The Alpha King's Broken Omega

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: JEALOUS HEARTS

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Jealous Hearts

Lady Evelyn

Applause still echoed faintly in the ballroom long after the music had stopped.

But I could no longer hear it.

My eyes remained fixed on Alcaide and Lila.

The way he instinctively stepped in front of her when the messenger delivered the threat...

The way he shielded her without hesitation...

It wasn't the duty of a king.

It was the instinct of a man protecting the woman he loved.

A painful smile touched my lips.

"So this is what it feels like..."

To lose someone who had never truly been mine.

I turned quietly and slipped out onto the palace balcony.

The cool night breeze brushed against my face as I stared at the moon hanging high above the kingdom.

"You always run here when something is bothering you."

I smiled faintly without turning around.

"I should have known you'd find me."

Alcaide stepped beside me.

For a few moments, neither of us spoke.

Finally, he broke the silence.

"I'm sorry."

I let out a soft laugh.

"For what?"

"For hurting you."

I looked at him.

"When did you become so good at reading my thoughts?"

"You've always worn your heart on your sleeve."

I lowered my eyes.

"I suppose I have."

Another silence settled between us.

"I spent years believing that one day..."

I stopped myself.

"No."

"I convinced myself."

He remained quiet, allowing me to speak.

"The nobles talked."

"My father hoped."

"The kingdom expected."

"And eventually..."

"I started expecting it too."

My voice trembled.

"I thought one day I'd become your Luna."

Alcaide looked genuinely saddened.

"I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know."

A tear escaped despite my efforts.

"You never promised me anything."

"That was my mistake."

"I mistook kindness for love."

He gently placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You deserve someone who loves you completely."

I smiled through my tears.

"Just not you."

His silence was answer enough.

I took a slow breath before wiping away my tears.

"Then promise me something."

"Anything."

"If you choose Lila..."

"Never let her doubt your heart."

"Because I can already see it."

"She still believes she's unworthy of being loved."

His expression softened.

"I know."

"And I'll spend every day proving her wrong."

For the first time that evening...

I smiled honestly.

"Then I hope she believes you."

---

Lila

The festival had ended.

The laughter.

The music.

The dancing.

Everything felt like a beautiful dream.

Yet one thought refused to leave my mind.

Lady Evelyn.

She was graceful.

Kind.

Strong.

Everything a future Luna should be.

As I walked through the quiet corridors toward my room, I couldn't stop comparing myself to her.

She belonged here.

I didn't.

Lost in thought, I accidentally collided with someone.

"Oh!"

Strong hands caught my arms before I could fall.

"Lila."

I looked up.

Alcaide.

"I'm sorry."

He sighed with a smile.

"You apologize too much."

"I know."

"And?"

"I don't know how to stop."

He laughed softly.

"Then we'll work on that together."

My heart fluttered.

He noticed the sadness in my eyes.

"Walk with me."

Together they wandered through the moonlit gardens.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Finally, Alcaide asked,

"Do you know why I invited you to dance tonight?"

I shook my head.

"Because everyone was watching."

He smiled.

"No."

"I asked because I wanted to dance with you."

No title.

No obligation.

No politics.

"You."

Lila's heart skipped.

"You really mean that?"

"I've never lied to you."

Tears shimmered in her eyes.

"I still don't understand why."

He stopped walking.

Then gently lifted her chin.

"One day..."

"You'll stop asking why I chose you."

"And you'll finally see what I see."

Just as Lila opened her mouth to answer—

A cold gust of wind swept through the garden.

Hidden in the darkness beyond the trees...

Two crimson eyes watched them.

The enemy had entered the palace grounds.

Lila

The cold wind disappeared as quickly as it had come.

I looked toward the dark line of trees surrounding the palace gardens, but I saw nothing.

Only shadows.

Perhaps I was imagining things.

"You look frightened."

Alcaide's deep voice pulled my attention back to him.

"I thought I saw someone."

Without hesitation, he stepped in front of me.

His sharp blue eyes scanned the darkness.

The Alpha King was gone.

The warrior had returned.

After several tense moments, he relaxed slightly.

"It was probably one of the palace guards."

He turned back to me, though I noticed he was still listening carefully to every sound around us.

"I'll have the area searched."

"You don't have to."

"I do."

His answer was immediate.

"Your safety will never be something I take lightly."

A warm feeling spread through my chest.

No one had ever cared whether I was safe before.

---

The next morning...

Sunlight streamed through the palace windows.

For the first time in days, I woke feeling lighter.

The memory of last night's dance still made me smile.

A gentle knock sounded at my door.

"Come in."

Martha entered carrying breakfast.

She looked at me closely before smiling.

"Well..."

"What?"

"You look happier."

I blushed.

"I do not."

"Oh?"

"I haven't seen you smile this much since you arrived."

I quickly looked away.

"It was just a festival."

Martha chuckled knowingly.

"If you say so."

Before I could answer, Serafina burst into the room without knocking.

Again.

"Lila!"

Martha sighed dramatically.

"One day you'll remember doors exist."

"I doubt it."

Serafina laughed before turning to me excitedly.

"Captain Aria wants us at the training grounds."

I blinked.

"Me?"

"Especially you."

---

The training field buzzed with activity.

Warriors practiced swordsmanship while others trained in hand-to-hand combat.

Captain Aria stood in the center, arms crossed.

When she saw me, she nodded approvingly.

"You're late."

"I'm sorry."

Aria raised one eyebrow.

"First lesson."

"Stop apologizing."

Serafina snorted with laughter.

I covered my face in embarrassment.

"I'm trying."

"I know."

Aria tossed a wooden sword toward me.

I barely caught it.

"Show me what you've learned."

I swallowed nervously.

Several warriors paused their training to watch.

My hands tightened around the sword.

"I'll embarrass myself."

"Probably."

Aria answered bluntly.

"But that's how people improve."

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips.

She wasn't wrong.

We began.

At first, every movement felt awkward.

My attacks were slow.

Easy to block.

Aria disarmed me twice within minutes.

The watching warriors laughed quietly.

Heat burned my cheeks.

"I knew this was a mistake."

I bent down to pick up the wooden sword.

Before I could...

Another hand reached it first.

I looked up.

Alcaide.

He picked up the sword and handed it back to me.

"You dropped this."

"I made a fool of myself."

He shook his head.

"No."

"You stood back up."

He looked around at the warriors watching us.

"That takes more courage than winning."

The laughter stopped immediately.

Some warriors lowered their heads in shame.

Captain Aria smiled slightly.

"Again."

This time...

I fought harder.

I remembered every correction Aria had given me.

Every movement.

Every step.

When Aria attacked again, I managed to block her strike.

The wooden swords clashed loudly.

A few surprised murmurs spread across the training field.

A small smile appeared on Aria's face.

"Better."

My confidence grew.

Not because I had won.

Because I had improved.

Alcaide watched from the edge of the field, pride evident in his eyes.

Xander walked over beside him.

"You've got that look again."

"What look?"

"The one that says you're falling deeper in love."

Alcaide didn't answer.

He simply continued watching Lila.

That was enough answer.

---

Far beyond the palace...

Inside the Black Moon Pack...

The hooded leader stood before a large fire.

The palace maid knelt before him.

"The girl is changing."

"I know."

"She smiles now."

His expression darkened.

"Then we will remind her who she used to be."

He turned toward several warriors standing nearby.

"Bring me the former Alpha."

One of the warriors hesitated.

"My lord..."

"He's imprisoned beneath the eastern fortress."

"Good."

A cruel smile spread across the hooded leader's face.

"It's time for Lila to see a ghost from her past."

The flames crackled.

Far away, Lila laughed with Serafina after finally landing a clean strike during training.

She didn't know...

Her peaceful days were running out.

Someone from the darkest chapter of her life...

I was about to return.