Betrayed by My Alpha, Bound to the King

Ayesha and Lyra finally crossed the river, their feet soaked and aching. Only then did she permit herself a brief rest. She bent over to catch her breath while Lyra took a drink from the water flask.

"We're finally out of Crimson Howl territory," she murmured between gasps, wiping the sweat from her face.

Her inner wolf still hadn't awakened, but something had shifted during the Moon Rite, on her twentieth birthday, besides her scent breaking free. She was no longer the weak omega she once was. Her body moved more swiftly. Her wounds healed faster… not quite like a full-blooded she-wolf, but significantly beyond her previous self.

She turned to Lyra, watching the little girl still taking slow sips, when a long, chilling howl pierced the stillness.

Ayesha's blood ran cold. 

More howls followed. Louder. Closer. 

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

"They're hunting us."

"Aunt… they're getting closer," Lyra whispered, clutching the flask.

"Come on!" Ayesha said sharply, lifting the child onto her back. "Hold on tight. Don't let go."

Lyra's arms were wrapped tightly around her neck. Ayesha clenched her teeth and started running quickly. Branches whipped against her skin, and thorns ripped at her legs. Sweat burned her eyes, making her vision blurry. Despite that, she kept going until her lungs burned and her legs felt like they might give out.

Still, that wasn't sufficient. It couldn't keep up with the speed of werewolves in their wolf forms. Shadows shifted between the trees… four or five figures dressed in black leather, each bearing the Silver Claw insignia. 

Luciana's men surrounded her like wolves closing in on their prey.

Ayesha gradually backed away, holding Lyra protectively in her arms. Her breathing was heavy, her hands shook, and her eyes blazed with fear and anger.

One of the warriors chuckled grimly. "Well, well... the Alpha's favorite toy, fleeing like a stray."

Another stepped forward, his grin wicked. "The Luna said we should take our time. Said we could have some fun, just not enough to kill you."

"Can't wait to get a taste of what Alpha Ronan kept all to himself." The other licked his lips, and Ayesha's stomach twisted in disgust.

Lyra whimpered and buried her face in Ayesha's neck.

"You bastards…" Ayesha growled, clutching Lyra tighter. "If you touch her, I swear-"

"Relax," one sneered. "The kid's not for us. The Luna wants that one alive. Says she'll kill her in front of you."

The warriors closed in, step by step.

Ayesha's legs shifted, ready to bolt but they had already flanked her. She couldn't run. Couldn't fight them off. Not all of them. Not with Lyra in her arms.

Her heart pounded. 'No. Not like this. Not in front of Lyra. Not without a fight.'

Ayesha's back hit a tree, her heart hammering against her ribs as she shielded Lyra. One of the guards stepped forward with a twisted smile, reaching for her.

"Get away from us!" she screamed, kicking at him. He barely flinched.

Another lunged. Hands grabbed her shoulders, forcing her down. She struggled violently, but there were too many.

Lyra cried out as she was yanked from Ayesha's grip.

"Aunt Ayesha!"

Her tiny hands clawed at the air as one of the warriors dragged her back by the arm.

"No! Let her go!"

Ayesha fought desperately, her dress ripping at the seams as rough hands pulled it down. Her stare remained fixed on Lyra.

Fingers scratched at her skin, hot breath brushing her ear as another man hissed, "Come on, let's see what the Alpha liked so much-"

"Aunt!" Lyra screamed.

And then… Everything snapped.

Something primal exploded in Ayesha's chest.

The pain was blinding. Her spine arched. Her body convulsed. A scream tore from her throat but it wasn't human. It was a deep, guttural snarl that echoed through the forest.

Her muscles tore. Her bones cracked. Claws burst from her fingers. Her teeth elongated, her eyes glowing gold as fur erupted across her skin.

The guards stumbled back, curses escaping their mouths. But it was too late. She had already shifted into her beastly wolf form.

And she was enraged.

She launched herself at the man holding Lyra, her claws slicing across his chest before he could blink. He screamed and fell back, blood spraying across the trees.

Lyra hit the ground hard, whimpering but she was free.

Ayesha approached her niece, positioned between her and the others. Her wolf, large, smooth, and emitting an uncanny glow, growled so deeply it caused the ground to tremble. 

The men watched in shock. "She wasn't supposed to shift!" one stammered.

"She's just an omega without a wolf-"

But the creature standing before them was not feeble. She wasn't petite, and her eyes shone with dangerous, fierce anger, revealing no hint of submission.

Ayesha loomed over Lyra, her fangs exposed and her breath laboured. Initially, the warriors hesitated, overwhelmed by the intense energy emanating from her transformed body.

Then, one of them growled, "She's just one wolf! Fight her!"

The others attacked. Ayesha fought fiercely, claws swiping and jaws closing. Her unleashed beast instinctively tore into the first attacker, blood splattering on the ground. Another cried out as she brought it down. 

However, she lacked experience and was still adapting. Despite her strength, her body wasn't trained for battle. They were seasoned warriors, and the numbers were overwhelming.

A heavy blow struck her ribs, sending her crashing into a tree. She struggled to rise, but claws raked across her back. Another slammed her down, grinding her face into the dirt.

She roared, kicked, and bit, but they kept going without stopping.

Pain exploded in her side, followed by another blow to her shoulder. Her vision blurred as her wolf whimpered inside, already pulling back.

'No. Not yet… I have to protect her. I have to…'

Another blow came, and the shift broke.

Her wolf form shimmered, fractured, and vanished, leaving her bloodied and exposed in the dirt. She was human again… weak, vulnerable, and bare.

She crawled toward Lyra, who was sobbing next to a tree, unharmed but terrified.

Ayesha painfully dragged herself forward, her body aching, and embraced the small girl.

"Don't look, Lyra. Don't look. I've got you…"

She wrapped herself around Lyra, using all her strength to shield her. Footsteps drew nearer. "Luna said not to kill her… but she didn't say we couldn't break her." 

Ayesha stayed firm, holding Lyra even tighter, prepared for the attack. She braced herself for the pain, her body trembling as she clung to Lyra while the warrior advanced. Suddenly… a loud, thunderous growl tore through the air.