3. "Woke Up In His Castle"

Etizia’s POV

A flock of birds took flight, following their instincts.

As the night wore on, the sky became overcast.

The moon was hidden behind the clouds, unable to illuminate the dark forest.

When the clouds dispersed, the light shone through. Before me stood a massive black wolf with fiery red eyes.

I held back a groan as I witnessed the wolf pounce on the bear. "Grr," it growled, issuing a low warning.

The injured beast panted beneath its weight, in imminent danger of a deadly bite.

I blinked, tears welling up and a sob escaping me.

Only then did the wolf slowly raise its head, its eyes flickering.

The magnificent creature was unfamiliar, yet I could recognize it in an instant.

‘He is the Alpha King. My mate.’

I took a shallow breath, feeling a surge of fear coursing through my body, causing me to tremble.

Darn it. I had managed to escape, but now I found myself caught once again.

There seemed to be no way out of this situation.

As I desperately crawled backwards, trying to evade the merciless king, something struck me from behind, and everything went dark.

I gasped loudly when I finally opened my eyes.

To my surprise, I found myself in a room instead of the forest.

"What happened?" I questioned, hoping for answers.

Even my loyal wolf, Genivie, had no clue about what had transpired.

"Ugh," I winced, feeling the pain at the back of my head.

I suddenly remembered that someone had hit my head in the forest, causing me to lose consciousness. But wait, didn't I encounter the Alpha King before that?

As I glanced around the enormous room, my eyes widened. The lavish design made me realize that I must have been brought to the Alpha King's residence.

Feeling a mix of emotions, I lowered my head and tightly gripped the blanket in my hands. The Alpha King had saved me from the bear, but that didn't automatically guarantee my happiness. What sets him apart from the bear?

"Are you awake?" a voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned my head and saw a man with blonde hair. Although he was smiling, I could sense that he wasn't the friendly type.

"The Alpha King had to leave because he had some important tasks to attend to. So, he asked me to greet you on his behalf," the man explained. "I'm Beta Dominic. It's a pleasure to meet you, our future Luna." He nodded his head respectfully and placed his hand over his heart.

I was taken aback by the level of respect shown towards me. In my Pack, no one had ever dared to be kind to me.

Feeling doubtful, I asked, "Where am I?"

"Well, you are currently in the Alpha King's castle," he replied.

"Did the Alpha King bring me here?" I questioned.

"Yes, he brought you here after finding out that you had attempted to escape," he revealed.

Those words sent a chill down my spine. I swallowed nervously and looked at him once again. "Was it my father? Did my father inform the Alpha King about my escape?"

"No," he replied. "The Alpha King was aware that there was a chance his mate might flee after getting the letter. That's why he decided to pay you an unexpected visit. Isn't that exciting?"

What I felt went beyond being thrilled. It was absolutely terrifying.

At the same time, I was taken aback by the sight of my mate's magnificent wolf. Its black fur shimmered under the moonlight, and its red eyes resembled sparkling rubies rather than blood.

I tried to convince myself that these intense emotions were simply a result of our bond. There was no way I could ever fall in love with someone like him.

"Unfortunately, you have no choice but to accept the marriage," the Beta interrupted my thoughts. "If you think you can escape from here, think again. This castle is heavily guarded compared to the house you left behind. The Alpha's residence is nothing compared to the security of my Alpha King's castle."

I clenched my teeth as my stomach churned with unease.

"Tomorrow is the wedding day," he informed me. "I will send maids to assist you with bathing and provide you with food. Please rest well. That's what the Alpha King wanted me to convey to you."

I tilted my head and raised my brows.

Is he serious?

“The Alpha King really said that?” I asked.

Known for his evil and selfish nature, it was hard to believe that he would relay such a sweet message to me.

"Well, the actual words were: 'We will get married tomorrow.' Then he just left after saying that. As someone who has served as his Beta for many years, I believe he wanted me to tell you to rest and relax before the wedding," he explained.

I knew it. There was no way that the evil man would actually care for me.

"Do you have any more questions?" he asked, giving me a chance to speak.

Taking a deep breath, I voiced my concerns, "I'm not as pretty as my sister, and I have the blood of an Omega. I was rejected by a cursed rogue before, and even though I have my wolf, I haven't fully transformed yet. If I tell all of this to the Alpha King, do you think he might reject me?"

The Beta flashed me a smile, but his words were icy when he declared, "THE ALPHA KING’S DECISION TO MARRY YOU IS FINAL."

Those words echoed in my mind throughout the entire night.

As the sun rose the next morning, the day of the wedding had arrived.