SURRENDERED TO THE ALPHA KING

CHAPTER 2

AMY PIERCE

In a moment of pause, I feel nature around me—the whisper of the wind in the leaves and the distant call of an owl. The forest, unlike the world that awaits me, is a place of serenity and freedom. My footsteps echo among the tall trees, creating a solitary melody that resonates with the sorrow I carry.

A sincere desire fills my heart as I imagine a world without vampires and wolves, a world where deadly competition is not necessary to ensure a dignified life. The darkness looming over our reality is a heavy burden, and my tears bear witness to the helplessness I feel in the face of these supernatural creatures that govern our destiny.

I continue running through the night, holding the bow and arrows as an extension of my determination. Each step is a temporary escape, a breath of freedom before I return to my imposed cage. The competition looms, but on this dark night, under the full moon, I am just Amy—a soul lost in the vastness of sadness and longing for a different world.

I stop running when I need air, and I close my eyes, breathing heavily and trying to control my tears at the same time. The night envelops the forest with its dark cloak when I hear indistinct steps among the trees. My eyes opened abruptly, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I quickly turned my body, facing the unknown that was approaching. Seconds later, an arrow is ready on my bow, pointed in the direction of the footsteps echoing in the darkness.

Fear blends with suspense as I wait, ready to shoot at any threat daring to come closer. The deadly competition has created an atmosphere of mistrust, and the forest, once my refuge, now becomes a stage for unpredictable dangers. A shadow moves among the trees, and my heart beats fast in my chest.

"Come out of the darkness, or I'll shoot!", My voice echoes, laden with tension and fear. Silence responds for a moment, and then, as if in response to my plea, golden eyes shine in the dark. Momentary relief invades me as I realize they are not the red eyes of vampire guards. However, uncertainty remains.

I continue holding the bow firmly as I repeat the same phrase.

"Come out of the darkness, or I'll shoot!", The echo of my words blends with the stillness of the night, but now the golden eyes move, revealing a presence that had remained hidden until then.

Surprise settles in me as a tall man emerges from the darkness, wearing a golden cape that shimmers in the faint moonlight. His golden eyes stare at me with intriguing intensity. Black curls fall in waves over his shoulders, and his beauty is almost supernatural.

I've never seen this man before, and his presence is like an enigma in the dark night. He stands tall and confident, revealing a posture that transcends mere humanity. The golden cape subtly ripples in the wind, creating an aura of mystery around him.

I realize, with a twinge of shock, that this man is not a vampire guard. His nature is different, and my fear turns into curiosity. Still, I keep the arrow pointed at him, my bow firm as an extension of my determination.

"Who are you?", I ask, my voice a tense whisper in the night. He remains silent for a moment, assessing me with golden eyes that seem to capture the essence of the surrounding darkness.

"Humans shouldn't be in this part of the forest on a dark night; there are many bloodthirsty vampires.", he says in a deep voice, but I don't lower my bow because I don't know what he'll do.

"Who are you?", I ask, and at that moment, a smile appears on his lips, and his golden eyes seem to shine even brighter, leaving me puzzled.

He's a wolf.

I've never seen a wolf this close before. I look at his clothes, realizing he must be someone important in the kingdom's monarchy.

"I'm not afraid of vampires.", I murmur, and he smiles, nodding as he approaches, while I step back quickly.

"Of course you're not afraid of vampires, and that's why you're pointing an arrow at someone who can't be killed."

I lower my arrow when I realize he won't harm me, but maybe he'll tell the guards that I'm here, and that would be very bad.

"Don't worry about that; I won't tell anyone that I saw you here, but you also need to agree that you never saw me here.", he says as if he knows exactly what I'm thinking, and I nod, seeing him looking at the moon.

"Why was a human girl crying alone in a dark forest?", he asks, turning to look at me again, and I shake my head.

"I wasn't crying!"

"You're a terrible liar; I can see in your eyes that something is wrong. Did a human break your heart?", he asks with a hint of humor, and I furrow my brow before shaking my head again.

"No. I just didn't want to live in this world. In a few hours, my life can change completely, or I can die. And I think you know what I'm talking about."

I look back at the golden-eyed wolf, and he nods as if he understands me at this moment.

"The annual competition among humans—that's your problem. If you were brave enough to sign up for this kind of m******e, it means you believe in yourself, and that's good. Just keep believing in yourself."

"The world would be a better place if all of this didn't exist. I hate vampires, and I hate wolves and the king!", I say, trying to control my tears.

"Many humans hate the king, and I know that.", he says, looking at me in a very strange way now.

He's a stranger, and I shouldn't be talking to him. I should go back home, but I stand still when I see him getting closer.

If he were a vampire, I would be far away by now. I raise my head, looking at his golden pupils.

I blink my eyes, feeling a strange sensation when I look at him.

"Don't be afraid of me.", he whispers.

"I'm not afraid of you.", I murmur, making him smile again.

"Never stop believing in yourself, no matter how many people tell you otherwise. Few humans are as brave as you.", he says with a serious expression, and I feel my body trembling when I feel him touching my hand.

I've always heard people say that vampires are cold, but wolves are very warm. I furrow my brow when I see him placing something in my hand.

"This usually brings me luck, but I see that you need it much more than I do. Have a good fight tomorrow. You better go; the forest at night is not a safe place for humans.", he says, and I look at my hand, seeing a pendant with a drawing of a wolf.

I touched the object before lifting my head and seeing his eyes fixed on mine. I feel his hand letting go of mine.

Furthermore, I bite my lips when I feel the temperature of his body. I nodded, seeing his eyes fixed on my lips at that moment.

I blink my eyes before stepping back, but I stop and turn to look at him, seeing the golden cape on his shoulders flying in the air with the wind.

"Aren't you going to tell me your name?", I ask, and he shakes his head.

"I'm sure you'll find out soon enough.", he says, and I become more confused.

I walk through the forest, thinking about the unknown wolf I saw. I turn my head back once again, seeing that he has completely disappeared now.

Furthermore, I need to stay calm.

I close my eyes for a few seconds when I'm sitting in the castle's training room with all the other 11 people who will fight with me in the competition.

I open my eyes, looking to the side, and see that some people are staring at me at the moment. We are all here to showcase our skills before the first challenges of the competition.

I feel very uncomfortable and look at my own body, seeing that I'm wearing a very tight outfit in black and red tones while my hair is tied up.

Each participant is wearing a different colored outfit, and I realize I'm the only one wearing red and black.

At some point, all the members of the kingdom's monarchy will be here to meet us and watch us demonstrate our skills.

At this moment, I think of my mother and how difficult it was to leave home this morning, hearing her begging me to stay when the vampire guards came to get me.

I blink my eyes quickly because I can't cry here and now.

All these people are participating in this game to win freedom and gain the king's attention.

Sitting in the castle's training room, the weight of the deadly competition is present around me. Threatening glances from other participants cut through the air, marking each of us as enemies in a battle for freedom. The atmosphere is tense, a mixture of anxiety and hostility, as we await the start of the presentations.

The room echoes with tense murmurs and veiled whispers, conveying the intensity of the moment. Everyone here is an adversary, each seeking the victory that will mean coveted freedom in a world dominated by supernatural beings.