Betrayed by My Alpha, Bound to the King

Ayesha waited for a full minute, then another, before she finally moved, clutching her bandaged palm. Her heart pounded in her chest.

This is it. Ronan was gone, and the guards would be busy with preparations. Luciana wouldn't notice she was missing until morning—if she noticed at all.

She slipped off the bed and hurriedly went to find Lyra.

"Lyra," she whispered, kneeling beside her niece, who was wrapped in a thin blanket. "Wake up, Lyra, my dear. It's time."

Lyra stirred, blinking sleepily. "Aunt...?"

"We need to leave. Now." Her voice was gentle yet urgent. "Like we rehearsed. Remember?" 

Lyra's eyes widened, and she nodded quickly. She sat up and grabbed her small boots. 

They moved swiftly and silently in the shadows toward the garden wall where the old fence met the trees. 

Guards patrolled as always, and Ayesha knew their routines by heart. Just a few more steps, and they'd be past the clearing. Then... crack. A branch broke under her foot. She stopped and closed her eyes, holding her breath. 

Voices sounded near the guardhouse. A torch flickered behind them. "Who's there?" called a sharp voice.

Ayesha's blood ran cold. She quickly pulled Lyra behind her and pressed them against the stone wall, her heart pounding. 

A louder voice called out, "I heard something!" Footsteps grew near, and Ayesha's hold on Lyra's hand tightened. She suddenly pulled Lyra behind a low hedge and crouched swiftly.

"Check the path. There could be some omega sneaking around again," one guard muttered.

Ayesha held her breath. She gripped Lyra tightly, her bandaged hand burning and her knees trembling as she silently prayed, 'Please, Almighty, let us pass this…'

The torchlight swept close to them. She saw the flicker of fire against the stone wall and heard the sharp sniff of a wolf testing the air. Lyra whimpered softly. Ayesha's fingers tightened over her mouth.

"Nothing here," another voice grunted. "Must've been a cat."

Their footsteps retreated, slowly at first, then with less urgency. 

Ayesha didn't hesitate. She stood up quickly, pulled Lyra's hood over her head, and whispered, "Run. Now." They hurriedly sprinted through the garden, staying low, passing the old fountain, moving through the herb patch, and then slipping into the thin trees at the estate's far edge.

No howls, no alarms, not yet. They arrived at the back fence. Ayesha helped Lyra over first, her heart pounding. The girl landed in the tall grass on the other side, trembling but silent.

Ayesha scrambled after her, grabbing the top rail with one arm as pain surged through her wounded hand, causing her to bite back a cry. She hooked her leg and vaulted over. They landed with a heavy thud. A brief pause followed. Silence.

Ayesha took Lyra's hand. "Keep going. Head to the ash tree." 

They hurried into the woods, their boots crunching on fallen leaves. Branches scraped against their skin. The cold air burned in their lungs, but they kept going until they reached the concealed bundle beneath the old ash tree.

Ayesha gathered their extra cloak, food, the map, and the old dagger Levi had given her. 

She quickly grabbed Lyra once more. "We head east, cross the stream, stay low, and follow the ridge, avoid open fields." 

The girl's voice trembled as she said, "Aunt... I'm scared." Ayesha paused, whispering softly, "I know but I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. Climb onto my back."

Lyra nodded and swiftly climbed onto her back, wrapping her small arms tightly around Ayesha's shoulders. Her breaths came quickly and shallowly as she ran through the dense woods. Her back ached. Her bandaged hand throbbed. But she did not stop. She couldn't.

"Just a little more," she panted, brushing wet hair from her face as they reached a narrow deer trail. "We just need to reach the river."

Lyra clung to her, silent but shivering, her small fingers curled in the folds of Ayesha's cloak.

The forest around them grew darker, denser. Shadows stretched long between the trees, and every rustle of leaves made Ayesha's heart leap to her throat.

But still, she ran. Because if they crossed the northern river, they'd be out. Beyond Crimson Howl territory. Beyond Ronan. Beyond Luciana. Beyond pain.

But unknown to Ayesha, Luciana was practically watching all her moves. She had eyes everywhere, maids, guards, and loyal dogs who reported every defiance from the Alpha's whore.

So when the guards discovered the empty bed and missing child, Luciana didn't scream. She smiled.

"Luna," a guard said breathlessly, "they're gone. Ayesha and the girl."

Luciana turned slowly, her silken robe trailing behind her, a soft hum curling from her lips.

"Well then," she said sweetly. "Let the hunt begin."

Her eyes gleamed with something feral. She paced toward the guard, voice purring but venom-laced. "But make sure that whore is still breathing," she added. "Because I want to be the one to end her."

Her eyes narrowed and with gritted teeth commanded, "Find her. Now."

The guard hesitated. "But… the child. She's carrying the Alpha's heir." Luciana's smile vanished. She closed the space between them in two sharp steps and gripped his chin with claws half-shifted.

"I said, bring her to me breathing. I never said bring her back whole." She sneered, shoving him backwards. "Whoever finds her first can have their fun with her."

"The baby means nothing. I'll give Ronan a proper heir." Her voice twisted with hatred. "One with Luna's blood. Not a wolfless scrap from a slave-born bitch."

"Should we kill the little girl?" another asked carefully.

Luciana paused, her tongue flicking over her teeth as a slow grin returned. "No… don't touch the girl."

She laughed, low and gleeful. "I want Ayesha to watch how I make her niece suffer. To know what it feels like to fail again and again. She'll beg me to kill her before I'm done."

The guards exchanged wary glances, but none dared argue.

Luciana spun around, her eyes shining with wicked pleasure. A slow, sinister smile appeared on her face as she hummed, "Prepare my horse. I'm riding with my warriors. I'll join the hunt."