Forced Marriage To The Enemy

A tired yawn left the child's lips as he stretched his limbs above his head, a cracking sound echoing when he did so. He slapped a palm over his mouth tiredly and blinked, his bushy brows came together in a confused gesture.

That was weird. The sun was up already, yet none of his parents had come to his room. His mother was usually the one who tickled him into waking up while his father would be in the kitchen, making a giant batch of his favourite meal; pancakes.

However, this morning was unusual. His windows were just like he'd left them last night, open and susceptible to the cold winter breeze. As if on cue, a gust of wind blew the flaps of the curtains billowing into the room and he shivered.

Something was wrong, indeed. He didn't know what but he felt it. The child climbed down from the bed, hastening towards the door. He pulled it open and snuck out, gently closing it behind him.

The moment his foot landed on first steps, a grotesque cry tore the air and he froze. Another similar scream echoed, this one more pained than the last.

His heart skipped a beat and his clammy fingers wrapped around the railings. The screams didn't stop there, it kept resounding like a symphony and he cringed.

That didn't stop him though, he continued climbing down until he reached the base of the stairs. And when he did, he wished he'd made the decision to remain in his room instead.

He caught his father kneeling, a large stood threateningly behind him, his blackish claws extended.

An outrage cry tore from his throat almost immediately, "Father!"

The stranger's head whipped towards him and only then did he notice the other three men crowding the hall. One of the men rushed forward seizing him by the arm, and forced him to kneel by his father.

"Father," The child whimpered weakly, however his father's focus was elsewhere and when he trailed the man's line of sight, he felt sick to his stomach.

His beautiful mother was sprawled on their table, the same table they'd taken their meals the night before with large smiles and loud chatter, an even more large man stood between her parted legs.

"Ah, a family reunion. How perfect!" The man honeyed tone taunted, "I assumed the little twat wasn't home but this is even more better, watch what I do to your mother."

The boy trembled as the cruel man peered at him with black eyes, and he wasn't exaggerating. His entire eyes were like ink, including the whites of his eyes. If the numerous scars around his body was judge enough of his cruelty, the eyes completely terrified the child.

The moment the cruel man dropped his pants, revealing his manhood. Terror gripped the boy, although he'd only seen ten moons he was quite aware of what was about to happen.

"No!" He cried out with all of his might, struggling against the iron-clad grip of the guard who held him down, "No, stay away from Mother. Stay away!"

His pleas fell on deaf ears as the man rammed into his mother with such force that the table quaked terribly. He couldn't bare to watch the scene and he cried out to his Mother. The cruel Alpha had a pleased smile on his lips. His Father was completely lump. While Mother, on the other hand, was quiet. Her face was pale, lacking any color and her once bright eyes were lifeless and filled with unshed tears.

It broke him to watch her like that, even more when it was evident that he was too powerless to do anything. His Father let out a sudden outburst, dropping his head as his fingers trembled.

Mother's gargled cry echoed in the room, her fingers bunching into a shaky fist. He couldn't bear it any longer, he slapped his palms over his ears in a bid to block out the sound.

However, he suddenly heard a thundering growl and then the distinct sound of flesh slicing open followed by a weak gurgle.

His wet lashes slowly parted, blinking the tears away, the child's blurry sight settled on his mother. Or what used to be his mother.

His father whimpered weakly, falling to the ground as he clutched his chest. His gaze returned to the gore in front of him and he couldn't find it in himself to look away.

His mother lifeless body laid bare on their dining table, her throat mercilessly sliced open with crimson blood spilling out. Her eyes still held a silent plea in them while her mouth was opened in what should have been a scream.

He felt disembodied, entire body feeling like lead. He tried not to blink, unable to believe that she was gone. Forever.

He couldn't fight back when he was suddenly pulled from his feet, dragged to the outer courts. He squinted against the harsh rays of the sun and when his gaze refocused, they settled on the crowd gathered in front of his home.

Only that they weren't just a crowd, they were his pack members. A minority of them, he knew that they were a lot missing, bound in silver chains around their necks and wrist. They looked beaten up, the women donning tear-streaked faces.

Immediately they set their eyes on his father and him, they howled in unison, bowing their heads in respect.

"Fools!" The cruel man barked, baring his canines, "You're about to die because of him and you still revere this weakling."

Their necks remained stubbornly bowed and the cruel man snarled, stomping towards Father to grab him by the arm, kicking his legs so he fell on his knees in front of him.

"Look at them," He whispered, roughly grabbing Father's face, "These are the ones who have stubbornly refused to renounce you."

Father glared at him, icy eyes digging into him in an open threat. The cruel man leaned closer, smirking evilly,

"They will be my slaves and regret their decision," His wicked gaze flickered to the boy, "If your child was girl, she would've been my whore but he's not. So he'll escort you and your wife to the afterlife."

The guard behind me pressed his claws into the child's neck in response and he gulped.

"If I'd know that you were this weak an Alpha, I would've attacked your pack sooner," The cruel man gested and the child caught his father's wrist tighten together, "When I take your head, I'll make sure to hang the skull along with the others."

He could feel it, the tense environment and he knew what was about to happen.

"Father," The child called weakly in his head and his father whipped his head around to look at him.

"Lucien," Father spoke to his mind, "I love you, always and forever. Be strong and-"

His head was severed from his neck in a flash, blood spraying everywhere and some droplets landed on my face. The child reacted without thinking, pushing the guard away as he pounced towards the murderer.

The cruel man swatted him like he was some fly, his large claws making contact with the child's face as a result. Red hot pain flared all over his face, something warm trickled down his face and he cried out.

He looked up and caught the eyes of everyone at him. He curled up into himself, trembling fingers catching the blood that trickled down his slashed face. He didn't need to look at a mirror to know what the monster had done.

The longer the child stayed there, the more he felt like an oddity. He pushed to his feet and dashed towards the fields, running as fast as his legs could carry him.

"Should I go after him?" The guard who held the child asked his master, his claws extending fully.

The master waved him off, watching the headless Alpha with glee in his eyes,

"He's just a twat, there's nothing he can do." His black eyes fell on the slaves in front of him and he grinned,

"I already got what I came here for."

They were always told as little kids that the moon goddess didn't have any favourites, she loved all her children all the same but that was proven to be a lie. The fairytale Lycan Queen definitely had the ones she blessed with all the luck in the world, and Alyssa Silver happened to be one of them.

She was as beautiful as a painting, comments taken from the words of people, some even called her a delicate flower that was meant to be gazed upon and not touched.

She also had supportive, albeit an overprotective, family. Blessed with the best friends, and her pack adored her immensely.

In a way, you could say that she had it all. A goddess in her own time, and to her own people.

However, that didn't stop the dark thoughts from slipping into her mind once in a while. Today being one of those days, Alyssa stared numbly at the shining pebbles underneath the gushing stream. She was looking but not truly looking at the water, her downcast reflection staring right back at her.

Her friends, Sophia and Laura, were having their routine baths early this morning. She preferred doing it by this time because they was rarely anyone around by that hour. Although, it was possible that they all knew that this was when she was usually here and so stayed away from the stream.

Her father always pleaded with her to stop bathing in the local stream but she found that it always cleared her mind better than when she did it at home. And she needed to that a lot, today especially.

"... You're getting it all wrong, Sophia! It's me."

"No, it's not. I have a better chance than you."

"You do not."

"I do."

"Alyssa!!"

She blinked rapidly, gaze focusing on the naked ladies several feet from her. For some reason, the stream wasn't doing a great job at clearing her head today.

"Between I and Sophia, who do you think has the chance to be more elegant?" Laura asked sweetly, batting her lashes and Alyssa cocked a brow.

"Uhh," Alyssa looked between both girl's eager faces and cleared her throat, "I think if given the chance, you both will do great."

Laura rolled her eyes and kicked water towards where Alyssa sat.

"You're supposed to pick just one person!"

She shrugged, fixating her eyes back onto the water. Alyssa wasn't interested in their conversation in the least, they always argued over the same thing. Sometimes she wondered if they were the real twins and not the other way around.

"Well, I know I can singlehandedly beat everyone in battle and that's not what elegant ladies do," Sophia boasted as she padded her way out of the water, the morning sun gave her bronze skin a golden look.

Laura scoffed, right behind her, "You mean, everyone but my brother. He's the best fighter in the pack."

Alyssa threw the last pebble in her hold into the water, satisfied at the loud plop that echoed as a result.

"We can leave now, right?" She asked, walking towards where they were busy drying themselves off.

Both nodded and she smiled, although it was hesitant. The sun was almost up which meant the pack people would be awake and that meant that she would definitely meet them along the way.

Alyssa wasn't in the mood to interact with anyone this morning, she just wanted to go home and snuggle on her comfortable bed.

"Are you okay?"

Her eyes darted towards Sophia who was peering at her thought suspicious lens. Alyssa quickly looked away and shrugged,

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Sophia stepped forward, brows snapped together as she muttered, "You can tell me if you're not, you know? I'm aware that today is-"

"Can we go now?" I cut in with a shrill tone, walking past her towards Laura who'd already put on her dress, "I'm famished, aren't you?"

Laura, bless her soul, understood what I needed and she smiled wide, playing along,

"I am! I think we should get moving now," Laura threw Sophia a look, "Don't you think so too, Sophia?"

Sophia eyed me skeptically and sighed, relenting, "Yes, we should start moving now if we want a headstart."

Alyssa threw both of them grateful smiles, she knew it wasn't in Sophia's nature to drop something once she had a hunch but the last thing Alyssa wanted to do at the moment was talk.

Talking would mean her opening up. And opening up would lead to feelings pouring out. And that in turn would result to tears.

Alyssa had made a solemn vow never to cry today. It had been working so far in the previous years, she wasn't about to ruin it now.

The walk back to the pack house was eventful, her plan to avoid everyone backfired and a throng of children and women welcomed the moment she stepped into the town square. Usually, she would be in a merry mood to receive them, even staying to chat but today was not a good time.

She did try her best to reciprocate their excitement, especially at the child who'd given her flower and called her a 'fairy.'

"I love how they never get tired," Laura commented the moment we were out of the village, "They all adore you."

Sophia chuckled, "It's natural, she is the pack princess after all," She shot Alyssa a teasing grin.

A brief thought occured to Alyssa's mind and she wondered if that was all there was to her. A princess to be adored by many.

It'd been like that from the moment she was born and she did appreciate it but these days, bleak thoughts of the future plagued her head.

"It comes with the title," Alyssa joked back, forcing a smile onto her lips.

They arrived at the packhouse and Laura left first, saying that she had an errand to run for her father. While Sophia escorted to her to the front doors,

"You didn't have to walk me all the way," Alyssa told her but Sophia cocked a mischievous brow.

"And let you father have my neck? No way!" Then she leaned forward, "You should go inside, princess."

Alyssa knew what she was doing and rolled her eyes. Then she placed a hand against her chest, fluttering her lashes timidly,

"I'm sure thankful I have a strong warrior to protect me, I don't need to be scared of anything."

Sophia snorted while she walked into the house, waving goodbye as she slammed the door close. Alyssa wasn't at all surprised to see different persons roaming around the hall.

"Lady Alyssa."

"My lady."

The all greeted with heads bowed as she walked past each of them, responding with a smile and nod as her father had thought her. She was thankful that she didn't bump into any of her family members, those were last people she wanted to see.

The moment she made it into her room, she shut the door and locked it behind her. Alyssa plopped onto the plush mattress, spreading her limbs tiredly. She expelled a heavy breath, her chest rising and falling slowly.

She didn't know why but the ceiling looked interesting to her and the longer she stared at it, her throat tightened until it became hard for her to breathe.

Alyssa tried not to breathe and pursed her lips as she could feel her cheeks burn. She tried to distract her wandering thoughts but was helpless, her eyes stung and she could feel the tears rising up. Just as she was about to burst, she heard a loud swinging sound and shot upright,

Her brows furrowed together when she saw where the noise came from. It was her window, and it was wide open.

"Please."

The man rubbed his palms together, eyes wide in plea. His knees dragged against the ground as he trailed behind his captor. The room was silent, turned upside down and the glass shards on floor indicated that they had been a tussle.

"I beg of you," The Alpha whimpered, his entire frame trembling, "Spare them. You can kill me but spare the lives of my mate and children, please."

Lucien froze mid-step, his entire body going rigid. He gingerly dropped his booted feet down on the floor and the shards underneath crunched loudly. He spun around to face the Alpha and cocked a brow,

"What did you just say?"

The man's round eyes went even rounder and he crawled towards him. Lucien eyed the man with disgust, wondering how this was the man who used to conquer territories.

The years must've been truly easy on him.

His grubby fingers went around Lucien's ankle and he hissed, kicking the man's hands away,

"I told you to speak, not touch!" Lucien barked at him and the man flinched.

"I-I a-apologize," He bowed, folding his hands on his thighs, "I just want to earnestly plead for the lives of my family-"

Lucien scoffed, "So you care nothing for your pack? You don't mind if I decide to take all of their heads off?"

He shook his head, unruly blonde hair flying everywhere, "No! I do but just, please don't hurt them."

Lucien's interest sparked and he cocked a brow, "Why? Give me one reason why I shouldn't touch a hair on their head."

His skin was flushed and there were beads of sweat dotting his forehead. The Alpha crawled forward, desperation shining in his eyes,

"They're innocent, they-they've done nothing wrong."

He'd just fallen right into Lucien's trap. The corners of his lips turned up, revealing sharpened canines. Lucien went on one knee, leaning close to the fumbling man.

His lips was just a hairs breadth away from the Alpha's ear and he tightly whispered,

"You should've thought of that when you worked with Him to bring my family down."

He leaned back to peer at the confusion in the Alpha's emerald eyes. Confusion slowly morphed into realization and realization into horror.

The man shook from head to toe, scrambling backwards, "No. No. No, He said you were dead! He said you-"

Lucien released a monstrous growl and swiped his claws across the man's throat. Blood sprayed everywhere, warm droplets landing on his face and the alpha sputtered helplessly before falling to the ground.

He stared at the body in silence and spat on the floor, spun around and walked away. He slammed the door behind him and made to take another step when a wave of nausea hit him. A shaky exhale escaped him as he leaned his back against the doorframe in a bid to catch himself,

"Alpha! He faintly heard a voice call, footsteps running towards, "Alpha, what's wrong?"

His eyes were screwed shut but he knew who it was. Lucien shook his head, prying her fingers off his arm,

"I'm fine, Joan."

He slowly peeled his eyes open and groaned, regretting his decision immediately. His eyelids burned like hot coal, the flare worsening the longer he kept his eyes open.

Joan gasped and moved in front of him, going to her knees and bowed in reverence,

"My Lord," Her voice was steady, gaze fixed on his leg.

He sucked in a sharp breath through his mouth, a buzzing feeling slowly wrapping around his body. He could feel the muscles in his limbs strengthening, canines elongating slowly,

"My Lord," Joan called again, her head still bowed, "If you keep going at this rate, you'll become unstoppable in no time."

Her head snapped back up and she smiled in admiration,

"Then all that you want will become yours."

He nodded, "Indeed, I just need to push a little."

"Alpha," An unfamiliar voice called and his head whipped to the side catching the sight of two men marching towards him.

He recognised them from this morning, apparently they belonged to his army in the Eastern region. Lucien knew his army was constantly growing, what he didn't know was how numerous they were.

"They're ready for you," The man informed him, his head bowed towards the ground. The other one's gaze trailed to his hand and Lucien caught the grimace.

His claws were still extended and blood coated the back of his palm, not to mention the bits and pieces of flesh stuck in his fingers.

Joan rose to her feet and pulled out a rag cloth from her the pocket in her coat, handing it to him. He offered her a smile and took the cloth from her,

"Thank you," When he was done, he dumped the rag cloth on the floor and turned towards the hall, "Well, I believe it's time for my speech."

Joan smirked in response, while the other two bowed their heads.

The last words echoed in the silence moments after he was done speaking. He could see how they watched him with judgemental and hateful glares, but they couldn't do anything. They were in the palm of his hand now.

"Come on! Move your arses!" The guards barked at them, shoving their captives off the arena and towards the village.

Now that he'd transferred ownership, he was their Alpha and leader whether they liked it or not. They were under his control.

Watching as they weakly trudged away, some of them falling to the ground and yelping as the guards wickedly lashed at them unlocked a vivid memory and he looked away.

Lucien could still hear her cries. His father sorrowful gaze as he apologized moments before he died. And him,

He could never forget the face of the monster who did this to him.

"Lucien," He felt a hand on his shoulder and whipped his head up to see Kaleb quietly observing him.

Lucien shrugged his hand off and stepped to the side, "What do you want?"

"Are you okay?" Kaleb stepped forward, worry shining in his eyes, "You look quite pale-"

Lucien grunted, wiping a hand down his face, "What do you want, Kaleb?"

His right-hand man could be a pain in the arse sometimes. The man was reliable, however he tended to act like a mother figure in Lucien's life. He was a bloody tyrant, not a child who needed coddling.

Kaleb's forehead creased and he reached out to touch him, "You're working too hard, you need to recuperate and-"

A growl ripped out of his throat and his pupils flared, "NO!"

Kaleb's eyes widened, dark brows furrowing even deeper. He looked astonished by Lucien's outburst.

He was surprised as well, it was unlike him to react like that. He shut his eyes and rubbed his fingers against his closed lids, sighing heavily,

"I'm fine, you don't need to worry."

Kaleb hummed, and folded his arms behind his arm, "Someone once told me something I find truly astute, would you like to hear?" He didn't respond so Kaleb took that as a positive response, "He said 'Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it'. Don't you think that to be true, Lucien?"

Lucien scoffed underneath his breath, he knew what the shrewd man was up to. Kaleb was the only one in his army who didn't agree with his methods, the man always found them to be too profane. However, he knew what he was after and no one was going to stop him,

"Not if I gain mastery over my mind, Kaleb," Lucien smirked, and his expression hardened as he gazed into the distance,

"The only way I will become depraved is if I allow it," He looked over his shoulder at his companion, "And I won't go down that easy."

Kaleb smiled wryly and bowed his head. Lucien nodded, facing forward with an exhale,

"What's the next pack on the list?"

"It's an obscure pack hidden deep in the dense woods, there's little information about them and the Alpha. He's pretty much kept his people buried in the shadows, away from the rest of the world," He looked up, a conservative expression on his face, "Frankly, I don't believe they're worth the effort, they're an isolate."

Lucien grunted, rubbing his beard, "Every pack is worth the effort, and I'm not taking any chances."

His eyes caught the crowd in the distance, their faint screams and cries met his ears but his countenance was undeterred,

"The name?"

Kaleb sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat, "It's called Silverstone. Silverstone pack."