The Alpha's abducted toy: The devil for a mate

KELILAH'S POV

A sharp knock on my door jolted me from my haze.

"Kelilah?"

Groggily, I made my way to the door, but when I opened it, no one was there. A chill ran down my spine as I called out into the dimly lit hallway. "Dad?"

Silence.

I ventured to the living room, my heart pounding, only to find darkness. Just as my fingers touched the light switch, a sudden hand landed on it.

"Ahh!" I screamed, stumbling back.

"Kelilah, it's us!"

Mom and Loveth stood before me, faces lit with excitement.

"Mom? Loveth?" I gasped. Relief and joy flooded through me as they enveloped me in warm embraces.

"It's been four years now, Kelilah," Loveth added, her voice tinged with emotion. "Four years since we've all been together like this."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I pulled them both into another hug. Four years wasn't a short time.

Loveth had left to travel with Mom when she began her surgery in New York, and though we kept in touch, it was never the same.

"You look so different, Loveth," I said, holding her at arm's length to take her in. Her golden hair shone under the light, and her light brown eyes sparkled with mischief, just like always.

"And you look just the same, Spare," she teased,

Ah, yes, "Spare"-a nickname she'd given me, because, as she liked to say, I was her other half, her spare part. More like a spare tyre.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't start with that. Loveth"

As we moved to the couch at the living room, Loveth continued to tease me about the nickname, while Mom fussed over me.

Everything was going just fine, but then our joy was short-lived.

That night, Dad received a call. His serious expression as he read it stole the laughter from the room.

"What's wrong?" Mom asked, her voice laced with concern.

"The King has decided it's time for the bridal selection," Dad announced gravely. "Korvus is ready to claim a bride."

"What!!!", I gasped.

The air grew thick with tension, a weight settling on our shoulders.

Morning came with an unsettling quietness that only seemed to amplify the tension lingering in our home. For as long as I could remember, our family had been fortunate enough to avoid this cursed ritual. But today, the dread was palpable, so heavy in the air like an unspoken omen.

"We should be leaving soon," Father finally said, his voice breaking the silence.

Loveth looked at him, her eyes wide with fear. "Do you think it will be us?" she asked softly.

Father didn't answer immediately. "We will face whatever comes with it" he said at last, though his tone lacked conviction.

I felt a pang of guilt. Loveth had just returned from a long and exhausting trip, only to be thrust into this nightmare. It's not even been up to 24hrs that she arrived. She didn't deserve this. Nobody did.

When the carriage finally arrived, it took us on the ride to the temple, a suffocating one. No one spoke, even the clatter of hooves seemed muted.

Nathan, the high priest, greeted us at the entrance, but his calm demeanor did little to ease my nerves. "Only the princesses may enter the inner sanctum," he said firmly.

My heart sank as Loveth and I followed the hooded acolytes into the dimly lit temple, the scent of incense thick in the air. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes of past selections, each one harrowing than the last.

We were led to a circular chamber where four other princesses awaited, their faces pale with dread. At the center stood a pedestal holding a faintly glowing crystal orb.

Just then, Nathan appeared and addressed us solemnly. "Each of you will place your hand on the orb. It will judge your suitability."

One by one, the princesses stepped forward, each passing the test without incident.

When it was Loveth's turn, she hesitated, glancing at me for reassurance. I nodded, my own nerves fraying. She placed her hand on the orb, and its light pulsed rhythmically. Nathan's furrowed brow betrayed his unease as he kept his gase on her, but said nothing.

Finally, it was my turn. My legs felt like lead as I approached the pedestal. I didn't want to touch it, but I had to. As soon as my hand touched the orb, it flared to life, bathing the chamber in brilliant light.

Gasps echoed around me.

My breath got caught in my throat. It shouldn't be me. It just can't be me.

Nathan's voice cut through the tension. "It is decided. The Anderson family will provide the king's bride"

The weight of his words crushed me as loveth and I exchanged horrified glances.

It's was over now. We were doomed.

Back at home, Mother sobbed in silence, her face a mask of emotions, too raw to show. Father had retreated to his room, no doubt to avoid confronting the inevitable. And Tyra, well, she was nowhere to be found.

I couldn't sit in my room any longer. I had to check on Loveth. Yes I was pained, but I was way stronger than Loveth– emotionally.

Opening her door, I found her wiping her eyes hastily.

"Loveth?, have you been crying?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"No... of course not," she stuttered, her voice shaky as she tried wiping off her tears for the second time.

I sighed, walking over to sit beside her on the bed.

"Don't lie to me, Loveth. I can see the tears."

She stiffened. "I told you, it's nothing."

"You're upset. I can tell. I'm sorry, it's all my fault," I persisted, trying to reach out to her, but her walls were firmly in place.

"Kelilah, stop it!!!." Her voice broke, and I could feel the tension in the air growing thicker. "It's not your fault. None of this is your fault."

It was clear that speaking to her right now wasn't a good idea, so quietly, I plopped In her bed. But she still remained seated with her back facing me. It was just like her to hide her tears away from me.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you", she apologized.

"No need to apologize, Loveth. I'm not even offended",

"Still. I shouldn't have. It's not like it's your fault", she said.

"What do you think is going to happen now?" I asked her instead, waving off the topic.

"We are the only daughters of king Anderson, so it has to be one of us", she said.

"But, I think something can be done about this. Maybe we can speak to Nathan and make him change his mind about it, maybe he can re-host the selection , and probably choose another family", I said and she scoffed.

"It doesn't work like that Kelilah", she said.

"But if...", I tried persisting, when she snapped at me again.

"Stop it Kelilah?!!!" she said angrily and sat up this time.

"Do you think the other families want to send their daughters too. You think any of the princesses will be willing to exchange places with us", she asked harshly.

"We..We'll never know if we don't try" I tried to reason with her, but it only made her angrier.

"Nothing can change our fate now. So It's better If you wake up from your silly dreams and face the reality. This is something bigger than any of us!!", she yelled.

She was breathing harshly when she finally finished talking, making me to feel really hurt.

Her words cut deep. Loveth had never spoken to me like this before, and the sting of it brought tears to my eyes. I rose from the bed, hiding my face from her, and without another word, I began walking out of her room.

"Spare, I.." she tried speaking, but I was hearing none of it as I made my way out of the door.

In the solitude of my own room, the tears I had been holding back spilled freely.

All I wanted was to make things better, to find a way out. But instead, she shut me down. It felt like everything was falling apart.

As the rest of the day blurred by, I kept myself busy; rearranging my room for what felt like the hundredth time. It has turned into a mindless undertaking I frequently do each time I was upset.

After what felt like an eternity, exhaustion over took me and I fell asleep, handiest to be woken through a surprising knock on my door.

It was Zara–my personal maid.

"Princess, dinner will be ready in thirty minutes," she called.

I dragged myself to the bathroom, showered, and changed into my nightwear. Before I should settle into bed, there has been another knock at my door. This time, Zara's voice changed into something demanding.

What's it this time?

"Princess, you are needed in the main hall. The leaders are gathered."

This wasn't about my family anymore; it had grown into something larger than I presumed.

I threw on a robe and made my way to the grand hall.

The grand hall was filled with the murmurs of community leaders and the royal family as they all gathered under the high vaulted ceilings.

Father had called for this assembly to talk about the looming matter of King Korvus and the marriage alliance.

Loveth sat beside me, her face pale but set with defiance. She avoided my gaze, but I could feel the anger radiating off her, and of course I shared in it. Neither of us had asked for this– a twisted sacrifice disguised as duty.

"You all recognise the situation at hand. The king of Bazil has demanded a bride for our nation, my Household to be precise. And of route, refusing him isn't always an option. One of my daughters shall be given out in marriage to stable peace among both kingdoms", father spoke

Murmurs of disapproval and concern spread through the hall, but father silenced them with a raised hand.

"This isn't a decision I take lightly. But it is the one we must make, for the survival of our kingdom",

The room went silent as his words sunk in. My fists clenched under the table, my anger boiling it's way to my chest.

"So, what are you going to do, Father?. You can't just send one of us away like this!!", I demanded, unable to remain silent any longer.

"Enough, Kelilah!", father snapped, his tone sharp. "This isn't a matter of choice but duty",

"But, why does it have to be us? Why does anyone have to go at all?", I argued, my voice trembling with raw emotions.

Father's eyes hardened.

"Because the wrath of King Korvus will be far worse than the sacrifice of one life. Do you think I want to send my daughter away? Do you think this is easy for me?"

I opened my mouth to argue further, but his next words silenced me.

"Loveth," he called, turning to my sister. "You will be the one to go. Prepare to be Korvus's bride"