Arranged To The Beast Alpha
A sorceress

LEAH

Fear. A shadow that clings to oneself, relentless and cold. Curling around a heart like a serpent tightening every heart best. Its whispers are needless, sharp, and incessant, weaving doubts that stitch to the mind forever. Unless it's fought off, it will keep growing, stitching deeper into my heart, suffocating me with its deadly presence.

The hair on my shoulder stood as the door creaked open; I fought the urge to run, hide under the bed, and scream for whoever walked in to spare my life.

I brushed off the tear stain on my face before turning to replace Cleo. Her smile was wide but sad, her eyes held pity. I hated it, but I didn't count.

I left the window, striding back to my bed. Damien had given me the space I thought I needed; being alone only made me drown in compromising thoughts.

Sarah was gone before I could get my full treatment in the hospital, her departure and my attack led me further into depression.

I stared at the burns on my arm, scars that refused to leave, a grace and wicked reminder of my wolf-less life.

"Hey Luna Leah..."

"Don't call me that." I snapped, "My name is Leah, just Leah, for goodness sake." I yelled, glaring at her.

Cleo only smiled. "Forgive me, My presence annoys you because I..." she swallowed, palming her eyes to restrict tears from falling on her face. "I am sorry for making you feel weak Luna Leah. I should not pity you..." "Then why are you crying?" I grunted, cutting her off.

"Something got stuck in my eye." She lied woefully, my lips twitched but I couldn't manage a smile, nor smirk.

"Andy made breakfast; why not step out to eat? It's cool outside this room." Cleo tried to sound convincing, but it wasn't the first try.

"I will have it right here," I replied.

Cleo sighed; her attempt failed like it had always. "Please, Luna Leah, you have to break this cage you are building around yourself; you have to be strong for the pack, for your new family, for yourself."

I stared blankly at Cleo, her words drifting past me as though caught in the wind. Strong for the pack? For my new family? The idea was laughable. How could I be strong when the pieces of my heart were scattered so far and wide that even replaceing them seemed impossible? But Cleo's eyes earnestly made me pause.

"Leah!" Cleo's voice rang out again, sharper this time as if sensing my retreat into the deep recesses of my mind.

Before I could respond, a sudden jolt seized my chest, stealing my breath. It felt like a string had been tied around my heart and was pulling it taut, tugging me forward without my consent.

"Ahh," I mumbled, holding my chest.

My legs moved before I could think, carrying me out of the room.

"Luna Leah!" Cleo yelled behind me, panic threading through her calls.

But I didn't stop, didn't turn around. Something beyond logic was driving me, and I was powerless to resist.

The hallway felt longer. Each step amplified the pulse in my ears. I found myself in Damien's study, just as voices began to filter through the heavy wooden door. It was Damien's voice first, deep and steady, followed by another, more willed, it was Alpha Dylan's daughter, Royanna.

"...Damien, this isn't about dragging Leah into anything dangerous. I just think it might be good for her to understand the structure of things. An alliance like ours... it's not small. It affects everyone under your command, including her. I stood frozen, still trying to make sense of how I got here. My heart hammered with a mixture of dread and defiance.

Before I could reconsider, my hands pushed the door open, and two pairs of eyes turned to me-Damien's, wide with surprise, and Royanna's, narrowed with intent.

"Alpha Damien," I said, my lips tugging in a smile, a smile I didn't control.

"Miss Royanna, a pleasure to have you here."I didn't mean to intrude, but I couldn't help overhearing... And yes, I would like to talk to Royanna." I stared at Damien. "If that's all right," I added.

Inside, I was screaming; this fake confidence was doing something to me. Someone was doing something to me, probably a spell forcing me out of my shell.

"Leah, you don't have to get involved in this." Damien countered, the refusal in his voice was palpable. If only he could see through my eyes, that I wasn't in control, that I would but step out of my room for any reason.

I tried to speak, but instead, I crossed my arm. "And yet, here I am." my voice came out firm, and my gaze unwavering. "I will be fine; it's just a brief meeting with Royanna," I add.

Then I turned, leading Royanna through the winding hallways and out to the garden. The crisp scent of jasmine and lavender filled the air, the chill of the early morning biting at my exposed skin. We stopped by the old stone bench beneath the cherry blossom tree, its pale petals trembling in the wind.

I turned to her, and all she did was access me with a critical eye, arms folded as if she already knew my story and didn't care much for it.

She came closer and whispered "Katáschesi leitourgías minion."

In a flash, the string that had clung to me vanished, and I felt like myself again. The cool breeze of the late morning hit me, but it sent a shiver down my spine. It was like my shield had been removed and there was no air of confidence left in me, only fear.

"What did you do to me?" I asked, grabbing my trembling hands and squeezing them together. I didn't want her to see me as a weakling, but who am I kidding? The entire pack knows of their scared Luna, locking herself up in her rooms, afraid another assassin is by the corner waiting to take her life.

She chuckled, though the sound was hollow. "Bold words for someone whose soul is drowning."

My fists clenched at my sides. "What do you want, Royanna? What is it that you're trying to prove? And how did you get me out of my room, what magic was that?"

Royanna scoffed as if perplexed by my answer. "I am a witch. Did Damien never tell you? Or have you not netted one before?"

Royanna, a witch? But she had a strange aura; Tina doesn't have that; what if Royanna is lying? What if she's an elf?

"Okay, that is just a disgusting tag to give to a powerful sorceress like myself." Royanna scoffed, her brows knitting in a frown.

How? Did I absentmindedly say those words aloud?

"No. I heard your thoughts." She said, I came by your room, but you were locked up, like a child who's scared of his appointment with the doctor. So I sent Billy." "What?" I asked, perplexed.

Royanna outreached her hand and a small bug came down her finger. "This is Billy; he brought you to me. Gave you temporary confidence. I apologize for meddling, but it is important that I have this talk with you." Everything that spilled from Royanna's mouth was extremely confusing, but I gave her a chance to speak; I was out here already.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"You." She said, "You are the Luna of this pack, you will be targeted until you eventually die, but the story doesn't have to go that way, become like me, join politics, make a name for yourself, join my association of lifting Luna's to match with their Alpha's and fight for their lives whilst fulfilling their duty.

"Join my organization and tap into magic. You are woofless, a vessel that magic can fill. Be a sorceress Leah."

"What!"

"What I want, Leah, is survival. What I want is to make sure you understand that the path you're on will consume you if you let it."

The wind picked up, sending a flurry of petals between us, a soft storm that carried both promise and warning. I breathed in the heavy scent of the flowers, willing my voice not to break.

"And if I don't want it?" I challenged my words like a thin blade in the air.

Royanna's eyes, cold and calculating, met mine. "Then, Leah, you might just never replace the strength."