THE FORBIDDEN PASSION: Fated To The Rogue's Alpha

IRVINE'S POV “You are welcome, Miss Irvine.” I entered the cabin and was welcomed with a calm greeting from a middle-aged lady, a woman whose face I struggled to recall. It’d be rude of me not to acknowledge her greeting, so I gave her a simple smile, which seemed to overwhelm her. “Luna Gwen ordered me to prepare you for the journey,” the lady spoke audibly before glancing at the fidgeting maids, who were obviously afraid of her. It was quite strange that they were scared of her. Who was she, and what authority did she hold in the packhouse? Could she be the stern packhouse maid the little kids talked about? “Uhmm, we are waiting for your approval, Miss,” the lady spoke again, drifting me out of my thoughts. “Yes,” I said with a sigh. “You can prepare me,” I continued. “We will start with your hair now,” the lady announced, and I was ushered to sit on the soft chair facing the mirror while they did justice to my hair. I was preparing to embark on a journey for the first time to the Sharp Claws pack for a tournament—the battle for the strongest female wolf in the woods. No doubt, Father is trusting me to represent us because I had defeated most of the strong wolves in our packhouse. What do you expect from someone solely trained by a gamma day and night? But I didn't know what to expect, and moreover, I looked fragile in my human form but fierce in my wolf form. What if the first round was to fight in human form? My hands trembled, and I could feel my heart pumping faster than usual. “Miss, are you okay?” I heard a maid ask. “You seem quite… nervous?” The maid asked, earning her a groan from the lady. “Would you mind your business or I will send you out!” She yelled, and I shrieked a little at the tone of her voice. “Pardon, Miss. This wretch doesn't know when to open her mouth,” The lady apologized to me in a cold tone. I gave her a nod, and they continued dressing me. I returned to my thoughts. I've overheard Father planning to expand the pack once I win the tournament, and I wondered what deal he had made with them to warrant such thinking. Also, Father's constant praises and reminders that I shouldn't fail him made me more scared than the competition. Cold shivers ran down my spine as Father's words echoed in my mind. What would happen if I lost the battle? I might as well become fatherless. “All done, Miss.” The lady announced after a while, and I walked to the larger mirror to check out my outfit. “Perfect,” I mumbled, and a warm smile spread across her face as she gave a gentle clap. “Your father awaits your arrival,” she said softly, as she led me to the main building, where I met the ruthless and chiseled face of my father, who sat mightily on his throne. Beside him was my mother, gazing at me apologetically. “Like seriously?” I let out a scoff and flattened my lips. Glancing around slowly, I saw the elders of my pack seated and waiting to bless me before I embarked on the journey. The lady gave me a gentle nudge, breaking my trance, and I realized I'd been standing and not moving forward. Gulping nothing down my throat, I walked slowly along the aisle, my heart racing with every step. What did they expect of me? I could sense everyone's gazes on me, making me feel uncomfortable, like an outsider in my own pack. This was the first time I was exposed to a lot of people, thanks to my father, who always gets what he wants. I closed my fidgeting hands and bowed my head slowly. Suddenly, my mother stood up and walked graciously to me, wrapping her arms around me in a hug. She whispered slowly in my ear, “I know you are going there not at your will, but do not make it obvious or you'd make your father angry.” Her arms dropped, and she stepped back. “My brave warrior!” I heard my father speak, and I looked up at him. “Alpha Shawn,” I addressed him before bowing down to acknowledge him. Although, I couldn't keep my mind off the fact that he called me a warrior. Was I going there for war? Is he sending his only child to a battleground? “You have been chosen by the Moon Goddess to represent us in this competition. Fight like they are your sworn enemies!” he started, and I nodded. “Some of the elders believe your human form is too fragile, so they've judged your appearance!” Alpha Shawn yelled as he glanced at the elders, who bowed their heads slowly in shame. “I trust you will win and come back in victory! Then I will be able to threaten the Red Faws clan to retreat from their land!” Alpha Shawn yelled, and everyone in the room cheered. “Silence!” he ordered, his voice stern, and I looked up at him, my heart racing. “Irvine,” he called my name, his eyes narrowing as he walked towards me. “Go make your father proud,” he said, his tone dripping with expectation, his gaze piercing, and I nodded in compliance, masking the turmoil within. “The blessings of a father are enough for his daughter. There's no need for the elders to bless her. You may bless her in your hearts!” My father yelled, and everyone in the room began to murmur. I glanced at my mom, hoping she'd say something to him, but she sighed. It would be a bad omen if the elders didn't lay their blessings on me. “But Alpha Shawn, ever since our warriors are sent out on a battle, we, the elders, always bless them,” an elder spoke, his wrinkled face creased with concern as he bowed his head. “She is the daughter of an Alpha. She's an exception. The Alpha has blessed her. Anyone who says otherwise is a traitor.” My father countered, and everyone went mute. With the farewell ceremony concluded, I mounted my waiting horse, its saddle creaking beneath me. The scent of fresh leather and horse sweat filled my nostrils as I gazed out at the familiar faces gathered before the packhouse's grand entrance. Fighting back tears, I waved a final goodbye and began my journey. About an hour into the journey, I came across two routes that supposedly led to the Sharp Claws pack. Bringing out my map, I scanned my eyes through the part. “This is a long route,” I started, pointing to my left. “And I guess this is the shorter route,” I mumbled, glancing at the other route to my right. “I guess I should take the shorter route,” I concluded before rolling the map back into my pocket. “Hia!” I yelled at my horse, and it started moving at a fast pace. When it abruptly started slowing down, its snorts echoing through the silence, my nerves went on high alert. I glanced around the environment surrounded by tall canopy trees and found it odd that I couldn't hear any birds chirping. Unease crept up my spine as I scanned the surroundings, searching for life. “Frrr.” That was the sound I heard next, and I immediately came down from my horse and stood still, trying to catch the sound with my ears again. The sound came again, but this time it was from my back, and I swiftly turned towards the direction and still couldn't see what it was. “Was that the growl of a wild beast?” I questioned rhetorically as I touched my sword pouch. The shrubs erupted into violent motion, and I swiped out my sword from the pouch, moving closer to the shrub. “Neighh!!!” that was the sound of pain that pierced through the air just before my horse bolted, leaving me stranded in a place far from my pack. As I whirled around, still trying to get a clue of what was going on, some menacing figures with cruel smirks burst out from the underbrush, forming a deadly circle around me.