My Chosen, My Destiny: The Alpha's Voodoo

Chapter one

Ashley POV's

I emerged from the woods, a bow slung over my shoulder and a wild animal slung over the other. My clothes were tattered and covered in dirt, my hair wild and unkempt. But my eyes were bright and sharp; I carried myself with an air of confidence and competence.

"Who wouldn't be confident?" I mentally asked myself, it wasn't easy hunting for animals since morning while orders were busy sleeping.

I looked around and was startled to see two familiar faces. It was my friends. My eyes widened in surprise as soon as I saw them.

"Sharon, Bella. What are you doing here?" I rolled my eyes and they scoffed.

"We were worried about you okay? Your parents said you left home at dawn, and it's evening already," Sharon hissed, while Bella stared down at me with a look of disgust.

"Yeah I was already used to that," I mentally rolled my eyes.

"When are you going to stop wearing this?" Bella asked while folding her arms.

"There's nothing bad if I wear a man's clothing, besides it suits me best, I'm comfortable in them," I retorted.

"You're 22 years old Ashley, go find your mate and stop this nonsense you're doing here. Can't you see Sharon? She's with her mate, same with me. Why is yours different huh? Okay fine you don't have a mate, but why do you beat up every man who approaches you?" Bella said, raising her voice a bit.

"Don't be like my mum Bella, you're becoming irritating," I replied and I walked out on them and they trailed after me.

"Don't be annoyed Ash, she's just looking out for you. I mean when do you plan to stop this celibate decision of yours?" Sharon stated and this was becoming increasingly annoying to me.

"You know what? Why don't you force a man on me then? Since you guys have decided to be just like my parents. How about you stop being friends with me just how my parents neglected me huh?" I barked and they both flinched.

"Yeah that's how it should be. Silence!" I yelled, and everywhere became incredibly quiet, just what I needed.

Few hours later, we were still in the bush walking for what seemed like forever, just until Sharon broke the silence.

"We can't just keep on walking without talking right? That's sick," She mumbled, but her words were loud enough for me to hear.

"Girls!" Bella suddenly screamed and we all stared at her in amusement.

"What's wrong with you?" I was agitated by her uncalled-for behavior.

"Sorry for yelling but I just recalled something which is very important. And it's mainly for ladies who haven't found their mates," She said and I rolled my eyes.

"Well you said ladies. So I'm cool," I replied nonchalantly.

"You're a girl Ash, stop fooling yourself with this manly attitude of yours. You're still a lady and would eventually get mated by a man," Sharon said and she muttered. "I can't believe I'm having to deal with this right now." She threw her hands up in the air in a gesture of frustration, and then let them fall to her sides, as if she didn't have the energy to continue the fight.

"Go on with what you're saying Bella, seems you're the only sensible person here," I said glaring at Sharon who rolled her eyes.

"Do you guys know tomorrow is actually the day the Alpha King comes to take ladies who don't have mates to his palace? He...."

"I heard most of the ladies he took last year didn't come back, they ended up becoming maids in his palace. No one actually heard of them, it was as if they disappeared into thin air," Sharon immediately interrupted her.

"So to clear this shit. You're trying to say I'm in danger because I'm mate less? That's insane. Alpha King or whoever doesn't have the right to take young ladies because he's in power," I stated, pissed off by what I heard.

"That sick lame bastard," I mumbled. It happened last year but I wasn't picked because I was mistaken for a man. This time I'd just do what I know best.

"I'm just saying we all need to be careful, this time we don't know who they'll take. Even if I already have a mate. I'm still scared," Bella stated but I wasn't even scared a bit.

"Finally," I said the moment I got into my compound. "You can go back to your houses now and stop filling my head with negativity," I said and I walked into my room without waiting for their response.

I needed to get some sleep because I've been pretty exhausted. The moment I got into my room, I didn't even bother to freshen up. I immediately jumped into my bed, and I fell asleep.

[At Midnight]

"Ash! Ashley! Wake up!" My eyes snapped open, roused from sleep by the sound of my mother's panicked voice. My mother was standing in the doorway, a look of terror on her face.

"What's wrong mum? What!" I asked but I was cut short. From my bedroom window, I heard a commotion rising from the street below. The sound of wolves growling and banging on doors reached my ears, and I felt a prickle of unease at the back of my neck. I rushed to the window, and peered out, trying to make sense of the chaos below. I saw neighbors running around in a panic, and a few of them were carrying torches.

"What was going on? Are they under attack? Are we safe?" My heart started racing, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me.

"You need to run Ashley. I know we've never seen eye to eye. But I won't let the Alpha King take you away. He's here, you need to run!" She said and my eyes almost budget out of its socket.

"What!" I half yelled, but mother quickly rushed to me, she grabbed my hand and she pushed me outside and she banged the door.

"Run now Ash, your survival depends on you," She said and without further delay, I quickly took off. But it didn't take minutes before I heard a cold manly voice.

"After her!" Immediately I knew I was done for.

Chapter Two

Ashley POV's

In a flash of light, my form shifted and changed. My clothes fell to the ground, as fur sprouted from my skin. My fingers turned into claws, and my ears grew into pointed tips.

In the blink of an eye I immediately started running into the woods. I sprinted through the trees, my breath coming in gasps. I could hear the footsteps of the guards who were chasing me, and I knew I had to keep running. I wanted to escape from them. My heart pounded in my chest, and my legs burned with the effort of running. The branches of the trees whipped at my face, and I stumbled over roots and rocks. But I knew I couldn't stop, not even for a moment. My life depended on it.

As I continued running, my foot caught on a root, and I went sprawling to the ground. I landed hard, the impact knocking the breath out of me. I hurriedly tried to stand up but I just couldn't. I quickly picked some dry grasses on the floor and I covered my bare body.

I lay there for a moment, trying to catch my breath and also hiding away from them, but I knew I couldn't stay there. I had to get up, and keep running. I struggled to my feet, my legs trembling beneath her.

But as I tried to take a step, I felt a sharp pain in my ankle. I had twisted it in the fall, and now I could barely put any weight on it.

As soon as I looked upwards, I saw eyes staring at me as if they had gotten their prey. I froze, panic rising in my chest. I had nowhere to run, and the wolves who were chasing me were now all around me.

I tried to force myself to breathe, to think of a way out of this. But my mind was blank, and all I could do was stare at the faces of the wolves who had trapped her. Some of them looked angry, others fearful. But there was one thing that was clear; they weren't going to let me go.

The wolves transformed back to their human form and parted ways. A man on horseback rode into the clearing. He was tall and imposing, with a stern expression on his face. He wore armor, and carried a sword at his side. My heart pounded in my chest, and I tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. The man dismounted from his horse, and approached me, his gaze never leaving mine. I felt completely powerless, trapped by the gaze of this man who seemed to wield an almost supernatural power over me.

"Look, who I finally found," The man's voice was deep and filled with authority that brooked no argument.

I felt a chill run down my spine. "What did he want from me? What was he going to do?" To worsen it all, I could not tear my gaze away from him, even though every fiber of my being was telling me to run.

I knew I needed to summon courage; I wasn't used to being the meek type of a lady. "What do you want from me?" I inquired.

"Why were you running?" The man asked, his voice curious but deadly. I swallowed hard, my mouth dry.

"I...I..." I stammered, unable to find the words. He waited patiently, his eyes never leaving mine. Finally, I managed to choke out a few words. "I thought you were going to take me," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

"You're stating the obvious young lady, you made a big mistake the moment you ran away from me," He said and my eyes widened. Judging from his aura, cold gaze and everything. I needed no one to tell me who he was.

He was none other than the Alpha King, the man who was rumored to be deadlier than snake venom.

I twisted my fist till to an extent that it hurt as I waited for my early nemesis. I should have listened to my parents to be normal and have a mate like others, but no! I was busy wasting my youthful age as a man, not knowing I was fooling myself.

"Why do you forcefully take young ladies to your palace and they suddenly become your maids? Do you think because you're the Alpha King you shouldn't be held accountable for the heartless things you're doing?" I asked, not knowing when all of this sprouted out of my mouth.

He suddenly smiled which was cruel and mocking, sending a shiver down my spine. It was as if he was looking right through me, seeing my deepest, darkest secrets. I felt exposed and vulnerable, like a caged wolf in the presence of a predator. I wanted to run, but I knew I was caught in the web of this man's cruel smile.

"You'd know why the young ladies I took become maids in my palace, after becoming one yourself," He said and he threw a piece of clothing to me which I hurriedly used to cover my bare skin, while glaring at him.

"Take her away," He ordered and he jumped on his horse.

Immediately two guard's came and they brought out a rope towards me. Before I could fathom what was going on, they tried to tie me up but I refused.

"Don't worry, I can walk, you don't need to force me" the alpha looked at them and obeyed him.

"What are you guys doing?" I half yelled as they pushed me towards the Alpha King and they tied the ropes around his horse's leg. They got on top of their own horses and they rode away, while I was on the floor bare footed as I was dragged along with them.

"You monster! Let me go!" I screamed in tears as he continued riding the horse faster. I had to run along in order to maintain his pace.

An hour later, as I continued running inside the deep forest, my feet were constantly bruised by the sharp grasses and stones from the ground.

I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Every step was a challenge, and I felt like my legs were going to give out at any moment, alongside the excruciating pains from my head.

"I'm sorry, okay? I won't try to struggle or fight back, I'll go with you willingly," I screamed with all my might so he'd be able to hear me.

"You can't even do any of the things you mentioned. Why bother?" He scoffed and I sighed, thinking of something reasonable to stop this torture.

"I don't care what you do with any of these ladies you took. I promise to be at your beck and call, anything you want from me I'll do it. So please...." I said weakly and he stopped and the next words he said sent me off my feet.

" Does that include you fucking me?"

Chapter three

Ashley POV's

Next morning...

I rubbed my eyes and then looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The room was dark and musty, and I could see that there were several other people sleeping nearby.

The floor was so cold to an extent my body ached, that was when I realized I was actually laying on a cold floor.

I was disoriented and confused, and I had no idea how I had ended up here. Slowly, the events of the previous night began to come back to me.

Then I remembered the Alpha King words last night.

How he told me to become his mistress but I refused. I wouldn't give my body to just anyone who isn't my mate. I'd rather be a celibate than have sex with him.

I thought he would have pity on me and let me get on the horse with him, but that didn't happen, I was still tied on the horse running along with him until I passed out. I guessed he brought me to this smelling place after that.

I tried standing up but I couldn't, my legs hurt and I could feel blood gushing out of it. I groaned knowing he was the cause of all this.

I didn't know what was wrong with me, why wasn't I healing? And why can't I also feel my Wolf? I noticed this last night but didn't read any meaning to it, not until today.

I winced as I tried to straighten my legs because it hurts like hell, not until the window opened and I saw a lady standing next to it, her face was puffy and she had an angry expression on.

"Can't you just let us have our own peace and quiet before we're killed? You just keep on disturbing me!" She yelled and I flinched. I've never been this scared of my gender since the day I was born. Then I knew the Alpha King broke me.

"I'm sorry," I quickly apologized and she sighed.

"It's fine, I'm just transferring aggression," She stated and the rest of the ladies in the room began to stir, blinking and stretching as they woke from their slumber. One by one, they sat up, some in confusion. Some of them looked scared, while others just looked tired and disoriented.

I watched them, still trying to process what was happening.

"I guess you're the newbies," The lady who spoke to me rudely before said to those who were looking around in confusion, but they only stared at her weirdly.

"I've been here for months now, wondering when I'd be picked and killed like every other lady who was here before me, but it never happened. I preferred to be killed than to be stuck in this hellhole!" She yelled and the newbie's screamed when they heard about death.

"I don't want to die!"

"Mummy!"

"Someone should let me out of here!"

They alone began to scream and cry to an extent I had to cover my ears because I knew no one would be able to save them from the Alpha King.

Suddenly, the door to the room swung open, and a tall, imposing man stood in the doorway. "Good morning, everyone," The man said, a smirk playing on his lips. From his looks he was probably a guard.

"I hope you all slept well, because they'd be no more sleeping for some of you tonight," He said and some of the ladies screamed, while I imagined my head being cut off by the Alpha King.

"You three over there, both of you, out!" He yelled and I flinched seeing I was among the five ladies he just picked.

The four of them immediately ran out but I was still struggling with my injured foot, I couldn't raise myself up, not to talk of walking out.

"Hey you! Out!" The guard yelled and I stared down at my legs, hoping he'd see my condition, but he only stared at me despicably.

"You want assistance right? You'd get it once I'm done reporting to the Alpha how you disobeyed his orders!" He said and my eyes immediately widened. I didn't know how I found myself standing up, and limping towards the door.

I wasn't ready for any more torture, not after I've not recovered from last night's trauma.

We all followed the guard as he took us to God knows where. Everyone was close to the guard while I was still far behind struggling to match up with them.

Few minutes later, I walked into the hall with everyone's eyes preying on me because I was the last one to walk through the door.

The Alpha King sat in a large, ornate chair, his legs crossed casually. He looked down at the people gathered before him, a smug smile playing on his lips. I didn't know why but I found myself staring at him, it was as if I was hypnotized by this handsome man in front of me, not until the guard yelled.

"On your knees!" He yelled and he whipped me on my legs and I immediately fell on the floor with a loud scream releasing from my mouth due to the excruciating pain I felt. I hurriedly stared around wanting to know the reason for this and I saw every other lady was on their knees.

I guess I was busy fantasizing about the Alpha King who kept me in this situation.

The door suddenly opened and hefty men walked in together with their bodyguards and they immediately took four of the ladies who were shaking in fright but didn't dare to scream.

The moment one of them got to me, the Alpha King said. "You can take all four, this one here belongs to me," He stated with finality, but one of the men said.

"All mate less ladies belong to us, you don't have a say in it," He said.

"And I just said you'd she's mine, you can take the rest," The Alpha King said, this time around much fiercer than before.

"Fine! I'd report this; you kept the most beautiful lady to yourself alone, just because you're in power now doesn't mean it can't be taken away from you!" The man stated but the Alpha King only scoffed.

"Even if you say anything, I won't change my mind," He replied, I didn't know if I should be happy he didn't let me go or sad I'd be stuck with him.

The man angrily tucked his clothes and he left together with everyone he came with and the ladies.

As soon as he left, everyone immediately walked out of the room, leaving me and the Alpha King alone in it.

"I just did something good for you; don't you think I deserve something good?" He asked and my eyes widened.

"What!" I asked, hoping it wasn't what I was thinking.