

The Alpha King's Slave
Brinley faces a harsh reality: an unmated fate at 19 means submission to the Alpha King. Rumors paint him as ruthless, a mate-killer. Yet, in a twist of destiny, the scent of her true mate, intoxicating and undeniable, leads her directly to… the Alpha King himself. But his touch isn't comfort, it's a cold rejection. Can Brinley survive the agony of a second rejection, especially from the one man she's fated to be with, the same man who holds her life, and her very existence, in his cruel hands?The air hung heavy with the scent of impending change, a metallic tang of finality that mirrored the knot in my stomach. Amanda, my best friend, pouted from across the room, her eyes mirroring the sadness in mine.
"I can't believe you're leaving," she whispered, her voice thick.
I rolled my eyes, a gesture I knew too well. "It's not like we have a choice, do we?" My wolf, Sage, growled in annoyance, a low rumble in my mind. "Be nice, Sage," I warned, but she blocked me out, a typical Sage move.
Katie, ever practical, cut through the melancholy. "What time will they be here?"
I shrugged, falling back onto my bed. "Anytime now." The words tasted like ash. Being 19 and unmated meant my fate was now in the Alpha King's hands. He was rumored to be cruel, to show no pity, even to have killed his own mate. A shiver traced down my spine. Would I be sent away as a rogue, or worse, to slavery?
Just then, the doorbell rang, a jarring sound that echoed through the house. "Brinley, come down! They're here!" my mother yelled, her voice laced with an unsettling eagerness. My parents, who saw me as nothing but a disappointment, were practically counting the seconds until I was gone.
"Coming!" I yelled back, a frustrated groan escaping my lips. As I descended the stairs, Katie inhaled sharply beside me. "Do you smell that?" she asked, her eyes turning a startling, intense black. Amanda and I exchanged confused glances. Before we could react, Katie bolted downstairs, and we were right behind her. In the living room, she stood before a tall, striking man with black hair and green eyes. An aura of power emanated from him, not as strong as an Alpha's, but unmistakable. "MATE!" Katie and the man exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing through the stunned silence. My mouth, along with Amanda's, dropped open. He was a Beta, second in command. Then, his gaze shifted, landing directly on me.
