Chapter1. Prologue

*Selena*

"Why would I marry your daughter?" I heard a deep, sexy voice emanating from my father's office.

"If you meet her, you will like her. She is pretty and has been training to be a good and perfect Luna. She would be a perfect wife and mate. She is a very calm and obedient girl," my father's voice pleaded, and I couldn't help but wince at his words.

Which daughter was he talking about? My younger sister, Anne, was only fifteen – he couldn't possibly be considering marrying her off already, right? The acceptable minimum age for werewolf marriages was sixteen. So, it dawned on me that they must be talking about me, as I had turned eighteen just last month.

"Still, Alpha Albert, I don't buy your words. Why would I marry a wolfless girl just to make this filthy alliance with your pack?" The same deep, husky voice responded with arrogance.

Alliance?!

Curiosity gnawed at me as I tried to decipher the situation. Who was this man who seemed so dismissive of my father's offer, yet held such power and authority?

"If you have something else to offer me, tell me quickly because you know my time is very costly, and you can't afford to make me regret giving you my time," the man's lazy tone dripped with confidence.

Unable to contain my anxiety any longer, I burst into my father's office, acting impulsively.

"Father!" I called out, my voice a whisper.

"Selena!" My father's brows furrowed, and he shot me an annoyed glare for interrupting.

"Who are you talking to, Father, and whose marriage are you discussing?!" I asked, dismissing his irritation. I needed to know what was going on.

My gaze fell on the man seated before my father – his broad, muscular back adorned in a black suit immediately caught my attention. An aura of dominance and intimidation surrounded him, sending shivers down my spine.

"Selena, meet His Highness, Alpha King Zander Blake," my father introduced, a flattering grin on his face.

The name struck me like lightning.

Alpha King Zander Blake?!

In our pack?!

I couldn't fathom what he was doing here. I had heard rumors that he was a heartless and ruthless devil, showing no mercy to anyone.

As he turned to face me, my world seemed to come to a standstill. Deep blue eyes curiously locked onto mine, causing my heart to skip a beat. I felt breathless, and my lips parted in a gasp as I was caught in the intensity of his gaze.

His indifferent eyes bore into me, scanning every inch of my body from head to toe. In a sudden motion, he got up and closed the distance between us in just a few strides. I was mesmerized by his presence, intoxicated by the blend of his manly, spicy scent and the expensive cologne that enveloped him. He smelled like the earth after rain, a delightful fusion of forest and nature. I blinked, trying not to stare at the Adonis standing before me.

His features were a masterpiece: dark hair, a chiseled face, a pointed nose, sharp jawline, and full, inviting lips. It seemed almost unreal for a man to possess such beauty and allure. His broad, sculpted body left nothing to the imagination, evoking an irresistible magnetic pull. Bulging biceps strained against the sleeves of his coat jacket, and his jacket was left open, revealing a chest that seemed to puff out smugly and perfectly defined eight-pack abs visible through the fabric of his white shirt.

My dad's voice reached my ears, but I was lost in the intensity of Zander's gaze as it roamed over me. His eyes held an awestruck admiration, and in the next moment, they caressed my entire being, leaving me breathless.

"Alpha King, she is my daughter, Selena," my father introduced, breaking the enchantment momentarily.

"I will marry her," Alpha King declared, snapping me out of my trance.

I took a deep breath, feeling suddenly parched. I turned to my father, who seemed elated by the proclamation.

"What gives you the impression that I would marry you?!" I challenged, meeting Zander's hypnotic gaze with defiance. My heart pounded in my chest, and I looked away to break the spell before I became ensnared once more.

I saw his lips slightly curled up in a smug smirk.

Asshole!

My father's reaction was less amused. "What are you saying, Selena?!" he gritted his teeth, glaring at me.

He grabbed my arm, forcefully pulling me away from the captivating Alpha King, Zander Blake. I tried to free my hand, but my father's grip only tightened, leading me further away from the enigmatic man whose presence seemed to hold both allure and danger.

"Date me then! You will find the answer," Zander's deep voice echoed through the room, causing both my father and me to stop in our tracks, our jaws dropping in surprise.

"I don't even know you. Then why would I go on a date with you?" I replied with a nonchalant shrug, shaking my head at his audacious proposal.

Despite his status as the Alpha King, the mightiest and strongest among werewolves, I refused to be intimidated by him. There was something about him that didn't give off scary vibes, as if he had no intention of frightening me.

Zander's eyes narrowed slightly, a thin line forming on his face as he smirked in amusement.

"I am sorry, Alpha King!" My father quickly apologized, perhaps realizing the seriousness of my response. "Selena, you come with me," he scolded, grabbing my arm, and briskly led me out of Zander's office, slamming the door shut behind us.

Once we were out of earshot from Zander, my father stopped abruptly and delivered a stinging slap across my cheek.

"You disobedient daughter! How dare you misbehave before my guest?!" he growled angrily.

My cheek burned from the impact, and tears welled up in my eyes. "But, Father, I can't marry him," I whimpered, trying to reason with him.

"Selena, I have decided that you have to marry the Alpha King in exchange for this alliance. You know this is the only way to save our pack. Otherwise, no one can save us from his wrath," he grumbled, his voice filled with frustration and desperation.

"But, Father, why me?! You know how ruthless and heartless he is. The story of his cruelty and inhumanity is famous worldwide," I protested, trying to make him understand my fears.

"Selena, you are a curse on our family as you were born wolfless. I am ashamed even to call you my daughter. But, at least now, you're going to be useful to us. You have to marry him," he scowled, his face contorting with disgust as he looked at me.

My head hung low, the weight of my fate crushing down on me. I realized that my future had been decided, and there was nothing I could do to change it.

"Will you behave nicely this time?" My father demanded, his voice stern.

I nodded slowly, trying to accept my fate, even though it felt like a heavy burden on my shoulders.

"Don't say anything that will make me regret bringing you up as a princess," he warned, and I nodded submissively, feeling a sense of resignation settling over me.

We returned to my father's office, and as soon as I stepped inside, Zander's intense and cold eyes locked onto me. I felt a shiver down my spine and quickly lowered my gaze, not wanting him to see the vulnerability and helplessness reflected in my eyes.

Even though he wasn't touching me, I could sense his presence right beside me. His heat seemed to radiate, brushing against my skin and making me suddenly feel so warm in the otherwise cold room. It was as if his aura engulfed me, leaving me breathless and unsettled.

My father, seemingly oblivious to the tension between us, eagerly declared, "Alpha King, she is ready for the alliance."

However, Zander paid no attention to my father's words.

Instead, he turned his attention to me and asked, "Will you go on a dinner date with me, Princess?"

Caught off guard, I glanced at my father, searching for some guidance, but his stare conveyed a clear message – that this was an opportunity I shouldn't pass up.

Summoning every ounce of courage, I murmured subtly, "I am... uh... I agree to marry you."

"I want to take you on a date, Princess," he announced, his tone laced with authority. "Have dinner with me."

It wasn’t a request but a command. His icy, cold gaze bore into me, making me swallow hard.

I glanced at my father through my lashes, but his cold expression made it clear I had no choice but to comply with whatever this cruel Alpha King desired.