The Alpha King's Forgotten White Wolf

I have been trained to kill since I was seven years old. Not to heal. To kill. But today, Metro braided my white hair, put a healer's bag in my hand, and whispered, "Remember, Sima. Hide the dagger. Smile. The cursed Alpha King doesn't need to know what you really are." I am her weapon. And today, she is selling me. The carriage stopped in front of the Black Palace. The palace of Alpha King Edward. Every tribute girl in the carriage was crying. I was not. "Moon Goddess, we will die," the girl next to me sobbed." They say he killed the last three healers. They say he cannot shift anymore, the curse is eating him from inside." Another girl said sobbing "why was I picked to be a tribute healer, my poor life" I looked out the window. The palace was made of black stone. Cold. No flags. No warmth. The guards at the gate wore black armor and did not speak. The doors opened. A Beta with a scar on his lip dragged us out one by one. "Line up! Heads down! You are tribute healers for His Majesty. If he accepts you, you live. If he rejects you, you die." The girls trembled harder. I kept my head down, but my hand went inside my bag. My fingers touched cold steel. My dagger was still there. Metro taught me three rules: 1. Never show fear. 2. Never trust a King. 3. Always have a weapon. I had followed all three since I was seven. "Walk!" We walked through the long, dark hallway. The air got colder with every step. Just the sound of our bare feet and the torches burning low. I heard him before I saw him. A low growl. A chain moving. A voice, deep and broken. "Another batch? How many will I kill this time?" My heart stopped. Anyways, I still put up a brave face We entered the throne room and I finally looked up. And there he was. Alpha King Edward. He was not sitting on his throne. He was standing by the black window, his back to us. Tall. Shoulders broad under a black cape. Black hair long and messy. His arms were bare, covered in scars. Then he turned. Moon Goddess. His face was beautiful and ruined at the same time. Sharp jaw, full lips, but a long scar cut through his left eyebrow. And his eyes... His eyes were gold. Fire gold. Cursed gold. They glowed in the dark room. He looked sick. Pale. But still powerful. The kind of power that makes you kneel even when you want to run. All the girls fell to their knees. "Your Majesty!" I didn't. I stood. His golden eyes moved across the line of girls, bored, angry. Then they stopped on me. On the white-haired girl who refused to kneel. Silence. The Beta whispered harshly, "Girl! Kneel! Are you mad?!" I still didn't kneel. Edward took one step forward. Then another. He stopped right in front of me. So close I could smell him. Cold snow and blood and smoke. He was so much taller. I had to tilt my head up to meet those cursed eyes. "You," he said. His voice was low, hoarse. "Why are you not afraid?" Every girl held her breath. I should have lied. I should have said, "I am afraid, Your Majesty." But Metro didn't train a liar. She trained a weapon. "Because fear will not keep me alive here," I whispered. "And you don't need girls who cry. You need a healer." Something flashed in his golden eyes. Surprise. Then something darker. Something obsessed. He lifted his hand. His big, scarred hand. The girls gasped. He didn't strike me. He touched my white hair. Just one strand. He rubbed it between his fingers like he was checking if it was real. "White hair," he murmured. "I have never seen white hair before." His touch was cold, but it burned. He leaned down, his lips close to my ear, and whispered so only I could hear: "You will be the one who stays in my chamber. The others can go back. I choose you, little healer." My fingers tightened around the dagger in my bag. I was sent here to heal the cursed Alpha King. But why did it feel like he wanted to ruin me instead?