The Cursed Alpha king and his Bullied luna

Episode 2

NYLA:

The words thundered in my ears as the two warriors present grabbed my arms, forcing me to my knees.

What was happening? My gaze darted around in panic. Suddenly, the smiling faces began to melt away, the flowers wilted into nothing, the lanterns, everything began to vanish.

The lavishly-decorated hall peeled apart until only bare walls remained.

The wedding… It was an illusion.

My chest seized. No. It couldn't be true. There must be a reason.

“W-why?” I managed to ask, though the truth already gnawed at my heart.

He threw his head back in mocking laughter. “Isn't it obvious? I was only after the alpha ring.”

I stared at him, speechless. What was I thinking? It was too good to be true. Why did I believe it?

“Your father's territory has been unclaimed for years. I wasn't even sure you had the Alpha ring. But I was willing to take the chance. And you didn't disappoint.”

He paced slowly in front of me, his eyes fixed on the ring.

“I knew you desperately desired to be loved so I decided to give you just that. You can't blame me Nyla. Blame that asshole, Dax of BloodRidge pack. He killed my father and has to go down but unfortunately he's too powerful for a one-on-one fight. So, I have no choice but to gather territories until I get to his level and then we can go to war.”

I swallowed hard, shutting my eyes briefly as tears slid down my cheeks. I should have seen through him.

“I've known you since I was a pup. If not anything-”

“Oh please,” he cut me off. “I'm not the one who played hide and seek with you. I figured that person meant a lot to you. I had to assume his identity.”

The air punched out of my lungs, shame crawling over my skin until I couldn't breathe. “We are mates. Mates don't hurt each other,” I muttered, my voice breaking… almost pleading.

He scoffed. “Don't flatter yourself. The moon goddess wouldn't curse me with a wolfless freak as a mate.” His lips curled in disgust. “Even your own parents hated your guts. What made you think anyone else could ever love you?”

His words hit harder than any whip but I swallowed the pain, pressing my lips tighter. If only there was a way I could mindlink Talon so he could run. I'd dragged him into danger.

I forced my thoughts toward Talon but the runes burned my chest until I gasped and broke the attempt.

Just then, Sabrina walked in. From the smug expression on her face, she was clearly in on the whole thing.

She walked up to Alpha Martin and pressed her lips against his. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

She smirked. “I'm his mate, Nyla. We knew you wouldn't feel any bond even in front of your true mate so he assumed the role of your childhood friend and then your mate. You don't know how hard it's been for me seeing him pretend to like you.”

The door swung open and the pack elders entered. Sabrina lunged forward and landed a hard slap across my face. “How dare you deceive the Alpha?”

She turned to the elders whose cold eyes descended on me like I was some criminal. “This wench faked the mate bond and tried to deceive Alpha Martin into making her the pack's Luna.”

Another drop of tear fell from my eyes. The stares, the smiles…I told myself it meant he loved me. He must have been laughing at how foolish I was.

“How dare an ordinary omega servant commit such a crime?” One of the elders asked. Before I could answer, he slapped me on the same spot as Sabrina.

Alpha Martin gripped my chin, yanking it up, his eyes hard and cold. “Lock her up in the cell.”

The two warriors pulled me up and were about to drag me out of the hall when Sabrina spoke again.

“She committed a grave crime. Locking her up alone isn't enough. I suggest we cut her hair. Let every omega see what happens when they step out of line.”

The elders all nodded in agreement. It wasn't enough that I had to dye my hair black every month because my parents hated seeing my blondness. Now Sabrina wanted the hair gone.

In the next few minutes, my hair was hacked to shoulder level. Then the warriors dragged me to the pack cell.

It wasn't a real room. It was just a box made of silver steel bars open on all sides. No cover from the weather. It sat in the clearing in the middle of the pack house compound like a display for everyone to see.

For seven days, I stayed there with no food, no water. It wasn't the first time though. My parents had locked and starved me before, therefore my body already knew how to endure.

When it rained, the water soaked me through until my teeth chattered. When the sun blazed, the steel bars grew hot but strangely, they never burned my skin.

The next day, a clang on the steel bars jolted me awake. Talon. I hurried over and gripped his hand, panic crashing through me. “You need to get out of here. I'm sorry, I put you in danger,” I pleaded as fresh tears welled up in my eyes.

Talon gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “You couldn't have known. Take this.”

He slipped me a piece of bread and a bottle of milk. My stomach growled at the sight and I didn't waste a second before tearing into the bread and shoving it in my mouth. Then, I quickly gulped down the milk before anyone could catch us.

“Thank you,” I whispered, handing him the empty bottle. “You need to leave before Sabrina or Alpha Martin sees you.”

“Alpha Martin knows. I just came to tell you that I’ll be following him to a brief territorial meeting today.”

I shook my head repeatedly. “No. We can't trust Alpha Martin after what he did.”

“I know, but I can't refuse either. He promised to release you if I go with him…And I also want to see what the alpha king looks like.”

My skin pricked with goosebumps at Talon’s words and I grabbed his wrist again. “You absolutely cannot approach Alpha Dax…Please! He is rumored to be cold and dangerous.”

“Just a rumor–”

“No Talon. There must be a reason all these alphas fear him. He is the alpha king for heaven's sake. Please… I don't want to lose you.”

He smiled at me. Damn it Talon. This wasn't the time for that. With everything I’d heard about Dax, we’d only lose our lives if we wanted revenge.

“I'll come see you when I return.” He stared at me for a moment, his eyes like they were trying to say something else. Then he smiled again. “Take good care of yourself, sis.”

After he left, my restlessness grew. A thousand and one scenarios played in my mind. What if he couldn't control his emotions and fought Alpha Dax? What if Alpha Martin set him up?

“Urgh,” I growled, rubbing my palms together.

Time blurred as I slid deeper into my thoughts. A few hours later, Alpha Martin approached the cell.

My heart leapt into my stomach as I caught the sad expression on his face. I scanned around. No sight of Talon. ‘He might be in his room,’ I tried to assure myself.

“Nyla,” Alpha Martin muttered. “I'm afraid I have some bad news.”

I stared at him, unable to utter a word.

“Talon’s dead.”

The words hit me like a punch in the gut and I immediately grabbed the bar in an attempt not to fall. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. No. Talon’s the only reason I'm living. Nothing can happen to him.

I glanced back at the alpha as my vision blurred with tears. “He's not dead,” I mumbled.

“I'm sorry, Nyla. He suddenly lunged at Dax and Dax killed him. We ran. When we returned, Dax’s men had already taken his body.”

“No,” I said, repeatedly shaking my head. “You don't understand. He can't be dead. What am I living for if he is… dead?”

My knees buckled and I fell. But then, my eyes caught the rune on my wrist. I stared hard, waiting for it to vanish but it only jittered like it might fade.

Relief flooded me so sudden that my chest hurt. My life force was bound to Talon’s by my parents. If he died, I’d die too. The rune was still here and it only meant he wasn't dead. I had to find him fast.

After he left, Alpha Martin ordered for my release.

I stumbled out of the cell, my legs weak and trembling. As I made my way down the large corridor, I recognized Alpha Martin's voice drifting from a corner. I moved closer and listened in.

“You have to help me,” a man said. “My alpha chose my daughter as one of the tributes to Dax. Lily is my only daughter, I can't send her to her death…Please Martin. You and the Alpha of Etheridge’s daughter are a couple. Talk to him for me.”

This was my opportunity to find Talon. I didn't waste a second before stepping into view.

“Can I go in place of your daughter?”

Alpha Martin threw me a nasty glance. “What did you just say?”

I drew a breath. “You don't want me here. And I want to find my brother.” I turned to the Elder. “I could save your daughter's life. My life doesn't mean much.”

Alpha Martin scoffed. “You do know he’s cursed. Why do you want to throw your life away?”

“Like I said, my life is not worth living if Talon’s dead.”

His eyes roamed my features for a second then he sighed and turned to the elder. “What do you think?”

The elder readily agreed. Then Alpha Martin moved closer to me and ran his tongue slowly over my neck. I tried to push him away but he gripped my neck so hard, keeping me still. When he was done, he shoved me aside.

“Prepare, you are going to BloodRidge tomorrow.”