The Shadow Alpha

Gazing out over the estate, Elowen stood at the wide windowsill. Her family's manor, a vast stone building surrounded by tall oaks, was stunning in its stern, icy manner. With their dark wood paneling and endless portraits of distant ancestors, the walls felt heavy, almost oppressive. But today it felt more like a jail.

With the engagement ceremony just around the corner, Elowen's hands were shaking as she fiddled with her gown's lace. Instead of making her feel like a princess, the delicate fabric made her feel like a shroud. Like the weight of everything he expected of her, she could hear her father's deliberate, steady footsteps coming up behind her.

He said, "You've been chosen, Elowen," in a tone as icy as stone. "It's not a question of choice, but of duty."

She slowly turned to face him as her breath caught in her throat. Sharp and unreadable, his eyes locked with hers. She said, "I understand," but she knew it wasn't true even as she said it.

She never requested the fate of being arranged to marry the enigmatic Alpha. For reasons she didn't fully comprehend, the idea of being tied to a guy she had never met made her heart throb like a bird in a cage inside her chest.

Elowen's eyes remained fixed on the door as her father left, and she heard her mother's voice, quiet but anxious, talking to someone. During their chat, her father's name-the Alpha-slipped through the cracks, but it wasn't only the word that stopped her. Once more, the word "duty" was mentioned. Her destiny was being sealed with every passing second. She felt like a pawn in a game she couldn't get out of, and she tightened her hands as a chill went down her spine.

Elowen brushed a lock of hair behind her ear as she walked to the vanity. There was a sense of unease in the air, despite the distant buzz of distant relatives and staff getting ready for the ceremony.

Outside, the wind had picked up, rustling the leaves, but then-a low, savage roar pierced through the darkness. It wasn't the howl of a wolf, but something darker, more primal. Her breath seized, and she halted, peering out the window, seeking the dark woodlands beyond the estate grounds.

"Do you hear that?" she whispered to her maid, who had entered quietly behind her, holding a tray of fresh flowers. The maid's face had gone pale, her lips tight with dread.

"What is it?" Elowen's voice sank to a whisper as she came closer.

The maid shook her head, setting the tray down with trembling hands. I'm not sure, lady. It doesn't sound typical.

Elowen swallowed forcefully, battling the uneasiness that was rising in her chest. Was it a beast? Or another thing? As though the air itself had thickened to warn of an impending storm, she couldn't get rid of the unsettling feeling that was creeping over her skin.

Elowen's heart continued to race even though the sound vanished as swiftly as it had come, leaving only quiet in its wake. Her own doubt was reflected in the glass as she turned back to face her reflection. Her mind was filled with questions. Was it nerves, or was something sinister stirring up?

When nighttime finally arrived, the same eerie ambiance pervaded the air. Elowen came down the magnificent staircase, her robe now secured and her hair carefully braided, her heels clicking on the gleaming marble. The deep, hushed tones of expectation were already drowning out the discussions of the guests who were already wandering about.

Elowen's eyes darted to the door as it opened. The mysterious Alpha had come.

Dorian strode into the room, imposing himself. His eyes scanned the room with an almost unnerving intensity as he moved through the crowd like a predator. He was tall, with dark hair that fell in waves over his shoulders. His features were keen, his jaw firm, and though his face remained unreadable, there was a fire in his gaze that made Elowen's breath catch. In addition to the foreboding atmosphere that seemed to follow him, his dark cloak billowed around him like smoke.

His voice was rich, low, and oddly captivating as he said, "Elowen." "This is the moment I've been waiting for."