The Cold blooded Alpha king

I was slumped on I pile of grass heaving badly as I felt vomit crawl out of my throat but I fought the urge and tears threatened to spill from my eyes

I felt my heart twist in fear and agony as I curled myself into a ball and cried

"Is this how I will meet my end?"

As I thought about my current predicament I felt a dead chill run down my spine as goosebumps crawled at my skin

"Ahhhhh" I screamed scratching and tearing at my skin in panic but In that moment of pain I was able to think

"Should I run?" I laughed manically

"If I stay they would come for me and then I wouldn't know how I meet my end"

"I'm not going to give the Alpha king the pleasure of seeing me break, he wants a mate then he's going to have to catch me first" I said out loud while laughing manically

I was alone in the forest of our mountains the night fang pack and I was a bit far from the pack house

But that distance is nothing for a trained female wolf, I sprinted through the woods barely making a sound and when I got to the pack house it was lights out which means everyone has gone to sleep

Feeling the adrenaline in my blood spike by a large height I pushed through and leaped up to my room window gracefully without making a sound in my human form

I packed a few supplies and sat at the roof of our pack house scanning our pack with a cloudy gaze as the night breeze blew through my hair

Stress, anger, pain all these emotions were built up in my heart my throat clogged at the pressure as my chest tightened in pain

I was torn because of the decision I had to make

A day ago the Alpha king sent his cabinet members to our pack to collect the annual tax and our pack couldn't pay this time

We have been dwindling in numbers in the past years and we barely make up to a thousand now

Everyone is leaving the mountains for greener pastures, we are so secluded so they feel like the world beyond the mountains has changed so much but I don't think so.

As if expecting that we wouldn't be able to meet up, they demanded that I should be sent to the king to be his mate and five of our best warriors would join the kings army

And if by next year we still can't pay the tax then we are to move down the mountains and join the kings kingdom which is the silver moon pack

"The king wants me as his mate?" a cruel shivers run down my spine at the thought and I felt tears gather in my eyes

Nobody has seen him shift he goes to wars alone and comes back with absolute victory

Some say he's not a wolf but a demon but who is going to step up and challenge him

no one

He has been married four times and each died after or within a week after their marriage ceremony

He has ruled for a 104 years and he hasn't had any successful relationship his brides always end up dead one way or the other probably by his hands

After the announcement was made everyone started guessing

"how long would she live" nobody even tried to get me out of the situation even my parents

I know the cost of a broken deal

In our world, it's a burden you would pay dearly for

In the end the part of me that wants to live wins

as I leaped of the roof top i took a sprint into the woods disappearing into the night

I ran as fast as I could running towards our pack borders but I couldn't think straight, I am basically leaving my people for dead if the alpha king knows that I'm missing he could wipe them out for letting me escape

I felt my heart tighten with guilt and i slowly came to a stop I fell on my knees as I felt tears drip from my eyes to my knees

"I did nothing to deserve this"

"My people do not deserve to die"

"But..but I... I want to live"

"I do not want to die" I cried as struggled to get up my feet but my limbs were as weak jelly

I felt my chest tightened as I struggled to breathe through the tears my guilt eating away at my will to run

"Do you want to sacrifice the lives of a pack of 987 people just because of your selfish interest to live"

My wolf spoke up for the first time since all these drama has been happening

And I just cried harder her words putting more pressure in my heart as I struggled to breathe in air as my tears clouded my vision

I'm not saying you shouldn't be scared I'm scared too, but it's our life against 987 people and I don't think that's a bad sacrifice

I felt a little bit of shame for trying to save myself when she was ready to die for our people

the comfort in her tone it felt like a cooling balm was rubbed over a wound caused by a burn and I was in fact ready to die

I gave up struggling I gave up fighting and passed out few feets away from our pack borders

The sunlight filtered weakly through the dense canopy of trees as the morning broke over the Night Fang Pack. I stirred awake,

My head was hurting like it was hit repeatedly with a rock, and my eyes were feeling very puffy probably due to all my crying last night

But it wasn't the cool grass or the chirping birds that startled me. It was the warmth of an arm draped protectively around me.

I blinked, disoriented, and turned my head to find Oliver beside me he has been my best friend since childhood and I would give the world for him.

His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his face calm

His brown hair was a mess of curls, and even in sleep, he exuded a quiet strength that I had come to rely on.

"Oliver," I whispered, my voice hoarse. I nudged him gently, trying to piece together how he had found me at the pack border.

He stirred, his green eyes blinking open, and a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Morning, Ava," he murmured, his voice deep and raspy from sleep.

The sound of his voice brought a fleeting sense of comfort, but the heaviness in my chest remained.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, sitting up slowly.

He stretched lazily before propping himself up on an elbow.

"I couldn't sleep," he said simply, his gaze searching mine.

"I went there your room last night because I was worried about you but I couldn't find you so I tried looking for you till I found you"

His words sent a pang of pain through my heart, and I turned away, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay. I couldn't fall apart again, not now.

"I'm sorry Oliver " I admitted after a moment of silence trying to get myself together, my voice barely above a whisper.

Oliver sat up fully, his hand brushing against mine as he looked at me with unwavering determination.

"We'll figure it out together," he said.

"You're not alone in this"

His words brought me a sense of comfort "that's right I'm not alone I have him and my wolf" I nodded, as we made out way towards the pack house

The pack house loomed ahead, its wooden exterior catching the soft morning light. As we approached, I felt my steps falter. Oliver noticed and placed a reassuring hand on my back.

"Whatever happens, I'm here," he said.

We entered through the side door, hoping to avoid prying eyes, but it seemed as though my mother had been waiting for me. She stood in the hallway, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

"Ava," she said, her tone clipped.

Her gaze flickered to Oliver, who straightened instinctively under her scrutiny. The tension in the air was palpable, and I could feel my heartbeat quicken.

"Follow me," she said, turning on her heel and heading toward her office.

I hesitated for a moment before following, Oliver close behind. The small office felt stifling, the walls lined with shelves of old books and ledgers. My father's scent lingered faintly in the room, a reminder of his absence.

My mother took her seat behind the desk, her hands folded neatly in front of her. Her composure was impeccable, but I noticed the slight tremble in her fingers and the way her eyes darted away from mine.

"Ava," she began, her voice cold but wavering at the edges,

"the council has finalized the arrangements with the Alpha King."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I clenched my fists at my sides to keep from shaking.

"You are to leave in three days time," she continued, and I felt my heart drop straight to my stomach