Chapter 1
Amira’s POV.
I gently applied ointment to the child's knee, watching as he winced in pain. It made me feel a bit guilty, and I briefly thought of treating him to an ice cream cone to make up for it. But I knew that cleaning his small wound was necessary for proper healing. Little Ben was a lively kid, so it wasn't surprising to see him here with an injury.
"Please try to be more careful next time, Benny," I said, standing up and disposing of the blood-soaked cotton balls.
"How will I get to see my pretty nurse then?" Benny grinned, getting down from the table with the help of his aunt.
"Benny," his aunt warned, then turned to me with an apologetic look. She certainly had her hands full with him.
"What? She's so nice and pretty, I hope she'll be my nurse forever," Benny pouted, giving me a puppy-eyed look. But I knew those puppy eyes often carried glints of mischief.
“Well, I hope you’ll be more careful so I won’t have to worry about you.” I leaned down and ruffled his hair.
“I’ll try, thank you!” He limped away, poor thing. I just knew two days from now I’d see him on the playground, hanging upside down from some metal bar.
“Thank you.” His aunt smiled then hurried after Benny to help him walk.
“Of course, take care.”
Since I was little, I always knew I wanted to become a doctor, specifically one of the elite pack healers. It was a challenging path, but I was fortunate to be part of a special program in the kingdom that helped me pursue my dream.
Benny was my last patient for the day. After checking my lists, recording the time, and submitting my daily report, it was already past 8 PM. Knowing my Uncle Jacob's disapproval of staying out late, I decided to take the back garden door to sneak into the castle.
The guards allowed me through the back door, and just as I stepped onto the path, I noticed a dark shadow rushing towards me. I didn't have enough time to react properly, so I instinctively hugged myself and closed my eyes tightly, preparing for impact. Suddenly, I felt strong arms wrapping around me, and we both ended up falling. When I opened my eyes, I realized that Nikolas had broken my fall by throwing himself underneath me.
"What the fuck, Amira? Watch where you're going!" Nikolas scolded as he pushed me off his body. The pebbled path felt as hard as him, and I let out a soft "oof" when he moved me aside.
"You're the one running around, Nikolas," I said, brushing off my clothes and fixing my hair.
Nikolas Hayes, the son of Jacob and Andrea Hayes, inherited the throne three years ago. I practically grew up alongside him, and even as a little boy, he was mean and ruthless. As he grew older, his strictness and ruthlessness intensified, which played a role in maintaining the smooth functioning of the kingdom. Upon ascending the throne, he was challenged for his position, as dictated by ancient law. In such challenges, a battle must take place, and the challenger can only be defeated through surrender or forfeit. While surrendering is usually sufficient, Nikolas, on his first day as king, chose to kill his opponent, making a brutal example of him. I still vividly recall the bloodshed as Nikolas donned his cloak and crown again. From that moment on, no one dared to question his authority or decisions, and looking him in the eyes was considered an act of defiance.
"King Nikolas," he reminded me, glaring at me with anger in his eyes. Oh, Nikolas, what did I ever do to you? I decided not to engage with him today and continued walking towards the castle. However, he firmly grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "Come back here. You will show me respect. I am your king."
"Yes, King Nikolas?" I replied, mocking his title.
"Why are you out so late, Amira?"
"I was busy finishing up with Benny." I shrugged. He wouldn't understand. He always made fun of my dreams, which was ironic coming from someone whose entire life was planned out for them.
"Or were you flirting with Doctor Stine?" Nikolas spat out the name with hatred, and I simply rolled my eyes.
Doctor Stine might have shown interest in me, but I always maintained a professional relationship and treated him as my superior. Nikolas's accusations were false, and they infuriated me. "What? No! And that's none of your business," I snapped, pulling my arm away from his grasp.
"You know he has a mate. Don't be the reason someone else loses their mate," he snarled. It was widely known that Doctor Stine had a mate, although they were rarely seen together, which was unusual for mated wolves. "Your actions reflect on our household," Nikolas scoffed, and there was an unsettling tone in his voice, filled with hidden animosity.
"As I said, I was busy with Benny." I tightened my grip on my bag straps, wishing my hands were wrapped around his throat instead. I had a feeling Nikolas was twisted enough to enjoy it. The thoughts racing through my mind sent shivers down my spine.
"Who is that?" Nikolas demanded.
"Just a little kid, you idiot," I replied, rolling my eyes and continuing to walk away.
"What did you call me?" he asked in a cold tone, gripping my arm tightly and forcefully pulling me back until I stumbled against his chest.
"Leave me alone, King Nikolas. I don't want to be your punching bag today," I mustered up some bravery in my words, though my heart pounded in my chest and my palms grew sweaty against his chest.
"Get out of my face. If I see you again tonight, you'll be punished for disrespect," Nikolas scoffed, and I could have sworn I saw a faint smile on his lips. Did he find all of this enjoyable?
I glared at him, taking a step closer as I looked up. Nikolas was a towering figure, standing at 6'4". He had the physique of a true alpha king, inherited through his pure bloodline. His muscular body could be an anatomy lesson, although I dared not gaze at him for more than a few seconds. He was like a devil walking among us, but this devil had mesmerizing hazel-green eyes and brown hair, and if he had horns, they must have been hidden away.
Nikolas stood before me, his anger matching mine, radiating power and pride. I knew he would report me for coming home late, and I didn't want to escalate the argument further. With a huff, I turned around, flipping my hair over my shoulder as I stomped away. It was late to venture into the woods, but I craved the solace of the nearby creek, the rustle of leaves, and the gentle flow of water over rocks. I needed a moment of tranquillity away from Nikolas.
Lost in my seething hatred for him, I was oblivious to my surroundings until it was too late. I found myself on an unfamiliar path, engulfed in darkness, with only eerie critter sounds for company. As I strained to hear the nearby stream, a sudden disturbance shattered the night's stillness. It sounded like a horde of people crashing through the woods, but who could be out here at such an hour? Panic gripped me, not just because I was trespassing on Hayes's private property, but because I sensed I was not alone.
I froze as four looming shadows closed in on me. My heart raced, and as I opened my mouth to speak, a strong grip clamped onto my arm. Panic consumed me as I tried to break free and flee, but I was quickly overpowered. Suddenly, a black cloth was thrown over my head, blinding me. I gasped for breath as I was lifted off the ground, my feet dangling helplessly. The last things I remembered were the thud of my bag hitting the ground and the muffled voices of my captors before darkness engulfed me.