the Luna that escaped her alpha king

The first thing I felt was the sunlight. It spilled across my face, warm and unforgiving, forcing me out of the peaceful darkness of sleep. I groaned and buried myself deeper beneath the blanket, hoping for just a few more minutes. "Wake up." My mother's voice was gentle but firm. I let out a muffled sigh. "It's too early..." "It isn't." I heard the curtains being pulled open, and suddenly the room was flooded with golden morning light. "You've slept long enough." I blinked against the brightness before slowly lowering the blanket. The sunlight poured through the windows, chasing away every shadow in my room as though today refused to wait for me. For a moment, I simply stared at the ceiling. Then I heard it. Voices. Dozens of them. Footsteps echoed through the house. Doors opened and closed. Laughter mixed with hurried conversations, creating a noise unlike anything I had ever heard within these walls. The house felt alive. I frowned. "What's happening?" My mother stopped arranging the flowers on my dresser and looked at me with amused disbelief. "Don't tell me you've forgotten." Forgotten? I sat up, rubbing the last traces of sleep from my eyes. Then it came back to me. Today. My heart skipped a beat. "They're already here?" I asked, suddenly wide awake. "Some of them," she answered with a smile. "More guests are arriving every minute." A strange feeling settled inside my chest. Excitement. Fear. Disbelief. Perhaps all three at once. Today was the day I would meet him. My mate. The Alpha King. Ever since I was old enough to understand what a destined mate was, people had spoken of him in hushed, respectful voices. To everyone in the kingdom, he was more than a ruler. He was a legend. The strongest Alpha alive. A fearless warrior. A wise king. Some even claimed he was kind beneath his cold reputation. And according to every young woman who had ever caught a glimpse of him... Unfairly handsome. Heat crept into my cheeks. I had never met him. Not once. Yet before the sun set, my entire life would belong to the man destiny had chosen for me. The realization stole my breath. I glanced around my room. The walls I had grown up staring at. The little bookshelf Father had built for me. The window where I used to sit during rainy afternoons. Soon... None of it would be mine anymore. "You'll make yourself anxious if you keep thinking so much," my mother said softly. I looked up. She was smiling, but there was sadness hidden behind her eyes. She was trying to be strong for me. "I'm trying not to," I admitted. She walked over and gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face. "It's normal to be frightened. Every girl would be." "I don't know if I'm frightened..." She tilted her head. "I think..." I swallowed. "...I'm afraid of how much my life is about to change." For a brief moment, neither of us spoke. Then she smiled. "Change isn't always something to fear." I wanted to believe her. I truly did. But standing at the edge of a completely new life felt less like taking a step... ...and more like standing at the edge of a cliff. "Come," she said. "Let's get you ready." I climbed out of bed. Waiting for me on the chair was a dress unlike anything I had ever owned. Soft ivory silk flowed to the floor, embroidered with delicate silver thread that shimmered whenever the light touched it. I ran my fingers over the fabric. It was beautiful. Beautiful enough to make this day feel real. Mother sat me before the mirror and began arranging my hair with practiced hands. "You've become so quiet," she murmured. "I'm thinking." "About your mate?" I smiled faintly. "About everything." She nodded. "You don't have to know what tomorrow looks like." Her fingers continued weaving my hair. "You only have to face today." I stared at my reflection. For a second... I barely recognized the young woman looking back at me. She looked older somehow. Like the girl I had been was already beginning to disappear. "You look beautiful," Mother whispered. "I hope he thinks so too." She smiled. "If he doesn't, then the Alpha King is blind." Despite everything, I laughed. It was exactly what I needed. The journey to the royal castle was far quieter than I expected. I sat beside the carriage window, watching forests, rivers, and rolling hills disappear behind us. Every mile carried me farther from the only home I had ever known. The silence inside the carriage gave my thoughts too much room to wander. Would he smile when he saw me? Would he even like me? Or would I simply become another duty he was expected to fulfill? Hours later, the horses slowed. I looked outside. At first, I thought a mountain stood before us. Then I realized... It wasn't a mountain. It was the Alpha King's castle. My breath caught. Massive stone towers stretched toward the heavens, disappearing into drifting clouds. Banners bearing the royal crest danced in the wind while enormous walls surrounded the castle like an unbreakable fortress. It looked less like a home... ...and more like a kingdom carved from stone. "It's even bigger than the stories," I whispered. No one answered. The carriage rolled through towering iron gates carved with ancient wolf symbols. The deep groan of the gates echoed across the courtyard. Servants hurried in every direction. Royal guards stood perfectly still in polished black armor. Noble families lined the entrance. Every conversation stopped. Every pair of eyes turned toward me. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. They were all looking at me. Judging me. Measuring whether I was worthy of becoming their future queen. Without thinking, I reached for my mother's hand. She squeezed mine immediately. "I'm here," she whispered. I nodded, but my fingers refused to let go. An elderly man dressed in elegant robes approached us. "The Royal Steward," Mother murmured. He bowed respectfully. "Welcome to the royal palace, Lady Luna." His voice was calm. "Please follow me." We walked through magnificent halls lined with marble pillars and glittering chandeliers. Everything sparkled. Everything felt impossibly grand. Every step carried me deeper into a life that no longer felt like my own. At one point, I looked back. My family remained where they stood, growing smaller with every step I took. A painful ache settled in my chest. This was the last moment my old life still existed. The steward finally stopped before two enormous carved doors. He turned toward me. "This chamber has been prepared for you." I stared at the doors. My pulse quickened. Then the steward spoke again. "The Alpha King has returned from the northern borders." My heart stopped. "He will receive you shortly." Every ounce of courage I thought I had vanished. In only a few moments... I would finally come face to face with the man fate had chosen for me.