BOUND TO THE ALPHA KING

I didn’t believe in monsters. Not really. Not until the night I found myself running for my life through a forest that wasn’t supposed to exist. My breath tore from my lungs, my legs aching as I stumbled over roots and rocks. I could feel them chasing me,dark shapes moving fast, their growls echoing through the night. It was supposed to be a fresh start. A new town, a quiet life far from the pain I left behind. But when I took a wrong turn down an old road, everything was about to change.The car broke down, and I made the mistake of wandering into the woods, thinking I could find help. Instead, I found them. The Bloodmoon Pack. Their territory was a death trap for humans. No one crossed into their lands and survived. But I didn’t know that. Not until the wolves came for me. I kept running, my heart racing, fear tightening my chest like a vice. The howls grew louder, closer. My legs threatened to give out, but the terror pushing me forward was stronger than the pain. A shadow leaped from the darkness, slamming me to the ground. I screamed as sharp claws tore into my shoulder. The creature above me growled, its fangs glinting in the moonlight. I tried to fight back, but I was no match for something so powerful. So merciless. “Enough!” The voice was deep, commanding, and filled with raw power. It cut through the night like a knife, freezing everything around me. Even the beast pinning me down hesitated before letting go. I pushed myself up, trembling and bloody, to see him. He stood tall among the wolves, his presence a force that made the air feel heavy. Dark hair framed a chiseled face, his eyes a striking shade of gold that seemed to pierce right through me. His gaze was sharp, calculating, and utterly terrifying. “Leave,” he ordered the wolves, his voice as cold as the night air. Without hesitation, they slunk away, their snarls turning to whimpers. I should have been relieved. But as his eyes fixed on me, I realized my danger had only just begun. “What is a human doing on my land?” he demanded, his tone sharp and unforgiving. “I-I was lost,” I stammered, my voice breaking. “My car broke down, and I didn’t know” “You crossed into Bloodmoon territory,” he interrupted, his gaze narrowing. “That’s a death sentence.” I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Please. I didn’t know. I was just trying to find help.” His eyes studied me, and for a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in them. Something that wasn’t pure cruelty. But it was gone as quickly as it came. “If I wanted you dead, you already would be,” he said coldly. “You’re lucky I intervened.” I stared at him, confusion mixing with the terror already pounding through my veins. Why would he help me? The stories I’d heard about the Bloodmoon Pack painted them as ruthless killers, beasts who tore apart anyone foolish enough to cross their path. “Why did you stop them?” I dared to ask. He tilted his head, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “I ask the questions, not you.” I clamped my mouth shut, my fingers digging into the dirt as I tried to keep myself from shaking. But he kept looking at me, those golden eyes searching for something I couldn’t understand. “What’s your name?” he finally asked. “Aria,” I whispered. “Aria,” he repeated, as if testing the sound of it. “You’ve put yourself in a dangerous position, Aria. And I don’t tolerate trespassers.” “I swear, it was an accident,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’ll leave. I’ll never come back.” “You think it’s that simple?” His lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “You’ve seen what lurks here. That alone is reason enough to kill you.” I felt my blood turn to ice. “Please… I’ll do anything. Just let me go.” For a moment, he said nothing, his gaze locked on mine. And then, to my shock, he extended his hand. “Get up.” I hesitated before taking his hand, his grip strong and unyielding as he pulled me to my feet. Pain flared in my shoulder, but I forced myself not to show weakness. Not in front of him. “You’re hurt,” he said, his tone softer than before. But his expression remained guarded. “I’ll be fine,” I lied. He studied me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. “You’re either brave or incredibly stupid to wander this far. Maybe both.” “Probably both,” I admitted, my voice shaking. He made a sound that might have been a laugh if it wasn’t so sharp and bitter. “My name is Lucian. I am the Alpha King of the Bloodmoon Pack.” The name hit me like a punch to the chest. I’d heard of him,everyone had. The ruthless leader who ruled his pack with ironclad authority. And now he was standing right in front of me, the only thing keeping me alive. “Why are you letting me live?” I asked, unable to hide the desperation in my voice. His eyes darkened, something fierce and unreadable flickering in them. “I don’t know.” The words hung between us, heavy and confusing. But I knew one thing: I needed to get away from him before he changed his mind. But even as I backed away, my gaze locked on his. And something deep inside me told me this wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.