Chapter 13

Three days left. Just three.

Each second dragged heavier than the last, ticking away toward the moment everything I knew would slip away, swallowed by fate and sealed by the Alpha King himself. I paced outside my family's quarters, taking deep breaths, trying to steady the erratic beat of my heart. The evening air hung thick and cool over the Shadow Pack's land, carrying whispers of the life I was about to leave behind.

My father's words echoed in my mind: "The Alpha King wants a strong Luna by his side." I never imagined, never even dreamed, that he would choose someone from our pack. Let alone me. But here I was, staring down a destiny I wasn't sure I wanted, but couldn't refuse. Leaving the Shadow Pack for the Moonlight Pack meant an alliance my family had always longed for, but to me, it felt like stepping into an abyss. Terrifying. And, strangely... intriguing.

"Malinda," my father's deep voice called from inside, steady and firm. "Come in."

I took one last breath, clutching onto my fraying nerves, and walked in with as much poise as I could manage. My steps were even, but the tremor in my fingers betrayed me. My father, the powerful Beta of the Shadow Pack, stood tall by the table, his usually stern face softening slightly as he looked at me. My mother sat beside him, her delicate features etched with a mixture of pride and worry, the kind only a mother could feel.

"Father," I whispered, barely hearing my own voice. Even saying it felt surreal. "I... I still can't believe this is happening. How did you, how did the Alpha King agree to... marry me?"

His eyes softened as he gestured for me to sit. "We didn't force him, Malinda." His voice was calm but firm. "The Alpha King knows the power that runs through our bloodline. He respects it, even if others don't."

My mother leaned forward, her gaze gentle yet intense. "Your father and I would never send you if we didn't believe it was for the best, for you and for the Shadow Pack."

"But..." The words caught in my throat. "He's ruthless... so powerful. Why would he want a Luna from the Shadow Pack?"

My father reached across the table, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder. His warmth spread through me, easing the storm inside. "Our pack is one of the strongest under his rule, Malinda. An alliance with the Moonlight Pack strengthens his reign. But more than that, he wanted someone with lycan blood, a Luna who could match him in strength."

And he chose me?

The thought was hard to grasp. The Alpha King, the most formidable ruler, the one everyone feared, wanted me as his Luna? My heart raced, both in terror and something I couldn't yet identify. There was a flicker of hope, an impossible hope, that someone like him could help me find balance with the power I barely understood.

"But the Alpha King... he's..." I trailed off, glancing at my mother for some kind of reassurance. I knew the stories. Everyone did.

"A tyrant?" My father finished my sentence, his voice tinged with resignation yet understanding. "Yes, I've heard it all too. But remember, Malinda, he is more than just the rumors. He's a protector of his people, and while his methods are harsh, they are effective. His strength... it could be the key to helping you control your own."

My mother's hand covered mine, grounding me with the familiar comfort of her touch. "We want you to be safe, Malinda. Your bloodline... it's volatile, and you've had to manage it alone. The Alpha King has the strength to help you find peace with it."

I lowered my gaze, fighting back the lump in my throat. "I know," I whispered, gripping her hand tightly. "But... what if he doesn't want me?" The fear slipped out before I could stop it, surprising even myself. I was strong, yes, but a man like him?

My father's voice softened, filled with pride and conviction. "Then he's a fool, and he'll lose something precious. You're not just any pack member, Malinda. You're our daughter, and you're stronger than you know."

Silence settled over us, thick with unspoken worries and hopes, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Finally, I looked up, first at my mother, then my father. My heart swirled with a chaotic mix of fear, wonder, and anticipation, each emotion sharpening with the reality of what lay ahead.

In three days, my life would change forever.