The Alpha's Heartbound

Lycan King’s Child

REIKA'S POV

My room, though luxurious, was suffocating, and boredom pressed in on me. I decided to walk outside, hoping the fresh air would clear my head and ease the tension in my chest.

The backyard was massive—sprawling gardens, open courtyards, and paths stretching forever. Shadow Claw's estate couldn't compare to this; it was like comparing a puddle to an ocean. This is 10 times bigger than my former pack's estate.

As I wandered, I could feel their stares before I saw them—pack members lingering nearby, their eyes heavy with curiosity. Whispers followed me wherever I went, but no one dared approach. The weight of their attention made my skin prickle, and I ducked my head, pretending not to notice. I wasn't one of them. I didn't belong here, and they made that painfully clear.

Loneliness settled deep in my chest. I missed Maia's laugh, sarcasm, and how she could turn even the worst situation into something bearable. She had been my only friend in Shadow Claw, the one bright spot in a place that had taken so much from me. I still remembered her number by heart, but what good was that now? I didn't have a phone. Shadow Claw had decided I didn't need one, and they ensured I couldn't connect with anyone outside the pack.

"You don't have family," they had told me as if that justified keeping me isolated.

A sharp pang of hunger brought me out of my thoughts. I turned back toward the estate, determined to find the kitchen and do something useful. Cooking had always been a small comfort for me, a way to feel grounded when the world felt chaotic. But finding the kitchen in a prominent place was like navigating a maze.

When I finally found it, I hesitated in the doorway. The rich aroma of cooking filled the air, warm and inviting, but the staff's reaction was anything but. Their conversations came to an abrupt halt as they turned to stare at me, surprise and unease etched on their faces.

"The surrogate." A tall woman stepped forward, her expression carefully neutral. "Miss, is there something you need?"

I forced a small smile, trying to ease the tension. "I was hoping I could help with lunch."

That only seemed to make things worse. The room fell silent, and the staff exchanged nervous glances. It felt like I had said something forbidden. Finally, a woman named Ruby broke the silence. "You're not… allowed to do that."

I frowned. "Not allowed? I'm not even a member of this pack. I should contribute something. Your Alpha Apollo made it clear I'm not here to take advantage."

Ruby shifted uncomfortably, her gaze darting to the others. Another woman named Thea stepped forward. "Alpha Apollo gave us strict orders. You're not to be stressed or overworked. He doesn't want you involved in household tasks."

Her words stopped me cold. Apollo had been furious with me yesterday, his anger sharp and overwhelming. Now, he was going out of his way to keep me from being stressed? It didn't make any sense.

"I don't understand. Why would he—"

"Alpha's orders are final," Ruby said, cutting me off. "We don't question them."

I was about to argue when something caught my eye—Thea's phone. She was scrolling through it absentmindedly, and my chest tightened with a sudden, sharp ache. The sight of it reminded me of everything I didn't have. These pack members had freedom, phones, and lives that seemed far removed from the constraints I'd known in Shadow Claw.

An idea sparked. "Can I borrow your phone for a moment?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Thea looked up, startled. "I'm… not sure that's allowed," she said cautiously.

"Please," I said, softening my tone. "I just need to make one call. It's important."

Thea hesitated before handing me her phone, her eyes darting nervously to the doorway. "Just be quick and make sure no one sees," she whispered, pressing it into my hand. I nodded.

Without wasting a second, I stepped out of the kitchen and into the cool, quiet air of the courtyard.

I dialed Maia's number with trembling fingers, praying she would pick up. My heart pounded with each ring until, on the third, her familiar voice came through. "Hello? Who is this?"

"It's me," I said softly, my throat tight with emotion.

There was a brief pause, and then her voice lit up with excitement, though she quickly hushed herself. "Reika? Oh, thank the moon, it's you! Are you okay? Where are you?"

"I'm… safe," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I needed to hear your voice. Maia, I feel like I'm losing my mind here."

Her tone shifted immediately, growing serious and urgent. "Reika, listen to me carefully. You must never come back to Shadow Claw. Do you hear me? Promise me you'll stay away from here."

"What? Why? Maia, what's going on?"

"I can't explain everything now," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But you have to trust me. Things are worse than you think. Just… promise me you'll be careful. Stay as far away from the Shadow Claw pack as you can."

"I promise," I said, though dread coiled tightly in my stomach.

"I sent you something," she added hurriedly. "A video. Watch it, and you'll understand. But don't worry about me, okay? I'll be fine."

"Maia—"

The line went dead before I could say more. I stared at the screen momentarily, my fingers cold and numb. Then the notification popped up: a video file.

I opened it with a sinking feeling, my heart racing as the footage began to play. The image was shaky, taken from a distance, but it was clear enough to see Nyx, Anya, and Alpha Martin sitting in a dimly lit room. Their faces were tense, the atmosphere crackling with something dark and foreboding.

Nyx's voice came first, sharp and defiant. "Father, why won't you tell me why that weak Omega is so important? You expect me to accept her as my mate? That's not happening. I've chosen Anya, and no one can change my mind."

Beside him, Anya smirked, her chin lifted in triumph.

Alpha Martin's expression hardened. "Fine. But if I tell you, you must swear not to repeat this to anyone. This secret stays between the three of us."

Nyx and Anya exchanged eager glances before nodding in agreement.

"Reika wasn't thrown into the forest by some cruel twist of fate. I arranged for her to be taken from her mother."

I gasped aloud, my hand flying to my mouth.

"Why would you do that?" Anya's voice was shrill with disbelief, her expression darkening.

"To use her," Martin said matter-of-factly. "The moon goddess blessed my plans for having Nyx as her mate, and now everything is falling into place."

"Use her for what?" Nyx asked, his brows furrowed. "She's just a weak Omega."

Martin's lips curled into a sinister smile. "No, she isn't. Reika is the only child of the Alpha King. Her mother hid her from her former pack, but a servant loyal to me discovered the truth and helped me take her."

Nyx and Anya looked as stunned as I felt, their confusion mirrored in my swirling emotions.

"We haven't seen or heard about the King for many years. How will we find him?" Nyx asked.

"You must accept Reika as your mate. We'll draw out the Alpha King and take his ring through her. With that power, you'll eliminate him, and then—" He paused for effect. "You'll reign over not just our territory but the entire continent, including Apollo's pack."

The video ended abruptly, leaving me frozen in place. My hands trembled, and the phone slipped from my grasp and landed on the stone floor with a clatter. My chest heaved as I tried to breathe, and my mind spun with the wickedness of what I'd just learned.

My legs gave out, overwhelmed by fear, anger, and betrayal. Strong arms caught me just as I felt myself slipping away, and the world darkened.