SORAIYA: Queen of Anatol

SORAIYA

"You know this is forbidden, Sabir. You are risking your life by coming here." Worry was evident in the tone of a melodious voice coming out from the woman hiding in the shadow of the big old oak tree.

"I know. But you are worth risking my life for. You are my mate Soraiya, and I will still come here and be with you, even if it will cost me my life," said the young, radiant, and sturdy man with her.

They were in the middle of the dense forest of Anatol—the home and the Kingdom of the Oreads like Soraiya. In fact, in this same tree, she met Sabir not so long ago. She was tending this old tree to prevent it from dying when the young Prince of the desert wolves wandered into their forest.

The Wolf Prince was covered in blood, not his own but from his victim in the war. When Soraiya saw him, she knew that the Prince had come to their Kingdom to conquer. But when their eyes met, she couldn't deny the magical pull she felt that tugged at her heart.

From then on, Soraiya knew that her life would never be the same again, as she was his mate. Her fated mate. How did it happen? It is still a question that needs an answer, and maybe only their Goddess Silu'ah had an answer, for she is an Oread nymph, and Sabir is a wolf.

Soraiya tenderly gazed at Sabir, her slender finger slowly tracing the line of Sabir's face before she cupped his cheeks. "I love to be with you every single day, My Prince. But I don't want you to be harmed because of me. It will kill me if something might happen to you."

Sabir got a hold of her hands and kissed each palm tenderly. "I won't allow anything to happen to me. I promise you that, My Love," he said.

"If your Father finds out about us–" Soraiya said, but Sabir's lips immediately stopped her words. She was stunned for a moment, but all her worries faded as she felt Sabir's tender lips on hers. His kiss was full of love and promises.

"He will not find out about us. I won't let it happen," Sabir said in a husky tone.

Soraiya believed in Sabir's words. She trusted him, trusted their love for one another. Although they both knew that being in each other's arms would cause chaos, they still clung to the promise of their love.

But indeed, all happiness would come to an end. Soraiya didn't realize it would come too soon.

The Anatol mountain looked the same but entirely different. It wasn't luscious anymore. The stench of death replaced the fresh scents of the forest. The trees were uprooted or cut down, the wild grass and vines were all burnt and fell into ashes, and there was no sound of chirping of birds; instead, it was replaced by cries and wailing.

In the middle of this chaotic scene was a plain plateau. And in there were the nymphs of Anatol. The Oreads of the mountain, the people of the Kingdom of Anatol. All of them were embodiments of charm and beauty, but there was no beauty in the way they were handled. Chains were on their necks, hands, and feet. Most of them were crying and wailing while they were being pushed by the men who captured them. The women were all rounded up in the middle of the plateau, and the men were encircling them.

"Is this all of them?" a man asked. The power in his voice makes the Oread's women shake with fear. He was emanating a black aura. It was like a part of him. He was engulfed by it like a protective cloak. "Did you capture them all?" he asked again.

"Yes, My King," the other men with him answered in unison. The King nodded while he was checking on each woman. Soraiya shivered at the way he checked them out, the way he looked at them with lust and disgust.

"What a beauty you've got in here, filthy Oreads. No wonder my son fell in love with one of you. Who among you entices my son?! If you tell me now, maybe I can think of sparing your pathetic lives and will put you all in my harem as my concubines," he said.