Elara gets pulled into the book, not gently but violently . The world spins, her body feels like it's breaking apart.
Cold air hits her skin as she falls on the rough surface being unconscious.
Darkness, which faded away when sound of water flowing echoed in Elara's ears. She groan as she held her head trying to stand up but slipped at the slippery rocks and fell back on the ground.
She looked at her arms which were slightly muddy and a big scratch on her lower arm which was oozing out a little blood, she hissed a little as she touched her wound, her oversized cardigan was dirty as she dusted it off standing on her feet.
She looked around the place confused, she was near a beautiful waterfall, it was some forest area which looked creepy at the same time mesmerizing, she tried to remember how she got here when something clicked her.
The book, the mysterious book that glowed when she touched the cover page, "Did I teleported here, or the book consumed me"? Elara thought in monologue but shook her head thinking how can this be possible.
She got alert when she heard some footsteps approaching her, she turned towards the source of that sound, she took a step back when she saw four bulky men dressed up like guards of royal family.
The guards looked at her keenly, she looked different to them, she had worn strange clothes, she looked like she doesn't belong here, "Who sent you??" One of the guard yellingly asked.
Elara was just like, "I- I don't even know where I am!" The guards circled around her which somewhere scared her,
"Did I stepped in any ancient drama shoot?? look if it is something like that then I will go away just tell me which location is this?" Elara asked trying her best to sound calm but she was internally freaking out looking at the guards surrounding her.
The guards hearing her looked at her confused thinking what this strange girl is even talking?? "Let's take her to the king, he will handle her", One of the guard suggested on which others agreed.
Elara panicked hearing him, she tries to run but gets pinned down, she resist but froze on her place when Clang
Sword on her throat , she tried to use her fencing skills but her body couldn't move too terrified to even lift a single finger, a yelp left ther mouth when she felt someone tying her hand behind her back.
A guard covered her face with black cloth, only her eyes were slightly visible through which she could see some blurry surrounding, her visibility was not clear as the guards forcefully dragged her .
"You are coming with us", one of the guard ordered, A horse was brought before Elara, she could see an animal, a horse infront of her, She knew how to ride a horse but she was forcefully lifted and seated infront of a guard.
Elara was uncomfortable, she wiggled but stopped when she heard a harsh voice from behind, "Try anything and you won't like the consequences".
The journey from forest to Palace was long , Elara was harshly pushed off from the horse once they were infront of the Royal Palace, she was barefoot, stones pricked in her feet as she was dragged inside the Palace courtyard.
The sound of armoured footsteps echoed against the cold stone walls, everyone watched guards dragging a girl who wore strange clothes, she was brought in the throne room.
At the far end of the vast throne room, seated upon an elevated platform, was the king—his presence commanding, his gaze sharp enough to silence the entire hall, his cold gaze followed the guards as they brought Elara and made her kneel down.
The king looks down at her, with him everyone present in the throne room looked at the girl kneeling on the ground, strange clothes, had face covered by black cloth , guards whispered, queen looked confused.
The Princess side- eyed the girl kneeling, away from her father but still infront of him.
"What is the matter?? Why have you dragged this girl like this?? She, her clothes look different, who is she??" King asked firmly, his voice cold and demanding.
Elara flinched at the cold dominating voice, she was scared, terrified and after her mother's death for the first time vulnerable.
One of the guard dropped to one knee beside Elara as he spoke, "Your majesty, we found her near the outer forest at the boundary of our and Dreadmoon pack, she appeared... Suspicious, can be a mole sent by them".
"Moles like her faces my sword before they faces me, escort her to the prison", The king ordered and Elara panicked she harshly freed her hands from the rope which left marks on her wrist which she cared less.
She looked beside her where the guard was still on his one knee, she looked at the sword in his waistband, her vision blurry but still visible, she pulled out the sword from the guards waistband and kept it on this throat.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye, the king looked amused, so the others present in the throne room, the other guards also took their swords out, Elara fought, she moved her sword effortlessly as she followed the sound of the sword swaying.
She was able to tackle down three guards without taking their lives, one guard attacked her from back on her head but she dodged it but it sliced the cloth that covered her face.
Everyone gasped when the cloth gets removed from Elara's face , she looked beautiful, straight out of heaven, like moon goddess herself carved her face,her pitch black hair moved as she fought.
Her black doe eyes looked fierce as she dodge another attack, a yelp left her mouth when sword touched her upper arm tearing her cardigan, blood oozed from the cut.
Steel clashed against steel as Elara barely ducked another strike.
"Stop resisting!" one of the guards barked.
"I'm not your enemy!" she shot back, breath uneven as she blocked again.
The throne room, meant for order, had dissolved into chaos.
Then—
The massive doors creaked open.
The sound echoed through the hall, sharp enough to cut through the clash of swords.
Everything slows.
The Prince, The True blooded Alpha Prince Lucien walked inside with measured steps, his presence alone enough to silence the room.
His dark eyes swept across the chaos, unreadable ... yet commanding .
The royal guards standing at both the sides of the throne kneeled, The Prince coldly stared at the scene unfolding infront of him, he was amused seeing a girl fighting this well his most trusted guards.
He came forward but his steps slowed as a strange alluring smell hit his nostrils, his heart hammered in his chest when he saw the girl turning around still fighting, her hairs flowing with her each move.
Elara too noticed the commanding presence infront of her as she froze mid step, her sword placed just near Prince's heart, she felt something unusual, something inside her stirred.
With, The Alpha Prince it was no different, he felt shiver run down his spine when he felt it, the strange pull, everyone in the throne room gasped when they saw their Alpha Prince's eyes glowing and turning purple.
The Alpha Prince felt it too, he realised the girl standing infront of him is his Mate, his Fated Mate, a strong surge to protect his mate formed inside him, his inner wolf howled in happiness finding his mate.
Elara, apart from something strange felt nothing, her eyes widened when she saw the glowing purple eyes of the man infront of her, she felt that dominating vibe from the person infront of her.
The Alpha Prince started giving off strong pheromone, feeling delighted, his scent too strong which so sensually mixed with his mates humanly scent which made the people in the throne room feel dizzy.
The sword from Elara's hands slipped as the Alpha Prince slowly approached her but a hiss left her mouth as pain shot through her back , her hiss soon turned into a loud groan when she felt blood dripping down her back.
She stumbled forward as the Alpha Prince protectively held her but his eyes turned red in red when he felt his mates blood on his palm and looked forward only to see a royal guard away from them holding a bow.
He looked down at his mate and then at the arrow stuck in her back, his eyes unknowingly teared up when she looked at him with her pained expression, the entire throne room shook violently when the true blooded Alpha Prince Lucien growled in anger.