7. I Am Not a Child

Destiny

I locked my gaze with his, feeling my heart slam against my chest.

He stood tall and menacing, seeming to grow larger and more imposing with each passing second as his broad shoulders seemed to swell and stretch. There was nothing but silence between us, and I found myself unable to move or break the spell of our shared stare.

I still didn't know how to process this. I was standing in front of the notorious Alpha King, and he was supposed to be my mate? What kind of joke was Moon Goddess playing on me?

"What is your name?" he asked. His voice sounded deep and gravelly. King of rough, almost like shattered glass. I don't know how else to describe it.

I gulped, unwilling to speak to him, but I didn't want to anger him with my silence. "Destiny."

Alpha Aldric scoffed as if he disapproved of my name.

 In his world, names had power and significance, and he must have judged mine lacking in some way. However, I knew better than to argue or defend myself - any display of weakness or defiance would only make him more aggressive.

Instead, I stood there in silence, waiting for him to speak again. His eyes seemed to bore into me, searching for something deeper than my name. I realized that he was trying to gauge my strength, my resolve, and my potential as his mate.

Without warning, he lunged forward, grabbing me by the arm with a fierce grip. I gasped, feeling his hot breath on my face as he pulled me closer to him. For a moment, I thought he was going to kill me.

But then, he spoke again, his voice low and intense. "You will be mine, Destiny. You will learn to submit to me, to obey me, to please me in every way."

I shivered at his words, both terrified and aroused by his dominance. It was clear that he was not a man to be trifled with.

He seized my jaw with his calloused hands, forcing me to look up into his icy eyes. "Too bad you are still too young," he spat disdainfully. "Leave it to the moon goddess to pair me with a damn child."

"I...I am not a child," I said, attempting to contain my fear. "I am turning eighteen next month." The moment I uttered those words, I wanted to snatch them back and stuff them down my throat. Why did I have to tell him that!? It was clear as day that he had no interest in me while I was underage. And maybe that was for the better. Oh god, how could I be so stupid!

His lips twisted into a grin. It was as if he had found something that he had been looking for and was pleased with the outcome. "Good," he said. "I will wait for you then."

The words echoed in my head like a death bell. He was going to wait for me? What did that even mean?

Did it mean that he was going to claim me as his mate when I turned eighteen? And then what will happen to me?

I couldn't tell what his intentions were, but I knew one thing for sure: I had to get away from him as soon as possible.

I tried to pull away from his grip, but his hold on my jaw only tightened. "Now, now, Destiny," he said in a honeyed voice. "You don't want to anger me, do you? I could do things to you that would make your pretty little head spin."

His words sent shivers down my spine, and I could feel the fear creeping up inside me like tendrils of smoke. I didn't want to be here anymore. I didn't want to be his mate. I didn't want any of this to be happening.

But as much as I wanted to flee, I knew that I couldn't. 

Suddenly, my stomach growled. It made a strange sound, like a roar at the sight of something small and defenseless.

The Alpha King chuckled at the sound of my stomach, and I felt the heat rise up to my cheeks in embarrassment. He leaned in closer to me, his breath warm on my face as he spoke in a low, dangerous growl.

"Are you hungry, my little mate?" he asked, his hand still gripping my jaw tightly. "Do not worry, I will take care of you."

Before I could even form a response, he lifted me up in his strong arms, effortlessly carrying me out of the throne room where we had been standing. I clung to him, feeling a mix of fear and excitement coursing through my body.

We walked down a long hallway, the clacking of his boots on the marble floor echoing loudly in the empty space. The air was thick with tension as we made our way towards another room.

He put me down and I got to look around the room. The room was dark and cold. I felt sick at the thought of being here for days on end, expected to Alpha Aldric whenever he pleased.

"This is where you'll stay," Alpha Aldric said. "I will tell my maid to bring you some food."

I looked up at him, and before I could say anything, he dragged his finger slowly up my cheek. "She will bring you some clothes too."

"Where is my sister?" I asked quickly.

"She is not my problem," he grumbled.

My heart plummeted when Alpha Aldric's words sunk in. I had no idea what happened to Aria and I needed to know she was safe.

But before I could protest, the Alpha King was off, walking out of the room. The doors slammed shut, leaving me in the darkness. I was alone. I let out a whimper as more thoughts of my friends and my home filtered through my mind. I hated being here, but there was nothing I could do about it.

The only thing I could do was try to make the best of the situation and try not to let my anger get the best of me.

I looked around the dark room, my hand reaching up for the lamp on the wall with a loud snap. As light filled the room, I examined my surroundings. It was unlived-in, with hard marble floors and bare walls. The only things inside were a big bookcase and a simple bed, complete with a single, clean white sheet.

I let out a sigh that was partly relief and partly fear. I didn't want to sleep here. I didn't want to be caught in this room, mating with this man. But I was safe for now. At least until I turned eighteen.