CHAPTER 5

AMELIA

A shiver ran down my spine as King Alpha leaned in to kiss my hand. His lips brushed gently against my skin, leaving an overwhelming sensation in their wake. A strange and uncomfortable warmth began to spread through my hand as the King held it firmly, as if claiming me as his property.

As I recovered from the King's gesture, a servant approached, carrying with him a strange and glowing material. I watched with a mix of curiosity and apprehension as the servant approached, holding me steady, while the King still held my hand with an unyielding grip.

I felt a chill of fear run down my spine as the King whispered in my ear, declaring that now I was his. His golden eyes fixed me with an overwhelming intensity, holding me in place as the servant continued his work.

With a contained sigh, I gritted my teeth when something hot and burning was pressed against my skin. A piercing pain erupted in my wrist, making me let out a groan of agony. Tears filled my eyes as I fought against the burning pain, desperately wishing for a release that didn't come.

And then, finally, the pain subsided, leaving behind a tingling, burning sensation. I opened my mouth to release a scream, but only a muffled groan escaped my lips as I felt something being etched into my skin.

It was the crown's mark, an indelible symbol of my submission to King Alpha. I looked at the marked wrist, a mixture of horror and resignation filling me as the King held my hand with a relentless possessiveness.

The hall echoed with applause and murmurs as everyone witnessed the marking of the King's new wife. I could barely hear the surrounding sounds, my heart pounding in my chest as I struggled to contain the tears that threatened to overflow.

Days have dragged slowly since that moment, each moment an agonizing agony for me.

I didn't see my mother anymore, my heart tightening with pain and longing whenever I thought of her. Each night was filled with silent tears and suffocating despair as I faced the inevitable.

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

A lump formed in my throat as I met my own gaze in the mirror, my eyes reflecting a tumultuous mixture of fear and resignation. I knew there was no escaping the fate that awaited me, but that didn't stop me from desperately wishing for a way out.

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

My heart felt like a sledgehammer in my chest, echoing in the silence of the night as I approached King Alpha. Each beat was an unrelenting reminder of my condition, a promise of a future that I didn't choose, but was destined to follow.

Turning my head, my eyes met my mother's, whose face was soaked with tears. A piercing pain pierced my heart as I realized that I could not approach her and embrace her one last time before embarking on this irreversible journey.

I continued to walk with the long cloak enveloping my shoulders, a fragile protection against the emptiness and loneliness that surrounded me. Despite the beauty of the surrounding night, I felt plunged into a sea of sadness, drowning in the expectations and responsibilities that weighed on me.

As I advanced, I noticed the silent presence of the surrounding wolves, watching me with attentive and penetrating eyes. Their imposing figures served as a constant reminder of the supernatural reality that surrounded me, a reality from which I could no longer escape.

Finally, I reached King Alpha's side, who awaited me with a serene and expectant expression. His touch on my hand was firm yet gentle, conveying a sense of comfort amidst the chaos that consumed me.

The ceremony began, the ancient rituals echoing in the hall as I struggled to contain the tears that threatened to overflow at any moment. Each word spoken was like a blow, a relentless reminder of my new reality.

As King Alpha uttered the vows that would seal our fate, my heart felt like it weighed a ton in my chest. Every promise made was a chain that bound me more firmly to my destiny, a sentence that I could not contest.

As the words echoed in the hall, my gaze met my mother's once again, her eyes conveying a mixture of pain and resignation. I wanted to run to her, hug her and beg for forgiveness, but I knew that was no longer possible.

So, with a heavy sigh, I surrendered to the destiny that awaited me, accepting my role as King Alpha's new wife. As he slid the ring onto my finger, I knew there was no turning back.

And so, the red carpet stretched out before me, a symbol of a path that was now laid out. I could feel the weight of the crown on my head, a constant reminder of my obligations and responsibilities.

I was the queen now, and the alpha king was my husband.

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

I felt a shiver run through my body as I felt the king getting closer to me. He turned my face, and seconds later he kissed me.

My first kiss.

It was a quick kiss, and I still had my eyes closed when I heard his voice in my ear.

"You are mine now; I have a surprise for you...", he said, holding my hand and leading me to a door.

I turned my head, seeing my mother crying, and I cried more, wishing to hug her.

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

"Aaron."