A Werewolf's Unexpected Mate-Chapter 1 - : The Sacrificial Bride

I am Ovelia Ashford, twenty years old, a girl born into a life I never chose. Timberline Village, my home, is a place of quiet isolation, nestled deep within the shadow of ancient forests. But my life here has been anything but peaceful. At ten years old, I learned the truth: I was adopted, a sacrificial lamb chosen by the mayor and his wife to spare their real daughter, Alessia, from the fate of becoming a werewolf's bride. Since that day, my body has become a map of pain, each bruise and scar a testament to their cruelty. Yet, amidst the darkness, Alessia has been my only light, secretly tending to my wounds when no one is watching.

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"Ovelia, fetch water from the river," my father barked, his voice sharp and commanding. He tossed a wooden bucket at my feet, the hollow clatter echoing through the room. His lips curled into a cruel smirk, his eyes glinting with malice.

I flinched, my shoulders tensing as I bent to pick up the bucket. My hands trembled, but I forced a smile, a fragile mask to hide the ache in my chest. "Yes, Father," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alessia stepped forward, her brow furrowed with concern. "Father, why did you do that?" she demanded, her voice tinged with anger. She shot him a defiant glare, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

I glanced at her, offering a small, reassuring smile. "It's all right, Alessia," I said softly, though my heart felt like it was breaking. I turned and trudged toward the river, the weight of the bucket mirroring the heaviness in my soul.

•River•

The river was a ribbon of silver under the moonlight, its gentle ripples reflecting the full moon's glow. I knelt by the water's edge, filling the bucket, my mind wandering to the life I might have had if I'd been born into a family that loved me. The moon hung low in the sky, its light almost unnaturally bright, casting an ethereal glow over the forest.

Suddenly, a rustling in the grass made me freeze. My breath caught in my throat as I turned, my eyes widening in terror. A massive wolf stood before me, its silver fur shimmering in the moonlight. Its piercing eyes locked onto mine, and time seemed to stand still momentarily. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears like a drum.

Before I could react, the chilling toll of the Timberline bell shattered the silence. The wolf's ears twitched, and with a flick of its tail, it vanished into the shadows, leaving me trembling by the riverbank.

I stood there, my hands clutching the bucket, my mind racing. The bell only tolled when danger loomed, or something significant was about to happen. A cold dread settled in my stomach as I hurried back to the village, the weight of the water dragging me down.

•Timberline Village•

As I approached Timberline Village, I noticed a strange atmosphere. Women dressed in elegant gowns, their hair meticulously styled, but their eyes betrayed their sorrow. Some wept openly, their tears glistening in the moonlight. A shiver ran down my spine, and I quickened my pace, my heart pounding.

I pushed open the door to our house, only to hear my father's harsh voice. "Where have you been?" he shouted, his face red with anger.

I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could speak, my mother hurled a dress at me. It was beautiful—a long-sleeved red gown adorned with intricate gold embroidery. For a fleeting moment, joy flickered in my heart. "Why did you give me this?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of confusion and hope.

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My parents exchanged a glance, their expressions cold and unyielding. The silence was deafening, and the sinking feeling in my stomach grew heavier. I retreated to the bathroom to change, passing Alessia's room on the way. She was inside, getting ready, but I chose not to disturb her.

My parents were waiting when I emerged, dressed in a stunning gown. "Finally!" my father snapped. "Hurry up. The werewolves are waiting outside the village."

His words pierced my heart like a dagger. I gasped, the truth crashing down on me—it was the day I was to be sacrificed in marriage to a werewolf. A desperate cry clawed at my throat, a mournful lament for all the dreams I hadn't yet fulfilled. I longed to weep, but I swallowed the tears, knowing my mother's sharp tongue would cut me down if I showed weakness.

"Get out of here. What are you waiting for?" my mother yelled, her voice laced with venom.

I turned to leave, but Alessia suddenly appeared, wrapping her arms around me tightly. "Thank you, you stupid little sister," she whispered, her voice dripping with mockery.

I pulled back, staring at her in disbelief. Her smile was cold, her eyes filled with malice I had never seen before. She stuck out her tongue, taunting me, before turning to our parents with a smirk. My heart shattered.

I ran out of the house, tears streaming down my face, towards the front of the village. My heart ached. The sister I thought would be my ally, the one I believed loved me, had been nothing but a hypocrite. They hadn't loved me at all; they had used me, treated me like a servant for ten years, fed me scraps, beaten me, and now planned to sacrifice me.

I wiped away my tears as I approached the village exit, desperately hoping that a kind werewolf might choose me to be his bride. I longed for someone who would care for me, someone who could finally erase the pain gnawing at me from the emptiness of my false family.

As I stepped outside the village, the scene before me was both mesmerizing and terrifying. Rows of stunning women stood poised and elegant, their eyes wide with fear as towering men approached them. My breath caught as I realized these were the werewolves—handsome, powerful, and utterly terrifying.

My gaze fell on one man dragging a woman by the arm. She screamed, then plunged a knife into his eye. Everyone gasped, including me, especially when the man transformed, his shirt ripping as he became a werewolf. He grabbed the woman's hand and snapped her bones. A wave of panic washed over the other women, screams tearing from their throats as they fled in terror. Amidst the chaos, the men surrounding them transformed, morphing into ferocious werewolves, their growls blending with the cries of the fleeing women.

Desperate and terrified, the women ran, their footsteps pounding on the ground, frantically trying to escape their pursuit. The werewolves lunged after them, intent on capturing the terrified girls, attempting to hoist them into their carriages amid the madness.

But not all of the werewolves gave in to primal instincts. Some lingered in their human form, projecting an unsettling politeness as they approached the remaining women. Their soft voices were almost soothing amidst the chaos, each word laced with an eerie kindness as they offered a hand to help the women into their carriages.

I didn't know what to do. I wanted to run, scream, and cry, but I couldn't do any of it. I had escaped the cruelty of my fake parents, but could I even survive if I was forced to marry a werewolf?

Ace's POV

The cries and screams of the humans were intoxicating, a haunting melody that echoed through the night. Ordinary humans are so fragile yet so full of life. Luckily, we couldn't have offspring with them; that made things easier. We werewolves could use these women for our pleasure and discard them like trash. It was tragic, really, to witness them become sacrifices, all in the name of peace between our kinds.

"Ace, this sacrifice only happens once every twenty years," my older brother Ray reminded me, his voice a mix of urgency and tradition. "This is your second time. You need to choose your mate and your Luna."

I never wanted to be here, yet I found myself compelled by my father, Alpha King Raymond, who insisted I find a human mate to symbolize the fragile peace between our worlds. Other werewolves might treat their captured humans as mere objects, but I knew I couldn't do that; my reputation as the next Alpha king was on the line.

Suddenly, a sweet scent drifted through the air, one I had caught earlier in the forest. I closed my eyes, letting the aroma guide me. As I moved forward, I opened my eyes to find a stunning woman wearing a flowing red long-sleeve dress adorned with elaborate gold embroidery, her long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders like silk and her red eyes like sparkling burning jewelry.

She stood no taller than my shoulder, and as I gently grasped her chin, her gaze met mine. Fear danced in her eyes, but I sensed something else beneath the trepidation—a flicker of curiosity. My wolf stirred within me, drawn to her.

"I'll make you my mate," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her breath hitched, and I could see the mix of fear and intrigue painted across her features. At that moment, the weight of my duty clashed with my wolf's sudden urge to protect and cherish her—a feeling I had never expected to possess. But in my human form, I pushed the feeling aside. I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not yet.