Chapter 4

I watched as everyone scurried out of the room. I didn’t blame them. Werewolves were dangerous. Their kind was wild, cold, and ruthless. Their place was in the dark forest, where they could be the full predators that they were.

I looked up at him and swallowed hard. He was intimidating and far taller than me. He made my height look like that of a child.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I told him straight up.

How did he even get past the border, past the magical barrier? Our border was protected by powerful magic, unlike theirs.

He didn’t look phased at all. “Just like you shouldn’t have been in my territory.”

His territory? That meant he was an Alpha. That explained the heavy aura around him. His entire presence screamed authority, and the power surrounding him was almost impossible to ignore.

I didn’t let it intimidate me either. “I was saving one of your own.”

“You did not have to save her. You should know better, princess,” he said with a smirk on his face. “What would your people say about that?”

He knew who I was, and he had crossed the border just to patronize me? There was more to this, and I was getting impatient.

“What do you want, wolf?”

He could tell I was tired of his games. He leaned against the counter.

“One of your kind is killing my people one by one. A dozen have died in the past week, and more are falling. You are going to help me find out who is behind this.”

“What makes you think my people are behind this? What makes you think I would ever help your kind?” I asked in utter disbelief.

What did he take me for… a fool?

He stood up straight and grabbed my chin, pulling me closer to him with only the counter between us. I was forced to look up at him, and I could have sworn his eyes grew a little darker.

“If you don’t help me, your people will know you play hero for my kind across the border. Looking at your situation, I am sure you wouldn’t want that happening. I could smell your dark magic from a mile away. And if my people keep dying, there will be a war, and I will end your whole kingdom.”

My eyes widened in fear because I could tell he meant every single word of it.

My people weren’t fighters. We fixed things, created things, and used our magic to protect our kingdom. There hadn’t been a war between our kind and theirs for centuries. I knew we didn’t stand a chance if another war broke out unless we had help or moved away.

I nodded my head.

“Fine. I will do it.”

He let go of my chin. “I guess I will be seeing you around soon,” he said before walking out of the inn.

I watched as he disappeared through the door, and the little bell above it rang softly.

Rita came running down the stairs.

“Oh my goodness, Aliya! Are you okay? I am so sorry I hid up there instead of coming to you!”

“Rita, I’m fine. It’s okay. There’s nothing you could have done in this situation,” I said with a frown.

“What was that all about? How did he enter our borders?” she asked with a serious look on her face.

I bit my lip. “I have been wondering the same thing, my friend.”

“This is bad. Very bad.” Rita shook her head.

I held her hand. “Make sure everyone is comfortable, and don’t worry too much. I have got this thing handled. I need to meet my sister for the dress fitting. You will be alright.”

She nodded. “Don’t worry. I will handle everything at the inn.”

By the time I reached the dress shop, I could see my sister already in one of the dresses through the glass windows. She looked so excited and happy. I felt like running away already, especially now considering my mother was there.

I thought she was supposed to be somewhere else picking out decorations for the wedding halls.

I sighed as I entered the shop. My mother’s eyes lit up before she frowned as she looked at the black dress I was wearing.

“Aliya, do you always have to look so… dark, even on such a happy day?”

“Mother, please… not now,” I said as I sat on the white leather couch.

Athena smiled at me. “She looks just fine, Mother. Let her be. Come help me choose the next one,” she said, and my mother happily rushed over to her.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the Alpha and his threat.

I had no choice but to help him investigate my own people. There had to be a way out of this. He could have been lying and plotting to cause havoc against my people. I needed to figure out a way to put an end to his little quest.

“Aliya! Are you even listening to me?” Athena asked, standing in front of me.

She was holding a beautiful white dress with lace sleeves.

“What?” I asked.

She frowned. “Try this on. I think you will look absolutely stunning in this!”

I sighed as I took the dress.

I couldn’t believe we were getting married, and against my wishes too. Fairies believed in true love, but my parents believed in unions and partnerships for the better of our kingdoms. They wanted to strengthen our bloodlines and keep them pure royalty for centuries to come.

All those little love fairytales were a scam.

I came out wearing the dress and looked at myself in the mirror.

“I knew it! You look beautiful. This is it!” my mother said, looking at me in awe. “It complements your gorgeous eyes and your skin.”

To be honest, she was right. The dress was beautiful, and it suited me. I touched the lace and sighed.

If I got married, that meant one of us had to leave the kingdom and go to Cyria. I didn’t want to be separated from my sister. She was like my best friend, and I had never spent a day away from her.

I looked at her before giving her a hug.

“Are you sure you want to get married?” I whispered in her ear.

She didn’t answer.