Mated To The Alpha King

Raven’s POV I was jolted awake by the relentless buzzing of my alarm clock. Growling in frustration, I reached over and shut it off. I was about to fall back into bed when my eyes landed on the time. 6 a.m. “f**k,” I muttered under my breath. Of all days to oversleep, why did it have to be today? Dragging myself out of bed, I stumbled into the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face in an attempt to wake up. Once I felt slightly more alert, I moved to my closet, pulling out a black hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. After slipping them on, I quietly stepped out of my room. The hallway of the pack house was eerily silent. Good. Just what I needed. I made my way through the main doors and out into the crisp morning air. My destination was clear. The graveyard. I walked in silence, my heart growing heavier with each step closer to my destination. When I finally reached a familiar grave, my legs gave out beneath me, and I sank to the ground. With trembling hands, I placed the flowers I had brought in front of the headstone. “Mom,” I whispered, my voice trembling. My eyes traced the name etched into the cold stone, a lump forming in my throat. “Thank you… for giving up your life for me,” I choked out, my vision blurring as tears threatened to fall. “Everyone says you were the bravest, the strongest…” My voice cracked, the tears falling freely now. “I wish I could remember you… even just a little.” Today was my coming-of-age ceremony, a day that should have been filled with joy and celebration. But all I felt was emptiness. “I’m scared, Mom… I’m so scared.” My shoulders shook as I sobbed, my fingers curling into the cold earth under me. “I don’t want to be alone anymore. I wish you were here,” I admitted brokenly. “To hold me, to comfort me…” As if in response to my grief, more tears spilled down my cheeks, falling onto the damp earth under me. “You were the best mom, even though I never got to know you,” I whispered, wiping my tears as I stood up. I took one last look at her grave before forcing myself to turn away. Today marked a fresh start in my life—it was my coming-of-age ceremony. Guests from other packs would be here, and I had heard the Alpha King would be attending, probably searching for his mate. “Great,” I muttered sarcastically, grabbing a bottle of water from the kitchen before heading back to my room. I had no intention of dealing with anyone until the ceremony. Hours later, the distant sounds of preparation stirred me awake. With a groan, I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the exhaustion clinging to me. After a long, hot shower, I sat before my dressing mirror, staring at my reflection. Today wasn’t just about the ceremony. It was my birthday too, mine and Olivia’s. But No matter how much effort I put into my appearance, I knew she would steal the spotlight, like she always did. But that didn’t matter, I was already used to it. I slipped into the dress and gasped as I looked at myself in the mirror. It fit perfectly. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I stared at my reflection. The dress clung to my figure in all the right places, accentuating my curves. It was a deep shade of midnight blue, complementing my dark hair and pale complexion. For once, I felt… beautiful. But I knew it wouldn’t last. No matter what I wore, Olivia would always be the center of attention. My half-sister had a way of making sure all eyes were on her, as if the world revolved around her existence. And tonight would be no different. Still, I refused to let her ruin this for me. Today wasn’t just her birthday—it was mine too. Squaring my shoulders, I turned away from the mirror and grabbed my heels. Just as I was about to slip them on, a knock echoed through my door. “Raven, are you ready?” a familiar voice called from the other side. It was Maya, my best friend. “Yeah, coming,” I responded, slipping on my heels before heading to the door. Maya’s eyes widened as soon as she saw me. “Wow, Raven. You look stunning!” I felt a faint blush creep up my cheeks. “Thanks.” She grinned, looping her arm through mine. “Let’s go. The ceremony’s about to start.” My heart raced as we descended the stairs, the pack house buzzing with excitement. The air was filled with the scent of delicious food, and laughter echoed through the halls. Warriors from neighboring packs mingled with our own, but the room’s energy shifted the moment we entered the main hall. A powerful aura radiated from the far end of the room, suffocating and intense. My eyes darted around the room, and my heart skipped a beat when my eyes fell on a certain figure. The Alpha King was here. I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening. His presence was suffocating, his dominance palpable even from across the room. His sharp, chiseled features were framed by jet-black hair, his piercing green eyes scanning the crowd with a predatory intensity. Stories of his ruthlessness, his unmatched power, and the fact that he was still unmated circulated through every pack. Many she-wolves dreamed of being chosen by him. But not me. All I wanted was to get through tonight without drawing attention. The ceremony began, the pack elders chanting as they circled the ceremonial fire in. My heart thudded painfully in my chest. Maya gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “You’ve got this,” she whispered. But instead of calling me first, Olivia was called. I was the elder sister. It should have been me. My frown deepened as Olivia stepped forward, the elders beaming at her as if she was the only one who mattered. The applause was thunderous. Wolves whispered about how graceful she was, how radiant. As if I didn’t exist. Feeling already irritated, I bolted out, anger bubbling inside me as I walked back to my room. I didn’t need them. I didn’t need any of them. I could transform on my own. When I got into the room, I bolted the door and started my transformation. The air buzzed with energy, and a strange heat spread through my limbs. My skin tingled as a deep pull in my core signaled the shift beginning. I clenched my teeth as pain rippled through me, my bones stretching and reforming. My nails elongated into claws, my spine arched, and a low growl escaped my lips. I collapsed onto my hands and knees as fur sprouted along my arms and legs. The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt, burning through my veins like fire and ice at the same time. My breathing grew ragged, my vision blurred, and just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore— Everything snapped into place. I stood on four legs, my senses sharper than ever before. I walked over to my dressing mirror to see my inner self, and standing before me was a red wolf, her eyes glowing fiercely. And to be honest… I was breathtaking. For the first time, I felt powerful. Beautiful. Pride swelled in my chest, but before I could fully embrace my new form, an unfamiliar scent filled my nose, alluring and intoxicating. My heart raced, my wolf howling excitedly. “Mate.”