Betrayed by My Alpha, Bound to the King

Ayesha held her breath as Alaric suddenly leaned over her. She had never felt anything like this before, not even with Ronan. The pull between them was undeniable. Overwhelming.

A strange sensation crawled across her skin, like a wave of heat and sparks… tingling, intense, almost intoxicating. It was as if her body was responding to something beyond her control, something ancient and instinctive.

[He's our fated mate.] A soft, feminine voice echoed in her mind, and her eyes widened in shock.

She had heard of inner wolves, how some were blessed with the ability to communicate with them, but she never thought she'd be one of them.

'Are you… my inner wolf?' she asked silently.

[Yes, I am.]

Before she could process it further, Alaric buried his face into the crook of her neck. Ayesha bit her lower lip hard, struggling to hold back a moan.

'Why do I feel like this?' Why did being this close to him stir something so deep and uncontrollable inside her? She hated the strange, traitorous warmth spreading through her body but at the same time, it felt so good.

'So this is the mate pull?' she wondered, breath hitching.

Now that her wolf was finally awakened, she was experiencing it firsthand and there was no denying its power. Her body trembled from the sensation.

"You smell wonderful, Ayesha. Do you feel that intense connection between us?" he whispered against her skin, causing a wave of shivers to run down her spine.

Certainly, she sensed it. If she hadn't maintained such strict self-control, she might have moaned aloud. However, this was not the moment for that.

"What is it that you want from me?!" she snapped, trying to mask her confusion with annoyance. Alaric didn't flinch.

"I'll provide you and your niece with the protection you need. No one will dare to harm you again. But in exchange… he leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear, …you'll surrender yourself to me. You're my fated mate. That means you will become my woman. My mate. My Luna."

Ayesha's eyes fluttered rapidly. Did she grasp that correctly? His Luna? Hers? The lowly Omega Ronan discarded was now being selected by the Alpha King?

"I'm just a modest Omega," she said softly, pressing the words through her clenched throat. "Aren't you worried about being mocked by the royal court?"

Alaric met her gaze with calm confidence. "I am the Alpha King. I can do anything I want." Then he leaned in, so close their lips nearly brushed. "Take time to think about it. For now, go see your niece."

Ayesha furrowed her brows, studying him. "How do you even know about me?" she asked.

A small smirk tugged at his lips. "Your niece told me everything. You and she were running from Ronan and his Luna. You're lucky you crossed paths with me."

She gathered what strength she had left and pushed him back. "I need to see Lyra first!" she demanded, standing quickly, though her legs wobbled slightly beneath her.

Alaric raised a brow, then nodded. "As you wish," he hummed, stepping aside.

She opened the door, only to find a tall, expressionless woman standing quietly outside. She had short blonde hair and steady brown eyes.

"Rona, escort her to her niece," Alaric instructed.

The woman stepped forward and gently took Ayesha's hand to steady her.

"Let me assist you, My Lady," she said kindly.

"I'm Rona, by the way… the Healer Mage who looked after you and young Miss Lyra."

Ayesha blinked, startled by her words. But her body still felt unsteady, likely from the shock of her first shift and the sudden awakening of her inner wolf, so she didn't refuse the help.

She looked at the woman and gave a soft, sincere smile. "Thank you."

Rona returned the smile politely. "It's His Majesty you should thank. I'm simply following his orders."

They walked in silence through a short corridor before Rona pushed open the next chamber door. Ayesha's breath caught in her throat. There… on the bed… was Lyra.

She rushed to her side and sat gently on the edge of the mattress. Her eyes welled with tears as she reached out and touched Lyra's cheek. She was cleaned up, dressed in fresh clothes, her little chest rising and falling in peaceful sleep.

Ayesha closed her eyes and whispered a silent prayer. 'Thank you.' Relief washed over her in waves, and she wiped her tears quickly, careful not to wake the child.

"My Lady, you must rest. Your pregnancy is sensitive. You need to avoid stress and physical exertion from now on. Also… be prepared. Your body will begin to change more now that you've had your first shift." Rona reminded.

Ayesha inhaled shakily and nodded to herself, brushing a strand of hair from Lyra's forehead. "We're safe now," she whispered. But she wasn't sure if she was reassuring Lyra or herself.

Her niece stirred, then slowly opened her eyes.

"Aunt!" Lyra cried, immediately pouncing into her arms. "I'm glad you're well now!"

Ayesha hugged her tightly, burying her face into Lyra's hair. "I am too…" she murmured softly. That was when she heard the low grumble from Lyra's stomach.

"I'm hungry," Lyra mumbled sheepishly against her chest. Before Ayesha could respond, a voice interrupted from the doorway.

"I'll have the cook prepare meals for both of you," Alaric said calmly.

She looked toward him briefly, still holding Lyra close. "Thank you," she replied, without fully meeting his gaze.

Alaric gave a curt nod and turned away. Rona followed quietly behind him.

"Are you sure about your findings?" Alaric inquired without turning his head.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Rona replied. "There's a seal inside her body… I believe it's what delayed her wolf's awakening. But now that the seal is broken, things have changed. She could be dangerous, even if she is your fated mate, you must consider this carefully. There's something… off inside her."

She hesitated before softly saying, "And she's pregnant... with a child from someone else. Please reconsider taking her as your official mate..."

Alaric's eyes grew darker, and he let out a low growl. Rona looked at him, his face cold and unreadable, causing her to flinch. "You are to follow my instructions, nothing more. Do not question my decision again."

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty," Rona said quickly, bowing low in submission.

Alaric went straight back to his chambers silently, then picked up a well-worn letter from his table, its frayed edges revealing how often he had read it. It was from the sole woman he had ever truly loved and cherished… the one who had left him.