Chapter 1- His chosen bride

Kayla 

The massive hall was filled with elegantly dressed men in their fine suits and crip robes while the ladies looked beautiful in their shimmering gowns. My gaze swept over the massive hall that had a large ornate table right in the center. The pack of elder wolves was seated on it. Several noble ladies and gentlemen were also present. The pack elder wolves were high-ranking members of the council courts and were highly respected among the werewolf kind, due to their long existence. One of the Elder wolves shuffled in his chair, his hand folded under his chin and he spoke.

 “Today we all are gathered here to choose and witness the alliance marriage between the king of werewolves Alpha Asher, and one of our own. As it's written on the seal, our pack should provide a beautiful she-wolf as a treaty to fulfill the alliance deal.” he paused and looked around, making sure that everyone was paying attention. Then he began again, we have decided that…

“ Kayla Wright, you will take your sister Celia’s proposed place and marry Alpha Asher.”

There was a dead silence in the crowd, a silence that traveled all the way to my heart. The quietness did nothing to calm the drumming of my heart as my ears received the unexpected news. I wasn't expecting to hear the words. I ran my sweaty palms down the front of my dress, I was nervous and it made my stomach sway from side to side and bile rise in my throat. I swallowed hard, trying to be strong. It felt like a dream to me how my entire life changed for the worse within a minute.

I wasn't the only shocked one in the crowd. My elder sister Maria’s eyes held fear as she held onto her husband Marco for support. My immediate sister Celia had a guilty and horrified look on her face. With one look at her face, I could tell that she was already blaming herself for the turn of events. Her mate Lucas had his arms wrapped around her as he sent a deadly glare at Asher’s way. When I had helped Celia escape her treaty wedding to be with her real mate Lucas, I never thought in my wildest dream that I would be forced to take her place. I knew the pack elders would try something crazy but putting me up as the treaty gift was something I never expected. Though I understood they needed to fulfill the end of their bargain, in exchange for provision and protection from the ruthless Alpha Asher they had to offer a she-wolf from the council. I had no idea how to feel about the whole thing.

Staring at Celia’s tearful eyes, I decided to speak up before she said something that would ruin her relationship with her mate. I knew she wouldn't live with herself if she thought she was destroying my life by staying with Lucas, I couldn't let her take the blame. 

“ I don't want her,” Asher growled fiercely before I could utter a word. His voice had a depth like that of an eerie ditch, the heaviness of darkness and stillness of the silence before the storm. His voice vibrated around the entire hall which made some guests take a few steps back. He was furious. I could tell by the way his chest bulged out and the veins that threatened to pop on his arms. But I also sensed a hint of panic in his voice, but the Alpha  Asher I have heard about was known for his lack of emotions. He was rumored to be merciless, an incarnation of the devil. 

For some reason, Asher’s immediate rejection hurt me more than I’d like to admit. I felt a twinge of pain in my chest, I hated the look on his face at just the proposal of getting married to me. I tried to hide my pain by reminding myself that Alpha Asher was a demon. He was a tyrant Alpha and a beast who preyed on packs, annihilating them and taking forceful possession of their lands. But why did his words affect me so much? Why do I want him to accept me as his chosen bride? 

I couldn't understand his actions. What was wrong with me?

I had acquired the same skills as my sister and I didn't lack in any of the training the elders had given. Why then was he rejecting me when he was more than willing to get married to my sister? I already knew the answer but I wasn't willing to accept the truth. He never wanted me. 

“ I’m so sorry Alpha Asher, it was never intentional. We know we promised you, Celia, but that was when she had not found her mate but now she has found her mate and has equally mated with him. We all know what will happen if a mated she-wolf stays with another that's not her mate.

I sincerely apologize for not keeping my promise. That's why we decided for her sister Kayla to replace her. Kayla has all the qualities that her sister possesses. She would prove just as useful as Celia would have.” The elder wolf apologized trying to convince Asher but it was obvious he wasn't close to achieving his aim. 

Asher’s jaw clenched and his hands tightened into fists at his sides. His eyes were slowly turning into a shade of red. He looked very upset and his expression was very deadly. “I will not marry Kayla. You have disobeyed my order and destroyed my relationship with your pack. How dare you promise me a bride and then you take her away and offer someone else. What do you take me for? He asked loudly. His voice held a binding dominance. 

“ Please, we would like to make up for that,” the elder wolf assured Asher as he tried to calm him down. I was surprised to see the elder wolf was panicking and it was obvious how keeping Asher satisfied was to the pack. 

“ Alpha Asher, if you do not wish to have Kayla, then there are many other women to choose from,” the elder wolf said happily as he smiled then turned and walked back to where the warriors were stationed. 

There was a sharp stab in my chest, it felt like my heart had been pierced with millions of sharp arrows. Other women to choose from? This time I couldn't hide my pain, the horrible feeling of being unwanted. I didn't like the idea of Asher with another woman. The most painful part was that Asher seemed to be interested in the idea. He didn't decline the offer, rather he had a devilish smirk plastered on his stoic face. 

“Axel!” The elder wolf called. “ Bring in the rest of the women, let them stand in line before Alpha Asher. He will choose whoever that he finds eligible to be his bride.” 

I couldn't believe it. I watched in horror as the women came in and lined up before Asher. He stood up and studied each of them one after the other. The women all flushed as he moved his gaze over them. I felt like I was about to throw up at the sight before me. The women were elegantly dressed in revealing outfits that showed off their cleavage and nice figures. 

“ Looks like you’re saved after all, sister,” My elder sister Maria said with a grin. Maria didn't know how wrong she was, I couldn't consider it as having been saved. A greater part of me desperately wanted this marriage to happen. 

My brother Davies squeezed my shoulders. “ This is good news for the family. You’re saved from being tied to someone who's not your mate and a loveless marriage at that.” 

I closed my eyes, Davies wasn't lying I should be happy. Yet, I felt sick to my stomach. Sweat was glistening on my forehead. Anyone else would think that I was grateful and relieved that I wouldn't be marrying Alpha Asher when I was doing quite the opposite. I felt my hands begin to tremble. My world was crushing before me. I watched as he raised his hand to choose one of the women. 

“ Beautiful, you’ve chosen Lady Ayra. Alpha Asher sure has good taste,” the elder wolf applauded and announced while he motioned to the warrior to bring the woman closer. I watched as Asher’s gaze moved from her and then straight to me. His eyes were stuck on me. My throat was dry and my heart was beating rapidly. At that moment, I couldn't stop the various emotions that seemed to overwhelm my body. I was unhappy, furious, and most of all my heart was broken. Asher’s jaw clenched, it was as if he was having an inner battle within him. 

“ Since Alpha Asher had chosen a bride for himself, then we the pack elders had to compensate Kayla by choosing an unmated he-wolf for her immediately,” The elder wolf announced 

I couldn't believe my ears as I felt a chill run straight down my spine. No way! I didn't want to get married… Not to someone else. My heart wants just him.

Immediately a loud menacing growl shook the walls of the hall. I gasped and my eyes traveled towards the source of the sound. Asher’s cold emotionless eyes grew a shade of red, he turned and was glaring at the elder wolf with a murderous look. I could feel the shift in the air as suddenly a pressure weighed down on everybody in the hall. 

“ I didn't choose anyone!” Asher growled. 

The women all flinched at his tone, if they hadn't been scared before, this had done the trick on them. The elder wolf seemed surprised by his sudden behavior. My eyes met Asher’s eyes and for a second I could see warmness in them which was easily consumed again by coldness. His eyes trailed from my face to my lips, I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. Our gaze met as if two fates had collided, like the stars in the sky. There was something about him that could hold me in place with his stare. 

“ I will marry Kayla Wright.” He said in a cold dominating tone.

I froze at that moment and everything seemed to stop.