Chapter 3 THE ALPHA’S BRIDE

DESDEMONA

My gaze drifted back to where the voice came from. My eyes searched for a while before it finally settled on the man standing in the dark, he appeared cold and indifferent 

Who is he? And why is he here? 

I had never seen anyone like him before. He looked different, and dangerous. His presence alone screamed of power, and the way the villagers shrank back told me everything, I knew at that point that he is a werewolf

My chest tightened, the fear of meeting a werewolf at a time like this is the last thing I ever wanted.

My father slowly walked closer, His movements were careful, almost respectful as though he had been waiting for this moment. I didn't see him anywhere before now, maybe he was hiding in the crowd like my Mother.

“Alpha Alaric, forgive me for troubling you, for making you come all the way from the northern pack,” Father's voice was a bit polite and different from the hatred that used to be felt whenever he speaks to me. Almost… eager.

Northern pack? My stomach dropped.

My daughter here,” his eyes flicked to me, his lips curving into the faintest smirk, “is betrothed to you.”

The name hit me like thunder. Alpha Alaric.

Alpha Alaric gazed down on me, his gaze was sharpened and was not any different from the other villager.

I can see that he despises me as well, he did not even know me, but I can sense it all with a small glance.

“Take her away,” he commanded.

At once, men emerged from behind him. Rough hands seized me before I could even breathe. They dragged me along the ground, Celeste tied beside me.

“Please… Father!” My voice cracked as I reached for him. “Please, let me go. I swear I will be obedient!”

But he only stood there, watching. Watching as I was pulled away like trash.

Behind me, the faint sound of cheers rose, victorious and cruel. The villagers were celebrating. My removal was their freedom. Their burden had been lifted.

“Enter,” Alpha Alaric's voice cut through the air, full of authority leaving no room left for refusal.

For a brief second, our eyes met. The weight of his stare crushed me, forcing me to look away.

I climbed into the cart, pressing myself into the corner, leaving enough space for him. My eyes never left Celeste, who stumbled barefoot as they tied her to walk beside us.

She had protected me. Me, the one despised by everyone. No one had ever defended me before—not even once. And yet she did. A spark of warmth bloomed in my chest. My lips trembled into the faintest smile. Maybe I wasn’t completely alone.

But then… I felt it. A heavy stare.

I turned, only to find Alpha Alaric’s eyes fixed—not on my face, but lower.

My breath hitched. My garment had been torn in the struggle, my chest partly exposed. Heat flushed my cheeks. I crossed my arms over myself, shame burning me alive.

And still, he stared. His gaze never leaves me.

“What's your name?” His voice cut through the cold silence.

I shivered and robbed my body with my palm. “Desdemona Blackwood,” I called out my name slowly.

“Desdemona,” he repeated as a whisper. I know what he thinks, yes a curse name.

The journey to the werewolf pack was long.

When the gates of the pack opened, a thousand eyes turned on me. The people gathered as if they had been waiting for me. Their faces are cold and their whispers hurt more. What makes me think that this place will be any different.

“Is that her? The cursed one?”

“She looks weak.”

“How dare she think she could stand beside our Alpha.”

Their whispers cut deeper than bleed, I kept my head low but that didn't stop them.

They pulled me where Alpha Alaric stood—tall, proud, his expression unreadable. When his eyes met mine, there was nothing. No softness, no pity. Only cold commands.

He stood up from his golden throne, and the whole place went quiet. “This is Desdemona Blackwood, she is given to us as a peace offering from the humans,” his voice echoes through the big silence hall.

“A petty slave offering,” I heard whispering even from the silence hall.

“Now we are going to perform a bonding ceremony to bond as my fated mate.” he announced before stepping forward.

I stood at the center with him and the ritual was performed swiftly. A cut on his palm, a cut on mine, our blood mixed, sealing a bond older than time. 

My heart trembled as the fire of it burned through my veins. For one foolish moment, I thought maybe things would change. That maybe this bond would tie me to him in more than just duty.

“Take her to the slave court.”

Gasps rippled, then laughter. The pack howled in wicked delight. 

“Please don't do this, let us go,” Celeste screamed and begged him to reconsider, but she was silenced with a backhand blow from one of the guards.

They dragged me through the dirt again, deeper into the pack’s land, until the smell of rot and filth stung my nose. The slave court.

When they threw me inside, I stumbled on the stone floor, my knees tearing open against the rough ground. The women there looked up, some had hollow eyes, and some with mocking stares.

Their gaze burned through my skin, and my lip pinned together, as I moved to the corner, wanting to vanish into the tin air.

“So this is the Alpha’s bride?” one scoffed. “Thrown into the mud on her wedding night.”

Another chuckled bitterly. “Blood-bond or not, she’ll rot here like the rest of us.”

I tried to stand, but the weight of shame was heavier than the chains clinking around me. The bond burned on my palm, a cruel reminder that I belonged to a man who would rather see me in rags than beside him.

That night, lying on the cold stone with my maid weeping silently beside me, I realized the truth. No matter the bond, no matter the vows, no matter the title—I would never be Luna. I was nothing but their prisoner.

The gate cracked open and Beta Theodore stood before me, one of his hands in his pocket and the other one holding a fresh new silky garment.

His gaze was full of horror and hatred, it was no different from how the other people looked at me.

He threw the cloth on the floor. “Here get changed and follow me.” He stood before, his gaze burned my skin and my stomach twisted, I know that I have to change in front of him. But just as I was about to take off my clothes, he turned away from me, his face laced with disgust.

I bit my lip before changing into the new garment. “I am ready,” I said before he turned away, his gaze still as sharp as before, he glanced at Celeste that was hiding behind me.

“You,” he pointed. “Follow us.” He said and we both followed him obediently without questioning.

We walked through the dark hall, the corridor was full with slaves, all of them stared at us, their stares were dangerous and somewhat full of anger.

I was led to a room, the two guards at the door grabbed me, and pulled me into the dark room, my body trembled as the men walked away and left me in the dark room after pulling me down to the floor.

“Turn on the candle.” Alpha Alaric's voice commanded, and I did as I was told, I knew what was coming, yet I couldn't stop it, it is either I survive here…..or be fed out to the beast.

The candle lit up in the dark room, he is no longer the man I married, he is shirtless, I can see the shifting tattoo on his body.

“You are going to be my slave. You will warm my bed from now on,” Alpha Alaric's voice growled, his voice deeper, and his eyes turned darker in the half lightened room.

My breath stopped and I froze.