HEARTBOUND - The Alpha King's stolen slave

Omatovia's Pov Cold stone pressed against my knees as the guards forced my head down. I did not need anyone to tell me where I was. The towering throne, the echoing silence, and the weight of unseen judgment made it clear. I was in a royal court. An elderly woman in heavy robes stood before me, her crown glinting beneath the dim light. Her gaze swept over me slowly, as if measuring my worth—and finding none. “Don’t you have manners?” she asked, her voice sharp enough to cut skin. The guard beside me pushed my shoulder lower. Pain shot through my body, but I swallowed it. “Greetings… Queen,” I whispered, unsure if the words were correct, yet desperate for mercy. I had no idea if this was the proper way to greet royalty in the Nir Kingdom, but I hoped it was enough. Her eyes lingered on me, cold and unreadable. “How old are you?” she asked, her voice dripping with superiority. “Twenty.” My voice trembled despite my effort to stay calm. She nodded once, already bored. “Take her to the maidens’ quarters.” “What?” I asked, my voice shaking. “What’s going on here?” I looked around, hoping someone would provide answers. The queen’s expression turned cold. “You will serve among the maidens here,” she declared, her voice brooking no argument. Panic surged through me. “What? No—there must be a mistake. I came to stay with my aunt.” I gasped, confusion and panic setting in. I turned to the guard who brought me here, hoping he would intervene. “Please, tell her that’s why I’m here,” I said to him. Mrs. tasha and Uncle mario, the couple that took me in three years ago, had told me I was coming to the Nir Kingdom to watch over their sick sister. That was the only reason I didn’t find anything suspicious and followed the guard. The queen’s lips curved in something far crueler than a smile. “What aunt are you talking about? Didn’t your parents inform you that you were sold to us?” she sneered. I felt like I had been punched in the gut. “Sold? No,” I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My parents wouldn’t do this to me. Uncle Mario wouldn’t stoop so low. The queen’s expression didn’t change. “Take her away,” she commanded. The guard bowed before helping me to my feet. I felt numb, unable to process what was happening. I sobbed, breaking free from the guard’s hold, and fell to my knees in front of the Queen Mother. “Please don’t take me away,” I begged, my voice shaking with desperation. “Queen please, I want to go back home,” I pleaded, my hands clasped together in a futile attempt to persuade her. I couldn’t believe that the people I had come to consider family had betrayed me. Despite Mrs. Tasha’s and her daughters’ dislike for me, her husband, Uncle Mario, had shown me kindness. Why would he side with them to sell me to a foreign kingdom? Tears streamed down my face as fear and sadness consumed me. I thought about the chain of events that led me here—my real parents’ death, being sent to an orphanage, and then being taken in by my adopted parents. I had grown to love them, only to be disliked after they had their own child years later. I had to leave for Madara Village, where I met my new family, but now they had sold me too. Anger flickered in my eyes, replacing my tears. I would never forget who started this downward spiral—Aryan, my ex-lover who abandoned me in Madara Village after making me leave my adopted parents’ town. His betrayal still burned within me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I would ever find closure. Why had he left without a word? Was it because I was only seventeen, and he realized he could easily betray me due to my naivety? The thought fueled my anger, and I vowed that if I ever saw him again, forgiveness would be impossible. Before the Queen could answer, the guards at the entrance struck the floor with their staffs. “Ordain, the Alpha of the Nir Kingdom is coming in.” The room fell silent, and everyone straightened into rigid posture—including the Queen Mother. The sound of footsteps echoed through the hall, growing louder with each step. My heart pounded in my chest as I remained on my knees, backing away from the approaching figure. The footsteps seemed to shake the very foundations of the hall. Something inside me reacted before my mind could stop it. I subconsciously sprang to my feet and turned around. My eyes met that chiseled face… those striking features. I widened my eyes in shock. Standing before me was a figure I thought I would never see again—Aryan. Alive, here. The man I had loved with all my heart. The man who had broken me into pieces. He walked toward me, his eyes fixed on something behind me, his face expressionless. The lady beside him, dressed in royal attire, and his two bodyguards followed closely behind.