1
A black swan brings nothing but a life of misfortune.
My father’s words lingered in my mind as I sat at the cliff’s edge, gazing out at the restless sea stretching endlessly beyond the horizon. The afternoon was fading, with clouds swallowing the sunlight, yet I had no desire to leave. This small taste of freedom was all I’d ever known, and with such an uncertain future ahead, I wanted to hold on to this peaceful moment for as long as possible.
It wasn’t my fault that I was born the way I was. Among the Swans, my differences felt more like a curse than anything else. Whenever I looked in the mirror, I never saw the same beauty as they had. Their white hair and wings shone in the sunlight, and their dark eyes sparkled with grace and intelligence. There was no room in that picture for someone like me, with hair and wings as black as midnight and eyes the shade of amethyst.
But that didn't mean that I felt like I should be kept hidden away. That was part of what led me here. The cliffs were just a stop to take in the beauty I’d never known in my sheltered life. After this, I had no idea where I’d head next—only that I wanted to survive and build something better than the life I’d been given.
You are nothing but a curse!
My stepmother's voice echoed in my mind, and I shut my eyes, wishing it would fade. A gentle breeze stirred, making the ornaments on my hair sticks jingle quietly. Loose strands of my black hair brushed against my face. When I opened my eyes, I fixed them on the horizon, holding tightly to my resolve.
“No more,” I whispered to myself. “They will never control me again.”
I rose slowly, brushing dirt and grass from my pink-and-black dress. The sleeves hung loosely from my arms, leaving my shoulders bare and cool in the ocean breeze. Unfurling my large black wings, I stretched them wide, ready to take flight after sitting for so long.
Maybe I’ll head east, where I might find a place to stay and someone willing to let me work, giving me a chance to build a life for myself.
The winds were a little stronger as I soared into the sky, catching beneath my wings and making me feel a bit unsteady. Honestly, I’d never been allowed to fly like this until now, but I wasn’t too concerned. I was confident I could handle the navigation just fine, even in these conditions.
A sprawling forest stretched out beneath me as I soared away from the cliffs. The treetops were shadowed, with no real clearings in sight. I wondered if hidden paths wound through it, or if it was the kind of place that was avoided for fear of wild creatures. From what I knew, our world had plenty of those, though the ruler of our lands ensured they caused no serious trouble.
I wondered what he was really like. I’d heard stories about Lord Merrick since I was a young child, though I’d never actually seen him. Still, he fascinated me. They said he was the last Chimera alive. While he was undoubtedly a superior Alpha in every way, I couldn’t help but think he might understand what it’s like to be one of a kind. I wondered if he’d even been ostracized by others at one time, too.
Though the idea was meant to lift my spirits, deep down I knew I could never measure up to him. He was probably born destined for greatness, while I had been born to bring misfortune—just as Father always claimed.
The sudden rush of something whizzing past my head jolted me back to reality. I beat my wings, hovering in place as I scanned my surroundings, but nothing out of the ordinary caught my eye.
Did I imagine it?
As I pondered over it, something else suddenly zipped past me. My eyes widened in surprise as a shocking realization hit me.
It was an arrow! Someone was shooting at me!
I darted forward, desperate to escape. I had no idea why anyone would want to hurt me, but there was no time to figure it out. All that mattered was getting away before it was too late.
Arrows kept whizzing toward me, picking up speed as I scrambled to escape. I weaved side to side, using the wind to my advantage, doing everything I could to dodge them. If I could just make it away from this forest, maybe I could finally shake off whoever was hunting me.
But sadly, that wasn’t meant to happen. As I rushed away, an arrow struck true, sinking into the bend of my left wing. A sharp cry escaped me as my strength gave out, sending me spiraling downward.
I tumbled through the trees, branches scraping and breaking against me, until I hit the hard ground with a thud. Groaning, I lay there as pain coursed through me. The thick canopy above made everything feel even darker. Slowly, I pushed myself up, scanning my surroundings and trying to get my bearings. I had no clue where I was or which direction to go, but I couldn’t just stay put—not with my pursuer so close.
I pushed myself upright, stumbling through the brush and crunching leaves underfoot. All I needed was to find a path, and maybe then I could figure out a way out of here.
My wing throbbed as I moved, and I ducked behind a tree to check it. The arrow was lodged deep in the crook, piercing straight through. It was long and sharp, gleaming like silver. I tried to yank it out, but the pain was unbearable, forcing me to clamp a hand over my mouth as a cry threatened to escape.
As I moved, the soft sound of footsteps reached my ears. I froze instantly, doing my best to stay still and quiet. The steps drew closer, stopping nearby as if whoever was following me was scanning the area. I crouched low, silently hoping they wouldn’t notice me. If they did, I was sure they’d end my life.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. I heard a man gasp, and then footsteps hurried away. I stayed completely still, too scared to move. The forest grew quiet once more, and I started to wonder if I was the only living soul left here.
Suddenly, a new sound reached my ears. Something had slipped down through the canopy, rustling the leaves on its way. Then came the heavy flapping of large wings as they touched down. A few steps came forward, then halted, and for the first time, I saw tiny different colors of light drift past me toward where they stood, followed by the sound of high-pitched squeaks.
“Don't worry. It seems he retreated,” a male voice said. A few soft squeaks followed, apparently communicating with him. “He shot someone? Did you see where they went?”
The squeaking sound returned, and suddenly, I was surrounded by countless tiny lights. It took me a moment to realize they were Sprites.
“Did you… call for help?” I whispered as this all dawned on me.
A few of them bobbed up and down, as if agreeing with my question. Meanwhile, the sound of footsteps drew closer until someone stepped around the tree and caught sight of me.
“Ah, there you are.”
I looked up at the man who had found me. He was undeniably handsome and likely another bird type, judging by the large, stunning black wings on his back. His hair was the same dark shade, a striking contrast to his smooth, pale skin. The white shirt he wore did little to hide his strong build, and he stood impressively tall.
But what struck me the most were his eyes—a deep, beautiful blue, unlike any I’d ever seen. And to top it off, I’d never heard of a bird with black wings and hair who had blue eyes.
He stepped in front of me as the Sprites moved aside for him, kneeling to check on me. His gaze instantly shifted to my injured wing.
“My, that’s quite a nasty wound he’s given you. It must be terribly painful,” he said. He reached out, gently brushing my hair away from my face. His eyes widened a little when they met mine, surprise flickering there before quickly softening into sympathy. “It’s going to be okay. I promise I won’t hurt you. Let me take you to my nest so I can help you.”
“I… I can’t move right now,” I breathed, not daring to move my wing.
“It’s all right. I'll carry you there,” he assured me.
I hesitated, unsure if this was really a good idea. Could he be working with the one who had tried to hunt me?
The man seemed to read my mind. “Don't be afraid. The one who was after you is gone, and I’d never do anything to hurt you. That goes against all I am,” he reassured me.
“You swear to that?”
He nodded confidently. “Yes, very much so.”
I shifted a bit, realizing I had no choice but to trust him. I didn’t know where I was, and it seemed unlikely that any other help would come to help me. More than that, my gut told me that I could trust him.
“I suppose I have no choice,” I relented. “I have no other way out of here, and I fear I may bleed to death before I find one.”
“That’s entirely possible. You’ve got a nasty wound there, even with the arrow still lodged in it.” The man ripped a long strip from the bottom of his shirt and carefully tied it around the spot where the arrow pierced my wing. “This should slow the bleeding for now. Once we’re at my nest, I can work on fixing it.”
I winced as he carefully lifted me into his arms. I clung to his shoulders, trying hard not to move my wing. He was just as strong as he appeared, which wasn’t all that surprising once I pieced things together in my scattered thoughts. He had to be an Alpha—only they carried such a powerful aura.
He glanced at the small blue Sprite beside him, a charming figure with flowing hair and a tiny frame, seemingly waiting eagerly for his instructions.
“Send Jasmine a message for me. Tell her to swing by my place and help out this young lady as soon as she can,” he ordered.
The Sprite let out a squeaky agreement and gestured to the others, who trailed after it into the trees.
He turned his gaze toward me, his expression softening. “I’m sorry, my lady. I know that wound must be awful, so I’ll be as gentle as I can while getting you out of here,” he assured.
“I trust you about that,” I nodded slightly.
“I’m glad to hear that. This was quite an unusual way for us to meet, so you have a right not to,” he remarked, stepping forward cautiously through the underbrush. “I feel a bit rude. My name’s Armando. What’s yours?”
“Desiree. I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but these seem like pretty awful circumstances,” I replied.
Armando chuckled softly. “Yes, I would agree with that. If you don’t mind my asking, do you know who did this to you?” he went on.
I shook my head. “Not at all. I was simply flying when someone opened fire on me.”
“How strange. I have never heard of that happening around here, although most wouldn’t wish to enter these woods either. They can be rather treacherous if one isn’t ready for them,” he stated.
He kept moving forward until he spotted a wide gap in the canopy, then soared up through it. The sky spread open around us, revealing the same view I’d seen before the attack. I flinched as the wind brushed my injured wing, trying to keep it tucked close.
Armando adjusted his position so it wouldn’t hit me as hard, then continued toward the cliffs I had first come from. As we soared over the edge, he dipped lower, gliding alongside the rocks about fifty feet above the sea. The ocean’s scent was so strong here that I could almost believe the water itself was mixed into the air.
We made our way along the side of the cliffs, nearly reaching their end, when I spotted what looked like a balcony jutting out from the rocky face. Armando made his way there and, in no time, landed on the stone platform. To my surprise, glass windows and doors emerged from within the cliff near it.
“This is where you have your nest?” I asked.
“It is. You could say I enjoy having a more secluded home,” he responded.
He walked over to the double glass doors, which slid open for him. Inside was one of the most stunning homes I could ever imagine. A spacious den stretched before us, with ceilings soaring at least fifteen feet high. A fireplace stood at each end, and elegant ivory furniture was arranged throughout. The marble-like floors gleamed so brightly they mirrored our reflections.
“How beautiful,” I said as he carried me further into the room.
“I thank you for the compliment. I’m rather proud of my home, even if I don’t let many people visit,” Armando said, offering me a friendly smile as he adjusted me in his arms. “I’ll give you a tour later. For now, let’s get you to my room and take care of that wound. Hopefully, Jasmine will be here to help soon, but I think I can handle it in the meantime.”
“All right.”
We moved to the left, down a small hallway that ended at an open door. Beyond it was a bedroom nearly as large as the main room, with a massive bed draped in dark satin sheets at the far end. Ivory wardrobes and dressers surrounded the space, accompanied by a desk, a few loveseats, and an assortment of plants. Off to the right, I spotted another doorway, and from the glimpse I caught, I guessed it led to a washroom.
“This is incredible. Did you make this entire nest yourself?” I asked him.
“For the most part, though, I did get some help with the furnishings. I’m not quite as skilled at those as I am at carving out my spaces,” Armando admitted. He eased me down onto one of the dark-colored loveseats. “Alright, let’s start by cleaning you up a bit. Then I can see what other wounds you might have besides that arrow.”
“I believe it could be some minor scrapes. Nothing too bad,” I assured him.
“Either way, we need to clean those up. Let me get some supplies from the washroom, and we’ll start with that,” Armando said before going off.
I stayed where I was, unsure of what to do or think. It felt like a real stroke of luck to have an Alpha come to my rescue, especially one who was also a bird type. Even with everything going on, I couldn’t help but feel like fortune had smiled on me. Maybe Armando could help me with my plan to get away from the Swans.
A few moments later, Armando came back carrying a bowl of water and a couple of washcloths.
“It isn’t much, but this could be a start, at least until Jasmine gets here,” he said, pulling over a small table to set them on.
“This is all very kind of you. I’m sorry if I came off as a bit standoffish at first,” I apologized.
“There’s no need for that. You were probably still in shock, so I’ll let it slide,” he said reassuringly. He sat next to me, using a cloth to wipe my face. “If you don’t mind me asking, what type of bird are you? You look familiar, but I can’t quite place you.”
“I would imagine not. I am a Swan, but unlike any other you may have seen. I believe the reasons would be obvious,” I answered.
“Absolutely. Every Swan I’ve ever seen has had such light features and dark eyes, but you have hair and wings like mine, and your eyes are the shade of amethyst. You’re truly one of a kind—quite beautiful,” Armando remarked.
“I wish I could see it the same way, but I just can’t. Not after spending so long living in its shadow,” I admitted.
Armando frowned, appearing to understand what was left unsaid.
“Is that so? It would seem you had a good reason to be out there if that’s the case,” he quietly surmised.
“If I may be so bold, could I ask something of you? I have nowhere to go at this time, so could you perhaps assist me in finding a place once my wounds are mended?” I requested.
“I could, but I see no reason to do so. I’d much rather keep you here with me,” he answered.
That was most certainly not the answer I’d been expecting. At most, I had thought he’d give me a kind smile and say he would see what he could do.
“That’s so kind of you, but wouldn’t I be in the way? You said that you don’t care to have visitors here, and I’d imagine your Beta may not be too happy with my presence,” I said.
That made him chuckle. “Not at all. I have no Beta to speak of. At least, not at the moment. But maybe I could change that now that you are here. You' the perfect one to fill that spot.”
“I can’t imagine how. I have always been an outcast, quite unsuitable for an Alpha,” I responded.
“Perhaps you have simply not been around the right ones to see your worth,” Armando suggested. He rinsed the cloth in the nearby bowl, then turned back to me. “But there is no reason to worry about any of that. You shall be mine now, and I promise that I'll take good care of you.”
Even though it seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime, I was still a bit hesitant. What if he was planning to take advantage of me? Most Alphas wouldn’t do that, but I couldn’t rule it out just because he was being so nice right now.
But what other options did I really have? There was nowhere else for me to turn. Besides, becoming an Alpha’s wife was a dream I never imagined I’d reach. If he was offering me safety and a fresh start, I’d be insane to refuse.
With this in mind, I made a faithful choice.
“Very well. Then please consider me yours.”
