Fated to the Cursed Alpha King

Lyria’s POVMy breaths came in ragged gasps as I tried to keep my head above the surface of the deep, cold, and relentless river.I forgot how to catch my own breath the moment I watched my mum’s body gradually sink deeper. Desperation coursed through my entire existence as I struggled against the current.“Hold on, Mom, please!” I cried, reaching for her.After what felt like a lifetime, I was happy that I had almost gotten to her. Albeit unsettling that her head was now dangerously below the water and she wouldn't last long there, her struggling hands above it still offered me a glimmer of hope.In no time, I covered the little gap left between us, only for me to try and connect my hand with hers, and then—my fingers brushed nothing but air.To my utter bewilderment, she didn’t even drown. She just vanished.My loud scream was met with derisive laughter as I jerked back to life. To reality.I wasn’t dreaming anymore, yet water dripped down my face in a slow, steady trickle. My mat

Lyria's POVA strangled gasp tore from my lips as I scrambled to my feet and bolted.Branches slapped at my face, twigs snapped under my feet, but I didn’t dare stop.I had done what my instincts told me to do by running. But I hadn't gotten far when realization dawned on me that I could never outrun this beast. Not when I couldn't even shift. Not when my wolf is latent and weak. I was exhausted, and far too slow.Desperation clawed at my chest as I skulked my way into a thick bush, crouching as low as possible to avoid being detected.The lion skidded to a stop just a few feet away, scanning the area with narrowed eyes, looking confused. The confusion was replaced by anger as it let out a powerful roar.Powerful enough to make me cower even more with my heart racing to an alarming rate, but not powerful enough to make me stupidly come out of hiding, throw my hands in the air and offer myself as a living sacrifice. It couldn’t see me. But I could see it through the tiny space the

Lyria's POV The music, the frenzied dance, the squeals of excitement, the lively chatters and every other activity going on at the festival became irrelevant to my senses as I knelt down beside the grand vacant chair of the king, awaiting his arrival.My head was bowed low and I had my eyes fixated to the ground, just as instructed. I had no liberty to partake in any of the activities or even look elsewhere but at the ground throughout, whereas everyone else were having the best moment of their lives. I could feel the eyes of some of the elders on me as if trying to make sure I did nothing else but what was required of me. “Hey Slave,” the chief elder called out to me. I like that I had been instructed not to raise my head up or look anywhere else but at the ground unless told otherwise. That aided my pretense not to know I was the one he was referring to. From the corner of my eyes, I saw him marching down toward me, displeased with how I made him speak to the wind. Having endu

Lyria's POV Ever since the king’s announcement this morning, time ran so fast, like a fugitive who was just spotted and chased through the wilderness. Still, I couldn't help but envy it. I wished I could vanish the same way—slipping through the cracks of this temporary prison, away from the cruel fate that awaited me. But escape was impossible. The cell I was thrown into was heavily guarded, its iron bars a constant reminder of the death sentence disguised as a trial.The king’s declaration and the head enforcer's explanation of it did not stop flickering in my head all day. I had been sentenced to the Blood Trials. A fight for survival. A battle I was destined to lose. The truth had settled into my bones like poison, spreading through every inch of me, making me weak with dread.Worry skirted the edges of my mind throughout the day, wrapping itself around me like a noose, pulling tighter with each passing hour. It clouded my thoughts so much that I failed to realize night had al

Kael's POV A knock on the door jerked me from the spiraling tunnel of my thoughts. I sprang to my feet at once, my heart hammering with a mix of hope and desperation. It had to be Hood—I was certain of it. Perhaps he’d finally dug up the answers I’d been clawing at for days now.“Come in,” I called, already halfway turned toward the door.I was even about to ask him when he started waiting for my response before he could come in. But to my surprise, the door creaked open, and it wasn’t Hood.It was Ivy.She walked in gracefully, balancing a tray of food in her hands. A soft linen napkin folded over the edges, steam rising from the plates she carried. I sank back into my seat, disappointment loosening my shoulders, my excitement vanishing like mist under the sun.“Alpha,” she greeted quietly, setting the tray on the table before me. I didn’t respond. But my gaze followed her motions as she carefully began to arrange the dishes with a precision she’d come to perfect.Roasted garlic ve