"Bind her up," I heard a woman's stern command.

They roughly shoved me to the ground, placing my arms on a bench and tying them with ropes.

"It’s an honor for you to be a surrogate candidate for our King! HOW DARE YOU try to escape?! Now you’ll pay the price!" As his partner handed him a pair of pliers, he flashed me a purely evil smile.

My heart sank into my stomach. The king? Surrogate?! I had no idea what he was talking about...

"NO PLEASE! Listen, you’ve got the wrong person..." They didn't even let me finish before they pulled out the nail on my index finger.

"Ah-----"

I thought I knew pain, but his actions proved I didn't. I had never experienced such torture; my helpless screams filled the entire dungeon. Tears streamed down my face, and my hands were soaked with innocent blood.

The woman sat not far away, legs crossed, smiling at me. Soon, she raised her hand to signal everyone to leave and then crouched in front of me, slowly untying the ropes around me.

"I know it's not you, but a she-wolf escaped. We'll use you to replace her. So, if you want to survive here, shut your mouth and do as you're told."

Just like that, everything changed...

***

Betrayed by my fated mate and my best friend.

I, the powerful daughter of an Alpha, was scheduled to be executed on the false allegations of murdering my father and his comrades.

Fate had other plans as I escaped but landed myself on an island ruled by a mysterious king, Asher Ludwig...

No matter how difficult it is, I will fight my way back and reclaim everything that belongs to me!

Betrayed Mate

(Anna)

My name is Anna Carroll, and I am the daughter of the alpha of the Night Shadow Wolf Pack. Today is my 20th birthday. Just thinking about it makes my heart start racing with excitement.

Today is the day I find my mate. Many leaders from neighboring wolf packs and their eligible sons have been invited to the gathering, but I only want Noah. He is also my father's adopted son, whom my father brought to our pack when he was on the brink of death at the pack's border. I believe he shares the same thoughts as me.

I looked at myself in the mirror, my emerald green eyes and heart-shaped face gazing back at me. Noa always said my eyes captivated him. The dress I wore was an A-line thin-strapped gown in a deep red hue, almost crimson like a ruby. The tight bodice hugged my ample bosom perfectly, adorned with hundreds of sparkling gemstones.

The entirety of the sky seemed to have been fitted on my body for it glistened and shone under the bright lights of my room like star-studded heavens.

Everything was in place, the lined eyeliner, glossy lipstick and a small tear-shaped ruby necklace he had given me on my last birthday. I just had to go find him now.

I know deep down that he is my destined mate. We grew up together, and we know each other's every habit; a strong bond has formed between us. Of course, my other best friend Ruby Hayden joins us whenever she visits from her pack, and the three of us enjoy going out together.

I couldn't wait to show Ruby my dress and share with her the news of my mate. It was slightly strange that she hadn't dashed into my room to help me dress up but maybe she was running late. I was so engrossed in getting ready that I didn't even bother checking my phone. Not even sure where I had put the damn thing.

As I exited my room to make it down to the grand hall where the party was being held, I almost ran into my father.

He lightly chuckled as his strong arms steadied me so I wouldn't fall.

"Easy there my beautiful girl, you look lovely. Someone is going to be a very lucky young man today," he told me with a heartwarming smile that made the sides of his eyes crinkle.

"Thank you, Father." A blush crept up on my cheeks as I tried to keep my embarrassment at bay.But when I think about what is going to happen next, I know I will cherish our last embrace.

"Go, have fun. It's your night," he encouraged and I needn't be told twice. Picking up my gown from the sides, I ran down the stairs so as not to trip.

The party was just getting started and only a few guests had arrived. I glanced around looking for my boyfriend and best friend but they were nowhere to be seen.

Omegas were serving champagne and miscellaneous delicacies. So I got hold of one and impatiently asked.

"Have you seen Noah and Ruby?"

She smiled, stars visible in her eyes as she replied.

"They were in the garden a while back."

"Thank you!" My feet were already rushing towards the main door which opened into our vast gardens.

I stepped out into the crisp wind of the cold night. Like the flimsy delicate wings of an ephemeral butterfly, I felt the tingling sensations swirling in my gut at the mother-watering scent that permeated through the air and reached my flared nostrils.

The scent of my mate.

My wolf perked up inside me. Knowing our fated was near.

I trudged along the path, sniffing and looking for the source. It grew stronger near the redwood tree.

Excitedly I went around the thick red trunk of the tree and skidded to a halt at the sight that almost made my eyes bleed.

A holy grail of woody citrus scents enveloped my entire being. The ones belonging to Noah Carrol, my boyfriend. But another scent clung to him, the scent of betrayal and heartbreak in the form of my best friend, Ruby.

Mingled together it turned putrid and I wanted to puke. That fragile organ in my chest seemed to have been pierced with a sharp shard of glass.

My wolf, Sable howled in pain and woundedly paced within me.

Their lips were locked and their bodies conjoined. So lost in smooching each other that they were unable to acknowledge my presence. My body started trembling uncontrollably. Why?! My mate and my best friend?! I have never been the type to tolerate this. I immediately went forward and angrily pulled Noa away.

"I need an explanation," I said, trying to suppress my pain and anger as calmly as possible.

"The truth is what you saw. I don't want you as my mate," Noa said calmly, without a hint of guilt, while Ruby stood by his side with her arms linked, grinning foolishly.

They looked at me as if I were a clown.

"Why?" I knew it was stupid to ask why, but I couldn't control myself. I blinked hard, trying not to let my tears ruin my makeup, which would make me look even more like a clown.

"Because your father is the man who killed my father! Today is the day I take my revenge!" Noa roared at me.

My mind was in chaos. Was Noa serious? No, my father was the one who saved him. I need to find my father! I immediately turned around, but Noa immediately ordered his men to stop me.

"Grab her!" Noa commanded swiftly.

I tried to shift, but Ruby immediately stepped forward and stabbed me in the neck with a syringe filled with silver... My vision immediately blurred. Darkness consumed me, and I fell to the ground.

I don't know how long it took before I opened my heavy eyelids again.

Glancing down I noticed my hands and feet had been shackled with silver cuffs. I couldn't even feel Sable.

'What was going on?' I questioned myself and tried to sit up straight, peeking around and was left stunned.

We were in the pack grounds and I could hear the heavy whispers and murmurs of my pack full of profound hate. They had gathered and were bearing their sharp fangs at me. their eyes glowed red with anger and resentment.

"Murderer!"

"Bitch!"

"Traitor!"

Insult after insult hit me in torrents and I couldn't understand what this was all about.

"What's going on? Uncuff me right now. Where is my father?" I ordered and asked at the same time. I was an Alpha-born, how dare they insult me like that.

"Ah! So you are feigning innocence after the slaughter you and your rogue buddies carried out. You had our Alpha and Beta killed along with their other comrades. It's time to face the consequences." My nostrils were assaulted by Noah's unique scent, the one that melted my insides but right now his voice was only grating on my nerves.

What the hell was he talking about?

I glanced in his direction and saw him standing smugly with Ruby by his side, her arms wrapped around him like a venomous snake. The slight sneer coated her lips.

Revulsion birthed inside me seeing them and I began to understand they had done something terrible.

That's when Omegas brought forward the dead bodies of my father and his trusted beta, Mical. Whom I used to call Uncle Mical.

A blood-curdling scream escaped my throat as tears welled up seeing the slashed body of my father.

"Father!" I cried out in horror, the tears blinded my vision as my head began to swim. I tried to crawl towards his lifeless body but was held back by the silver chains.

"Oh! Come on, cut the act. We have all the evidence against you. You collaborated with the rogue Alpha because you were having an affair with him. When your father found out, you planned to silence him with the help of your lover. Planned a takeover by killing Alpha John and Beta Mical. Little did you know, the Alpha had already given me his blessings to be the next in command."

I dumbfoundedly listened to the lies Noah spun. The man I had given my heart and soul to.

"You are lying," I yelled at him and tried to stand on my feet but I felt so weak. They seemed to have injected me with something.

"Lies? I have all the proof." He indicated to a smirking Ruby, who was holding a stack of papers behind her back. She handed over some to the omegas with her and they began distributing them to the pack.

"Her chat history with the rogue Alpha. She had plans to kill me as well, her fated mate but I discovered her plans. A bit too late to save our Alpha, Beta and other important pack members. But with the help of Ruby's pack, we were able to push back the rogues and retain our pack. Her lover ran away, leaving her behind at our mercy."

My head throbbed at the lies he had concocted. I was mostly oblivious of my phone and Noah used to take it from me at times to watch videos. Everything was making sense now.

"I think it's you who has killed my father. These are all lies, I don't even know any rogue Alpha," I screamed in rage but was only met by more profanities from my pack members.

"Shut up, bitch."

I had grown up among them and it took only seconds for them to change their loyalties and brand me as a traitor, a father killer.

Noah sauntered over to me and bent down, his face masked in pain as if this was all not an act for him.

"Oh! Anna, how I loved you and was excited to start my life with you. But you turned out to be a backstabbing bitch. I am going to honour your father's words and expand this pack, taking it to new heights. I wish you were by my side when I did that."

He dramatically paused while I stared at him in disbelief, my tears wouldn't stop. The heartache was blinding me.

"I, Noah Raikin, reject you Anna John as my fated mate and future Luna of the pack," he announced with a grimace, snatching away the ruby necklace from my neck.

The tethered bond between us broke with a snap just like the chain of the necklace. The pain which I had never experienced before wrenched its way inside my heart and gut, making me double over in pain. Leaving me wordless. It was like being punched repeatedly on my chest and gut, I couldn't even breathe.

He rose and turned towards my pack. Ruby had joined him, clinging to him like a leech she had turned out to be.

"Tomorrow, we will execute the traitor and Ruby will be my chosen Luna. Her sharp thinking and timely arrival of her pack members led to the survival of ours. Therefore, she will be your true Luna." He picked up her hand and raised it in the air, declaring the victory they had achieved.

"Truth cannot remain hidden for long, one day everyone will see both of you for what you are…I will end you both," I tried to speak through excruciating pain, physical and emotional. My voice came out so weak as my turmoiled mind conjured up scenarios before I passed out again.

Noah's Truth

(Anna)

At some point, the ordeal became so much that I fainted. Without my wolf, the pain of rejection, the pain of seeing my father die and the pain of betrayal fried my brain sending me into a comatose state. To preserve my mind and body from completely falling apart.

I was jerked awake by smelly water being repeatedly thrown on my face. The stench from the cold water attacked my senses bringing me out of the tragic slumber I had fallen into.

As my eyes groggily opened and adjusted to the dim yellow light, they fell first on the face which I didn't wish to see in a thousand years. Every muscle in my body went taut to the point of breaking, seeing her disgusting face. It used to be a source of happiness for me before yesterday.

Her golden stiletto was clicking on the floor right in front of my face. The sound grinding on my raw nerves. I wanted to rip her head off for the betrayal.

"Look at you, how the princess has fallen," she taunted, flicking back her raven hair.

Drenched from the murky water I gathered myself and sat up straight, facing her with my head held high.

From the looks of it, they had locked me up in one of the cells in the dungeon. The chains held me against the wall so I couldn't scratch her smug face. My anger itching at my hands to claw out her face.

I asked. "Why? We were best friends Ruby. I trusted you. How could you do this to me?"

Ruby threw her head back and laughed mockingly. She haughtily answered.

"You are really naive. If you had paid attention then you would have understood that I only befriended you because of how strong your pack was. I could barely stand your jabbering about Noah and your perfect life."

Her lips and right hand mimed the movement of, "Blah, Blah, Blah," as if mocking me.

My body jerked forward as I bared my teeth at her, and a menacing snarl left my throat. All the veins in my neck went taut as I frustratedly yelled.

"You will burn in hell, you backstabbing bitch."

Her kick instantly landed on the side of my face, splitting my lip open. The blood gushed out as my head was propelled sideways by the force.

Clutching my golden brown hair, she yanked roughly to lift my head back up. Bending down her smug face was in my personal space.

"You think Noah loved you. He only pretended to do that. In reality, this was all his revenge plan against your father."

My head throbbed in pain as I tried to make sense of her words.

"My father?" I hoarsely asked.

"Yes, your father killed his parents and exterminated his whole pack. Only he was spared and later adopted by your father. He thought Noah didn't know but he remembered everything and now he will exact his revenge by executing you."

I couldn't believe the words falling through her lips. I knew my father, he was a benevolent and kind ruler who never took an innocent life. This was a huge misunderstanding.

"No, that's not true. My father could never do that." I tried to shake my head but her grip made it difficult.

"You are at my mercy now, there is no saving you. Noah is mine." She banged my head against the back wall so hard that I almost blacked out from the blinding pain that danced at the edges of my eyes.

I could understand that Noah was either tricked or lied to. I had to talk to him, to make him see the truth.

"Noah! Noah!" I desperately called out at the top of my voice, using all the strength my body could possess.

The barred iron door soon opened with a ringing sound and Noah entered with an icy glare. His glacial eyes held nothing but hatred and coldness for me.

Halting exactly in front of my face he went on a tirade.

"What would you do Anna if your parents and whole pack were butchered right in front of your eyes? I saw your father, snapping the necks of my parents and annihilating my whole pack. I promised myself that day I would seek revenge against my parents' killer and today I have fulfilled that promise. Only you left now."

"No, this is some big misunderstanding. You knew my father your whole life. He adopted you and loved you like his own son. This can't be true. Together we can uncover the truth," I pleaded. I couldn't let him ruin my pack. He had already killed my father, the least I could do was clear his name and get to the bottom of whatever this was.

He derisively let out a snort as if mocking me.

"Your father was a hypocrite. He adopted me because he thought I didn't know the truth, that I saw nothing that fateful night. But I was aware of every heinous crime John Carrol committed and I had planned for years, even acted to love you. But in reality, your face repulses me. The daughter of a killer is what you are."

His words cut deep and hurt even deeper, but I had to try to make him see sense. To escape from here and form a plan. I couldn't just die, the moon goddess must have something in store for me.

Leaning forward I clutched his leg, begging him with an overly aching heart as my tears flowed in abundance.

"Please! Noah, don't kill me. Let's work together and I am confident we will be able to catch the real culprits. My father is innocent. Just give me a chance to prove it."

With a jerk, he set his leg free from my grasp and stepped back from my range. Ruby triumphantly watched from his side, her index finger twirling a lock of her onyx hair on it.

"There will be no chances for you except death. Goodbye Anna," he spoke with so much hate that my insides churned.

The face of my beloved father roamed in front of my eyes. Noah left the cell with a very content-looking Ruby, banging the door closed behind him.

There was this chasm of darkness in my chest and I could feel myself slowly getting lost in it. My whole life whirled around me and I wondered what had I ever done wrong.

Memories of my loving father made me sob as I gathered my legs against my chest and openly cried.

I tried to connect with Sable but had begun to understand they must have injected me with Aconite (a substance known to inhibit one's wolf).

***

Near dawn I sensed Sable stirring within me. A surge of energy invigorated every cell of my body and Sable woke up from her slumber.

'They dared hurt us, I will show them. But first, we need to leave here, Anna,' she spoke to me but I could sense her sadness.

I was more than ready.

'Let's go, we need time to make a plan and understand what has really happened.'

But before we could act the door opened and guards entered to take me for my planned execution. Their angered faces revealed their disgust for me.

"Get up traitor, it's time for you to pay for what you did," one of them snarled at me, dragging me up. He had known me since childhood and yet all it took were a few words from Noah to change his mind.

The mere thought crushed my heart at how the people I had known had turned their backs at me.

They yanked me outside the cell and up through the stairs towards the pack grounds where they must have arranged for my said execution.

Soon the raised platform with the hanging noose came into view along with an angry-looking Noah and a smirking Ruby.

I knew it was time to escape since the forest adjacent to our pack was near. They thought Sable was still under the effect of aconite so they had put me in ordinary chains.

'Time to go, Sable,' I whispered to my wolf.

Sable didn't need to be told twice. My beautiful gown was shredded to pieces as the bones began to twist and change. Some lengthened, others shortened as I transformed into her and stood on all fours.

The chains broke and cluttered on the hard surface of the cell. Sable jumped forward and began to gallop. Our main goal was to escape the pack territory.

The guards panicked and followed behind but Noah's loud command held them at bay.

"She is mine to capture."

Sable didn't pause, or waste any time since it was dawn most of the pack members were sleeping and I knew where the guards were usually positioned and avoided those places.

Our destination was the cliff overlooking the Vaium Sea. If I could jump, the water would take me far and they wouldn't be able to follow.

As quickly as her legs could carry, Sable ran through the forest adjacent to our pack. Her feet were agile making no noise on the ground. We ran for our life.

But soon I could sense two werewolves behind me. A large brown one and a smaller black and grey one. The ones I knew too well, Noah and Ruby. They were on my trail.

We skidded, and cut the corners but kept running as the wind whooshed past us and branches broke under Sable's paws.

The cliff was near but so were Noah and Ruby. His voice filtered through the mind link.

'Stop running Anna or I will punish you severely.'

I didn't respond, a few more meters and we had arrived at the pointed cliff. Down below the wild waves angrily crashed against it.

Noah and Ruby's werewolves came to a halt about 15 feet away from us.

'Give up, Anna. Your attempts are futile,' Howler; Noah's wolf growled baring his teeth at me. Even he was with Noah on this.

'How did you even escape?' Ruby's voice came through the mind link. 'You have nowhere to go now,' the triumph and self-assurance in her voice bordered on pride.

But I was done with these two hypocrites.

'I will be back with truth and revenge,' Sable snarled back at them before she turned and jumped head-first into the roaring blue waves below and let the cold water engulf us.

Brutal Punishment

I am not sure how long we swam before hitting a shore. I transformed back into my human body and lay on the wet sand, panting. Not sure where I had landed as I got on all fours and choked out water letting it escape my lungs. My auburn hair matted on my face as I pushed them back.

Sable had gone silent in my mind again.

I could hear some men in the distance and all my senses became alert. I tried to get up and run, but the fatigue had consumed my limbs. It was impossible to stand.

"There, I see her," someone shouted and I saw two burly men with their heads shaved from the sides and tattoos covering their arms, running towards me. There was no doubt they were werewolves and from the uniforms they wore, it seemed like they were guards.

A coat was thrown over my naked body as they drew near.

"We have got you?" One of them said in a dangerous gruff voice and harshly grabbed my arm.

"Where am I?" I asked, wrapping the warm coat against my shivering body, this place was cold. I stared up at them. They watched me in disbelief as if I was some alien and not a woman. The fear settled in my heart.

"You dare ask that, after that stunt you pulled. We will tell you where you are." He shook my arm as if I was a ragdoll.

It was a new place and I had no clue what I had landed myself in. Literally.

They held my arms and picked me up as if I weighed nothing. I tried to stay calm and take in the beach and its surroundings but their menacing attitude had left me shivering.

"Don't you know, you are on Whispering Bay Island? The home of NightRiders Pack. We are taking you back to the castle so you can be punished for trying to escape."

Castle? Punishment? For what? What kind of place had I landed myself in? So many questions brimmed my mind.

"Punishment? I didn't do anything," I tried to plead my case but was met with a sharp slap from one of the guards. It left stars dancing in front of my eyes and my cheek stinging.

If only Sable was with me, I would have torn him apart for laying his hand on me.

"King will be furious to learn that one of the candidates went missing." The one who had thrown his coat at me spoke and the other one barely nodded in answer.

Not understanding who this king was, I decided to silently listen and get more information for now.

"Almost all the she-wolves have arrived. Let's see who gets to be the lucky one to carry the King's child and become his surrogate," the other one said and they both nodded in agreement.

Surrogate? Seemed like the king didn't have a mate or maybe she was dead making him search for a surrogate for his heir and I was mistaken as one of the women who had applied to become one or had escaped.

I took in my surroundings and found the island to be home to a very unique kind of flora. Tall trees were scattered all around, their leaves shed for the approaching winter.

A grey and black castle with four high towers, whose spikes seemed to be piercing the heavens stood on high grounds. For a second I was left stunned to watch its archaic design intermingled with modern style.

They dragged me inside the castle through heavy doors. I observed how heavily guarded it was, it would be no easy task to escape.

Once inside I was taken underground to a dark and damp room. From one dungeon to another. Some rotten luck I had.

"Tie her up," one of the men instructed the other. There was a long red stool on the hard floor and I highly doubted it was for sitting.

Roughly pushing me down on the floor they spread my arms on the stool and tied them up with ropes.

"All she-wolves were supposed to be not harmed but you decided to run away. An example needs to be made so no one else even dreams of it." He flashed me a smile of pure evil as his partner handed him a pair of pliers.

My heart dropped into my stomach, without my wolf I wouldn't even be able to share the pain or heal.

"No, please! Listen. You got the wrong girl…" They didn't even let me finish when the nail of my index finger was pulled.

I thought I knew pain but his actions proved I didn't. Never had I felt such torture, my helpless screams filled the entirety of the dungeon. The tears wet my face as my hand was drenched in my innocent blood.

Curses flowed through my mouth and I swore I would give him tenfold the pain he was inflicting on me.

They would have continued but another guard arrived, informing them the king had arrived.

The men left me there and hurriedly left while I wallowed in my pain and misery. Questioning the moon goddess what had I ever done wrong?

A stern-looking woman in her early fifties arrived soon after. Her greying hair were tied so tightly at the back of her head that it seemed even painful.

She began to untie the ropes.

"I am Linda Afolis and if you want to survive this place, it will be advisable to listen to what I say. Follow me" she said stiffly, scrutinising my attire and my bloody hand which was missing a few fingernails now. I was almost naked, minus the coat.

"Yes!" I quietly answered and struggled to get up. Scrambling to my feet I began trotting behind her.

I followed her into a room which seemed to be some kind of changing room. She began to bandage my shaking hand. The blood tripped on the clean floor.

"One of the she-wolves ran away and we will be using you in her place. So keep your mouth shut and do what you are told."

After seeing what kind of barbaric people they were, who could go to any length to cover up for their mistakes. Everything made sense now but I decided to stay quiet and plan.

But it did make my wonder what kind of king they had as a leader who allowed such barbaric acts.