Chasing Melania - No Mr. Alpha I do not want a Mate

Chapter 6: The King of Wolves

In the far north, nestled within a dense forest, lies a castle where King Edmonds resides on his throne. He has allowed the packs under his rule to fall into chaos. The stability of each pack hinges on the strength of its Alpha—the stronger the Alpha, the more stable the pack. His negotiators have grown complacent, showing favoritism towards certain packs and neglecting others. As a result, strife is rampant: larger packs prey on the smaller ones, and wolves, driven by a thirst for power, have even resorted to killing humans, with the level of aggression varying from one pack to another. Amidst this turmoil, a clandestine society of wolves is plotting to usurp King Edmonds.

At the heart of this resistance is Brock Monroe, the head of the council. Brock is haunted by personal tragedy—he lost his parents in a conflict that also saw the m******e of the rightful King and his entire family. The Royal family was savagely slain, a clear indication of King Edmonds's deep-seated animosity towards his brother. He harbored resentment about being overlooked by his father in favor of his younger sibling for the crown.

King Edmonds even killed his own parents. He had so much hate in his heart. Somehow, even though King Edmonds was so wicked, he had a kind daughter. His daughter never knew about how her dad was and loved him with all her heart. Her mother died when she was a little girl in some big war. She barely remembers her mother's beautiful violet eyes.

King Edmond's heart was so consumed with hate that he even murdered his own parents. Despite the king's malevolence, he had a daughter who was the embodiment of kindness. Unaware of her father's cruel nature, she loved him deeply. She had only a faint memory of her mother, who perished in a great war when she was a young girl, barely remembering the beautiful violet eyes that once looked upon her with warmth.

She often found herself longing for the days of her childhood, particularly the memories of her cousin with whom she used to play as toddlers. They attended preschool together, where her cousin, the daughter of the previous king, was known for her playful spirit—conjuring tricks and giggling through endless games of hide and seek. Their bond was so strong, they may as well have been sisters. The whole kingdom was astonished when her cousin unexpectedly underwent a transformation, a "shifting" as it were, on the cusp of her fifth birthday—mere moments before the war that claimed her life.

A scout approached King Edmonds. "As you requested, my King, we've had spies monitoring Alpha Monroe's pack. However, one elderly person staying at his hotel reports seeing a girl resembling Elenore, your brother's wife."

King Edmonds laughed dismissively. "That entire family is dead. It must be someone who looked like a twin of hers." With a shake of his head, he dismissed any lingering doubts, certain of the family's fate. "My brother and his wife were torn to pieces," he clarified coldly.

Despite his ruthlessness, King Edmonds recollected that he had lacked the cruelty to kill his niece, who had been his daughter's closest confidant. Instead, he had left her lifeless body for the vultures. The possibility that she might have survived intrigued him.

He remembered the child appearing lifeless, without a hint of movement. The notion of her being alive was implausible to him. Yet, if she survived, she was the rightful heir, the true queen. To verify whether the girl was indeed Melania, his brother's daughter, King Edmonds dispatched additional scouts along with an elder familiar with the former royal lineage. If she was the one, he resolved not to show mercy again, vowing to eliminate any threat to his reign personally.

Meanwhile, King Edmonds' daughter entered the room with a bounce in her step, eagerly anticipating her imminent start at the University. She aspired to become a veterinarian, and the institution was renowned for its program, conveniently located near Alpha Monroe's territory. She harbored a deep infatuation for the Alpha, lost in daydreams about his captivating blue eyes. Despite attending Alpha meetings alongside her father, he never spared her a glance, confirming they were not destined mates - yet she couldn't quell her yearning for his attention.

With a wistful sigh, she approached the throne where her father sat. Planting a tender kiss on his cheek, she expressed her simple desire. "I just wanted to give you a hug and tell you I love you," she said.

The king's eyes softened as he smiled at his daughter, returning her affection with a kiss on the forehead. "I love you too, my dear."

Melania still wore her royal necklace bearing her name and an emerald emblem shaped like a crown. It was this very necklace that allowed her adoptive family to learn her name.

The threads of fate, too, have been woven into the tapestry of events, setting the stage for the King to discover that Melania is alive. Once aware, he will send his assassins to eliminate her—unless Brock Monroe can intervene. Brock is haunted by recurring dreams where he valiantly defends a Golden Werewolf, leaving him to wonder about the significance of these visions. They are but pieces of a wider puzzle, destined to come together.

After one such dream, Brock awoke with the vivid memory of clashing with the King's Wolf, intent on seizing a Golden-Brown Wolf. He experienced an intense sense of love and loyalty towards this she-wolf within his dreams. Given Melania's golden-brown hair, he couldn't help but wonder if her wolf might share the same hue. Was it possible that she was the wolf he was sworn to protect in his dreams? Yet, despite the striking parallel, Brock dismissed the thought. She was nothing but an annoyance to him – could he truly feel the deep allegiance to her that he felt in his dreams? He convinced himself the dreams were meaningless, that he was merely grappling to find significance in them.

Earlier that day, Brock had made sure the girls returned home safely from their hike in the forest. He chuckled at the memory of Melania's playful request for him to be her pet. Shaking his head, he mused that if she only knew who she was addressing, she'd be astounded. The notion brought a smile to his face.

Brock heard his wolf boast with a chuckle, "Our mate prefers me." It was a playful assertion, as though the wolf was taunting him. "I'm telling you, Brock, it's true. She allows me to snuggle in her lap, and she doesn't mind my licks."

Brock replied dryly, "Keep it down, Horn Dog, and remember not to let her in on the secret that you're a part of me—or that werewolves are real."

After pondering for a brief moment, the wolf shared, "I've tried communicating with her wolf, too. Her wolf confided in me, admitting she's overwhelmed, fragile, and unsure about her own survival."

The reason behind this fragility was bleak: Melania's wolf had been silently enduring all of Melania's suffering and sorrow, burying the traumatic memories deep within. This sacrificial act was slowly draining the strength from Melania's wolf.

Brock decided he would patrol the woods in his wolf form. There were rumors that strange wolves lurked in his territory. He needs to catch a wolf that has been lurking. He is sure it's one of the King's lackeys, and if he catches one, he can find out what the King is up to.

Melania is restless and ventures for a walk in the forest, where she has always felt at home. It would be frightening for most people to be out in the woods, but not Melania. She was in her element here. Unbeknownst to Melania, someone is taking pictures of her from a distance as she leaves the hotel, and they are following her around. Melania is unaware of a werewolf king or the threat that is lurking around her every day.

As Melania prepared to leave, a young man struck up a conversation with her. He seemed friendly, extending his hand and introducing himself with a casual, "Hello, my name is Keith."

With caution, Melania took his hand and replied, "I'm Melania, and while it's nice to meet you, I am actually just about to leave."

Practical and direct, Melania never lingered over small talk—a trait that often-intimidated others, although she preferred it that way.

Keith persisted, his plea tinged with desperation, "I've had such a long and stressful day, and I find myself without anyone to accompany me. Would you be willing to walk with me?"

Unmoved, Melania responded curtly, "If you're stressed, seek a therapist. I don't know you, and I intend to keep it that way."

As she walked away, a string of soft curses followed her. She turned and snapped, "Good!" confident that he got the message.

Unbeknownst to Melania, Keith was an agent of the King, sent to charm her. Not even the 'Ice Princess' could deter him, as failure would mean risking the King’s wrath—and his own head.

Keith had effortlessly won over countless women; the combination of his warm, innocent looks, and his 'All-American boy' persona usually did the trick. Now, puzzled and unnerved by her resistance, he retreated back into the hotel and made his way to the bar to regroup. To win Melania over, he realized he needed a new approach, one that involved getting to know her on a deeper level.