelle's feet as she ran, her breath coming in gasping gasps from her lungs.

Moonlight filtered through the canopy of the trees as she continued.

The howling started again behind her, and the sound made her chest seize with panic.

A fallen tree trunk blocked her path. Without thinking, Mira thrust her hand forward, and white-gold power emanated from her palm.

The trunk exploded, and she moved through the gap, her magic still crackling at her fingertips.

She had always been powerful. Even now, fleeing for her life, she could feel the energy within her, but power meant nothing if she couldn't escape.

The howling came closer, and Mira urged herself on even more, her muscles screaming in protest.

She could taste copper on her tongue, and her heart pounded against her ribs as if it were about to burst.

Then the forest opened up before her, and she stumbled to a stop, breathing heavily.

She was about to take a step forward when figures emerged from the edge of the woods from all sides. There were dozens of Lycans and werewolves, and their eyes glittered in the darkness.

Mira whirled around in a desperate spin, her magic flickering around her hands. "Stop!"

None of them moved, except for one figure who stepped forward.

"Asher," she whispered.

Her brother's face showed no emotion as he stared at her, and it broke her heart.

"Asher, please." Mira's voice broke. She took a staggering step toward him, one hand outstretched. "Please, this is wrong. You know this is wrong."

His jaw clenched. For a moment she thought she saw his resolve waver, but when he spoke, his voice was still. "It's for the greater good, Mira."

"The greater good?" She laughed, a broken sound that was half a sob. "What greater good requires that? I'm your sister!"

"And that's why this must happen." Finally, he looked at her, and the pain in his eyes almost brought her to her knees. "The princes have already given their consent; your fate is sealed."

Before she could answer, hands grabbed her arms, and her magic shot up in response, but someone behind her murmured words in an ancient language.

She felt her power suddenly diminish, and they dragged her from the clearing while she screamed Asher's name.

*******

The chamber in which they imprisoned her was small and windowless, illuminated by a single torch that cast shadows on the stone walls.

Mira had become exhausted trying to summon her magic across the bond that had been imposed upon her.

Now she sat in the corner, her knees drawn up to her chest, and her body shivered from a coldness that had nothing to do with the temperature.

The door opened.

She looked up and saw Pesos standing in the threshold, his wide frame illuminated from the corridor behind.

He quickly entered and closed the door behind him, then stood there and just looked at her.

"Go outside," said Mira, her voice hoarse from screaming.

"Mira –"

"Go out!"

He crossed the room in three steps and dropped to his knees in front of her, taking her hands in his grasp. She tried to pull away, but he held on tight, his grip gentle despite his strength.

"I'm sorry," he said, and his voice broke. "Mira, I'm so sorry."

She stared at him, her lips trembling. "Then stop it. Whatever they're planning... stop it."

"I can't." The words sounded as if they were being torn from his grasp. "The council has decided, and the packs have agreed. It's already underway."

"You are an alpha! You have power!"

He squeezed her hands and finally looked into her eyes. "It's not enough to compete against them all."

Mira felt tears running down her face. "Pesos, please. Don't let her do this to me."

"You must be strong." He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers. "You must endure what is to come. Promise me you will."

"What will they do to me?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he leaned back and cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. Then he kissed her forehead.

"I love you," he whispered. "Remember, no matter what happens. I love you."

Then the door opened again, she looked up and saw two figures standing silhouetted in the doorway. Her heart leaped.

"Xian," she breathed. "Zeus."

The two Alphas entered the chamber, and Mira heaved herself up on unsteady legs.

"Xian?" Mira's voice came out small and uncertain. She searched his face for any sign of warmth. "Zeus?"

Neither of them spoke. They moved towards her without a word and flanked her on both sides.

"Please," she whispered, looking back and forth between them. "Help me, please."

Xi'an's hand closed around her upper arm, while Zeus took her other arm.

"It's time," said Xian, his voice devoid of emotion.

They led her to the door, and Mira's legs threatened to buckle beneath her. "Wait!"

But they didn't stop. She turned to give Pesos one last look as they escorted her out of the room.

They continued walking until they came to a huge gate that stood open towards the night.

The area behind it was filled with hundreds of people; Lycans and werewolves stood side by side, watching with bated breath.

Mira could feel the magic in the air, pulsing through the earth like a heartbeat.

They led her to the center of the ritual, and symbols were carved into the stones around her feet.

She looked out into the crowd, her vision blurred by tears, and found the three faces she was looking for.

Pesos stood at the edge of the circle, Xian and Zeus had taken their places among the other generals, their expressions impenetrable.

Mira tried to anchor the images in her memory, clinging to them against what was to come.

The singing began as voices rose in unison, the symbols at Mira's feet began to glow until they were ablaze with red light.

The pain began in her chest, and she felt her magic being ripped away. She tried to hold on to it, but the ritual was too powerful.

She screamed as everything she had been was consumed by the merciless fire of the ritual.

The last thing she saw before the darkness engulfed her were the three alphas in the crowd – then there was nothing.