ehinomenmagdalene

Sera had always known she had a mate. She had seen him in her dreams since childhood—his warmth, his love, his whispered promises. But when she finally meets him in reality, everything crumbles.

Her mate is none other than Lucian, the Alpha King, the most powerful werewolf in the world. But he is nothing like the man in her dreams. He is cold, ruthless, and completely uninterested in their bond. Worse, he humiliates her in front of everyone, shattering her heart.

But fate is cruel. When war looms on the horizon, Sera is forced to stay in his kingdom, trapped under his rule. He wants nothing to do with her, yet he refuses to let her go. And when a deadly enemy threatens to destroy them all, she realizes there is more to their bond than either of them understands.

If the Alpha King was truly her mate… then why does he treat her like an enemy?

The Alpha's Forgotten Mate

The meeting ended, but the tension in the hall remained thick. Those forced to leave someone behind took a moment to speak with them, murmuring quiet reassurances, making promises to reunite.

I stood silently beside my father as he spoke in hushed tones with our Beta. His expression was grim, his body tense. He had tried to argue with Lucian, but the moment he pushed back, he realized he was dangerously close to overstepping.

Lucian was the Alpha King. His word was law.

Still, my father hesitated before turning to me. His golden eyes, usually unreadable, now held emotions he rarely showed.

"Sera," he said, his voice low. "I don't like this, but it is what it is. You are my daughter, and no matter what happens, I need you to remember that."

I swallowed hard and nodded. "I know."

"You are not weak." His grip on my shoulders tightened slightly. "I raised you to be strong, Sera. No matter what happens here, you stand tall. Even if it's the Alpha King himself standing in your way, you do not cower."

A lump formed in my throat, but I forced it down. I had promised myself I wouldn't cry.

I squared my shoulders. "I won't."

For the briefest moment, his expression softened. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

I watched as he and the other Alphas got into their cars and drove off, leaving behind a collection of warriors, Betas, and… me.

Not even an hour ago, I had come here as the Alpha's daughter. Now, I was nothing more than a prisoner.

After the Alphas left, those of us who remained were gathered and divided into groups. I barely paid attention as warriors led us through winding corridors, my mind still lingering on my father's words.

The hallway I was led down was long and dimly lit. The stone walls were rough and cold, the air thick with the scent of aged wood and something faintly metallic.

The warrior escorting me stopped in front of a large wooden door. "This is your room," he said flatly.

The room was… simple. Much simpler than I had expected for a place like this.

A large bed sat in the middle, draped in thick blankets. A wooden dresser stood against one wall beside a modest wardrobe. There was a desk and chair in the corner, and nothing else. No unnecessary decorations. No warmth.

Nothing more than a pawn in whatever plan Lucian was forming.

Lucian hadn't spoken to me since the meeting ended.

I hadn't seen him, hadn't heard anything about what he planned to do next.

I should have been relieved—his presence alone was suffocating. But as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the empty space around me, unease gnawed at me.

The mate I had spent my entire life dreaming of had turned into a stranger.

And now, I was trapped in his castle.

In the evening, there was a knock at my door.

Two guards entered, carrying my luggage. They set it down without a word and left just as quickly.

And tomorrow, I will have to face him.

I slid under the blankets, exhaustion settling deep into my bones.

But for the first time in years—

Chapter Six