CHAPTER THREE

DELORA'S POV

I wasn’t Delora anymore. I was now Zibah, the Alpha’s daughter.

The journey continued with the bitter truth clawing my mind. I was dressed in Zibah's clothes, her scent still clinging to the fabric. I felt like an imposter draped in stolen silk, my heart pounding with every mile that brought us closer to the North.

The landscape grew more desolate, the trees thinning, the sky perpetually gray. As we entered the northern stronghold, I peered through the carriage window. Stone buildings loomed ahead, rough and imposing, as unwelcoming as the frigid air.

Outside, people gathered, their voices carrying through the wind.

“The new Luna has arrived,” someone sneered.

“Another offering for the crippled Alpha,” another voice laughed.

My stomach twisted. There was no warmth in their greetings, only mockery. They did not respect their Alpha. At least, not the one I was now bound to.

A tall, wiry man stood at the entrance to the main hall, his eyes scanning me as I stepped out of the carriage.

“Welcome, my lady,” he said, his voice smooth yet lacking any real courtesy. “I am Wesley, steward of this stronghold. I ensure that Alpha Luther’s needs are met.”

His lips curved slightly, his dark eyes taking in my presence with an intensity that unsettled me. He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“As his bride, it is expected that you will attend to your husband personally.”

My hands clenched at my sides. The very idea made my breath hitch. I had spent my life serving, but to serve in such an intimate role, to a man I had never met, filled me with dread.

“You seem tense,” Wesley noted with a smirk. “Understandable. This place is your home now. You belong to Alpha Luther.”

I swallowed hard as his words echoed in my mind.

“And before you start thinking of foolish ideas,” he continued, his expression darkening, “let me make one thing clear. There is no escape from here. No one will give you money or aid should you attempt to flee. You will fend for yourself, just as your husband does.”

I forced a nod, my pulse racing.

He reached out suddenly, fingers grazing the delicate necklace around my neck. “This,” he mused, “is a fine keepsake.”

I leaned backward slightly, but before I could react, the two guards shifted, their presence a silent warning. Wesley narrowed his eyes, then released the chain with a scoff. Instead, he reached for my wrists and yanked off the golden bracelets and rings Zibah had worn.

“These will do,” he muttered, tucking them into his coat. “You won’t need such things here.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, saying nothing.

Moments later, the guards and Wesley left to drink, but not before shoving a parchment in front of me.

“Sign it,” Wesley ordered.

My vision blurred slightly as I stared at the empty space where my signature was expected on the marriage certificate. A thousand thoughts rushed into my mind.

If I signed this, there was no turning back. No escape. I would belong to a man I had never met, a man who ruled over a place where even his own people spoke of him with hatred.

What kind of Alpha needed to force a marriage like this?

A sharp voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Hurry up... my lady.” One of the guards muttered, adding the last part hesitantly while shifting impatiently.

I swallowed hard. My grip on the quill tightened, but still, I couldn’t move. My body refused to follow through with what my mind knew was inevitable.

Wesley let out a quiet chuckle. “Having second thoughts, my lady?” His voice was almost amused, but the edge in his tone sent a warning down my spine.

I looked up at him, his dark eyes gleaming with something unreadable. Amusement? Pity? Or was it a silent threat?

"Sign it," he repeated, voice lower this time. “Or do you wish to test the Alpha’s patience on your very first night?”

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Another guard shifted, his armor clinking. “Do it,” he hissed.

My heart pounded as I glanced at the guards surrounding me, their expressions were hard. I was outnumbered, powerless. There was no choice.

With a deep, shuddering breath, I dipped the quill into the ink and pressed it to the parchment. My hand moved slowly, each stroke of the letters feeling like the final toll of a funeral bell.

Wesley smiled, satisfied. He picked up the paper from the table and skimmed over it, then folded it neatly. “Be sure to feed the noble prince his liquid diet before the night is over.”

And with that, they were gone, leaving me alone in the cold, silent hall.

I turned toward the heavy wooden doors ahead, dread pooling in my stomach. Beyond them awaited the man I was now bound to. Alpha Luther, the crippled Alpha.

My hands shook as I reached for the handle.

What kind of man awaited me inside?

But before I could push the doors open, a soft rustling sound caught my attention. A girl, no older than ten, peeked from behind a stone pillar, her large, wary eyes fixed on me. Her clothes were patched, her face smudged with dirt, but there was something defiant in the way she stood, clutching a wooden bowl to her chest.

For a moment, we only stared at each other. Then, hesitantly, she stepped forward and extended a bowl to me.

“For the Alpha,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I looked down. Inside was a thick, grayish liquid, steaming faintly in the cold air. My stomach twisted at the realization. This was the "liquid diet" Wesley mentioned earlier.

She glanced around nervously before lowering her voice. “Don’t let them see if he refuses to drink. They’ll punish him again.”

My breath caught in my throat. Punish him? I couldn't believe my ears.

Before I could ask more, we heard some footsteps down the hall, and the girl gasped and hurried away, leaving me astonished.

I looked around but didn't see anyone. Suddenly, her words resonated in my ears.

If Alpha Luther was as cruel as these people made him out to be, why would a child be afraid for him?

My grip tightened on the bowl. Swallowing my unease, I turned back to the door instantly. Whatever lay behind them was no longer just about duty or survival. There was more to this than I have been told.