FATED TO THE ALPHA BEAST

THEY MET BY COINCIDENCE

AVERY'S POV

"You sat there while she insulted mom! Really, father?" I scream, almost raising the roof down after my witch stepmother; lady Beatrice insulted me and my late mother before leaving the room.

I call her a step-witch because a mother can't behave this way. All she did ever since the day she got married to my father was to maltreat me.

"Calm down, Avery. Beatrice didn't mean it that way. Try to understand her, please," My father sighs while rubbing his forehead. It's a sign he is having a headache. I want to go rub my cheek on his knee and pet him like my mother would do when she was still alive, or get him drugs to use. However, my stubbornness and loyalty to my late mother prevails and I continue.

"You say you loved mother and you watch another woman slander her like that. What kind of love is that? Ever since that woman came into our lives, nothing remained the same. I am sick and tired of all these," I glare at him defiantly.

"I loved your mother and you know it. It's just that at this point I'm fed up with you both bickering. When will you two ever make up? It's painful to see you both..."

I stalk off, not bothering to hear whatever remaining words he has to say. He will always find an excuse as to why he can't challenge her. I'm no longer surprised.

Beatrice had always been like this even before mother's death. She would curse and yell at us both. After the birth of Phillipa, it even became worse because a child now meant that she could secure her claim to the name, March.

"Arghhhhh" I stomp my feet on the ground and let out a scream into the cold chilly air. Maybe I need to take a walk to calm my nerves. I can't go back there in this mood, I'll be forced to do something I don't want to do.

It's late at night. We had just finished dinner before my stepmother started barking once again. I hate her so much. So much, I wish father never married her. It's twenty years late for regrets

Years of living with her had hardened me towards her. Her words no longer hurt me but I just couldn't hold it in anymore when she dissed mother. She can insult me all she wants, but my slandering my late mother, is what I'll never take. It irked me and I burst out in anger.

I head for the woods. It is quite dark but I continue treading along the dark path. The soothing breeze calms my nerves.

Owls are screeching above me, insects are buzzing with their loud noise and the noise of the trees act as a companion to my roaming thoughts.

Will Beatrice ever change? Only a miracle can change her. I know father himself is tired of her naggings but he has no choice. She's his wife.

It's a full moon tonight. The crystal bright moon hung up in the sky illuminating my path across the woods. I raise my hands to ward off any insects coming my way.

For many years, we; humans have been at war with the werewolves, especially our kingdom particularly. What do you expect when all our kingdom does, is hunts and kills werewolves? There's an enmity between us. I should turn back at this point because I seem to have passed our boundary. Father has always told me never to wander far away.

'There's danger in the dark. Never exceed our boundaries' he had always warned me but this night would be an exception.

I get to a point in the woods and I pick up a stone to mark a tree with the letter 'A' in case I get lost. I may be stubborn but I am definitely wise. I'll find my way back home. I just need to satisfy my curiosity.

A voice warns me to turn back at this point. Another nudges me to move ahead. I choose the latter. It's a beautiful night anyways.

After walking for a few minutes, something attracts me. It's like a beckoning to my soul. The sound of water afar off.

"There's a stream here in the woods?" I dash to it in excitement. I love swimming so much. Maybe I could swim before heading back home. As I get closer the sound of the water becomes louder.

I am almost close to the river when I see a figure bathing inside. Who's that? I wonder. I move closer tiptoeing to avoid dragging his attention towards me. It's a man.

He takes some water and washes his face with it. Then he flexes his muscles and knots the blue robe on him.

"Oh my God! Who is this handsome, well-built man?" I wonder.

I take a step further. I'm now in the open where I can see him clearly. The moon shines on his chiselled face. I take in breaths at his side view. This here is an Adonis I conclude.

He's raven-haired and has such beautiful skin. He runs his hands through his thick mane and closes his eyes. It's like he's meditating. Then he picks the towel on the floor to towel his hair.

I must have made a noise because at that moment he immediately turns his eyes toward me. I'm still studying his features. He has a pair of golden eyes too, I notice.

Oh! What a perfect combination.

He stares at me like someone strange and I feel a connection brewing between both of us. My heartbeat thump against my chest. I've never been looked at this way before. I open my mouth to form words but they don't come forth.

Then that brief moment expires and he's running towards me. He is quite fast, after all, he has an awesome figure. I dash into the woods not caring which direction I came from.

All I know is that I've passed our boundary and this is another land. I'm not safe. I run with every strength I carry.

I pause for a moment to take in short breaths before continuing when I hear a deep baritone voice behind me. "Stop!" I swallow and a cold chill runs through my spine. 'He has caught up with me'...

I WON'T BE SENT AS A SPY

AVERY'S POV

It's noontime. I stretch lazily on my bed. I just woke up from sleep a few minutes ago. I really needed that rest more than anything. You won't accuse me of being lazy, right? My evil stepmother always stresses me, so how am I not supposed to get tired.

I've been having a banging headache. That, I'm sure was as a result of stress. I look at my bedside clock. It's 3pm. There's nothing left for me to do since I finished all my chores before sleeping. Reminiscing on the incident of weeks ago, I sighed for the umpteenth time. I was able to escape without being caught, the story would've been different if he had caught up with me. Who knows, maybe I would be six feet below the ground level now. I forbid that! I don't want to die now.

No one, except my best friend, Danika that knows about my encounter with the 'water prince'. That's the pet name I gave him. Well, that's because I chose not to tell anyone but her. If my stepsister, Phillipa knows about this, it's as good as the entire kingdom knowing about it. She's a blabber mouth. The only reason I told Danika about it, is because I can swear her to secrecy, I'm sure she'll never tell anyone. My secrets are always safe with her, that's how much I trust her.

Father would have locked me in my room for a week as a punishment for flouting his rule, if he ever find out that I crossed the boundary. When it came to obedience, my father could be stern. He hated when someone knowingly disobeyed his order.

"Pshh!" I sigh at the thought of her mother, screaming on my head if she had found out. It's what she knows how to do best.

That would have given her an edge over me and I didn't want that. It's like we both had resorted to scoring points against each other.

What if he had caught me? What would have happened? I'm grateful he didn't though. The guy looked so handsome. Even in the moonlight, he looked like a fallen angel. I wanted to meet him once more. Yet, I knew that once would never be enough.

His silky skin and raven hair added to his irresistibility. "Arghh Avery why can't you get your mind off him? You'll never see him again" I hiss, rolling on my bed.

Just then someone knocks on my door. It is Phillipa in her faint voice no doubt.

"You can come in. What is it?" I invite her inside while I turn to look at her. She peek her head in and says "Papa is calling for you in the parlor," and left immediately as if someone was chasing her. That girl will never cease to be crazy.

"Alright, I'm coming," I say to her receding footsteps in the hallway. I snort while standing up. I'm so sure she's still angry at me for not borrowing her my bracelet yesterday.

Yes! I chose not to borrow her because she would misplace it again like my hairpin. Phillipa can be so careless. It irks me to the marrow.

It was the night of the ball, she came dashing in for it as her own got broken. Seeing the despair in her eyes, I lent her to use it on her long brown hair.

Phillipa came back the next morning with her tumbling down and an "I am sorry. I don't know where it fell off," I have never been more dazed in my life. She said it with an ease that disgusted me. I almost slapped her but I refrained myself from doing so.

So, I made up my mind not to borrow anything she asked for next as a punishment. That would serve her better. I hope she learns her lesson.

I wear my slippers and pad out from my room along the passage. Father is sitting on the sofa reading a book when I enter.

"Father, Phillipa says that you called for me," I say sitting down on the chair beside him. He drops the paper and stares at me intently. I look at him and the way he folds his hands on his lap, I quickly noticed that something is off. I can deduce. It would amaze people how much I know him so well. I know him like the back of my thumb. We were a close-knit happy family before Beatrice came along. So yes! I know when something is wrong and right now, something is up.

Since he chooses to stare at me instead without saying anything, I clear my throat and break the silence between us. "Father, what is it?" I say moving closer to hold his hands and rub them. The more I do this, the more the tension subsides.

It's a trick I've used on him many times without a number. "Avery, I don't have a choice but..." He drops his head before continuing.

"What's wrong? I am listening," I continue working my wonders on his fingers. I just hope this isn't bad news.

"Well Avery, the king has decided that you'll go be a spy for us at the arbedour pack where the werewolves resides," He released the bombshell and my eyes slowly narrowed in shock and confusion.

"What!?" I drop his hands with utmost alacrity and get up to my feet. Did I just hear him well? Maybe it's a joke.

"Father, you are joking, right?" I ask, towering over him in anger because that question was rhetoric. I know what he said was true. They have been acting weird lately and I also learned that he had an argument with some of the member of the councils, so this was the reason? I've been thinking about it, the fact that my father doesn't fight with anyone, made me wonder why he had a fight with those council members, but now everything is making sense to me. Everything is clear to me now.

"Why does it have to be me?" I ask with fury written all over my features.

"What about all other families? Even if it must be this family, why can't Phillipa be the sacrificial lamb? Why does it always have to be me!?" I screech, letting the tears that suddenly build in my eyes, find their way out.

"Avery, if it were left to me, you won't go but the king has decided. What can I do?" He replies to me like a helpless man. "You have to go. You must go, " He added.

I hate being pressured or being forced to do anything. Of all families, why am I the one who has to be sent as a spy? What if I'm killed in the process? The thought of those werewolves spurs my next outburst.

"I won't go anywhere, father! And you'll do nothing. Watch me!" I dash to my room...

FATE LED US TOGETHER AGAIN

AVERY'S POV

I quickly mop the floor. It's my last chore for the day before I go have my rest. I have been here in the pack for a few weeks now. It's not that bad.

Being a maid here includes a lot of stress but I can cope. Having to clean a castle as big as this can be strenuous. However, it's more enjoyable than my house. The pack has a serenity I love. It is also a large castle.

Infact, the more I stay here, the more I don't miss home. This place has become a home for me in just a few weeks. I miss my father. My anger towards him had waned when I realised how truly he was helpless in this situation.

The fields and the horses marvel me. The werewolves live in unity. I love their culture and their way of life even though some are strange to me. What baffles me is why my kingdom is after the werewolves, why they choose to hunt them, even when they live in unity and look harmless.

I snap out of my thoughts. "Remember that you were sent here as a spy!" My subconscious mind remind me and I blink my eyes. I continue cleaning the chairs.

Someone tickles me from behind, and even if I have not turn back to check who it is, I already know who. I turn back to glare at him. How many times must I ward him off me? Elias has proved to be a clog in my wheel since I got here.

Wondering who the jerk is? Well, Elias is said to be the first son of the alpha of this pack, though I haven't seen the second prince since I got here, it was said that he's always indoor. I wonder how he manages to do that. Back to the jerk standing before me now. Elias have been a thorn in my flesh ever since I got here, but too bad that I hated him at first sight.

"Greetings, my prince," I drawled with disinterest. The only reason why I haven't punched his face yet, is because he's a prince. Else, I would've shown him the stuff I'm made of.

"How are you?" He smiles at me but I turn to my gaze away from him.

"I'm fine," I force a smile at him in pure disgust.

"Meet me later in my chamber," He said and with that, he walk away while I glare at his back. And who says that I'm going to go see him later? Not me! I rather get punished by him later, than to go see him.

Can't I have a peaceful day without Elias making advances towards me? I wonder. Everywhere I go, he lurks in the corners.

I remember when he tried to scare me last week. I was frightened to the bone. My face went pale and I glared at him. It hurts that I can't give him what he deserves. Who want to be killed for disrespecting the prince? Definitely not Avery! I'm too young to die.

I finish off my chores and go drop the dusting rag with excitement brewing in me. I am happy because it is time for me to tour the castle again.

I walk to the back of the castle while wandering. A slightly open door catches my attention.

"What's down there?" My curiosity draws me close. I've never been there before. I look around me to make sure no one's watching, then I summon courage and walk towards it. After all a spy must know the enemy's surroundings.

When I get to the door, I open it. It leads me to an open garden. 'Wow!' I'm surprised. This place looks so beautiful. I always thought I had seen it all in the castle but this garden here, filled with a lot of beautiful flowers proved me wrong.

This castle keeps on presenting itself in different beautiful dimensions and I keep on loving it. 'Oh my God!' I catch my breath at the hewn flowers.

I move closer to a set of freesia flowers. The fragrance beckons unto me. I inhale the scent with my nostrils and feel its smoothness on my palms.

Just then I notice a waterfall. There's a waterfall here too! I'm so happy. There's something about water that I like.

I run towards it throwing caution to the wind. I remove my slippers and enter the water. The cold feel of the water on my legs calms my nerves.

"This isn't enough for me," I say inwardly , leaving the water to remove my clothes. Maybe, I can have my bath here and rest in the water for some time. When I unzip, I notice something.

There is a movement in the water. It's as if there's something creating a bubble in it. Who is there? I wonder what's causing a ripple in the water current, so I wait to watch what is going to happen next.

A man suddenly pops out of the water, with his back facing me and I bet he look so hot that my breath stop for seconds.

"Why does he look familiar to me?" I wonder. It's as if I've met him somewhere before. I can't confirm because his back is facing me. I move closer to take a close look at him. Who is this?

He has a perfect body build and beautiful skin. This must be the prince who had been hiding himself in his room for some reason best known to him alone, but I can't conclude yet, since I haven't seen his face. I need to be sure of this, so I can give them updates back at home.

He rakes his hands through his hair. That movement seems familiar to me! Is he the same man as weeks before? The water guy? I don't think so. I always thought the water guy was from another castle and that I would never meet him again. It can't be him, I conclude. All I need him to do for a confirmation is to turn towards me.

When he turns towards me to come out of the water, my gaze goes from his well fitted packs. I gape at his figure like a moonstruck person. He is so perfect. How can a man be this handsome?

My eyes go to his built chest, his sexy lips and those eyes! It's like I've seen him before

Oh my God! He is the very one! The water guy is here before me in flesh and blood. My insides are dancing at this discovery. I never thought I would see him again.

I open my mouth to greet him but he beats me to it.

He looks at me in awe. "You again?!"...