ALPHA KAEL

CHAPTER ONE

Aria's POV

They were on me again, for almost the third time this morning, for completely no good reason.

My stepmother's nails clawed across my arm as she dragged me from the kitchen floor. My step-sister, Lyra, kicked me hard in the ribs, laughing as I cried out.

"Get up, slave," Lyra spat. "You're not allowed to rest, not when there's work to do."

"Please-" I begged, my hands raised in a weak shield. "I'll finish it. Just-please don't-"

I felt a hard slap across my face. My face stung from the blow, fresh tears streaming out.

My stepmother's voice followed like venom. "You should have died with that cursed mother of yours."

I bit my lip and didn't reply. I had learned that talking back only made it worse. Lyra was behind me again, pulling my hair and hissing into my ear.

"You're filth. You're not even a real wolf, you are just some half-blood trash, an Impure bitch," she mocked, pulling my hair harder.

They didn't stop until I was crawling on the floor, bleeding from my cheek, my ribs aching, my vision blurry. They beat me into the hallway, laughing the whole time, and when I finally reached my room-a tiny box barely fit for a broom-I shut the door and crumbled onto the cold floor.

I layed there for hours, drowning in my own tears. I could taste blood in my mouth, my body still shaking from pain. I had no one to call, no one who would come look for me, I was completely helpless in this world and that thought alone made it more painful.

If I died today, which I wouldn't, because my body have already grown used to the torture that sometimes I felt awkward if I wasn't in a life or death situation.

I could still hear Lyra and my step mother laughing downstairs, probably enjoying the meal I cooked and I would be lucky if I even had the leftovers to eat.

My life wasn't like this, well, it wasn't pleasant because I had no friends, in fact no one in the pack knew I existed- at least not completely, they just didn't care because no one has actually seen me.

I was born under a cursed moon. That's what they always said. My mother, a rogue wolf with no pack, died giving birth to me. The pain was too much-she screamed as I entered the world, and the midwife told me later her body gave out before she could even hold me.

My father... He was strong but he didn't stand up for me, he was a man of honor in the pack, so I guess that's why the Alpha in the pack spared me after hearing I was impure.

My father never really loved me neither did he despise me, I was just there, like a scar that you hate but since the world can't see it, you aren't too bothered about it but the again you want to get rid of it but you don't know how and then you feel like it's not like it's going to affect your life, if you ignore it... that was the kind of relationship between me and my Dad but he tried in his own quiet way.

He'd brush my hair sometimes and gave me everything I wanted more like he gave me things he guessed a little girl would like, he wasn't in my business and I wasn't in his, and we were both happy. But he died when I was seven-killed in a hunting accident no one could explain.

After that, it began.

My stepmother moved in and turned my home into a nightmare. Lyra followed her lead like a perfect shadow. They locked away everything my father left me. Took my room, gave me scraps. I became the girl who cleaned the floors, washed their clothes, cooked their food. If I made a mistake, I got hit. If I didn't smile, I got hit.

They called me the impure. My wolf side, they claimed, was tainted. I had never shifted. Not once. At sixteen, that was shameful. Other wolves shifted at thirteen. Some even earlier.

And I was now almost twenty five, so yeah, I have been living in this hell hole for more than eighteen years.

"Maybe she's not even a wolf," Lyra liked to whisper. "Maybe she's just a freak."

I kept my head down as I worked. I barely ate. Sometimes I dreamed of running. But where would I go? I had no pack. No family.

I woke up when the evening light hit my window, I didn't know when I fell asleep.

Panic seized my chest, I hadn't started dinner.

I scrambled to my feet, still sore from the earlier beating. My shirt stuck to my back where the wounds hadn't stopped bleeding. I limped to the kitchen, my heart pounding loudly.

If I didn't have food ready, she'd kill me this time.

As I neared the hallway, I heard voices. One wasn't hers, It was a deep male voice, and that wasn't Lyra's boyfriend, and he was the only male that use to come to our house.

Oh, I almost forgot, Lyra's boyfriend was a total dick, he tried to take advantage of me everytime he came over and somehow I always got beaten up by Lyra if I refused.

Her boyfriend would lie to her that I tried to seduce him and Lyra would get mad and beat me up. This has been happening for years but I rather die holding my dignity than die losing it because either way I was going to die.

I walked closer to the room, curiosity getting the better of me.

"I'll take her at first light," the man said. His voice was cold. "She better be in one piece."

"She will," my stepmother replied, laughing low. "She's strong...too strong. She is going to fit the position."

There was a rustle of fabric. It was the sound of a lot of coins, perhaps a bag full of them.

"Pleasure doing business," he said and left. The front door creaked closed. I remained still, my breath caught up in my throat.

Sold? Did I hear that right?

Lyra found me a moment later and shoved me hard. "Dinner's not ready? You're useless."

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

"Don't just stand there!" she shrieked. "Move!"

Then my stepmother stepped out of the living room, a smug smile twisting her face. "Leave her, Lyra. I'm in too good a mood to beat her today."

I stared at her, wide-eyed.

She walked past me, humming. "Go upstairs and pack your things, Aria. You're leaving tomorrow morning."

My knees buckled. I dropped to the floor and crawled after her, grabbing her skirt.

"No-please-don't throw me out. I'll work harder. I'll only eat once a day. Please!"

She looked down at me, grinning. "Throw you out? No, sweet girl. That'd be a waste."

I blinked.

She leaned down. "I sold you."

The words hit like thunder.

"What?" I whispered.

She stood, laughing, as if she just told a joke.

"You'll be someone else's burden now. And they'll make better use of your dirty little bloodline than I ever could, get yourself ready, you are leaving at dawn."

CHAPTER TWO

Aria's POV

"No-please-don't throw me out. I'll work harder. I'll only eat once a day. Please," I cried harder.

I was still on my knees, clinging to her like a desperate child, shaking with fear. My tears wet her skirt, but she didn't even flinch.

She sneered. "Throw you out? No, sweet girl. That'd be a waste."

My breath hitched. "What?"

"I sold you."

The words echoed inside me like thunder. My mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Lyra's voice pierced through the tension. "What do you mean sold? Are you serious?"

My stepmother walked back into the living room, almost dancing. "Of course I'm serious. A rogue wolf came looking around, desperate for a bride. Told me he didn't care if she was tainted. In fact..." she let out a sick little laugh, "he preferred it."

She reached into a drawer and pulled out a small brown sack. It clinked when she tossed it on the table. Gold coins spilled out like poison.

Lyra's eyes widened. "He paid this much for her? She's not even worth a damn copper."

I flinched, but didn't respond. I didn't care about the insult, especially when my life was at stake.

"He's desperate," my stepmother said with a shrug. "Said he'd pay anything for someone obedient and... untouched."

Lyra scoffed. "He should've just bought a dog."

They laughed together. Their voices dug into my ears like nails.

"I won't go," I whispered. "You can't sell me. I'm not... I'm not a thing."

"Oh, honey," my stepmother leaned in, cupping my bruised cheek mockingly, "You're not a thing. You're a burden. A broken, useless burden that I'm finally getting paid to throw away."

"It's not fair!" I shouted, the pain in my chest exploding. "You've treated me like trash for eighteen years! I've done nothing but serve you-and now this?"

I didn't know where the courage came from. Maybe I had reached my limit or maybe the fear had curdled into rage.

"I curse you both," I whispered through gritted teeth. "For everything. One day, you'll choke on your cruelty."

That did it.

Lyra lunged at me, her fists flying towards me, her face filled with rage. "You little whore!" she screamed, slapping me hard. "You think you get to curse me? Me?"

She kicked me again, her foot smashing into my side. I gasped, curling in on myself, but she didn't stop.

"Impure bitch! Worthless freak! You're lucky someone even wants you!"

"Enough!" Stepmother pulled her back. "You'll ruin her face. He paid for her whole body."

They dragged me down the hall and threw me into my room. The door slammed shut, and I collapsed on the floor, holding my ribs.

Through the door, Lyra's voice rang out like poison.

"Only rogues want impure wolves. You'll be their little toy now, sucking dick for scraps. That's all you're good for."

The both laughed as they retreated.

I knew I had to do something, I wasn't ready for that kind of life. I don't know what rogues did to impure wolves, but I knew it was no better than what werewolves do. I knew I had to escape, I had no choice.

I waited for nightfall before I could finally execute my little escape plan.

When the moon was high and the house quiet, I pried open my tiny window. The frame had rusted, its hinges creaked, but it gave way with a painful groan.

The window was barely big enough for my thin frame. My skin scraped against the jagged wood, ripping open old wounds, but I didn't stop. Blood trickled down my arms and legs as I dropped to the ground below, landing hard.

Immediately I got up, and ran into the woods. I have never been happy that we lived in the woods but now, I can never be more happier.

I ran past the trees, going deeper into the forest, I knew this place very well, I was the one who gets the woods for fire, sometimes get some meat, but even with that, it still felt strange because for the first time, I wasn't in the woods to serve as a slave to Lyra and her mother, I was finally free.

The cold biting into my skin, barefoot on stones and twigs. Every branch sliced at my arms, every step jolted my broken ribs but none of those stopped me.

The woods stretched endlessly. I didn't know where I was going-I just wanted to get far away from everything, a way from the house, away from them, away from him, the man waiting to claim me like property.

My legs gave out when I reached a clearing. I fell to my knees, panting, trying to catch my breath. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might explode.

"Hey!"

I turned, startled. A tall man with dark eyes stood near the edge of the trees, holding a lantern. He wore a worn cloak, but his scent marked him as a wolf.

I froze.

"Where are you going?" he asked, approaching slowly.

I said nothing, I couldn't speak. My throat was dry from all the running, and my lips cracked with blood.

He frowned. "Are you mute? Are you lost?"

Still, I didn't answer.

He sighed and gestured for me to follow. "Come with me. It's cold out. You can sleep at my place."

I didn't trust him, but I had no choice. My legs wouldn't carry me much farther.

He led me to a wooden shack tucked deep into the woods. It was small, barely lit, but warmer than the forest. He gave me a blanket, and a piece of bread.

Just as I started to relax, he turned.

"Who are you?"

I tried to speak, but I was too shaken to speak.

Then I shifted slightly, and a sharp pain flared in my arm. A gash I hadn't noticed earlier reopened, and blood trickled down.

The man's nose twitched, then he froze.

"You're... Impure?" he said slowly.

Panic gripped me.

His kind face melted into disgust. "Should've known, you smell like filth."

He stood abruptly, knocking over the chair. "You bitches are all the same. Think you can seduce your way into safety?"

I shook my head trying to explain but he lunged at me, grabbing my wrist. "Might as well get what you're good for."

"No-!" I screamed, twisting free just as he shoved me down.

My elbow landed on his nose, he growled in pain, still trying to pin me down, I struggled hard and finally I was able to free myself, I stood up and ran away, back into the woods.

The sky began to lighten, dawn creeping in like a cruel reminder that I had nowhere left to go.

The world had decided what I was, just a worthless, sex doll...a nobody.

I stopped beneath a tree and stared at its thick branch.

There was a rope nearby-used for animal traps maybe.

I tied it.

My hands didn't tremble as I looped it around my neck.

If this was the world, I didn't want it.

I took a breath and jumped.

The air whooshed out of me, pain exploded through my body, darkness swallowed everything.

I heard voices, rushing footsteps.

But it was too late, and maybe,that was better.

CHAPTER THREE.

Aria's POV

I stared into the cracked mirror. The girl looking back didn't feel like me anymore. Her eyes were hollow, bruised under the lashes.

Her lips were dry, crusted with the faint red of dried blood. The thin mark around her neck was still there-faint but it was visible, like a memory that refused to fade.

I touched it lightly and flinched, the memories of my struggle when I was choking to death kept replaying in my head.

I wasn't supposed to be here, at least I wish I wasn't. I would have preferred death to thjs kind of life.

The door creaked open behind me, I knew who it was even without turning back.

"Well, well," Lyra's voice sliced through the silence like a knife. "The little corpse bride lives."

I didn't turn to her, but I could feel her venom without even looking.

She moved closer. "What? No thanks for saving your life? No tears for your heroes?"

I clenched my jaw, but I remained silent.

My stepmother appeared beside her, her voice smooth and laced with contempt. "You should be grateful, Aria. We could've let you die swinging."

My hands tightened into fists on the old wooden dresser. "Why didn't you?"

She laughed. "Because that freak rogue came back for you, he said he still wanted his bride. Paid good gold, too. Would've been such a waste if you'd died before we delivered."

"You're leaving today," Lyra added with a smirk. "One hour. Try not to cry too much, wouldn't want your ugly face to scare him off."

My heart dropped like a stone. I'd barely stood up, and now they were throwing me out again?

I finally turned, my voice low. "You think I'll go quietly this time?"

My stepmother leaned close, her breath sour and sickly against my cheek. "If you try anything, Aria, next time I won't stop the rope. Think about that."

They turned and walked out, leaving the door wide open. Their footsteps faded, but the cold emptiness in my chest stayed.

I looked back at the mirror, unsure of what to do, it wasn't like I had anything to do, my fate was already sealed.

A knock echoed through the house.

"He's here!" Lyra called with false sweetness. "Come on, whore bride, your carriage awaits!"

I stepped out into the front room where my stepmother met me with a shove. A man stood in the doorway-the same man who gave my step mother money or should I say my new Master.

He didn't look cruel, In fact, his face was apologetic, like he was sorry to be here at all.

"Do you wish to come for the ceremony?" he asked my stepmother politely.

She let out a harsh laugh. "Why would I care what happens to her? She's not my daughter. She's a burden I sold."

Without another word, she pushed me out the door. "She's yours now."

The ride was long and quiet except for the sound of the wheels on dirt and stone. I sat in the back of the cart, my arms crossed, shoulders stiff. The man tried to start a conversation with me several times but I didn't give him a response.

He started asking me questions, nicely but I didn't respond. He kept asking questions like "Do you want water?" "Are you hungry?" "Your name... it's Aria, right?"

I didn't even look at him, my eyes were locked outside. No was had ever been nice to me and it wouldn't start with someone that bought me.

"You're not what I expected," he finally said.

That made me glance at him.

He gave a small smile. "Most girls cry, some would scream. Beg. But you... you're just quiet."

I turned my face to the trees. I wasn't quiet, I was numb.

We traveled through the day. Mountains rose in the distance, and the forest grew darker and thicker. When the path finally opened up, the mansion appeared like something out of a nightmare- it was a massive.

It didn't look like a home, It looked like a grave.

The carriage halted just besides the stairs. The man looked back at me. "This is it. Shadow Fang."

The name struck something in me, something dangerous but I couldn't place what it was.

"When's the wedding?" I asked, voice cracked and raw.

He didn't answer right away.

"When the Lord is ready," he said, eyes avoiding mine.

I frowned. "The Lord?"

"I thought... I thought I was marrying a servant."

Eli hesitated, then chuckled uneasily. "My master is no servant, girl."

The blood drained from my face.

"You didn't know?" Eli asked, surprised.

I shook my head slowly.

"You're lucky, really," he said. "Not many women get the honor."

I didn't feel lucky. I felt cursed. I was really brought here to be a slave.

Inside, the mansion was cold and silent. I was handed off to a group of slaves, they were young, silent, and afraid. They kept their heads bowed, eyes low.

We turned a corner and I slammed straight into someone.

"Watch where you're going-" I started, but the words caught in my throat when I looked up.

He towered over me. His eyes were sharp, his mouth curved in a slow smirk.

I stood there waiting for an apology or something but nothing came.

Something in me snapped. I have had enough.

"Shouldn't you apologize?* I snapped.

His brows furrowed. "Apologize?"

I scowled, stepping back. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

He didn't answer. Just looked past me, then around at the frozen slaves.

I shook my head in disbelief, although I was angry, I knew fighting him would bring more trouble to me and it's not like I haven't experienced worst at home.

I turned to the slaves. "Let's go please," I said but they didn't move.

"They can't move unless I say so," he said casually.

My fists clenched. Who the hell does this guy think he is? Yes, he might be handsome but that doesn't give him the right to treat me like this.

"Who are you?" I frowned.

He leaned in, close enough to steal my breath.

"I'm your husband."

I froze, staggering backwards. How could he be my husband? I was expecting some old pervert or something.

"Alpha Kael," he said softly. "Welcome to Shadow Fang."

Alpha Kael. That name was carved into legend. They said he tore through packs like wind through leaves. That he killed without blinking. That no wolf crossed him and lived.

My jaw dropped open realizing what was happening. I wasn't getting married to a nobody, I was getting married to a god.