His Substitute Bride

Chapter 1

Alisha's POV

"The mateless one!"

The words jabbed at my heart like a needle that had been dipped into alcohol. I clenched my clothes, squeezing my chest in the process.

"Get out, you cursed one, and don't ruin this lively occasion for us!" Someone barked and that was all I needed to hear.

I raced outside like a deer that suddenly received a burst of energy. The tears were spilling in massive waves and streaming down my face as I ran. I continued running, even as the tears blurred my vision. I continued running, my heart pounding in my chest.

I didn't know where I was running to, I only knew that I needed to get away from the town square and the prying eyes of the people who had watched me break down.

I kept running, feeling my blood boil over and over again. I felt an intense hatred towards the moon goddess for making my life so miserable. First I had lost my parents and my best friend, and now I was being tagged mateless for life.

I was exhausted and I knew I should stop. My breath was coming in ragged gasps, and my legs were burning with the effort.

I stumbled through the woods, tripping over roots and rocks, but still, I ran, driven by desperation I couldn't explain. And then, finally, my strength gave out, and I collapsed to the ground, my head spinning and my body trembling.

I could barely catch my breath when I heard the sound of laughter, followed by voices calling out.

"The mateless one! The cursed one! Where are you hiding?"

I heard footsteps, but before I could stand up, I heard laughter above me. I looked up to see a group of girls standing above me, their faces twisted with cruel amusement.

"Did you think you could hide from us?" A girl asked.

I quickly tagged her as their leader. "Please, I didn't do anything to you. Please, leave me be right now or I'll make you regret this!" I struggled to say through gritted teeth.

The girls jeered, then crowded around me, their hands grabbing at my clothes and pulling my hair.

"You pathetic thing," one of them sneered. "What can you possibly do to us? Beat us up?"

"You'll never find a mate, you're worthless!" They laughed cruelly, and I felt my heart sink into my chest.

I was already feeling very weak and I knew I couldn't fight all of them off. I spat at their leader's face. "You all are a bunch of cheap girls! If you don't let me be now, I'll really tear you all apart and feed you to rogue wolves!"

The girl shrieked in horror and her face went red as she shook with rage. "You filthy bitch!"

She raised her hand to land a smack across my face and I quickly squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the sting of the slap.

"What do you think you're doing?" A deep baritone voice said.

The girl's hand hung in the air as she looked at the man who approached us. The man's face came into view and I almost covered my eyes at the intensity of his beauty. My first thought was he couldn't be real. Probably the moon goddess sent him to save me.

He looked extremely handsome. In fact, handsome was an understatement. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. He flashed the girl a cold look that sent her putting her hand down and cowering in fear. All I could think was, if he ever looked at me with eyes so icy like that, I would shatter into tiny shards.

The aura surrounding the man was quite frightening despite his beauty. I studied his face closely now. He had red lips that formed a thin line, making it look like he drank blood or something. Was he a vampire?

My eyes trailed to his eyes. He had deep brown eyes that seemed like they held more secrets than I could ever imagine. His eyebrows formed a fine line that frowned over his long eyelashes. He was a feast to the eyes.

"You shameless whores have the guts to bully your fellow girl? Little wonder your faces are so ugly!" He spat out at them in disdain.

"If you don't scream right now, I'll rip all your head off!" His voice reverberated across the woods, and my body, making me shudder.

What!? Was he really serious? I looked at his face and I somehow knew he was capable of something like that. The girls immediately started running away.

"Stop!" He suddenly said,

"Apologize to this lady first, then you can go."

They turned to me and bowed slightly. "We are sorry." They chorused and scurried off.

Who was this man, really? I hadn't finished my thought when I felt someone snag at my hand and pull me into their arms. I stared up into his eyes and shuddered nervously. At that same instant our bodies made contact, something stirred restlessly in me. My wolf?

My wolf was leaping almost violently inside me. What could be happening? Had she sensed some sort of danger from this man? Then realization filtered in. My wolf was leaping because this handsome stranger was my---- no way!

How would he be my mate? Does that mean the moon goddess had finally decided to bless me?

"What are you still waiting for?" His cold voice brought me back to my senses.

I cleared my throat awkwardly as I stood upright. He trained his eyes filled with disgust on me. Did I do something to incite his anger?

"Is that how you gawk shamelessly at a stranger who just saved your miserable life?"

I frowned in confusion. So, what if he saved my life? Does he have to be this rude? Oh my!

Miserable life? I wasn't even gawking.

"I wasn't gawk-----"

He caught me off sharply. "I don't need to hear it."

He walked away, leaving me to stare angrily at his retreating figure. Weirdo! I thought. Regardless, I still had my courtesy.

"Thank you!" I shouted after him, but he didn't even turn to acknowledge me.

I smiled. I was still grateful to him anyway. Wait a minute! He was my mate! I had to tell him that, at least. I couldn't afford to lose him again when the moon goddess finally decided to answer my prayers.

I had to confirm if he was really my mate or not. I had to make bodily contact with him again. I went after him but I couldn't catch any signs of him at all. It was as if he completely vanished. Was he really sent by the moon goddess? He wasn't my mate?

With mixed feelings, I started going home. As I made my way out of the woods I heard faint footsteps behind me. I quickly turned to look back, but couldn't find anyone.

My mind was probably playing some tricks on me. I continued walking, but I soon heard the footsteps approaching me again, this time louder. And faster. I started running. Was it the girls from earlier again?

I rounded a corner and slammed right into someone. "I'm sorry?" I said as I looked into their faces.

It was a burly-looking man and he had a smirk across his face. His eyes raked over my body and I cringed in disgust.

"I'm sorry," I repeated and turned to go only to see another burly-looking man approaching me.

I felt panic shoot into my heart. What were they planning to do to me now?

"What do you think you're doing?" Someone said behind me and they quickly bowed to him. "Beta Wren." They greeted him.

Beta? The beta to the alpha? I wondered.

He smiled warmly at me, and then his face turned serious again. "Sorry, they made you scared. Are you ready to go with us to the palace now?"

I frowned at him in confusion. Have they come to arrest me because I'm mateless? Is it some sort of crime or what? Or what other business could I possibly have with the palace?

"Sorry, I think you have the wrong person."

"You are Miss Alisha and you're now the Alpha king's Breeder. Do you still think we have the wrong person?"

What? The Alpha King's Breeder? What was he even talking about?