Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Mated

Zara's POV

Alpha Ashen's touch was gentle, his gray eyes mesmerizing as they held mine. For a fleeting moment, my breath seized, and my heart betrayed me by skipping a single beat. He was clearly different from the others— those men in Nightshade who looked at me with lustful and unwelcoming desire. Ashen's gaze carried something more profound, something purer. Was I starting to feel something for him? No, I couldn't have such feelings. He wasn't mine to claim.

What shocked me even more was his marriage proposal to me. Not to Selene, the one woman who had loved him endlessly, who had dreamt of standing by his side as his Luna. Her dreamed are now ruined and it was all because of me.

"Selene," I called, hurrying after her retreating figure. Her heels hitting the floor sharply as she marched away from the hall. "Selene, please wait!" I called again.

She stopped abruptly, her back rigid and unmoving. Slowly, she turned to face me. Before I could say something more, her palm connected sharply with my cheek. The sting burned, but I held my ground, my expression hardened.

"I told you to stay hidden, you slut," she cursed, her chest rising and falling with anger.

"I did stay in my room, Selene," I tried to explain, my voice steady yet pleading. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I will never seduce your mate."

Her eyes burned with disbelief. "You will regret this, Zara," she spat. "Watch your back, bitch." With a murderous glare, she turned and stormed away, slamming her door shut.

I stood frozen for a moment, the sharp sound of her door echoing in the hallway. As I walked back to my room, the cold eyes from the pack members pierced into my skin. Their Whispers hushed , but I could feel the weight of their judgement. Each step felt heavier, but I quickened my pace, desperate to escape their glare.

Reaching my door, I found Darion waiting, leaning against the wall with a smirk that made my stomach churn.

"Look who will have here," he sneered , his voice dripping with mockery. "The slutty soon-to-be Luna."

I rolled my eyes, attempting to brush past him, but his hand shot out, gripping my wrist. "I'm talking to you," he snarled, yanking me forward. I stumbled, landing hard on the ground.

"Are you crazy?" I snapped as I glare up at him murderously, clutching my throbbing wrist.

He bent beside me, and said in a cold, menacing tone. "If anything happens to my sister because of you, I swear I'll kill you," he threatened, his breath hot against my face.

Before I could respond, he stood and stalked off, leaving me seething on the cold floor.

Back in my room, I slammed the door shut, my heart heaving with frustration. Why would my life always get difficult? Why would such handsome and powerful Alpha like choose me to be his bride? This is definitely not how I had envisioned my marriage. I'd dreamt of finding a mate, someone who would love for who I am, not for some political gain or power. I glanced at the raw scratch on my elbow and sigh.

A sharp knock broke my thoughts. "The Alpha demands your presence," a guard, Lucian's cold voice came from the other side.

Can today get any worse? I groaned inwardly.

Reluctantly, I followed Lucian to the Alpha's chambers. My legs felt like lead as I stepped into the room. To my Surprise, Alpha Ray's expression was softer than I'd ever seen. His usual disdain seemed to have disappeared, but the Luna's gaze remained as cold as ever.

"Sit down," the Alpha said, gesturing towards a chair.

I hesitated, unsure if he was really speaking to me.

"You've proven yourself, Zara," the Alpha said with a smile that seemed forced.

My eyes shot up in shock , searching his face for any traces of sarcasm. "You've gotten the Alpha's attention, something no one else has managed to do."

"You've done well Zara," he continued, his voice disgustingly sweet. "Now, you'll go to the Frostfang pack to assume you duty as their Luna." Then his tone turned strategic. "When you get there, put in a good word for our pack."

I scoffed internally. So that was it. He wasn't proud nor interested in me. He just trying to get on my good side and secure his own advantage.

Maybe... catching the Alpha's attention wasn’t such a terrible thing after all? The thought sent a shiver of uncertainty through me, but as I considered my situation, I couldn’t ignore the possibilities. Perhaps I’d been wasting my energy feeling sorry for Selene. Whether I liked it or not, this might be my only chance to escape the misery that had defined my life.

This... this could be my way out of the hellhole I’d been trapped in for so long.

Maids enter the rooms, their hands filled with clothes and accessories. "Prepare her," the Alpha commanded.

They worked quickly, having me dressed in an elegant gown and applying makeup that enhanced my features. As i stood in the full length mirror, I could barely recognised the person staring back at me. Have I always been this beautiful? Was this truly me?

“It’s time,” a maid announced.

I cast one final glance around my room and the memories of the three years of pains, the night I cried myself to sleep, years of feeling like an outcast came flooding back. This was no home, and I was glad to leave it behind.

Outside, the pack members gathered, their eyes, cold and unwelcoming. To them, I was still the daughter of a traitor, who should've died alongside with her parents, and unworthy of any respect.

I averted their piercing gaze and quickly got into the car, desperate to escape their judgement. The drive was quiet, heavy with silence, unspoken fears and doubts. As the sun set below the horizon, the car slowed to a stop.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Before I could get an answer, the door was yanked open and rough hands dragged me out. I hit the ground hard, pain shooting through my body. Trembling, I looked up and paralyze.

A man stood before, Tall and commanding, his presence radiating raw power. His piercing eyes locked into mine, and in that moment, my wolf stirred, her voice echoing in my mind.

"Mate. Mate."

My breath seized as the world seemed to blur out.