Chapter 5

Anabelle Pov

A loud knock was heard on my door, loud enough to wake me from sleep. The sky isn't bright, nor were the birds already chirping.

"Who could be knocking this early?" I asked myself.

I opened the door only to see the sharp reddish eyes of Roman, looking like he was angered.

"Who would have entered his trap this early morning...?" I whispered.

"Didn't you read the law book?" his voice interrupted my thought.

My guards showed you my law book, immediately after your arrival. I hope you went through it; if not, here won't contain us.

"Yes, I read everything."

"Then why are you still sleeping?" your mate is up doing their morning training, and you are lazing around.

"Do you think this is your kingdom?" My rules must be followed by everyone here, including you.

"It's just 3:00 a.m, Alpha Roman." It's still dawn when normal people sleep.

"Why would you wake me so early?" I said with boldness.

"Lady, you aren't allowed to question me. He raised his hand so close!

I drew further from him, scared he would slap me.

I'm Alpha Roman of Fangspire Pack, no woman questions my command, and not even you would defile that.

Get ready immediately for your training; if not, you will be thrown into the dungeon for defying my order.

He banged the door at me.

I stood still, memorising what had just happened. "Did he want to slap me?" I spoke to myself.

" Could Alpha Roman be so heartless that he could hit a woman," my voice muted.

What could have led him to hate women, neither his stepmother nor maid? I thought.

All these questions gave my head a hit and immediately I remembered where I was.

I wasn't here to figure things out or solve any problem. I'm here to fight for my father's legacy.

I packed my hair into a ponytail ball and exited the room instantly.

Outside of the fangspire pack at this time was very busy, it was like the day itself. Filled with wolves working, some building rocks while some winning their mates.

Indeed this was the reason they crowned them the ruler of all packs.

Everywhere in the hall was dark, yet filled with many wolves, walking with torches flickering on the walls.

"What are you doing there?" a voice interrupted my assessment.

It was the beast... coming my way.

"I said you have morning training. So why are you there?"

"I can see you didn't take the orientation seriously." He laughed out, like someone applauding his prey for falling in his wing.

I stood there dumbfounded, not ready to exchange words. Because my eyes couldn't believe we're outside at this time.

I walked to his side immediately, the warriors arranging their arrows. Inside the training room, there were boxing coats.

They all concentrated on alpha Roman training.

"Listen very carefully, I don't train losers here." He said.

"Your very first target should be your enemy, they should always be between your territory."

After the training, I went to my room to take a nap, I was so tired. I couldn't feel my muscles anymore.

I really missed the time I had good sleep, even if it was obstructed by my uncle most of the time.

I hadn't finished my nap before I heard a large noise from my door.

"Who's that?" I shouted with my sleepy voice.

"My lady.... It's me, petal," a female voice echoed.

I opened the door.

"Good day, my lady." I was sent to call you for dinner instantly.

Alpha Roman said you need to meet his people.

I went down, seeing a full dining room. Everyone was quiet, I could feel the enmity between them. I didn't know them but I could feel the weight of tension in this family.

I only gasped... I miss eating with my parents, I miss them daily.

"Why are you coming now, Anabelle?" Do you mind giving me the reason? Alpha Roman's voice echoed within the walls.

I was taking a nap.

"At this time, you're still asleep? Don't act like someone that has nothing to do in my castle."

"Weren't you oriented on the dos and don'ts?" He roared!

I kept quiet, assessing the people at the table.

"Don't you talk?" Or perhaps you should be thrown into the dungeon so you won't do it again.

"My son Roman, please don't do that to her. She's just coming into our kingdom, we should be giving her a warm reception."

"No Dad I should be teaching her a lesson,"

The old man held his arm, perhaps this was the only person who could control his wrath.

"Good day, my daughter. Come sit next to me. Don't mind my son's cold nature." father drew a chair next to him.

"Good day sir," I bowed my head.

I went to the seat next to him and sat down, all their eyes were glued in my direction.

My daughter let me introduce you to my lovely family.

"This is my wife, your betrothed stepmother," He pointed her out.

Good day, my lady. I greeted her with my head bowed.

No response, she gave me a strong glare, such a glare that could kill a prey.

"Don't mind my wife, she's probably down." He brushed it up.

I nodded, trying to put a smile on my face.

And these are my four sons, one you already know, your soon-to-be husband.

He didn't finish his word before Roman cut him off.

"Father have told you I don't have a wife, nor would I marry this woman here." My rules should be kept and you aren't an exception.

His father withdrew lightly... okay, so I respect your order.

These are my three sons, Roman's stepbrothers.

They looked at me seductively, like people waiting to feast on their mate.

I greeted all of them.

"Alpha Roman," I began, please, I want to ask for something.

I have no time to waste.

"Please, I love artistic designing and have been doing it in my kingdom. And I trust I can do better. I want to go to an artist academy to perfect my skills." I said politely.

"That can't happen in my house, women, ladies here are known to stay at home and not pursue some sort of dream." He said.

"It's either you join our training academy or remain at home."

I knew pursuing my talent would be harder than I thought.

But perhaps I needed it, that's my only joy I can secure.

I would fight till the end to go to the academy.

My artist designing skill lies in the hands of a heartless fated mate.

It's either I win him or forget about it.

Chapter six

Anabelle Pov

Morning crept through the walls, the bird chirping around the tree and the sun shining so hard through the window. The brightness of the day glanced at my face.

I picked up my drawing paper to illustrate my pain, it has always been my best friend. It always interprets my pain, my language and everything I went through.

Since my childhood, I have always dreamed of building my artist empire. My parents understood me so well, despite preparing me to be the future Luna, they encouraged me to pursue my dream.

And just like that coming to the Fangspire pack where women aren't allowed to pursue skill or education, they only serve their husbands.

"But that can't be me," I whispered.

I would definitely get him to approve my skill, even if it means me going against fangspire rules.

"Please open the door," a voice said from behind the door interrupting my train of thought.

"Who would this be now?" I asked myself.

"The Fangspire seems to know how to interrupt someone's morning, it's like they don't know the importance of alone time." I whispered.

"Good morning Mrs.," I opened the door, glancing at a tall lady.

"Anabelle, you've been sent for," She said.

"Please tell me who sent you to disturb my alone time," I smirked.

"My lady, there's nothing like alone time behind Fangspire walls, when the alpha calls everyone replies." she said pitifully.

"That's not the right thing, but we all abide by Alpha's order."

"Okay, tell your alpha I am having my alone time," I replied, closing the door behind me.

Leaning on the closed door, with my heart beating heavily.

I immediately dashed into the bathroom to prepare myself for today's encounter. I have to fight for my dream.

"Where's she?!" Roman's voice echoed through the walls.

"Alpha, she's having her alone time." The slim, fragile maid replied.

"What's the meaning of this?" He asked.

"In fangspire's pack, there's nothing like alone time. Everyone must abide by it , including her."

"Where's she?" He asked, rushing towards the top of the castle.

"Alpha, she's........in her room." She stammered.

"Anabelle, come out of this room immediately!" a loud bang from the door.

"It's Alpha Roman voice..." I whispered, drying my hair with my towel tied on my waist.

"Alpha, I'm getting dressed." I said.

"Open this door right now!" He roared.

"Good day Alpha Roman," I opened the door immediately, with my towel tied across my shoulder, my hair leaning wet on my back.

Roman, frozen on the spot, stood at the door for seconds staring at her, like someone scanning his properties.

"Why are you still inside the room?" He asked in a shocked tone, like someone waking up from a dream.

"Alpha, I usually have alone time in the morning. Where I draw and prepare for the day." I said lowly.

"There's nothing like alone time in my castle. And you must follow the rules laid down."

"Today is your welcome party to the Fangspire pack, you will get to meet the elders and members of the pack." He replied in a strict tone.

"I don't want you to move stupid, so you have to follow all my orders. And if you don't abide, you will be thrown into the dungeon."

"Okay, Alpha" I bowed down, my towel revealing my fair shoulders.

Roman, staring at the beauty before him, had never seen the beauty of a woman since his mother died. Probably his resentment towards women swallowed every desire.

He immediately left the room, leaving me behind the doors.

The castle was filled with many wolves, focusing on their various activities required for the welcome party. Elders centered around the silver rock table discussing.

Roman and his family were seated between the elders. Everywhere spoke royalty and respect, indeed Fangspire was a kingdom with so much order.

"Good day, elders and members of the pack," I said facing them.

"Good day," some said and others replied sarcastically.

"isn't she the future Luna of Kam's kingdom? That was traded by her kingdom to the Fangspire's." One of the people whispered.

"I heard they've been betrothed even before their birth," one of them said sarcastically.

"I wonder how she would win his heart, we've always thought the Alpha was a gay that never loved women."

"How will he love this one...." They laughed.

Their whispers crept to my feet, I stood still with each of their words piercing through my heart.

"How would I survive the fangspire," I thought.

"My daughter, come sit beside me," my father in voice out, interrupting my thought. Pointing at the crystal chair beside him.

"Okay sir," I replied, moving toward his direction.

All eyes on me, like people scanning my every move sarcastically.

"Welcome the only daughter of Aiden, future Luna of Kam's kingdom." One of the elders said, raising his hands up.

"You are welcome to our kingdom, twenty years ago your bond with our son was made here. Right in this council we made that alliance."

"And now you both are ripe enough to form an alliance." One of the elders said, clearing his throat.

"Please let's go straight to the welcome speech, I've told you guys I'm not betrothed to any woman." Roman spoke up.

"Don't say that Alpha, we respect all your decisions for the kingdom. But this is destiny."

"We've made this alliance before you guys were born, an oath sworn by your parents." One of the elders said,

"My son, that's the tradition, that an Alpha must have a fated mate." His father touched him lightly.

"I object to all this!" He shouted.

The castle was filled with tension, whispers echoed through the walls.

"You two are given five years to love each other, but after this appointed date. There's still rejection of mate, your bonds will be broken."

Hearing the five years played through my heart, five years of exile. All this was for my father's legacy.

I stood there still, assessing every move of Roman.

"I accept the bait," he said in a mocking tone, like he knew this would never work.

"Elders, I have a plea." I said.

"When I was in Kam's kingdom I always did my artistic skill, my dad prepared me to be the Luna along side with it."

"And I promised to push the dream further."

"A woman can't be allowed to pursue a skill in Fangspire," one of the elders said.

"In Fangspire's pack our women focused on house chores, not education nor talents." His voice echoed through the walls.

"But–" I hadn't finished my sentence before Roman cut in.

"I've told you that's not in our rules. Don't push this further." Roman voiced out loudly.

"Please I have to, it's the only thing I could do for my late parents." I said in a sad tone.

"The only way you can do it, is to undergo a rigorous training for one month." He suggested.

"After passing the test you will be allowed to enroll at the artist academy in Fangspire." He said.

That idea rang in my head, I've never been trained on a field. Neither have I held weapons in my life.

Winning this battle was harder than I thought.

The training room smelled like hell even from afar.

"Would I be able to win this?" I whispered.

Fighting the Alpha on a battlefield, was like a death sentence I signed up for.

A death to no return, it's either I crack the wall or forget my dreams.