The Ugly Alpha Wants Me

Chapter 4 - The Mystery Behind the Mask

Sunlight crept through Ayla's silk curtains, pulling her from sleep. For a moment, she wondered if last night had been some crazy dream. But when her feet touched the floor—still cold from walking barefoot across those marble halls—she knew it was real.

She'd really met Alpha Zephan. Those haunting red eyes, the tears streaming down his face, that broken voice begging her never to come back.

Ayla walked to her window and stared at the eastern tower. It looked so peaceful in the morning light, like nobody lived there at all. As if Zephan had just vanished with the darkness.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, turning away from the window.

Lyra entered with a breakfast tray. The middle-aged omega had kind eyes, but Ayla could see worry lines etched deep around them—like she'd been carrying secrets for way too long.

"Good morning, Miss Ayla. Did you sleep okay?" Lyra set the tray down by the window.

Ayla hesitated. "Yeah... sort of."

But Lyra wasn't buying it. Those sharp eyes studied Ayla's face. "You look like you didn't sleep at all. What's bothering you?"

Ayla sat down at the small table, staring at the warm bread and honey without any appetite. Her mind was still stuck on last night.

"Lyra, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"About Alpha Zephan... does he really stay locked up in that tower all the time?"

Lyra's hands froze while arranging the dishes. The silence stretched on way too long.

Finally, Lyra sat across from her, looking like she was fighting with herself about what to say.

"Miss Ayla," she said carefully, "there are things about our Alpha that are... complicated."

"I want to understand. I was dragged here without any explanation. Don't I deserve to know why?"

Lyra searched Ayla's face, then let out a heavy sigh.

"Yes, he stays in that tower. He can barely move during the day—the curse makes him too weak when the sun's out. He can only come out at night, and even then..." She trailed off.

"Even then what?"

"He's in constant pain. Every night, the curse gets worse. That tower room has special protections to help with his suffering, but it's not much."

Ayla's chest tightened. So those awful sounds she'd heard were real. Zephan really was in agony.

"What kind of curse?" Her voice came out shaky.

Lyra's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Five years ago, there was a war with the Crimson Fang clan. They attacked us without warning, and Alpha Zephan led our defense."

Ayla held her breath.

"In the final battle, he faced this incredibly powerful dark sorcerer—one of their allies. The guy was dying, but with his last breath, he cursed the Alpha."

"What does the curse do?"

"It's eating him alive, bit by bit." Tears gathered in Lyra's eyes. "Every day, it steals more of his humanity. His skin burns from the inside, his body feels like it's being shredded by invisible claws, and the worst part... he's losing the ability to feel anything good."

Ayla felt like the world was spinning. "And the mask?"

"The curse left horrible scars on his face. He wears the mask to hide them, but also to keep people from seeing how far the curse has taken him."

"Isn't there any way to heal him?"

Lyra was quiet for a long time. When she finally looked up, her eyes held a mixture of hope and despair.

"There is one way. According to an ancient prophecy, the curse can only be broken by a true Luna. Someone who could love the Alpha completely, even after seeing the darkness in him."

Ayla's heart stopped. "And I..."

"And you're here because the seers think you might be the Luna from that prophecy."

The silence felt heavy. Everything made sense now—why her uncle sold her, why she was brought here, why everyone looked at her with that strange mix of hope and doubt.

"But Miss," Lyra said, worry creeping into her voice, "you need to know that for five years, the Alpha has shut everyone out. He doesn't believe in the prophecy, and he's... he's scared to hope."

"Scared?"

"The Alpha said he doesn't want to destroy an innocent person with false hope. He's convinced that nobody could ever love a monster like him."

Ayla remembered Zephan's words: "Don't look at me like I still have something worth saving."

Now she understood. Zephan wasn't just physically suffering—he'd given up on hope entirely.

"Lyra, has he ever tried to get to know other potential Lunas before me?"

Lyra shook her head. "You're the first. For years, the Alpha refused to meet anyone the seers brought. He said he wouldn't give false hope to himself or anyone else."

"Then why did he agree to see me?"

"Because he's dying." Lyra's voice cracked. "Beta Kane and the elders practically forced him. They said if he doesn't find his true Luna soon, the curse will kill him within months."

Ayla's chest felt like it was caving in. They were running out of time.

"Miss, can I ask why you're so interested in all this? Have you... have you already met the Alpha?"

Ayla nodded slowly. No point in lying.

"When? Where?" Lyra's eyes went wide with panic.

"Last night. I heard him... heard him in pain from the eastern tower. I couldn't just ignore it."

Lyra gasped, covering her mouth. "Oh no! You shouldn't have gone there! What if the Alpha was in a terrible state? What if he'd hurt you?"

"He didn't hurt me. Instead, he begged me never to come back because he was afraid he might hurt me."

Lyra processed this information in stunned silence.

"He was crying, Lyra." Ayla's voice trembled. "This Alpha that everyone's terrified of... he was crying alone in the dark."

Tears spilled down Lyra's cheeks. "It's been so long since anyone's seen the Alpha cry. Usually he just... suffers in silence."

"I want to help him."

"Miss, you have to be careful. The Alpha's condition is unstable. The curse makes him dangerous, especially when he's in pain. He could lose control and..."

"He won't hurt me," Ayla interrupted with absolute certainty.

"How can you be so sure?"

Ayla paused, trying to find words for the strange feeling she'd had last night. When she looked into Zephan's red eyes, she hadn't seen a monster. She'd seen someone broken and alone.

"Because I saw something in his eyes. Something that's still alive, still capable of feeling. And someone who can still feel won't hurt an innocent person."

Lyra stared at her with a mix of admiration and worry. "You're really not afraid of him?"

"I am afraid," Ayla admitted. "But not of him. I'm afraid of watching him suffer alone."

They sat in silence. Lyra looked moved by her words, while Ayla was still trying to understand the emotions churning in her chest.

"Miss," Lyra said softly, "maybe... maybe the seers weren't wrong about you."

Before Ayla could respond, a sharp knock shattered the quiet. Lyra jumped up to answer it, revealing Beta Kane with a serious expression.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak with Miss Ayla."

Lyra bowed and hurried out, leaving Ayla alone with the Beta who clearly had important news.

"What's wrong, Beta Kane?" Ayla tried to hide her nervousness.

Kane stepped inside and closed the door. "Miss Ayla, the Alpha has decided to hold a formal meeting with you."

Ayla's heart hammered against her ribs. "When?"

"Tomorrow evening. You'll dine with the Alpha in the castle's main dining hall."

After last night's intense encounter, Ayla had no idea what to expect from a formal meeting.

"I'll make sure you're prepared," Kane continued. "Servants will help you choose the right clothes, and I'll explain the protocols for meeting with the Alpha."

"Beta Kane," Ayla said slowly, "how is the Alpha today?"

Kane paused, studying her face. "Why do you ask?"

Ayla wasn't sure if she should mention last night. But something in Kane's eyes told her he already knew.

"You met him last night, didn't you?" Kane asked calmly.

Ayla nodded. No point in lying.

Kane let out a long breath. "I figured. The Alpha never sleeps peacefully, but this morning he was... different."

"Different how?"

"He asked about you. Wanted to know if you were okay after last night."

Warmth spread through Ayla's chest. So Zephan had been thinking about her too.

"Miss Ayla," Kane said seriously, "I have to warn you. Tomorrow night's meeting is crucial. The Alpha will be deciding whether you're... whether you're suitable to be his Luna."

"And if I'm not?"

Kane's silence said everything. If she wasn't suitable, she'd be sent away. And Zephan would keep suffering alone until the curse killed him.

"I think you'll be fine," Kane said finally. "But remember—the Alpha has built huge walls around his heart. He'll try to scare you, test you, maybe even try to make you run."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because he's terrified to hope. And he's even more terrified of disappointing someone else's hope."

Ayla got it. Zephan would try to push her away, not because he didn't want her, but because he was afraid of hurting her.

"Beta Kane," Ayla said with firm resolve, "I won't run."

Kane's eyes filled with hope. "Are you sure? Tomorrow night will be much harder than last night's chance encounter."

Ayla remembered the tears falling from Zephan's red eyes, his broken voice saying, "It's been so long since anyone cared."

"I'm sure," she said without hesitation.

Kane nodded, looking relieved. "Good. Preparations start tomorrow afternoon. And Miss... thank you."

"For what?"

"For giving the Alpha something that's been missing from his life for way too long."

"What's that?"

Kane smiled slightly before turning to leave. "Hope."

After Kane left, Ayla sat alone, staring toward the eastern tower. She had no idea what tomorrow night would bring, but one thing was crystal clear—she wouldn't let Zephan suffer alone anymore.

Even if it meant battling the biggest monster in both their lives: the fear of loving and being loved.

The sun crawled across the sky, and Ayla knew that somewhere in this castle, a wounded Alpha was preparing for a night that could change everything.

For the first time since arriving here, Ayla felt like she was exactly where she needed to be, at exactly the right time, for exactly the right reason.