Sera's POV
"Your Royal Highness, he is coming for you…Alpha Wei Zhang is breaking into the palace."
The air grew dense with tension, each breath a jagged struggle against the encroaching doom just beyond the unyielding iron entrance. Keira's voice, barely above a whisper, grazed my ear, the urgency underscoring the gravity of our predicament as she collected items of bare necessity.
"It's time you make your move, Empress. They're right outside, pounding on the gates. It won't be long now—" Her words hung in the air, pregnant with uncertainty, a palpable reminder of the peril we faced. Keira, who is usually a portrait of unwavering resolve, couldn't conceal the glint of fear in her eyes.
I wouldn't blame her when I am scared shit!
Wei Zhang is every woman's worst nightmare. An Alpha with a heart of ice and a thirst for power, he is like a storm cloud, dark and brooding, with flashes of brilliance and lightning. He is ruthless and ambitious, and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
In the presence of Alpha Wei Zhang, you don't just feel fear; you confront the very essence of it.
"I won't be his!" A shaky breath huffed out of my mouth. For the hundredth time, I tried blinking it away. Kiera's frantic movements halted. She stood behind me, palm squeezing my shoulder as we stared through the mirror. I could see it in her eyes. 'You don't have a choice!' It spoke.
Three thousand long years have slipped by since the Soul of the Universe breathed life into this new world—a world meant to be a haven where all mythical creatures coexist in perfect harmony. It was a place where the idea of having a soulmate from a different species was supposed to be not just accepted but celebrated. Only reality tells a much grimmer tale.
Greed, desire, and unbridled ambition have tainted this once-idyllic vision. Instead of unity, division now runs deep. Having a soulmate from another species has transformed from a promise of love into a source of torment.
It is specifically worse for the two mighty powers that took center stage as the epicenters of discord—the ceaseless rivals, Xi-City, and the indomitable Serpent Dominion.
Xi-City's confines of werewolves uphold strength and dominance as their ultimate values. Their society thrives on primal instincts, where might and valor reign supreme.
In stark contrast, the Serpent Dominion values intellect and cunning above all else. Here, the power of a keen mind is what grants authority, and serpents navigate a complex web of politics and strategy with unmatched finesse.
The clash of these differing ideologies, and the relentless quest for power, has sown the seeds of enmity. Nobody knows who it started countless ages ago. But skirmishes and wars have stained the pages of history, leaving behind a legacy of bitterness and resentment between these two unyielding realms. Yet, amid the numerous conflicts that have come before, none match the magnitude of animosity now coursing through our veins.
"I don't accept it."
"Universe did it to you, Your Royal Highness. You can't escape fate."
Six months. It took him a mere six months to flip my world over. Only six months ago, I met him at a global summit. The ruthless, possessive, stubborn monster—Alpha Wei Zhang.
Stepping onto that global stage was a turning point in my life. I was ecstatic to be finally heard and noticed more than just an Emperess. Little did I know, I was about to be noticed by him.
I remember feeling on top of the world, until suddenly, time just... stopped.
"Which is why representation by women..." My speech stopped mid-sentence as my heart started pounding, and a mix of fear and desire surged through me. It was like a storm was brewing, a sense of impending chaos.
My gaze swept across the room, a gallery of influential figures. And there, our eyes met in an electrifying collision. Wei Zhang's eyes, deep as obsidian, held an enigma that seemed to conceal worlds within. His lips, taut and edged with a chilling smirk, promised a malevolence that would linger in my thoughts for days to come.
His very presence exuded an irresistible charisma, a magnetic force that drew people toward him, heedless of the peril they sensed. Like a monarch who held dominion over the world, he perched in the front row, an unspoken command radiating from his stance. His stare bore into me with a predatory intensity, as though he might spring forth at any given moment.
I swear, my whole being shivered at the intensity. In that charged moment, something electric sparked between us as we set the air on fire.
Nature itself sensed the gravity of our connection, quivering in response. That was the kind of moment that changed everything, a pivotal shift in the course of our intertwined stories that'll be remembered down the history.
A low, menacing growl rumbled from the depths of his being, resonating with an unmistakable recognition. I couldn't deny it, and the revelation was a bitter pill to swallow—soulmates, the elusive fragment that completed souls.
"No!" I gasped and stumbled, disbelief coursing through me. I had heard enough about his cruelty, never needing a reminder of his ruthless power and how he dominated those unfortunate enough to be within ten feet of him.
A serpent entwined with a wolf has to an impossible union written in the stars.
And there were plenty of other reasons. I was a serpent married to an Emperor. He was a wolf ruling his pack in the glorious superpowered Xi-city. We were mortal enemies by our very being. Yet fate had other plans, subjecting us to this cruel cosmic joke. He had been making it tough for Emperor Augustus already. It was about to get worse.
"Mine," Alpha Wei Zhang breathed, smug and sure, inching closer with an air of confidence, arrogance, and a burning desire to claim what he believed the universe had bestowed upon him.
Emperor Agustus was there in a heartbeat, and if we hadn't been surrounded by global leaders on that international stage, with his Beta Byun trying to play referee, Agustus would've torn him apart right then and there.
"YOU BELONG TO ME, AND I'LL COME FOR YOU. I SWEAR, MATE!" His voice thundered, his people struggling to drag him away from me.
In the months that followed our whirlwind meeting, Alpha Wei Zhang went all out in his attempts to win me over.
The first visitor we hosted after our tour was…him. Alpha Wei Zhang showered me with extravagant gifts as if he thought material possessions could bridge the unfathomable gap between our worlds, masking the harsh realities.
His very presence would shake the entire palace as he'd parade freely as if he owned the estate.
"You know, Augustus, I could reduce this kingdom to rubble. You're drowning in debt. Your economy's teetering on the brink, and you need a hefty infusion to keep it afloat." His eyes, a shade I couldn't quite place, held a depth of terror. It was as if he sensed my presence behind those walls. He straightened and got down to business.
"I'm aware you're her husband, Augustus. It pains me to even say those words! Alright, listen up. I know, we're allowed to marry anyone by the Gods' decree. No sin on your part for marrying the one who was meant to be mine, not when we didn't know any better. But now, now that I know she's the answer to my prayers, my salvation, I won't let her go. Even if it means shaking the foundations of world peace. So, here's the deal. Bid her farewell and stay out of destiny's way, or face the consequences." His words hung in the air, a stark ultimatum that cut through the tension like a blade.
Emperor Augustus and I had the biggest fight that night.
"You did this to us!" Emperor Augustus would often yell when he'd fed up with the gripping tension on the boundaries and trade relations. "He demands only one thing to lose it up on us. It's..."
"Me!?"
Indeed, Alpha tried everything, a mix of charm and pushiness. He flexed his power, flaunting his hold over the world, probably thinking it'd miraculously change everything.
But instead, it just made things worse with Emperor Augustus. He took it as a direct challenge to his authority. The tension between them was like a powder keg, ready to blow at any second.
Alpha Wei Zhang just wouldn't quit. He knew something massive was pulling us together, something neither of us could get our heads around. But his stubbornness made him think he could twist destiny to his liking.
The Emperor, stubborn as a mule, stood firm in defending my honor...even though he wanted nothing more than to kick me in Alpha's arms. Their clashes were brutal, like a verbal knife fight, a preview of the final showdown that was about to hit us.
In that instant, I got it! The war on the horizon wasn't just a kingdom brawl; it was a soul showdown. It was gonna shape the fate of Xi-City and the Dominion…forever.
The fragile peace has shattered. Alpha Wei Zhang, the ruthless monster launched a surprise attack on us. A week ago, his forces swarmed through the border provinces like a relentless plague.
The Serpent Dominion was caught off guard, but we defended our people and legacy. But as the armies of the sides clashed on the battlefield, our strength crumbled to pieces.
They fought and we were done for!
"I can't believe Agustus did this to me!" I choked at the treacherous thought that my mate had given everything away…me away!
"It was for the best! You are his mate after all!" Keira tried to reason, but her betraying eyes gave everything away. I have been traded, she knows it and despises it.
"The emperor promised to protect me!" I couldn't help it anymore. The tears rolled down freely and this time, I didn't bother stopping or wiping them.
"He has been promised a province in exchange of yo…" I am grateful Kiera let the sentence hang in the middle. Letting go was a bitter pill to swallow, sacrificing everything we'd painstakingly built. But survival demanded this heart-wrenching choice.
And my so-called Emperor made the choice.