FORCED TO BE THE RUTHLESS ALPHA’S BREEDER

I barely slept last night. These past few days have been exhausting, with my mating ceremony and all of the celebrations that accompany that milestone, but I was too pumped up to get any real rest. In a lot of ways, I feel like I've been waiting for this day my whole life. I study my reflection in the mirror, dressed in a flowing pale silver dress that glowed in the moonlight, an omen of starts. The air filled with the perfume of lavender and rose, tonight was all about me, this evening would be perfect. My heart lost a beat as the face of Lucas came to thought. Lucas, my destiny, my bond. Soon we would have between us something never to be cut, a sharing of love bestowed by the favor of the moon goddess. I smiled at the individual I was gazing at in the mirror, running a curly strand along the side of my head. “You are beautiful, my love." My mother spoke over my shoulder, a smile of happiness on her face. "Tonight your mate will sweep you off, the beginning of a lovely life." I swiveled her around, a feeling of warmth and excitement in my chest. "I don't believe it's really happening" I gasped. "It's a dream." My mother held my hands "it's real my love, you'll be happy always." I smiled at her. Suddenly there was a loud noise outside and I became worried, my mother and I stared at one another both confused at the loud screams coming from outside. Luke, my brother rushed in panting, "mum, Willow there is an attack. Father, Lucas and I will handle it, you both stay in here till we come get you" with those few words he left almost immediately leaving the two ladies confused the more. Seconds turned into minutes and the screams only got louder, oh moon goddess please protect my family. I could only cry out as the once festive mood was broken by a blood curdling scream out in the backyard. A howl of raw pain that sent shivers on my arms. I stepped out to know what exactly was happening with mother running behind me, I stopped in my tracks at the scene unfolding before me. The howling started. Low and menacing, full of fury and hunger. The walls trembled at the splintering crashings that echoed down the corridors. Glass shattered. Burnt wood filled the air with bitter burns. My heart thudded against my ribcage as my mother clutched my wrist. "Run!" It was too late already. The doors slammed open, and huge men in black armor poured in, their eyes aglow like hot coals. Wolves. Not ordinary wolves, Moonlight Pack warriors, a brutal pack notorious for their viciousness. My father, Lord Aldric, strode into the room, his face contorted with rage. "You have the temerity to come into my house?" One of the fighters, a giant of a man with a scarred face, moved forward. His voice was as rough as gravel. "You know why we're here, Aldric. The debt must be paid." My father's eyes widened. "Please," he pleaded. "I need a little more time." The fighter laughed. "Time? Time is over. You made a bargain, and now we're here to collect the price." My stomach twisted. "What bargain?" I snapped, moving forward. The warrior gazed into my eyes, a glint of amusement dancing in his own. "Your father borrowed money from our Alpha. He promised to repay us, but he did not. So we take what is owed in the form of payment." My blood immediately ran cold. My father's voice trembled. "No, she wasn't supposed to be taken. Take me, I beg of you!" The warrior sneered. "The Alpha does not desire you, old man. He wants her." I retreated, trembling. "No," I whispered. "This is not happening." My mother sprang forward, claws extended, but another warrior had her by the throat, pushing her into the wall. "Stay down, woman, unless you'd prefer your death to be as quick as your husband's will be." "Mother!" I screamed, struggling against the arms that restrained her. My father ran towards the warrior with his arms open wide around Eleanor, my mother but was pushed to the ground before he was able to catch up to her. Blood splattered out onto the marble floor as he fell, gagging in pain. My eyes filled with tears. "Please! Stop!" The soldier whose arm had held mine, his warm breath in my ear. "You're going with us, princess. Your father has betrayed you." My universe whirled as I was dragged out of the house, my mother's cries ringing in my head. The streets were smeared with mayhem. Fire hissed, casting hellish shadows on the charred houses. Villagers ran for their lives, but the Moonlight warriors were merciless. "Let me go!" I thrashed in the iron hold of my captor, using my fingernails to claw his arm. A snarl was my only warning before a sharp pain cracked across my face. The impact sent me stumbling to my knees, stars bursting behind my eyelids. "You’ll learn to obey, girl," the warrior growled, yanking me up and throwing me onto a waiting carriage. The cold iron bars slammed shut behind me. I struggled to remain upright, clenching the bars in shaking hands as I gazed back at the retreating house. My people's wails, the charred ruins, the bodies-strewn ground, my whole world was lost. A scream tore my throat wide as I fell to the carriage floor, my fingers shaking. Hours passed with the carriage jolting on dense forest. There was the howl of the wolf and incessant thudding of hooves on earth road. Then the carriage came to an abrupt stop. There was the creaking of metal gates loudly which sent shivers down my spine. I lifted my head, looking above the bars. A towering citadel towered above them, its darkness extending up towards heaven, the brutal spires tracing the summit like fiend teeth. The stench of blood clung to the breeze. Guards standing watch at entrances bowed as he who went forth walked past them. Impressive. Towering. He was choking to be close, as if air was bending to him. His black cloak billowed behind him, and where gold eyes met mine, a shiver crept down my spine. A cold smile clung to his mouth as he advanced. "Welcome home, breeder."