-3-

|ALAN|

"In a few minutes, we will be inlaws so you can talk to me freely," I said to Prince Rowan who stepped back leaving me at the altar.

A frown etched on his face as he stood with folded arms beside his father and mother who also looked grim. I didn't care, their sadness made it more fun.

Princess Astraea, I've always had my eyes on her since she reached the age of eighteen. Dark long hair, perfect for me to pull, her innocent gray eyes, and those plum lips. Curves at the right places and an aura that held royalty.

I waited for her naive father to make a mistake and he did. Her father shielded her from other alphas but in a few minutes, his precious little will be mine.

My slave.

The music started and Astraea walked down the aisle, her dress was loose around her waist, like she had lost weight. She stood opposite me and I could smell the fear and anxiousness oozing from her.

I stared at her exposed arm, looking for faint marks from my claws but none.

"Do you, Princess Astraea of the werewolf Kingdom, take Alpha Alan Treynor as your-"

Impatient, I cut the priest midway as I pulled the veil off her face, nervous green eyes staring back at me. It was her maid, was it, Esther? Elma? No-Eloise. 

"Where is Astraea?" I bellowed, my rage boiling.

Eloise stammered, avoiding my gaze and I clasped my hand around her neck digging my claws into her esophagus. 

She struggled but refused to say a word.

"Let her go!" Prince Rowan rushed to me, fury surged through me, and without a second thought, I tossed Eloise to a corner. The crowd gasped in shock.

I scoffed, "So you're in this too?" Rowan stared at me, anger also laced in his eyes.

Rage burned within me as I stormed out of the ceremony, realizing that Astraea had slipped through my fingers. The only escape route she could have taken was by sea, cleverly masking her scent and bypassing security.

My fists clenched at the thought of her defiance. She would soon discover that there was no escaping my grasp. I vowed to find her, drag her back to the kingdom, and make her pay for humiliating me.

The moonlit night served as my witness as I and my men burst into her room searching for any clues.

"Alpha." One of my men called out as I stared at his hand which was covered in blue.

A burning determination fueled my every step as I followed the trail she left behind. Astraea might have thought she could outrun me, but she was sorely mistaken. No one defied an alpha without facing consequences.

She may be a princess, a higher rank. But I am a male, I will always be at the top.

My mind swirled with thoughts of retribution. I envisioned her on a leash, broken and submissive. The mere idea of her defiance fueled the fire within me.

"She can't hide forever," I growled, my eyes ablaze with a relentless desire to claim what was rightfully mine. Astraea would pay dearly for her audacity, and the sea would not shield her from the fury that awaited.

She's dead meat.

•

|ASTRAEA|

The boat rocked gently as it sailed through the moonlit waters, carrying me away from the kingdom that was supposed to be my prison. I gazed out at the vast expanse, hoping for a new beginning far from the clutches of Alan Treynor. 

As the sea breeze tousled my deep blue hair, I couldn't shake the fear of being discovered. I pulled my cloak closer to my face as the other passengers shattered freely.

For once in my life, I was happy my father restricted me from leaving the palace, no one recognized me and with my blue hair, I was a whole new person.

'We've never been outside the castle this long,' Asana said in my head with glee. She was excited about our departure.

 Eloise's sacrifice gave me a chance at freedom, but the price she paid weighed heavily on my heart. I hoped she was alright.

Meanwhile, Alan's rage echoed in my mind. I knew he would stop at nothing to find me. The moon cast a silver glow on the water, and I whispered, "Thank you, Eloise, for giving me this chance."

However, the peaceful night was shattered when I sensed a familiar presence approaching. 

My heart raced as I scanned the horizon for any signs of pursuit. In the distance, howls echoed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. Alan's pack was on the hunt, and I was their elusive prey.

Shrill screams of the passengers echoed as Alan's pack began jumping into the sea. I freaked out looking for a way to escape but I was surrounded by water.

"There you are." My eyes met with Alan's raging ones as he pulled me out of the boat dragging me onto land by my hair.

I screamed, water filling my lungs as he kept pulling me by my hair. My scalp throbbed in pain and the water kept hitting me.

The last thing I remember is the soft feel of sand sticking to my body before I blacked out.

•

 My head throbbed as sobs echoed. I opened my eyes to be hit with a bright light. 

I was at the altar, I looked around to see my parents and my siblings with tears in their eyes and my eyes flashed to someone lying on the ground.

"E-Eloise!" My words came out in cracks, I rushed to her but I was pulled back by a tug on my neck, strangling and slamming me back to my original position.

Tears brimmed in my eyes as I glanced at the chains on my neck. A pair of feet stood in front of me and I raised my head to be met with Alan.

"Hm, Astraea, I never really wanted to do this…but you, you provoked me." He said with a pout, caressing my chin with his disgusting hands.

"Blue looks good on you, too bad it's not permanent. Begin the ceremony!"

"No! She doesn't h-"

"One word or action from you again and I'll tighten the chains around her pathetic neck!" Alan growled at Rowan who looked at me with sadness in his eyes.

"Let go of her!" I could hear my sister's voice, Nakira growled at him. I smiled inwardly at my sister's actions. 

His fists landed on my stomach, blood seeping out of my mouth as I groaned in pain. If I married him, I would die and if I refused to, I would still die.

"What did I say about actions and words?!" 

The priest with a shaky voice moved his gaze from Alan to my brother, conflicted.

"Continue."

"D-Do you, Alan Treynor, take Princess A-Astraea to be your Luna and w-wife?" I shook my head begging for him to say no but he glared at me making me whimper in fear.

I couldn't breathe well, my hands tugged on the chain trying to release it but to no avail.

"I do."

"Do you, Princess Astraea-"

"No! No, I don't!" my voice came out hoarse as Alan grabbed my hair pulling me up to his level. I trembled in fear as our eyes met.

"One more dumb thing and I'll finish off your family and serve them as our honeymoon dinner. Am I clear?" I choked, nodding.

"Do you, Princess Astraea, accept Alan Treynor as your Alpha and husband?" 

"Go on, say the words." Alan urged dangerously and I bit my lip, the metallic taste staining my lips.

"Y-"

Boom! A crash was heard and in a twinkle of an eye, Alan was being strangled by an unknown man who oozed power.

I- I knew this person, This otherworldly aura and his physique. He tossed Alan to a pillar knocking him out. He strode towards me and my breath hitched as he crouched in front of me.

His hands brushed my skin, taking the chains off and I started into his eyes. Obsidian black eyes.

"O-Orion, you came?" I asked, hope surging through me as his eyes never left mine. 

"You called." His voice was calm, a deep rich tone underneath that made me relax.

"Mate."

That was the last thing I heard before I blacked out, again.