The Ugly Alpha Wants Me

Chapter 2: The Castle Of Shadows

The moment Ayla stepped onto the grounds of Castle Umbra, everything changed. The air hit her like a wall of ice, thick and heavy with secrets that made her skin crawl. She caught a whiff of something metallic in the wind—old blood mixed with damp earth—and her stomach churned.

What have I gotten myself into?

The castle rose before her like something out of a nightmare. Black stone towers pierced the sky, and the windows... God, those windows. They reflected the moonlight in ways that made her think of trapped souls screaming behind the glass. Stone wolves decorated every corner, their eyes following her every move.

"Follow me," Kane said, his voice cold as winter. "And don't stray from the path."

Ayla's worn shoes clicked against the stone steps, embarrassingly loud compared to Kane's confident stride. The massive wolf statues on either side looked so real she half-expected them to pounce. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

This place is going to be the death of me.

The main door was carved from black wood so thick it could probably stop a truck. Kane pushed it open like it weighed nothing, and Ayla's jaw dropped.

"Holy..."

The entrance hall was insane. The ceiling stretched so high she got dizzy looking up at the painted battles between wolves and monsters. A crystal chandelier the size of a car hung overhead, casting golden light that somehow made everything feel colder. The marble staircase spiraled upward like something from a fairy tale—if fairy tales were written by someone with serious daddy issues.

But what really got her attention was the painting. The massive portrait dominated the wall like a warning. A dark-haired man with burning red eyes stared out at her, surrounded by shadows and wolves. He was gorgeous in that dangerous, 'I-could-destroy-you-and-look-good-doing-it' way.

She didn't need to ask who it was.

"Alpha Zephan," Kane whispered, catching her stare. "That was painted before... the incident."

"What incident?"

Kane's face shut down. He walked faster, leaving her scrambling to keep up. The corridors felt alive with dancing shadows from the wall candles, and ancient tapestries seemed to watch her pass.

Everything in this place is watching me.

"Here." Kane stopped at a door that looked like it belonged in a museum. "Your room."

Ayla followed him inside and nearly tripped over her own feet. The room was huge—bigger than her uncle's entire house. Gold wallpaper with rose patterns covered the walls, and the bed... Jesus, the bed was massive. Red silk canopy, pillows that looked like clouds. In the corner sat a vanity table with a mirror framed in actual gold.

This can't be real.

"This... is for me?" Her voice came out barely a whisper.

"You are the future Luna," Kane said like it was obvious. "You need to live like one."

Ayla's legs shook as she walked deeper into the room. The carpet was so thick and soft she wanted to cry. At the window, she pulled back velvet curtains and gasped. The view stretched across the entire Umbra forest, moonlight turning the treetops silver. Mountains rose in the distance like sleeping giants.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Kane asked behind her.

"I've never seen anything like this." Wonder filled her voice despite everything. For just a moment, she forgot she was a prisoner.

"The Umbra territory is the most beautiful of all the wolf clans," Kane said with pride. "Alpha Zephan's family has ruled here for centuries."

Reality crashed back. Ayla turned to face him. "How long will I be staying here?"

Kane's expression went carefully blank. "That depends on you. And the Alpha."

"What do you mean?"

"You're here to become Luna—the Alpha's mate and our female leader. But becoming Luna isn't simple. You have to prove yourself worthy, prove the clan will accept you, and most importantly..." He stopped.

"Most importantly what?"

"You have to heal the Alpha's curse."

Ice shot down Ayla's spine. "What kind of curse?"

Kane studied her for a long moment. "That's not my place to explain. The Alpha will tell you... if he chooses to."

He moved toward the door but paused. "There are rules you need to follow."

Of course there are. Ayla nodded, bracing herself.

"First—you can't leave the castle without permission. The forest is dangerous, especially for humans."

"Second—don't wander alone at night. This castle is huge and easy to get lost in. There are certain rooms you shouldn't enter."

"Third—if you meet the Alpha, be respectful. He doesn't like disturbances or too many questions."

Ayla's throat felt dry. "When will I meet him?"

"When he's ready." Kane opened the door. "Food will come three times a day. Servants will clean and bring you clothes. Tell them if you need anything."

"Kane," she called before he could leave.

He turned back.

"Thank you. For not treating me like garbage."

Something softened in his expression. "We're not monsters, Ayla. The Umbra clan respects guests, especially future Lunas." He paused. "But this place has its own rules. Follow them, and you'll be safe."

The door clicked shut, leaving her alone in her beautiful prison.

Ayla sank onto the bed, still unable to believe her life had flipped upside down in one day. This morning she'd been scrubbing floors at Uncle Marcus's house. Now she sat in a room fit for royalty, wearing clothes that probably cost more than she'd ever seen.

But luxury came with a price. She was trapped here, expected to become mate to some cursed creature his own people feared.

What the hell am I supposed to do?

She opened the wardrobe and stared. Rows of gorgeous dresses hung inside—silk, velvet, fabrics she couldn't even name. Deep blues, dramatic reds, colors that made her think of midnight and blood. Elegant shoes sat in glass cases at the bottom.

Everything was exactly her size.

"How did they know?" she whispered, touching a midnight blue gown that felt like water.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in."

A young woman entered carrying a food tray. She had golden-brown hair and watchful green eyes, dressed simply but neatly in white and brown.

"Good evening, Miss. I'm Lyra, senior servant here. I brought your dinner."

"Thank you." It still felt weird being called 'Miss.'

Lyra set the tray by the window. The smell made Ayla's stomach growl—thick soup, warm bread, roasted meat that looked amazing. She realized she'd barely eaten all day.

"Lyra," Ayla said as the woman straightened the bed. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Miss."

"This castle... it feels like something's watching. Am I safe here?"

Lyra stopped arranging pillows and gave her an unreadable look. "You're safe, Miss. As long as you follow Beta Kane's rules."

"The one about not wandering at night..."

"Especially that one." Lyra's voice dropped. "This castle changes at night. Strange sounds, moving shadows. And the Alpha..."

"What about the Alpha?"

Lyra hesitated. "The Alpha suffers at night, Miss. His curse gets worse when the moon is bright. You should avoid the main tower after midnight."

Ayla's curiosity spiked. "What kind of curse?"

"It's not my place to say, Miss." Lyra shook her head. "But he wasn't always like this. Alpha Zephan was once a wise leader and... very handsome."

There was sadness in Lyra's voice that tugged at Ayla's heart. The servant clearly had feelings for the Alpha, even if she tried to hide them.

"Until that incident happened," Lyra continued, almost whispering.

"What incident?"

Lyra shook her head again. "Forgive me, Miss. I've said too much. You should eat and rest. Tomorrow will be difficult."

She hurried toward the door, obviously wanting to escape the conversation.

"Lyra," Ayla called.

"Yes, Miss?"

"Thank you for being kind to me."

A small smile crossed Lyra's face. "You'll be fine here, Miss. I'm sure of it."

When the door closed, Ayla finally ate. The first spoonful of soup nearly made her cry—when was the last time she'd tasted something this good? At Uncle Marcus's, food was just survival. This was heaven.

But even while enjoying the best meal of her life, her mind kept circling back to what Lyra had said. Curse. The Alpha suffering at night. The main tower off-limits after midnight.

After dinner, she took a bath in the marble tub with golden fixtures and scented candles. The warm water felt amazing, but her mind wouldn't shut up. How had she gone from unwanted orphan to future Luna of the most powerful wolf clan? What made her special? Why her?

She put on a silk nightgown from the wardrobe—it felt like wearing air—and crawled into the massive bed. The covers were thick and soft, nothing like the thin blanket she was used to.

The castle settled around her with subtle sounds—distant footsteps, wind through the towers, what sounded like wolves howling far away. She closed her eyes, trying to sleep, but her mind raced. Maybe the bed was too soft. Maybe it was the strange atmosphere. Or maybe it was the feeling that something was watching her from the darkness.

Hours passed. Ayla stared at the ceiling with its carved roses, watching moonlight create shifting shadow patterns on the walls.

Then, exactly at midnight, she heard it.

Auuuuuu...

A long, agonized howl from the direction of the main tower. Pure pain echoed in that sound, like someone being tortured.

Ayla shot up in bed, heart racing. The sound came again, louder and more desperate.

Auuuuuu...

Without thinking, she got up and went to the window. Through the glass, she could see the castle's highest tower rising into darkness. A dim light flickered in the peak window like troubled fire.

The mournful howl rang out again, and this time she felt the agony in it. Someone—or something—was suffering terribly. Her instincts screamed it was Alpha Zephan.

Lyra had warned her about the main tower after midnight. Kane had told her not to wander alone at night. But listening to that tortured sound, she couldn't just lie there and do nothing.

She remembered all the nights she'd cried alone in her tiny attic, wishing someone—anyone—would come comfort her. Even though she was terrified of the cursed Alpha, she couldn't ignore someone else's pain.

I'm probably going to regret this, she thought, but her feet were already moving toward the door.