The Alpha's Soul Mate

CHAPTER 2: The Run Away Bride

"She's been in slumber for what seems like an eternity, yet there's no sign of her stirring."

"Do you think she'll ever wake up?"

"Mind your words, or the alpha will have your head!"

"Even in sleep, her beauty is undeniable,"

"I pray the Moon Goddess spares her, and breathes life back into her," the first voice whispered.

Their chatter was loud, yet I couldn't place the voices. 'Alpha? Moon Goddess? Their dialogue sounds like something out of a fantasy novel or film,' I thought.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to find two figures - a woman who appeared to be in her forties and a young girl around fifteen - staring intently at me.

"Mother, she's awake!" the young girl exclaimed.

"Yes, I see," the woman replied calmly.

"The Alpha's daughter has awakened!" the girl shouted, her voice echoing through the room. Almost instantly, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the air.

'Alpha's daughter? Are they playing some kind of prank on me?' I wondered.

Before I could process what was happening, the door swung open and an elegant lady, accompanied by three men, rushed in. I didn't recognize any of them. They were complete strangers to me.

"My child, I've waited so long for this moment. The gods have answered my prayers," the elegant lady said, hugging me tightly as she sobbed. I stood rigid, unable to reciprocate her embrace or emotions.

As I scanned the room, it dawned on me that I wasn't in a hospital or my own room. The memory of the accident suddenly flooded back.

"Oh no, the wedding!" I gasped.

In a state of panic, I pulled away from the lady's embrace and leapt out of bed. I didn't consider how impolite my actions might seem; I just knew I had to leave. The thought of not being able to stop the wedding, of losing Eric, was unbearable. It was as if a part of me wanted to vanish too.

I was certain I could make it to the door and escape, but two burly men blocked my path.

"Move! I need to get out of here!" I yelled at them, but they remained unmoved. I tried to squeeze past them, but they were like two immovable boulders.

"Darling, you've just awoken from a near-death slumber. Don't be reckless," the woman who had called me her daughter said in a flat tone. Had I misheard her? Her voice had changed so drastically. I took a deep breath, pushing those thoughts aside. My eyes landed on a large mirror on the left side of the room.

'What happened to my face?' I wondered, my eyes widening as I caught sight of my reflection.

'This can't be real,' I assured myself, believing there was something wrong with the mirror as I approached it.

"My child, what's the matter?" the woman asked, but I ignored her and reached out to touch the mirror. Reflected in it was a young, stunning woman. Her skin was as pale as snow, her eyes a deep emerald green, and her ash-colored hair flowed naturally. Her cheeks were rosy, her nose finely sculpted, and her lips full and shapely. She looked like a goddess. I didn't believe in fairy tales, but her beauty was otherworldly.

"Enchanted by your own beauty?" the woman asked, her voice pulling me from my reverie.

I smiled at my reflection in the mirror.

'Am I in heaven? I feel like I'm looking at an angel,' I thought to myself.

"You are truly my daughter. This isn't some figment of your imagination," she said.

I locked eyes with her, watching as her hazel hues shifted from brown to black, then back again. A sudden, sharp pain shot through my eyes, and I couldn't help but wonder if my head had been injured in the accident. That would explain the visual distortions, and the pain...

"Are you feeling alright, my dear?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

But I couldn't maintain eye contact any longer. My head began to spin, and I felt the world around me fading into darkness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was engulfed in complete darkness. My memory was hazy, but I could recall the women around me when I first woke up, one of them claiming to be my mother. The mirror...

'Was my changed reflection a dream?'

I jumped out of bed and frantically searched for the mirror, but it was nowhere to be found. Despite the room being shrouded in darkness, the moonlight seeping in should have illuminated any reflective surfaces.

'Your mother removed anything that could cast a reflection,' a voice suddenly said.

"Ahh!" I gasped, startled by the disembodied voice. "Who's there? Show yourself. I'm not afraid," I challenged.

'You cannot see me,' the voice replied.

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling a bit unhinged. If this was a dream, I desperately wanted to wake up.

'Everything you've seen and heard is real. You're not dreaming. You're awake. You just need to open your mind and heart,' the voice advised.

"Am I... dead?" I asked hesitantly.

'No,' the voice replied.

"Then what am I?"

'You are a human soul, trapped in my master's body,' it revealed.

A human soul? Was this some kind of absurd jest? Why was I even engaging with this voice? Perhaps my head had suffered more damage than I thought. A sharp pang in my heart coincided with a brief memory that flashed across my mind. I was behind the wheel that afternoon, in hot pursuit of Eric. My vision was blurred by the tears welling up in my eyes, my focus solely on him. Little did I know that a truck was heading straight for me.

The women I encountered earlier, must have been the ones who came to my rescue. Yes, that's it! I should leave them a note expressing my gratitude for their selfless act. I had to get back home. My parents would be worried sick. As for Eric, I was determined to bring him back, whatever it took. I hurried over to a wooden table next to the bed, scanning for a pen and paper, but found nothing. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the room, causing the curtains to billow, letting the moonlight flood in. The room was now bathed in the ethereal glow of the moon.

"This is nothing short of magical," I mused aloud.

"As magical as you are," the voice echoed back once more.

"Who are you?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"I am Sera," the voice replied.

"But why can't I see you?" I questioned, feeling a sense of unease.

"Because I am inside you," Sera explained.

The revelation sent a chill down my spine. How could she be inside me? It all seemed too surreal, like a crazy dream. Yes, that's it! I must be trapped in a dream. I needed to wake up.

I turned to walk towards my bed, but a gentle breeze seemed to beckon me towards the veranda. An idea formed in my mind, but before I could step through the open doors, a voice cautioned me.

"You will die. This is not a dream," it warned.

"I have faced death before. I am no longer afraid. So please, stop tormenting my thoughts," I retorted, determined to escape. I returned to my bed and gathered a white blanket, tying it together with pillowcases and a mattress to create a makeshift rope. Surprisingly, my room was quite high above the ground. I secured one end of the blanket to a Greek-style pillar and let the rest hang outside the veranda. Peering down, I estimated it was only a short distance to the ground.

"I can do this. It's now or never," I reassured myself.

"Please be careful," the voice cautioned once more. I brushed it off as my own conscience speaking.

Reaching out for the blanket, I swung myself over the edge and began descending. My heart pounded in my chest, as if I were escaping from a crime. Well, I was escaping, but not because I had done anything wrong. I simply longed to return home.

As my feet touched the grass, a sense of relief washed over me. "Mission accomplished!" I exclaimed to myself. But once again, a voice spoke up.

"This place is heavily guarded by numerous armies. Escaping won't be easy. I'm afraid you'll get caught," the voice warned.

"Don't worry, I can handle it. I've been through thrilling situations countless times. I'm an expert," I replied confidently. Yes, I was certain I could escape. No one had even seen me swinging down from above...

"Oh my goodness!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening in shock.

As I land in the courtyard below, I am momentarily stunned, not by the impact, but by the sight before me. The mansion, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight, is a breathtaking spectacle of gothic architecture. Its towering spires and pointed arches, the stone gargoyles perched on the roof, the intricate carvings etched into the stone walls - all contribute to an atmosphere of haunting beauty. The mansion, despite its intimidating facade, captivates me with its enigmatic charm. As I take in the sight, I can't help but feel a sense of awe. Even in my desperate situation, the gothic mansion's allure is undeniable. It's a sight that will stay with me, a testament to the captivating power of the gothic style, even in the most dire of circumstances.

I find myself trapped within the confines of the mansion, a surge of desperation courses through my veins. With every step, my heart pounds louder, urging me to escape. I made a quick decision and headed towards the nearest exit, a heavy wooden door leading to a mysterious woods beyond.

As I push open the door, the cool night air hits my face and the sound of rustling leaves fills my ears. The moonlight filters through the dense canopy of trees, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. The twisted branches reach out like skeletal fingers, seemingly trying to ensure me, but I push through my adrenaline, fueling my escape.

My breath ragged while I ran as fast as I could. I glanced back at the mansion and its silhouette stood in stark contrast to the natural beauty of the surrounding woods. The moonlight illuminates the intricate details of its architecture, highlighting the grandeur that once captivated me.

The voice persisted, echoing in my mind once more.

"You won't be able to escape. We must return now," it insisted.

"Please, just leave me alone! Whoever you are, stop bothering me! I don't belong here. I don't even know why I am here. All I want is to go back to my family," I pleaded, frustration and confusion welling up within me.

"You can no longer leave this place. This is your home now," the voice declared.

"Nonsense! None of this makes any sense!" I exclaimed, feeling a mixture of anger and desperation. The situation seemed absurd and incomprehensible. All I wanted was to find my way back to where I truly belonged.

As I sprint through the dense wood while arguing with the voice in my head, I suddenly find myself on the edge of a treacherous cliff. The ground crumbles beneath my feet, and I teeter on the precipe, desperately trying to regain my balance. Panic sets and I realize the danger I'm in, my body instinctively flailing to avoid the impending fall.

In that heart-stopping moment, as I teetered on the edge of the cliff, I couldn't help but glance back at the mansion. Though I can barely see it, something familiar hits me.

Suddenly, the voice in my head broke the silence, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Is this where she met her end?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

"Ayla, she lost her life in her desperate bid to flee from her own wedding."