The Alpha's Seven-Night Bride

Moonbeams, breaking through occasional clouds, were tinged with an eerie red, casting their glow upon the rugged treetops.

Silently and with purpose, four figures navigated the forest's labyrinth. Clutched in their grasp were stout wooden poles, upon which rested a chair, and bound to this chair, a girl in a white dress, her movements constrained.

A black cloth hood shrouded the girl's head, veiling her from the world beyond. The stark contrast between the hood and her pristine white gown underscored the grim nature of the tableau. Muffled sobs broke from her, whispers of dread and despair, hinting at a gag that stifled her cries.

At length, they reached a clearing, encircled by trees as if nature itself had carved out a secluded arena for this moment. Here, the moon's rays were more intense, filtering through the canopy to bathe the clearing in a serene, albeit eerie, light.

The men halted, setting the chair down with deliberation on the grassy floor.

One stepped forward, as he lifted the black cloth from the woman's head, a visage of pale beauty was unveiled, her golden hair cascading down like a luminous waterfall, catching the moonlight in an ethereal glow.

Blinking against the sudden brightness, the girl's eyes took a moment to adjust. As her gaze sharpened, she took in the sight of the men who had brought her here.

The man removed the gag from her mouth, and the woman gasped for air, pleading, "Martin, no, you can't do this to me, please, let me go."

Martin's gaze was icy as he replied, "The town decided by vote. My hands are tied, Emily. You must come to terms with your fate."

"This decision is madness. Trust me, complying with the werewolves ' demands won't bring peace. They'll just keep asking for more; today it's me, tomorrow it could be your own kin." Emily's voice was desperate as she appealed to the others, "We should be fighting the werewolves , not bowing to them." Their blank stares crushed her spirit, and she lashed out, "Cowards, all of you! Martin, as the mayor's son, you should be leading, not cowering."

Martin responded with detached logic, "Battle? The redmoon that descended on our world two decades ago heralded the rise of these monsters. Initially, we held our own, but now, humanity is faltering. Even some major cities are under their thrall. Our small town stands no chance." He continued, "The werewolves promised that as long as we offer a young sacrifice, they will spare our town. Emily, sacrificing yourself to save the lives of our townspeople, don't you find some solace in that?"

"If you were in my shoes, would you feel comforted?!" Emily retorted angrily.

"Unfortunately, the townspeople didn't choose me; they chose you. Ever wonder why it's you, Emily? You've always been the outlier. Your dissent during the mayor's announcement made you the obvious choice," Martin stated coldly.

Emily had stood against the mayor's decree to choose a tribute for the werewolves , arguing for unity against the threat. But her protests fell on deaf ears, and then, she was overwhelmingly chosen as the sacrifice. No sooner had the vote been announced than she was seized.They dressed her in a white dress, even styling her hair and applying makeup for her.

With a final, desperate plea, Emily looked to Martin, "Please, let me go."

Another man taunted her, "Rest easy at the werewolf's gate. I'll look after your store."

Suddenly, the night air was pierced by the eerie howls of wolves, a portentous sign. The haunting sounds enveloped them, sending shivers down their spines.

"Run, it's them," Martin urged, leading a hasty retreat into the forest, with the others close behind, leaving Emily to her grim fate.

The men abandoned Emily, tied to the chair, their footsteps hastening into the night until their presence was entirely swallowed by the forest's embrace.

Emily remained in the clearing, an expanse of solitude, where a deceptive peace reigned, punctuated only by the echo of her own heartbeat—a harbinger of the looming, certain fate.

Engulfed by fear, Emily clenched her eyes shut, praying to awaken from this nightmarish reality. After a moment, she mustered the courage to open her eyes again, only to find herself confronted by two imposing figures. One was a male werewolf with tattoos marking his face, and the other, a female werewolf with striking red hair.

Emily's heart raced, pondering if she was moments away from being torn apart.

The red-haired female werewolf studied Emily, her expression a mix of emotions. "You plan to bring her to Ethan? She's still so young."

"Exactly. This time, I specifically emphasized the need for a younger offering. The older ones can't run fast, and that's just boring."

"Ugh, how tedious. Ethan never tires of that dull game. If I had known it was going to be such a boring task, I wouldn't have come."

"Mind your words. Eva, Unless you're keen on trouble."

Opting for silence, the female werewolf averted her gaze from Emily.

The male werewolf swiftly cut through Emily's bindings, then scooped her up, tucking her securely under his arm as they dashed through the forest towards the mountain's base. Emily was acutely aware of the blur of trees whipping past them. She was too frightened to scream, and the tight grip around her made it impossible for her to utter a sound.

Twenty years ago, a Blood Moon appeared, but it didn't fade away; instead, it has persisted to this day. The moon's energy intensified, granting endless strength to monsters.

Humanity soon realized it faced an unparalleled crisis; the Blood Moon was detrimental to human health, compromising immune systems and fertility, leading to a significant decline in the population.

Meanwhile, creatures that once lurked in the shadows, marginalized by humans, gained strength and asserted their dominance, demanding more territory as their power grew.

This shift in balance sparked conflicts between humans and these emboldened creatures. Despite internal conflicts among the creatures, they united against their common enemy: humanity. The ensuing war stretched on for years, marked by a relentless struggle between the two factions.

In recent years, however, humans have grown increasingly subdued, with many, including the residents of Emily's town, choosing submission over resistance.

The creatures sought vengeance for millennia of human oppression, ruthlessly hunting down those who resisted and enslaving even the compliant.

Emily, facing the grim reality of her situation, felt a profound sense of despair for her inevitable fate.