The Alpha King's Fated Mate

Maddie’s Point of View

“Hey, young lady! When do you plan to settle your rent? When I’m ready to set foot in my grave?!” I was rudely awakened by a loud scream. "If I count to three and you don't come out, I'll have these men break down the door! One!"

Oh no, it's the landlord again!

I hopped out of bed and hit the ground running. Without batting an eye, with a bedhead that could rival Medusa’s snakes, and a case of morning breath that could knock out a horse, I bolted out of bed without skipping a beat. I opened the door to see the landlord looking angry and surprised.

I sheepishly greeted her, "Good morning, Mrs. Taylor! It's been a while—"

"It's been a while since you paid your rent! What's so good about the morning when I have to wake up early just to remind you to pay?!" she hissed, extending her hand for payment.

I gave her an apologetic expression, but I didn’t really listen to her. She seemed upset, but I didn’t care. After all, it was still early in the morning and all I wanted to do was sleep. However, I knew that my current living situation was bad, and sooner would lose the roof over my head.

“Um...” I started scratching my head. “Well, Mrs. Taylor, you know, I’ve just started at my work and I haven’t earned a dime yet, nor can I go begging for an upfront payment… Can I have a little more time to chew on this? I swear to pay as soon—”

“There is no way I will give you another month! You've been causing problems for my business for five months straight! I've been going out of my way to help you during those months, but I've reached my breaking point! If you don't have any money, then fucking leave!” She quickly left, accompanied by the two men.

I let out a sigh.

Where should I go now?

I'm Maddie Ziegler, a 19-year-old who's down on my luck and struggling to make ends meet. A girl who has more problems than she can handle. Ever since my aunt turned her back on me a year ago, I've been left without any support to pay for my rent. I applied for jobs five months ago, but none of them hired me because I didn't have a high school diploma.

Luckily, I struck gold yesterday and landed a job, but it seemed like Lady Luck had a bone to pick with me and was dead set on disrupting my peace. Now, I have to say goodbye to my comfortable apartment without knowing where I'll go next!

I had no choice but to leave my apartment, so I gathered my things. Thankfully, there wasn't anything important except my wardrobe. I started my journey promptly at 8 pm.

As I dragged my luggage through the dark street, I couldn't help but complain, "Why is everything going wrong for me?" Just when I thought bad luck had already left me, my stomach growled loudly. "What now, luck?"

I searched my pocket, hoping to find some money, but all I found was dirt and candy wrappers. I hadn't eaten all morning because I was busy asking my friends for help, but no one was willing to lend a hand.

Just as I was about to continue my journey, I stopped when I heard women laughing nearby. They were excitedly talking about something, and I soon found out what it was.

"Did you hear? The food is free! We can eat as much as we want!"

"Lucky us! It's been a while since I had free food!"

I couldn't ignore what I heard, so I quickly approached the women. "Excuse me," I said awkwardly. "I couldn't help but overhear you talking about that... um... place. Can you please tell me where it is?"

The two women give me sympathetic looks, as though they understand what I had been through today.

After giving me a quick glance, they gestured towards the livelier side of the street, not too far from where we were now, where there was a bustling crowd and a multitude of lights.

“Thank you, girls! I owe this to you!”

After expressing my gratitude, they hurriedly went there, and I didn't hesitate to follow. When we arrived, my eyes sparkled, and my stomach growled even louder. Without wasting any time, I started selecting food, and to my delight, they were just perfect! It won't cost you anything!

I carefully choose my favorite dishes and even secretly save a few for later. This way, I would also have a delicious treat to enjoy in the coming days. Although it's a difficult situation to accept, I had no other choice but to face reality and be humble. However, as I prepared to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong in the area.

I noticed people weren't eating and were instead leaving from a dimly lit place. Intrigued, I leisurely walked towards where they were heading.

I was filled with curiosity when I saw a couple standing in front of an old lady, all three of them covered in white gauze. The crowd around them was completely silent, creating an eerie atmosphere.

The man declared, "I, Ambrose Rita, accept Yulia Henzi as my mate!"

I wanted to laugh by the sight but the silence made me shut my mouth. I was about to turn and investigate more. Nonetheless, suddenly, a possessive arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to his warm body. I could smell a mixture of cologne and a musky scent that was both alluring and intimidating. My heart raced as I tried to figure out who was speaking and holding me.

But before I could do so, a chilling voice broke the silence, sending shivers down my spine.

"I can smell you, woman."

It sounded like someone who had been smoking for years, with a deep, raspy, and threatening tone. It was warm and damp. And before I could react, he added, "Finally, I have found you, my mate."