hunted

Today, I'm supposed to find my fated mate. As much as I had tried to run away from this, it caught up with me… It was a sacred ceremony, except nothing here was sacred—not when it's forced by the very Alpha who killed my father.

"It's time, Princess, to pick your mate," the priestess spoke.

I woke up from my throne, endowed with a gold and black dress, with makeup— a little too much to hide the beating I had to endure yesterday from the Alpha’s son, Lucious, in an attempt to make me pick him today… or to instill fear in me, as usual.

The Alpha sat gracefully but deadly on my right side. I took a look at him with spite, focusing on his face that still bore the injury my father gave him in his struggle for life. But that wasn't enough—as he killed my father and claimed both my mother and me, becoming the new Alpha.

He held my hands, pulling my ear close to his stinky mouth.

"You better pick Lucious," he whispered, then faked a smile to the pack. I looked at my mother, hoping she would do something—but just as usual, she turned her face tearfully the other direction, leaving me hopeless and at the Alpha's mercy.

I stepped down, each step bearing witness to the maltreatment I've faced. The ten abled men stood before me, all handsome, but each with hidden intentions—some betas yearning for an upgrade, Alphas wanting to claim me and the kingdom, and of course, Lucious.

He smirked at me. He was perfect in looks—every she-wolf’s dream—but I couldn’t see him. The vision of several assaults played in my head… the nights I spent crying out for his mercy, how he turned me into a slave in my own father's mansion.

My mother wasn't an exception, as both textiles were cut from the same cloth. I've lost count of the nights she cried after being beaten up by the Alpha. But I didn't want to break down—not in front of him. So I held my head up, walking close towards them, praying that the flame didn't ignite next to Lucious.

But the spark didn't come at all.

"Try again!" the Alpha yelled. As disappointed and worried as I was, I got the courage to do the process again—this time going to the length of touching them, all except Lucious. But I felt nothing.

I returned back to the throne, embarrassed and ashamed. Not only had I lost my dignity but also my chance of being with my fated mate—or someone who would love me properly.

"You better pick my son," he taunted me again. But I'm not buying it.

"What if I don't?" I asked, with a rebel smirk coming out on my face. But it wasn't taken lightly, instead met with a very disapproving face.

He dared not respond to me in a wrong way, because my decision today didn't only affect his son's pride but also his throne as the Alpha. As the remaining royal blood, I had the last say today.

But no matter how much I tried, my flame did not spark—not even to the man I found appealing to my eyes. The Alpha seemed to notice this, as he stood up. Everyone in the room knelt down, except me. I was tired of his slavery way of ruling.

"What's happening?" the Alpha asked.

"It seems like no one here is her mate!" the priestess responded. But this wasn't the response he appreciated.

He growled out of fury, his breath full of fire, and his claws and jaws came out. I took steps back as he walked straight towards me. Even my mother looked concerned from her eyes. I was swift with my movement, but he was faster.

With a knife on my throat and his claws on my wrist, feasting on my blood, his eyes turned red due to fury—but this wasn't my concern.

"Now you'll repeat after me," he commanded. I nodded my head, no response—not out of respect but out of fear of what he might do.

"With blood and fire," he started, orchestrating the ritual by himself.

"W… wi... with blood and fire," I repeated, almost choking on my words, my lips biting against each other.

"I take Lucious to be my fateful mate," he spoke. But the words were too heavy to come out from my mouth.

I shook my head in disapproval, but he dug the knife deeper into my throat, slitting the little part of it. I moaned out in pain, but he didn’t stop.

"This is utter nonsense! Let her go!" my mom spoke, intervening for the first time in years.

The Alpha let me down and faced my mom. I took the moment of distraction to slip out—but I wasn't unnoticed, as Lucious and his men chased after me. I rushed to the horse stable where I usually hide my bike.

Immediately, I rushed for the key in my secret hiding place and climbed on. Not even my long gown could stop me. I turned on the lights, revealing Lucious standing in my way, letting out a devilish smile. I could tell he thought he had me surrounded—but he didn't know anything about me.

I drove over him, not feeling a single pity—only for my poor mother, who I left behind. Only the Moon Goddess knew what she was passing through. The Alpha was definitely not taking it easy on her.

"I'll find you!" he yelled, while still on the ground, bathed in a little chunk of his blood.

I stopped my bike, putting on my helmet as I watched him cry out in pain. I didn't feel any remorse—just satisfaction.

"The game is on, Lucious," I yelled back and drove off, with hope of one day meeting my mom and rescuing my pack from the ruthless Alpha—even getting my revenge.

I rode my bike, not stopping till I saw a pub with music like something I’ve never seen before. I've explored everywhere but not this side. It looked less bushy and more coordinated.

Though it was night, the lights were on. I couldn't tell if I was in enemy territory or in a safer environment. I parked my bike and entered inside—only to be met by drunk people.

I could smell a lot of scents, but one caught me. I could feel the presence of my mate. I didn’t know where he was, but I could feel him. I walked all around the men, not being able to see him.

My instincts were strong, and my flame started burning—but I couldn't see him. I could feel that he also felt my presence.

"What is a she-wolf doing outside at this time?" one of the men asked.

"I don't care at all. It's been long since I met with a woman," another man laughed.

Then the door was closed, trapping me inside with all the males. I didn’t want them to see my weakness, so I tried to hold my ground—not flinching. But my last traumas rekindled.

"Let me show you what you're missing," he spoke again, then came closer… closer. I stepped back, hoping to jump from the wall—but I was at a dead end.

He leaned as they all surrounded me, spilling drinks on me while taking turns teasing me with their hands. I was helpless and couldn't help but start crying, since I couldn’t fight them. One even touched the injury on my neck caused by the Alpha.

I screamed out in pain, but none of them cared, as they enjoyed the feeling of making me scream. I fell on the ground, surrendering to my destiny and their will.

"If you lay a finger on her, you'll be signing your death wish," a man spoke through the crowd.