365 MOONS TO LOVE A WOLF KING

CHAPTER 3

AMELIA

As the music comes to an end, I find myself reluctant to leave the arms of the Alpha King, longing for more time by his side. But protocol demands we part, and so we do, with one last look exchanged between us before we step away.

As I retreat to a corner of the hall, my heart still pounding hard in my chest, I can't help but reflect on the surreal experience I just lived through. I danced with a wolf king, an alpha, and lived to tell the tale.

As the night wears on and the ball continues, I find myself surrounded by a sense of hope and possibility. As the night progresses, I stand in the hall, watching with a mixture of admiration and anxiety as the Alpha King dances with more girls.

Each graceful movement of his seems like a work of art in motion, as he spins and twirls around the dance floor with impressive ease.

Minutes drag on like hours as I nervously wait, knowing that the moment the king will make his announcement is drawing nearer. My fingers tremble slightly, and my eyes are fixed on the monarch as he prepares to address the crowd.

Finally, the Alpha King interrupts his dances and makes his way to the center of the hall, his imposing presence immediately silencing the crowd. An air of expectation hangs over the hall as everyone eagerly awaits the sovereign's words.

My heart beats wildly in my chest, and my stomach twists with nervousness. I know the king has already made his choice, but that doesn't stop a wave of apprehension from washing over me as he prepares to make his announcement.

With a solemn gesture, the Alpha King begins his speech, his words resonating in the silence of the hall. I tremble with anticipation, my eyes fixed on him as he begins to speak about his decision.

"It is with great pleasure that I announce my choice for my new wife.", he says, his voice echoing with authority and confidence.

A murmur of excitement ripples through the hall as the other girls wait with anticipation to hear the chosen one's name. My heart seems to freeze in my chest as I wait, my breath suspended in anticipation.

And then it happens. The Alpha King's golden eyes meet mine, and the world seems to pause for a moment as he announces my name for all to hear.

"Amelia, you will be my wife."

Tears well up in my eyes, a mixture of shock and emotion overflowing within me. I can barely believe what is happening, my mind spinning with the magnitude of the moment.

As applause echoes through the hall, I feel tears streaming down my face, a mixture of disbelief flooding my soul. I have been chosen by the Alpha King, a fate I had never imagined for myself.

With a trembling smile on my lips, I join the others in the crowd, accepting the congratulations and well wishes with gratitude and humility. I still tremble with excitement, barely able to process the magnitude of what has just happened.

As the Alpha King approaches me, his golden eyes shining with admiration, I feel engulfed by a sense of peace and fulfillment. I know there are challenges ahead, but I also know I am ready to face them beside him.

With a gentle gesture, the Alpha King takes my hand in his, his fingers enveloping mine with unexpected tenderness. I allow myself to sink into his touch, feeling a deep and powerful connection forming between us.

I know what this means; I will never return to my home or my mother after this ball.

A shiver runs down my spine as the Alpha King leans in to kiss my hand. His lips brush gently against my skin, leaving an overwhelming sensation in their wake. A strange and uncomfortable warmth begins to spread through my hand as the King holds it with an unyielding grip as if claiming me as his property.

As I recoil from the King's gesture, a servant approaches, bearing a strange and glowing material. I watch with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension as the servant draws near, holding me firmly, while the King still holds my hand with a relentless grip.

I feel a chill of fear run down my spine as the King whispers in my ear, declaring that I am now his. His golden eyes fixed on me with a captivating intensity, holding me in place as the servant continued his work.

With a contained sigh, I grit my teeth tightly as something hot and searing is pressed against my skin. A piercing pain erupts in my wrist, making me release a groan of agony. Tears fill my eyes as I fight against the burning pain, desperately wishing for a release that does not come.

And then, finally, the pain subsides, leaving behind a tingling, burning sensation. I open my mouth to let out a scream, but only a muffled groan escapes my lips as I feel something being branded into my skin.

It is the crown mark, an indelible symbol of my submission to the Alpha King. I look at the marked wrist, a mixture of horror and resignation filling me as the King holds my hand with relentless possessiveness.

The hall echoes with applause and murmurs as everyone witnesses the marking of the King's new wife. I can barely hear the surrounding sounds, my heart pounding in my chest as I struggle to contain the tears that threaten to overflow.

The days have dragged slowly since that moment, each moment an agonizing torment for me. I no longer see my mother, my heart squeezing with pain and longing whenever I think of her. Each night is filled with silent tears and suffocating despair as I face the inevitable.

And now it is the day of my wedding. I tremble as the servants dress me in a stunning dress, my eyes meeting the reflection in the mirror. I watch the crown mark on my wrist, a constant reminder of my impending imprisonment.

A lump forms in my throat as I meet my gaze in the mirror, my eyes reflecting a tumultuous mixture of fear and resignation. I know there is no escaping the fate that awaits me, but that does not stop me from desperately wishing for a way out.

With the bouquet delicately between my trembling hands and the golden tiara adorning my hair, I descend the majestic stairs of the castle towards the red carpet laid out for the occasion. Each step is an internal battle between the desire to flee and the duty to fulfill my destiny.

My heart feels like a sledgehammer in my chest, echoing in the silence of the night as I advance towards the Alpha King. Each beat is an unrelenting reminder of my condition, a promise of a future I did not choose but was destined to follow.

Turning my head, my eyes meet those of my mother, whose face is soaked with tears. A stabbing pain pierces my heart as I realize I cannot approach her or hug her one last time before embarking on this irreversible journey.

I continue to walk with the long cloak enveloping my shoulders, a fragile protection against the emptiness and loneliness that surround me. Despite the beauty of the surrounding night, I feel immersed in a sea of sadness, drowning in the expectations and responsibilities weighing on me.

As I advance, I notice the silent presence of the surrounding wolves, watching me with attentive and penetrating eyes. Their imposing figures serve as a constant reminder of the supernatural reality that surrounds me, a reality from which I can no longer escape.

Finally, I reach the side of the Alpha King, who awaits me with a serene and expectant expression. His touch on my hand is firm but gentle, conveying a sense of comfort amidst the chaos that consumes me.

The ceremony begins, with ancient rituals echoing in the hall as I struggle to contain the tears that threaten to overflow at any moment. Every word spoken feels like a blow, a relentless reminder of my new reality.

As the Alpha King utters the vows that seal our fate, my heart feels like a ton of bricks in my chest. Each promise made is a chain that binds me more firmly to my fate, a sentence I cannot contest.

As the words echo in the hall, my gaze meets my mother's once again, her eyes conveying a mixture of pain and resignation. I want to run to her, embrace her, and beg for forgiveness, but I know that is no longer possible.

So, with a heavy sigh, I surrender to the destiny that awaits me, accepting my role as the Alpha King's new wife. As he slides the ring onto my finger, I know there's no turning back.

And so, the red carpet stretches out before me, a symbol of a path now set. I can feel the weight of the crown upon my head, a constant reminder of my duties and responsibilities.

I am the queen now, and the Alpha King is my husband.

"Long live the queen!", I hear everyone saying, bowing before us.

A shiver runs down my spine as I feel the king drawing closer to me. He turns my face, and seconds later, he kisses me.

My first kiss.

It's a quick kiss, and I still have my eyes closed when I hear his voice in my ear:

"You're mine now; I have a surprise for you...", he says, holding my hand and leading me towards a door.

I turn my head, seeing my mother crying, and I cry more wishing to hug her.

"I still don't know your name..."

"Aaron."

"Where are we going, Majesty?", I ask confused when I realize he isn't taking me to the bedroom; he's taking me to a restricted part of the castle.

His steps echo through the dark hall as the Alpha King leads me, his firm hand holding mine. With each step, my heart beats faster, a mixture of anxiety and fear coursing through my veins.

The people around us remain silent, their faces hidden by the black cloaks that envelop them. The air is thick with a dense, oppressive atmosphere, leaving me with the feeling that something terrible is about to happen.

"What are we doing here, Majesty?", My voice comes out in a whisper, barely audible even to myself, so dense is the tension in the air.

The Alpha King remains silent, his expression inscrutable, as if he's immersed in his dark thoughts. I struggle to contain the tremor running through my body, feeling like trapped prey before the predator.

The man in the red cloak, standing out amidst the darkness, awaits us in the center of the hall. His eyes, hidden by the shadow of the cloak, watch me with disturbing intensity, increasing my discomfort.

"What is happening, Majesty?", My voice trembles as the question escapes my lips, echoing in the oppressive silence of the hall.

The Alpha King finally breaks the silence, his voice echoing through the somber environment. His words are enigmatic, casting a shadow of uncertainty over me as I struggle to understand their hidden meaning.

As he speaks, my eyes fix on the dagger he holds, a sinister tool in his hands. A sense of dread seizes me as I realize the implicit threat in that sharp object.

I feel my body tense, every muscle contracted as I fight the urge to retreat before the imminent danger.

Yet, the constant pressure of the King's hand on mine reminds me of my vulnerability in that hostile environment.

"We have traditions in our kingdom, Amelia. Traditions that can never be broken, and I'm sorry for that."

"What? I can't understand...", I whisper with tears in my eyes.

As the King continues to speak, my heart hammers in my chest, a feeling of helplessness and despair taking hold of me. I am plunged into a world of secrets and dangers, with no idea of what fate has in store for me.

"A witch long ago cursed our kingdom, and for centuries, we have been trying to break this curse, and it can only be done in one way, Amelia."

I furrow my brow still looking at the dagger he's holding.

"Only the blood of a young girl can break the curse, the blood of a brave and chosen girl..."

Blood.

The world around me seems to crumble as the Alpha King begins to reveal the dark truth behind this macabre gathering. His speech echoes in the dark hall, penetrating my mind like a sharp knife, revealing the terrible fate that awaits me.

"Blood sacrifice.", the words echo in my ears like a sinister echo, freezing my blood in my veins.

My heart seems to stop for a moment, a wave of panic seizing me as I struggle to understand what is happening.

I let go of the Alpha King's hand, my body instinctively recoiling as my mind rebels against the terrible revelation.

"No.", My voice comes out as a hoarse whisper, vehemently denying the horrible idea he's proposing.

He continues to speak, explaining the ancient tradition that supposedly would break an ancestral curse. But to me, his words sound like the most terrible death sentence.

"I can't do this.", my voice falters, my heart pounding in my chest with suffocating intensity.

"Please, let me go."

"I'm sorry, Amelia. I don't want to do this, but I have to..."

"You sacrificed all the other girls before me...", I whisper in fear as he nods.

"You're a murderer! Let me go!"

I plead, my words sounding like a desperate lament as I look into the King's cold eyes, searching for any sign of compassion I can find. But all I find is the relentless determination in his gaze.

He approaches me, his expression impassive as I recoil, my mind in turmoil with the horror of the situation. I scream, a sound of despair echoing through the empty hall as I run towards the closed doors, pounding on them with all my might.

But the doors remain immobile, sealed like a tomb, denying me the freedom I so desperately desire. I turn, my heart sinking, when I see the flame being lit in the center of the hall, illuminating the grim face of the man in the red hood.

He begins to read the dark book, his words echoing in the oppressive silence of the hall. I tremble with horror, unable to look away from the macabre scene unfolding before me.

I scream again, my hands pounding on the closed doors as I fight in vain against the terrible inevitability of my fate. But there's no one to help me, no one to hear my cry of agony as I'm dragged into the depths of the horror that awaits me.

"Let go of me!", I scream as two men hold me tightly, taking me to the center of the hall while the king continues to look at me.