Chapter 1 - Prologue

|| REIKA's POV ||

“Strip now!!”

Radolf’s raging voice evaporated against the deafening noises of werewolves screaming around the valley. Smoke blinded my vision, choking my lungs as I tried to focus on anything other than the sight of my pack house burning. Women were begging. Children were crying. The sounds clawed into my chest.

I ignored his command.

That only pushed his rage closer to the edge. No one had ever dared to humiliate me like this.

“I said, STRIP!!”

The command came with a loud whip cracking against my back. Pain exploded through my spine, forcing my knees to slam into the ground. A sharp gasp tore from my throat before I could stop it.

Radolf Wolfshon Anderson stood before me, holding the chain high, his eyes gleaming with pure rage and hatred. I coughed, smoke burning its way down my throat and settling painfully in my stomach. Tears blurred my vision, but my wolf refused to submit. Still, I knew—disobeying him would only make things worse.

My beloved Moon Eyed pack was under attack by the most ferocious pack on earth—the Night Howlers. Even if I fought all night, I wouldn’t be able to save anyone. My fingers dug into the hard soil beneath me, my claws itching to rip out and tear open this monstrous Alpha’s throat.

Radolf Wolfshon Anderson.

I felt his patience snap. His rage swallowed whatever sanity he had left, and the whips came again one after another, relentless, merciless. I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to scream. I would not give him that satisfaction.

I could feel someone watching—his Beta, Cohen. Even through the haze of pain, I sensed his hesitation, his discomfort. Ever since Radolf’s mate died, he had turned into something unhinged, lashing out over everything. Still, sympathy wouldn’t save me.

Despite the fire tearing through my back, my lips stayed sealed.

I would not bow.

I was an Alpha. I belonged to no one.

Radolf finally threw the belt aside and grabbed me from behind. His grip was iron. He yanked me up, forcing me to face him. Those fiery brown eyes burned into mine. I didn’t retaliate—but my wolf surged violently beneath my skin, clawing to come out.

I was Reika Ulrich, the Alpha’s daughter and this was the first time I was meeting the infamous red eyes of the Alpha King. Once, I had admired him. Fate had twisted that admiration into hatred.

Now, I was his sworn enemy. His prey.

“Do you think you can fucking disobey me, Reika Ulrich?” he roared in my face. “Submit to me. Now.”

I snorted despite the pain, my ego overriding my sanity.

“I am an Alpha, born to lead. I am not going to bow down to you.”

A deep, animalistic growl rumbled from his chest. His wolf hated my defiance—it wanted control, even if it had to be taken by force. He shoved my face closer to his.

“I am your King. Now bow down.”

I lifted my chin, meeting his glare head-on.

“You aren’t my king. The moment you ordered an attack on my pack, you stopped being my king. And I will never submit.”

His canines lengthened as a guttural growl tore from his throat. For a moment, I thought he would kill me right there. Then something changed. His lips curled into a chilling smile.

“You will learn how to obey me.”

My blood ran cold.

“Cohen,” he ordered sharply, “burn the rest of the areas.”

Fear slammed into me. The children—they were hiding in one of the secured places.

“No!” I cried out desperately. “Please… no!”

Radolf tightened his grip around my wrist. The pressure was bone-crushing—enough to shatter a human limb. Even as an Alpha dominant, the pain was unbearable. Struggling was useless.

“Reika!!!”

That voice.

My heart lurched as I turned my head. My father—Alpha Artemis—staggered toward us, weakened after fighting in the fire for over an hour. Relief flooded me despite the horror etched across his bruised, scratched face.

“Dada!” My voice broke as I struggled against Radolf’s hold, but he didn’t let me go.

My father looked at me with pure regret. This was his fault—falling onto Radolf’s bad side, trusting the wrong pack.

Radolf’s mocking voice echoed through the burning valley.

“Tsk… look who’s here. The proud old Alpha Artemis. Look at your pack now. Look at what I’ve done to them.”

My father didn’t even look around. He already knew the truth.

Without a word, Alpha Artemis dropped to his knees.

My breath hitched in shock.

The most respected Alpha I knew—my father—kneeling.

“Spare… our lives, King,” he begged weakly. “We can negotiate…”

Tears streamed down my face. Seeing him like that shattered something inside me. My wolf thrashed violently, but I knew better than to provoke Radolf further.

“Do you think your apology can bring my mate back to life?” Radolf snapped.

His words stunned me.

I stared at my father, my heart pounding. His expression—guilt.

Radolf shoved me toward Cohen, who immediately restrained me.

“You. Your pack killed my mate,” Radolf growled. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? Because of your actions, your entire pack will suffer—including—”

He stopped and turned toward me.

My mind spun. My father killing an Alpha King’s mate? I had never heard of such a thing.

“Your daughter,” Radolf continued coldly, “with her sharp mouth. Her punishment will be doubled for disrespecting me.”

Before I could speak, my father cried out.

“It was a mistake, King! My pack wasn’t involved. I didn’t act alone. Please—give me a chance to prove myself innocent.”

Radolf laughed darkly.

“Repent?” he asked. “By taking your own life?”

Silence fell.

Then my father looked up.

“Give me two months,” he pleaded. “If I fail, you can do whatever you want.”

Radolf’s smirk sent dread crawling down my spine.

“What security can you give me?” he asked. “I want something useful.”

My father’s gaze flickered to me.

My heart dropped.

“What do you want… King?” he asked quietly.

Radolf’s smile widened, wicked and cruel.

“I want your daughter,”

he said. “Reika Ulrich will be my slave for two months. If you fail—”

His red eyes locked onto mine.

“I will kill her myself.”