The Substitute Bride of the Alpha Prince: The Journey.

The night mist ominously enveloped the kingdom of Morsovia, as it hung over the majestic mansion of the Shadowbrook family in Solaria. The wind whispered through the dark trees, stirring twisted branches that echoed the lamentations of a past marked by envy and resentment.

Each cold breeze brought with it a shiver that ran down Eveline's spine, as she prepared for another daring nocturnal raid. Her noble heart yearned to alleviate the suffering of the less fortunate, filling a bag with essential supplies, every beat of the Clock echoing like a countdown, making her fur stand on end in fear of being caught.

However, the distressing encounter with her father the night before still echoed in her mind, filling the silence around her with palpable tension, every tiny noise seeming like a threatening whisper. Then a familiar voice startled her from the shadows.

"What are you doing there? Planning another one of your daring escapades?" her sister Astrid remained motionless with an apple in her hand.

Eveline's eyes widened in alarm, her trembling hand reaching for her racing heart. "Don't scare me like that, Astrid. I thought it was Dad," she murmured, trying to control her accelerated breathing.

Astrid let out a mordant laugh as she walked away towards the living room. "Maybe next time you won't be so lucky."

On tiptoe, Eveline tried to pass through the living room without attracting her father's attention, but something made her freeze. She heard one of the maids hastily call her father, informing him that a messenger from the crown was waiting for him in the office for an urgent meeting. Aric hurried to the office, while Eveline instinctively peeked through the crack in the door. She witnessed her father tremble and put his hands to his forehead. His nervousness filled the room, enveloping her in a tense atmosphere charged with mystery.

Aric tried to be as diplomatic as possible, but the man didn't care, he just signaled for him to sit.

"I'm here on behalf of King Roderick Blackwood," Aric nodded. "You know we live by rules and customs, and it's time to fulfill your part."

At this point, Eveline swallowed hard. She knew that if a messenger from the King was in her house, it was to deal with matters of the crown. She needed to find out what that visit was about.

"Yes, please tell me how I can serve my king!"

"We know that your eldest daughter, Astrid, still has no companion, and you, according to the title you received, have a debt to the king."

"Yes, I know."

"According to the rules of the Kingdom, the king wishes your daughter to be the prince's wife."

Aric sweated profusely. He knew that according to the rules of the Kingdom, it was impossible to refuse a request from the king. Failure to comply would result in the death of his entire family. He couldn't risk it. Eveline was shocked by what she heard, but breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't her being negotiated there. She knew she might not be able to pretend in the midst of royalty, as she was a free spirit and hated King Roderick's oppressive regime. It wasn't for her. She thanked the moon goddess for granting her a mate. Her stepsister Astrid had always been the perfect person to be in the midst of nobility. Eveline took a deep breath and left, leaving the matter for later.

Astrid is a young woman with intense eyes and hair as dark as the night. She is always lost in her dark thoughts, looking at the fragmented light of the moon that illuminates her face full of sadness.

Since she was a child, Astrid has carried a feeling of envy towards her younger stepsister, Eveline. She felt left out, like a forgotten shadow in the past, while life seemed to always favor Eveline with enviable luck. Their father's eyes shone with tenderness and love whenever they turned to Eveline, and this feeling of inequality consumed Astrid.

Lost in her thoughts, Astrid heard footsteps approaching slowly. Her father appeared before her, holding her shoulders firmly.

"Daughter, are you there? I need to talk to you," he said, his voice full of concern.

Astrid turned to him, meeting his gaze. "You can talk," she replied curiously.

Her father took a deep breath and told her about the visit he received and what it was about. Astrid felt indignation growing inside her, a feeling of deep injustice.

"Dad, why can Eveline do anything, including deciding who to marry?" she asked, her voice full of frustration.

Her father sighed, searching for the right words. "You know she's your younger sister, the customs are very clear. You're my firstborn, Astrid, you're the one who needs to fulfill our legacy, as my family has a debt with the king."

Unhappy, Astrid let her sadness show on her face. "This is unfair! Eveline always gets everything she wants, does whatever she pleases, while I'm forced to marry a useless prince," she vented.

Sadness gives way to a fierce determination in Astrid's eyes. She runs up the stairs. "I won't allow Eveline to do as she pleases. She'll get what she deserves," she smiled at the possibilities.

The next morning, Eveline is awakened by one of the maids. The sun is already high in the sky, far beyond the time she usually wakes up. She arrived late the night before. Meanwhile, Astrid had already left early, heading to Mount Astoria, where Eveline used to meet her fiancé.

Astrid approaches Caleb, looking him in the eyes. "Hi, I needed to talk to you," her voice full of seriousness.

Caleb hesitates. "I've already said we can't meet. This can attract unwanted attention to us," he warned, concerned.

Astrid didn't care. "I don't want to hear it. I decided to tell the whole truth about my sister. You're an upright man, you can't be deceived like this," she said determinedly.

Caleb furrowed his brow, confused. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

Astrid took a deep breath before revealing what she had come to say. "My sister is cheating on you with other men. Almost every night, she sneaks out of our father's house and comes back late, after lying with others," she said.

Caleb was paralyzed, doubt running through his veins with a cold shiver, his two natures conflicting, each one clamoring for attention.

"It can't be true, I don't believe it," murmured Caleb, primitive anger inflaming in his core, a wild storm calling for freedom within him, but he knew he needed to calm down.

Astrid was offended and left, leaving Caleb lost in thought, the seed of doubt already planted.

Determined to verify the truth of the accusations, even though he was engaged to Eveline, Caleb decided to observe and wait. On the second night of vigil, he caught Eveline sneaking out. Her explanations were not enough to convince him, and he made a decision that would change his life.

"I won't stay with a woman as dishonest as you. I reject you as my mate. From now on, don't come looking for me!" he growled at her, baring his teeth.

Eveline couldn't believe what had just happened. A deep and piercing despair enveloped her, as if she had been struck by a sharp blade in her heart. It was a wound that opened up within her, leaving her dazed and without ground.

A lonely howl echoed in the hopeless night from her throat, her mate gifted by the goddess Luna as a promise of love and protection, had chosen not to believe her. The words that echoed from his lips were like sharp daggers, tearing apart her trust and love. It was as if the essence of her being had been denied, casting shadows of doubt and rejection.

Eveline felt a devastating mix of emotions. The pain was so intense that her legs felt weak, unable to support her. Silent tears flooded her eyes, while a deep and cold emptiness settled in her chest.

She looked around and toward the place where they cared for abandoned orphans, the place that was her refuge, her source of hope and purpose. But now, in the face of this overwhelming rejection, she felt unable to continue. Her broken heart prevented her from finding the strength to care for others, as her own soul was in pieces.

Eveline couldn't take care of anyone that night. She knew that helping those in need was what mattered most to her, the orphans she loved so much. But she needed to face the grief of what she had lost. That mate who should have been her anchor and support had become a painful memory. She needed to make space for her pain, to allow herself to feel and heal the wounds caused by rejection.

Thus, in the midst of sorrow and sadness, her wolf took over and ran through the forest, moving away from that place that was once her sanctuary. In her heart, hope fought to survive, while the shadow of rejection cast its darkness over the path that lay ahead.

Meanwhile, Astrid had made a decision. She couldn't marry a prince without prestige, knowing that her father would force her to do so. Refusing to marry, she decided that running away from home was the only option that could save her from this arranged marriage.