The Alpha's Runaway Breeder

~Amara~

As I read each drop that followed, the view of one village became dark and dull, making it difficult for those standing outside to see what lay ahead of them. Water flowed down the cramped street, carrying the mud and dirt past me, a young girl standing under an umbrella with my mother and stepfather. My dark blue eyes darted left and right, squinting tightly in an effort to see beyond the darkness and the rain.

"Mother, do you think he will come? The rain is getting heavier." I placed more strength into my arms to keep the umbrella steady.

"He will come, Amy, " My mother said, calling me by the nickname she usually called me at home.

My father passed away seven months ago, and since then, it was just my stepfather and my mother who were with me.

My mum rubbed and wrung her hands together. The rain was getting heavy, and the wind did not help, making it impossible for the umbrella to stop all the rain from reaching our legs and shoes. My aunt gave a look at my uncle standing next to her. Pressing her lips into a thin line, they waited for the expected man to arrive.

We had been standing there with a sack of yam and turnips which had to be sold to a customer today. We owned a little shop at the corner end of the village market. The shop did not fare well.

My step-father worked hard, waking up early to be the first shop to open and last to close, but regardless of what he did, the income was less than predicted. After all, its location was distant when compared to the other spots making their shop a last resort for the locals and affluent buyers.

A messenger had sent them an urgent request for their vegetables an hour ago, claiming that they would arrive to purchase them shortly, but even after an hour had passed, no one had come. I wondered whether the man would even come with such awful rain flooding the streets. Perhaps it was a wealthy person who was holding a party for others like him. People whose statuses were too high for my family to speak with.

"Are you sure he's coming?" I heard my mother whisper to my stepfather.

"Well he has to, he paid a huge sum of money for it. Let me go check the store to make sure they aren't there," he replied, readying himself with the umbrella only to have his wife grab his shirt.

"I will come with you. I don't want to find you later on the ground with your back thrown out. Amy, dear," My mother turned to look over her shoulder to meet my eyes that stuck out radiantly in the gloomy weather, "Your father and I shall go see if the man is waiting for us at the store entrance. Stay here so that we don't have to come looking for you next. Okay?"

"Let me go look instead. I'll be much quicker," I promised, only to have my stepfather shake his head.

"The last thing we want is for you to be getting lost. Do as you are told," his words were sharp and left no room for rebuttal.

He had always been sharp with me, which often made me wonder whether he was opposed to me staying with them.

"Don't worry about the vegetables. I will safeguard them," I gave a reassuring smile to have my mother return a small nod to me before scurrying away with him under a single umbrella.

The rain continued to pour with a soft thunder growling above me. The rain was common to the people who lived in moonlit packs, as the sunny days were sparse in comparison. We werewolves who love running in the meadows, have already adapted to the rainy weather and hardly go out for a run.

The tower bell rang loud enough to compete with the rain and thunder. The sky darkened further as a carriage passed by me without stopping, not caring to ask why I was standing alone in the rain or if I needed assistance.

I took a step back under the worn-out, little roof that helped reduce the pressure on my black umbrella.

The wind grew more powerful, making it more difficult to shield my feet and the bottom of my dress from getting wet. As I stood there waiting for my family to return, all the while keeping an eye out so that I did not miss the customer who had agreed to come to purchase the goods, another carriage passed by, jet-black in color.

Due to my unfamiliarity with carriages, I did not know to whom each one belonged as they all appeared relatively identical in design and color. Such luxuries generally belonged to men and women of the upper class. The most contact I had with this transportation mode was traveling in a local carriage that was packed with other commoners, ferrying me from one pack to another.

What I failed to notice was that this particular carriage had stopped around the corner of where I stood.

I raised my head to the sky, a smile on my lips. The rain was free and beautiful. Even though it made everywhere wet and muddy. When the wind hit my face, my slender fingers tucked away the unruly strands of hair that covered my face.

I continued to wait in the rain until I felt it had been too long since my family had left me there. I grew worried, fearful something had happened to them. I wondered whether I should go look for them to make sure they were okay. My stepfather and mother were no longer young, and the rain could have caused them to slip and fall.

Before I could decide what to do, I saw a figure through the rain walking towards me with an umbrella. It was a man wearing a large coat over his body. I guessed that he was the customer in question.

He was late!

I disliked that just because we were poor, others could treat us however they wanted. Our time was just as important as theirs!

The man approached me, and when he was close enough, I berated him, "Mister, it's an hour past the time we agreed on. Don't you know the vegetables will soak in the water due to your carelessness? You will have to pay extra for wasting our time." I raised my brows accusingly to make sure he understood what I said.

The man stared at me, his black eyes inspecting me from top to bottom, causing me discomfort.

"You must be Amara, am I right?" He asked and I nodded. "Where are your parents?"

He had a scar that ran across his mouth which made me wary of him.

"Because of your tardiness, they left to search for you in the rain, but they should be back any second now. You are Mr. Armani, right?" I inquired full of suspicion.

"Yes," he said, scanning the vicinity to ensure no one was present.

Most of the villagers had taken shelter in their homes to avoid being drenched and catching a fever.

"Your goods are right here. Pay up, and you can take it." I patted the sack of potatoes and turnips that were stuffed inside the sack.

The man stared at me, a smile forming on his lips.

"The payment has already been made..."

Since when? I gave him a look of doubt as I pondered his claim. Maybe the man trusted my uncle, and they shared a business history with him. As unlikely as that sounds, it was still technically possible.

Suddenly, instead of taking the sack next to me, the man seized my wrist and dragged me towards him.

"What are you doing, Mister?!" I was startled by this sudden change. "Let go of my hand," I said firmly as I tried to pull it out of his grip, but he was too strong.

Unable to pull away from him, I picked up a rotten carrot I had previously placed on the slab to throw away later. Taking hold of it, I jabbed it right into his face, digging into his eyes and making him yelp in pain. He instinctively let go of my hand.

Without pause, I closed my umbrella and smashed his head with the edge of the handle as hard as I could before sprinting away. The rain came down on me with anger and my wet hair stuck to my face as I ran. With the countless puddles that littered the ground, every step I took was accompanied by a large splash. One of my hands held the front of my dress as I made a mad dash through the streets.

I heard larger and more aggressive splashes chasing my footsteps. Unfortunately, the attacker was persistent in following me. I ran with all my might, turning into alleys and crossing the little streets until I found a large pillar located past a corner to hide behind.

I gasped for air. It had been ages since I had last run so desperately.

The last time occurred when I was being chased by a bull. I had not done anything to anger the animal, just disliked me for no apparent reason and seemed to pursue me out of boredom. To my joy and my mother's dismay, the bull was sold a month ago.

Hearing the splashing sound approaching my hiding spot, I covered my mouth and pulled my wet dress between my legs, praying he would pass the pillar without stopping.

I could feel my heart pounding against my chest.

When the man stopped to see where I had gone, I carefully peeked from the edge of the pillar. This alley led to a three-way fork road and from the man's perspective, I could have picked any one of them.

I did not care which he picked as long as it was not the fourth option, the spot behind this pillar.

Thankfully, the man picked the third route.

I squeezed out of my hiding spot and ran back to my starting point, hoping my family had returned by now. When I reached the storefront, they still hadn't come back, leaving me clueless about what to do next. I knew I couldn't carry the sack of vegetables very far, and the rain had probably ruined the entire bag by now, so I decided to leave it there.

Since I was already drenched, I didn't bother with the umbrella and started walking home directly, letting the rain flow onto my head and dress without reservation.

About a quarter of the way home, I suddenly had a bad premonition. I paused and turned around to see if someone was following me, but I didn't see anybody behind me.

I let out a sigh of relief and faced forward again, but then I saw Mr. Armani standing in front of me. Before I could react, his hand came right at me, and I blacked out.

As thunder growled in the sky and the wind changed directions, the rain finally came to a stop. In just a few minutes, I was abducted without any witnesses.

A year after the incident with Mr. Armani, I still found myself waking up in the middle of the night with cold sweats. The memory of his rough hand coming at me and everything turning dark in a flash still haunted me.

I remember how I was awoken by the sound of thunder and rain that night. I had tried my best to see past my heavy eyelids until I could barely make out the shape of metal bars in front of me. I blinked once, then twice before I had pushed my torso up from the wet floor. The little window in the wall allowed the rain to pass through and form a puddle in the room.

Confused as to where I was, I stood up and looked around. I was in an enclosed room with three walls made of stone, metal bars for the fourth wall, and a single window with metal bars that prevented anyone from coming in or going out. The room was much smaller than my room at my mother's place.

There was no light source in the room, but ahead of me, I noticed light spilling through the bars from a lantern that must have been placed on the ground.

Going to the railing, I had searched for a way out. When I found a door, I pulled and pushed as hard as I could, but the iron gate was locked.

I tried to remember how I got there, but the last thing I could recall was hurrying back home only to run into Mr. Armani on the way before being knocked out.

I still remember the woman with fiery, red hair that had been tied into a braid similar to hers. It was a maid, I later realized. I was soaked, in a cage, and confused. She had helped me out, taken me to the bathroom, and cleaned me. Combed my hair. Treated me like a doll only to present me to him.

His name was Lucian. He was my master. My king. I was a bit shocked when I was dressed scarcely in front of him.

He was tall and muscular, with broad shoulders and a powerful build that made him seem larger than life. His hair was a rich chestnut color, falling in gentle waves that just brushed against the nape of his neck. He often tied his hair back in a loose knot, with a few strands hanging in front of his forehead.

His features were chiseled and sharp, with a strong jawline and a straight nose. His eyes were a deep, intense green, with flecks of gold that sparkled in the light. There was a hint of stubble on his jaw, adding to the rugged, masculine look that he effortlessly exuded.

He had locked eyes with me and asked the maid if this was her and the maid told him yes.

I had never met the Alpha king before, I had only heard of the king who lived in the ShadowClaw pack and ruled the whole of Aldridge from his throne made of diamonds. I had admired his strength but that day I lost all respect for him. Because he had held me, he had touched me and he had used me to his will.

It was only later I found out that I had no right to choose. A slave had no choice.

Yes, I was the slave sold to him.

The alpha king has been looking for a woman to breed his child, many women offered up themselves but he rejected them. My stepfather had heard of this deal and sold me off to the first buyer who came for a virgin, green-eyed girl, who would be taken to the king to be his own personal breeder.

And here I was, a year after.

I was standing by the window, dressed in a light-colored cotton dress that exposed my arms and shoulders. The neckline was modest, high enough to cover my collarbones but low enough to provide some ventilation in the summer heat. The dress flowed down to my ankles, swaying gently with the breeze that came in from the open window.

My dark, curly hair was pulled back in a simple braid that rested over my shoulder. The sun cast a warm glow on my lightly tanned skin, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment at that moment.

As I stood there, lost in thought, a sudden knock at the door broke my reverie. I turned to see a maid standing there, a look of urgency on her face. "Miss, the Alpha King requests your presence in his chambers immediately," she said, bowing her head.

I hesitated for a moment, feeling somewhat self-conscious in my current attire. He had always wanted me to be dressed scantily when I appeared in front of him, making it easier for me to be breeded. "Does he want me to change?" I asked, looking down at my dress.

The maid looked me up and down and then smiled reassuringly. "You look just fine like that, Miss. The Alpha King will not mind," she replied.

With a deep breath, I followed the maid out of the room and towards the Alpha King's chambers, wondering what could be so urgent that he needed me right away.

On a normal basis, as he did every two weeks, he would give me a chance to dress up, clean, refresh, and put on makeup. This was something all new.

As I walked into his chambers I found him standing at the window. Enjoying the sunset as I was before, his back facing me and his arms crossed. He didn't tie his hair up today and they fell completely on his face. His looks were entrancing. Calling him handsome would just be an understatement.

Sometimes, I could not help but imagine how our baby would look like.

"You called for me, your majesty?" I asked, bringing my head down to look at the ground.

"Yes, I did." He said without turning back.

"Would you like me to undress?" I asked as if I was asking for chicken and soup.

It was the normal thing. When I hadn't gotten used to this, even though he never did hit me. He would change to his wolf and growl at me. The look in his eyes is enough to put me in my place.

"No," He tucked his hands into the pocket of his trousers. "I would be leaving the house for three days. I hope you remember my rules?"

"Of course. I do"

How could I ever forget? I should never leave my room unless summoned by him. Smile at the guards. Misbehave or even try to escape from his estate. It seems easy, doesn't it?

Living in an extravagant room, getting dressed, cleaned, made beautiful by maids, no scarcity of food, always entertained by books or listening to the maids talk about what's happening in the outside world.

It does seem beautiful on the inside but it was just a pretty prison. One that cages you mentally and emotionally. I was nothing but his slave. Nothing better.

And nothing hurts more than when the person doing this to me is my mate. My soulmate, given to me by the moon goddess.

Every day he comes inside me, every day I feel that goddamn electricity running through my veins. His touch. His smell. Everything, I crave to truly put my mark on him but he doesn't see it. He doesn't want me as an emotional support. Just a slave and that was it.

He then turned to me and held my arm. His hold was a little too tight for me to handle. I tried to remove my hand from his, but his strength was greater than mine.

"Remember, Amara. Remember who you are and once you do something out of the norm, you are a goner. You are mine," As Lucian stared into my eyes, I noticed a subtle shift in the color of his irises.

The once piercing green had now transformed into a deep, mesmerizing shade of golden brown like the sun setting on a warm summer day. It was as if his wolf was coming to the surface, taking control of his body and mind. I could feel the intensity of his gaze, the weight of his dominance, and for a moment, I felt powerless under his hold. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, a potent mixture of desire and fear that left me breathless.

I took a deep breath and bowed my head, saying through clenched teeth, "I understand your majesty. I know my duties."

With that he let her hand go.

"You may leave." He said, turning back to the window.

I bowed one last time and scurried out of his chambers. My wrist was still tingling from his touch. My wolf wanted to be in his arms right now. To cuddle, to feel.

But that man is as cold as ice, so cold that he doesn't realize that I am his mate and I stood before him.

Back in my bedroom, I sat cross-legged, as that fiery-haired maid tood before me, massaging my feet.

"Today marks the third month that I haven't seen a blood stain on your bedsheets, Amara. A sign that you must be pregnant. Aren't you sure you should inform the king and get you a doctor? You don't know if it's healthy that the king touches you in this stage, my dear" The woman, Elsie, was a middle-aged woman. The first maid I saw when I arrived at this estate.

Elsie has been by my side since. And I trusted her more than anyone. She only took care of my bed sheets after I had told her that I did not want the other maids to inform Lucian after I got pregnant because I had a plan.

"There is no need for that, Elsie. And for the other thing? Is it ready?" I said in a low voice.

Elsie nodded. "Yes. It is. You would have to dress like a maid to escape the estate. Once Lucian leaves, I could distract the guards while you make your way with the other maids to be marketed. Just remember once you are out, switch into your Werewolf form and run south. Through the woods. Just go south and eventually, you would get a nightshade pack. Ask for Georgia. She would assist you and help you. She is my cousin and a sweet soul"

I nodded. "Thank you Elsie for this. But...I hope nothing bad is going to happen to you once I am gone?"

Elsie chuckled. "Worry about yourself, honey. I have known Lucian since he was a child. He has lost his track after past traumas. He is a good kid, though he doesn't seem like that now"

I shrugged. "I would never know. I would like to leave tonight. As soon as he is gone, I should be gone too. Would take him a long time before he would come back and realize I am gone. Within three days, I am sure I would have gotten to Georgia"

Elsie nodded. "You are right," Elsie removed her hands from my feet. "But may I ask sweetheart, why do you want to leave? Any girl would be happy to be in your position."

I relaxed back on the cushion of the sofa I was seated on. "Any girl that doesn't have empathy for their child. Once Lucian found out about this child, he would keep me more secluded. Once the child is given birth to, I am discarded. I have nothing to support me with. No family. Just shane to my name. And my child, I know it would be trained...but I just can't, Elsie. Lucian treats me like a pet. I...can't just relax. I can't just keep on feeling like a used toy. And my child to...be..." I choked on my tears. "Just look at it from my point of view Elsie. It's not easy"

Elsie nodded, patting my shoulders. "I understand sweetheart. You leave tonight. Just be careful. It's not just you anymore, it's you and your child"

****

Two months of preparation for this day.

The day I finally stepped foot on the soil once again and it worked perfectly. The moment I was out of the estate gate, I sneaked away from the other maids and walked into the forest, taking the mask off my face.

I looked out at the dark horizon.

It was a risky thought. I could have waited till morning before doing this but it's a little bit late to say sorry. I looked back at the estate behind me before turning and walking down the pathway of the forest.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, feeling the familiar tingling sensation all over my body. My muscles twitched and convulsed as my bones cracked and shifted, reshaping into a new form. Fur sprouted all over my skin, and my fingers and toes curled into paws as my nails turned into sharp claws.

As the transformation was completed, I opened my eyes and looked around, taking in my surroundings with new senses. The forest was no longer dark and blurry, but bright and vivid, every leaf and twig and pebble in sharp focus. I could smell the damp earth, the scent of pine trees, and the faint trace of prey.

With a powerful leap, I took off into the night, my paws hitting the ground with a steady rhythm. The wind blew through my fur, and I felt the rush of freedom that only came with running in my wolf form. My heart beat fast, and my breath came in short pants as I picked up speed, my body a blur of motion in the moonlight.

As I ran through the forest, my senses on high alert, I felt a presence following me. I couldn't see anyone, but my instincts told me that someone was there.

As I continued running, I heard the sound of a bow being drawn and an arrow whistling through the air. It missed me by inches, lodging itself into a tree trunk.

I spun around, ready to face my attacker, but I saw no one. Suddenly, a voice came from behind me, sending shivers down my spine.

"Well, well, well, look what we got here," the voice said, dripping with sarcasm.

~Lucian~

As I rode through the countryside, the scenery passing me by in a blur, my thoughts were fixated on the dark-haired girl that I had in my home.

I had decided to take this journey to make an important negotiation with a pack, to focus on matters of the pack, and to put aside the tumultuous feelings that she stirred within me. But it seemed that even the rolling hills and verdant forests couldn't banish her from my mind.

I could still smell her sweet scent on my clothes, and feel the softness of her skin beneath my fingers. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face, her dark curls tumbling down her back, her full lips curved in a smile. Her bright green eyes that always seemed to be filled with fear, no matter how I tried to act as normal as I could be.

Even as my beta recounted pack affairs, I struggled to concentrate. His words were a mere buzz in my ears, drowned out by the incessant echo of Amara's voice. It was as if she had taken root in my mind, a stubborn weed that refused to be plucked.

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the thoughts. It was foolish to be so preoccupied with a woman, especially one who was not even my mate or wife. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face, felt her touch.

I knew deep down that I was merely running from my feelings, and that until I confronted them, they would continue to haunt me. I had damaged her, I wanted to view her as just someone to discard after her job is done but it was so goddamn hard. I couldn't just let her go, I have grown possessive of her. And I want to make amends. To make her feel better than I did in the past.

After I got back to the estate, my idea was to summon her to my chambers. I felt guilty, though I would never apologize but at least maybe flowers would make her day. Not sure.

Then, I decided to just visit her chambers. And now here I was, in her chambers, staring at the space where Amara used to be. Her clothes were gone. The space where her essentials used to be was now empty. Marcus, my beta, walked in and gave me a questioning look.

"You summoned me. How was the trip?" he asked.

I shrugged. "A success but also disappointing. I couldn't focus on anything except her. It's like she's haunting me."

Marcus sighed. "You seem more obsessed than I thought. Maybe it's time to let her go. It was a well-planned escape. So she has probably been planning it for weeks. "

I felt a surge of anger rise within me. "Don't you dare suggest that. I won't give up on her. She might even be with child right now. I need to know. "

I turned to Elsie, Amara's maid. "Elsie, where is Amara?" I demanded.

Elsie shook her head. "I don't know, Your Highness. She disappeared in the night. I searched for her but couldn't find her."

My frustration grew, and I clenched my fists. "You know more than you're letting on, Elsie. She wouldn't have been able to escape without help."

Elsie looked down, avoiding my gaze. "I swear, I know nothing. I would never betray you or Amara."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I knew Elsie was telling the truth. We had been close since childhood.

"Fine. But if you hear anything, anything at all, you'll come to me immediately. Understood?"

Elsie nodded, and I could see the relief on her face. "Of course, Your Highness. You have my loyalty."

I dismissed her with a wave of my hand, lost in my thoughts once again. I knew I had to find Amara before it was too late.

Just as I was about to leave the room, Elsie, Amara's maid, stopped me. "Your Highness, may I speak with you for a moment?"

I turned to her, curious. "What is it, Elsie?"

"Why do you need her back, Your Highness?" Elsie asked. "Do you truly care for her or is it just a matter of pride?"

I felt a pang of guilt at her words, realizing that my actions might have come off as possessive rather than caring. But I knew deep down that it was more than just pride.

"I don't know. Sometimes there is no reason for something. But I know this is not about pride. This is just about something that I can't explain." I said, my voice low and sincere.

Elsie was like a second mother to me and she would understand me best. She could understand the feelings I could not put into words. "I just want to see her one more time and make sure she is fine." My wolf seemed to happily agree to that idea when I said that, feeling a bit more relaxed than it did when we had discovered that Amara was missing.

Elsie's expression softened, and she hesitated before speaking. "She ran off to the south, Your Highness. She's headed towards the mountains. To my cousin."

Relief flooded through me, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for Elsie's loyalty and willingness to help.

"Thank you, Elsie," I said, giving her a small smile. "You don't know how much this means to me."

As I left the room, I felt a newfound determination to find Amara and bring her back to me.

I looked at Marcus who stood not too far from me and gave him a stern look.

"Gather the search troops and find her!"