The Alpha Killed My Husband

Zf| She Is Not What She Is

Early next morning

Winter is here again. I love winters, which is why as the sun comes up like thunder over the Hanuman Hills, I go down to the foot of the hill, picking my way over the flower bed and misty greenery that decorated parts of the garden.

During the journey, I explore the vastness of the land and all the differences it has embraced from Cape Comorin. I find myself listing a few first-handedly.

Unlike the technologically advanced front of my pack, Sarp Samrajya is cocooned in nature’s lap with yellow tulips and budding roses at the front before it opens its mouth to dens and dungeons.

The atmosphere is misty and the air is fresh. There is no overbearing honking of vehicles or smoke of chimneys. I am not running around the clock. Life has slowed down and so I am. It’s calming, serene, and inviting in a different sort of way that I cannot help but fall in love with.

I made a mental note to ask my father about having the palace for myself. I’d like to keep visiting or maybe make it my home after retiring. It deserves all the stars and constellations.

It’s refreshing and reflecting. I feel an urge to introspect now and then. The chirping of birds, shushing of the early morning breeze, cats, monkeys, and slow beats of stream water flowing–it’s like heaven on earth.

It could be why I am exploring an all-new shade of my mate.

My mouth dries up when the picture of my innocent Aary, still fast asleep in the king’s chamber, tucked till the head flashes across the vision. A grin breaks on my face when I picture her snoring lightly—a sight I’d just left behind.

It’s the side I have never seen before–the ease at which she rolls, kicks, and growls in her sleep. She slapped me twice unknowingly and lines of worries vanished. There is ease on her face that I have never seen before—as if she has returned home after wandering around the whole planet.

It’s almost as if the Sarp-Samrajya has brought a different self in front that she has been keeping buried for so long. She has dropped down the veils of sophistication. Which makes me compare her present self with the past one.

She is bolder, stronger, and more stubborn now. She does not chain herself down to others’ opinions. She is greatly independent and has the gist to bring change which makes me wonder—

‘She is not what she pretends to be, Alpha.’ Shantanu had said. ‘She has never been like this. It’s like she has been replaced by a different soul altogether. I cannot help myself but make a comparison.’ His cries did nothing to bother me except make me intrigued.

‘What do you mean to say?’ I asked him even when I knew what he was truly implying.

‘Our investigation raises questions. We just want to dig for the answers. The chef of Rajbhog could not be wrong with so many details. I am sorry to say but Luna is under the radar.’

I’d always admired Shantanu for his ability to be blunt. However, that was to draw an exception. I felt an immediate burning in my heart. A pang in the chest that I’d never felt before. It’s like he had dug in for the heart in the ribcage and wanted to pull it out with his blood-stained hands.

‘Are you trying to say, my mate is a murderer of some lunatic pimp of Appy Lane? Because why not?’ I banged my fist on the table as I kicked my chair away. This was too much. I could not let my mate be insulted like that.

Ungodly it maybe, Kevin has tamed his appearances. It made no sense when he did not even cough a growl at that. All of it after a mere night of pleasure. What did he exactly do in the library?

‘I am not saying anything, Alpha. Please, calm down! Listen to me once.’ Shantanu was taking defence. ‘I’ve the facts ready–’

‘f**k you and your facts. I can get your head chopped off for the audacity. You know it, Punk. I think you have forgotten about your position. Father is right. I have given you too much liberty.’ I snapped, gritting my teeth. ‘You are just what you are—my filthy good or nothing Beta. And the she-wolf you are talking about—well she is my Luna–my mate–the creature who is going to bear my pups. She is my soulmate. My better half! How dare you say something so derogatory about her?’ I heaved through my nostrils. ‘Unless of course, you wanna die.’

It’s taking me everything from physically charging myself on him. I can only see red. Even though I have questions about myself and past holdings and conflicts to resolve–I still love Aary like anything.

She has been nothing but supportive, endearing, and loving. She forgave me for assaulting her. She knows my spirits are not only wholly in this union. She stands by me. She has surrendered herself to me. She is pushing her limits for me–because I can see she has given her heart and soul to me. It’d be an injustice if I do not protect her honour now.

‘I know my rank, Alpha. I know no matter how hard I might try, I would never be able to please you the way she could. She and I cannot be compared because I am no match for Luna. She is the daughter of a tycoon who owns half of the world. She was first considered the Alpha King's only choice. She is perfect like none other–it’s just that a hunt by a serpent after three years of victory cannot be taken lightly. It may lead to a m******e. If I had to put you under the radar I would have. It isn’t a private concern but a matter of our Pack’s safety.’ Shantanu explained slowly as if he was not talking to Alpha but he was trying to make a pup understand that the earth is not flat and square but it is round.

‘I. Am. Not. Going. To. Let. It. Pass.’ I emphasised each word with a fire burning in my chest. ‘I will ask her and prove her innocence.’ I crashed the centre piece to pieces.

‘You must not!’ Shantanu is exasperated. I do not remember ever seeing Shantanu this desperate. ‘Please, I beg you. No one is saying anything against Luna. We all love her like anything. She is a gem for a wolf–the best we can ever get. Recently, she has drafted a policy for the she-wolves in Appy Lane. She is working for charity. She has written an official apology letter to the First Son of Vampuza. She is striving for something better each day.

We cannot halt her progress for the sake of a minor doubt.

It’s just that the shreds of evidence are directed otherwise. I am hoping they all are wrong but you know Shaan better than I do. Negligence is the last thing we can expect from him.’

‘You do not make any sense to me.’ I was gritting my teeth so hard that I feared I might lose a tooth or two today.

‘The p********e had a companion who is missing for months. I remember seeing her the night–that bee stung Luna. I went to Twaivada to cross-examine, Alpha. Madame Ayesha has given testimony that it was her first night out. The chef said the she-wolf was inseparable from another she-wolf who worked in Rajbhog since the day he had appointed them. I remember her name was Komal. On anything, she was the one to convince Ayesha to allow them. Field Marshal Bipin’s mistress, Ankita has mentioned this she wolf more than once. Unfortunately we could not get a hold on her photograph. Avika does not seem to be bothered by the mysterious companion.’

‘What could this strange she-wolf be doing with Armaan in the first place? Look, Avika isn’t a p********e. She was compelled by the circumstances once but she thought better than to walk on the path. She served in Rajbhog. Our data reconciles with the truth. Isn’t it?’ I’d countered. I do not know why I was defending a stranger for a she-wolf who I’d known not more than some weeks ago. Somehow, her innocence seems directly connected with Aary’s innocence.

‘Because the threads are connected. This She-wolf was there when Luna was stung. Avika was literally glued to her side. However, now there are no traces of her to the length of horizons. She neither raised a complaint nor made any attempt to find the she-wolf she was so close to once. On anything, she happily started working with Luna. Besides, she had evacuated the Lane along the line of Armaan’s death. Both of them just vanished and were never heard of before Luna Scarlet’s birthday bash.’ Shantanu made a figure with his fingers as if he was connecting the dots.

I remained silent.

‘Luna appointed her with a snap of fingers despite all the questioning. What do you make of it?’ Shantanu throws his hand. The gears in my mind change. ‘Be specific, Beta. You know many lives depend on it.’ I plopped on the nearest couch, raking my hands through the hair.

In my life of thirty years, I have been through thick and thin, ups and downs—this was the worst of all of them.

‘We are just…it’s just speculation…it’s possible…that…maybe…maybe Luna is not what Luna pretends to be.’ The Beta voice drops an octane as he pushes the correct sheet of preliminary examination towards me.

Well, you can’t have everything in the world I suppose—happiness is just an illusion and so is love. She is what she is and I must admire her for it. It’s like the total acceptance thing.

Anyways, the world might be more beautiful without presence and intrusions; but then, who would appreciate it? We need creatures to keep going.

‘Sahib! Sahib!’ A butler comes sprinting towards me in the most bizarre clothing I have ever seen. It’s a wide cloth–metres, I suppose–wrapped intriguingly. The upper half of his body is bare–as if the pricking cold is worthless in touching him.

More than anything, his clothes do not resemble my mid-visitor. Again, I am reminded of my visitor from the previous night. Could he have anything to do with Luna and Armaan’s death? I feel as if I have seen him before–I just cannot remember where.

‘Name and rank.’ I command, folding my hands on the back.

‘Rakesh. Assistant Royal Chef.’ He bows deeply.

‘Up.’ I instruct in an authoritative voice. ‘Why were you searching for me?’

‘do not have authority to buy raws from the market and Luna craves french kebabs with shrimps and fish rice.’

‘Quite a weird craving. Make it!’

‘You would need to authenticate the purchase. The accounts department will not give us clearance without it. We would need the ingredients if we wish to serve it for breakfast.’

‘Well, you have my permission then. Go tell your accounts department that I won’t mind any expense on Luna’s account. Besides, why not nag Luna herself?’

‘She is not authorised to do it. Only Alphas and Males can give the expense command.’ Rakesh informs me. ‘It’s a royal custom.’ He might have read the lines on my face for him to explain.

‘Well…where should I sign then?’ I turn around without further adieu.

‘In the assembly hall. The seal is also there.’ The Butler starts tailing after me. He respectfully maintains a couple of paces at the back. I make a mental note to amend the customs and bring automation in petty functions first.

‘So, Rakesh,’ I called the dwarf butler who hopped about a couple of paces from me.

‘Yes, Sahib.’ His reply is rather prompt.

‘Tell me how winter evenings are in Surp-Samrajya?’ Well…it was a rather interesting question for an Alpha. Isn’t it?

‘It’s same as it has always been, sir.’

Hurrah! I could not have figured out this question myself. Could I? There is a reason why we could seamless rule this country. It’s all this serpent’s chivalry.

‘I’d like the details. Tell me how you spend your evening? It’s rather picturesque and perfect. Well perfect for me…how is it for you? How was it for the king?’ I initiated the conversation that I’d made a mental note to block. Why am I doing it?

I’d let you know the moment I’ll get the answer.

Though I have heard a lot about Vachaspati, I neither had the opportunity nor the will to meet him. I have just heard about him through my father and the official reports.

‘Where should I start from?’

From the beginning?

‘Maharaja was a very generous snake aside from being a very powerful.’

Very powerful indeed!

‘He was fun-loving, jolly, and amicable. He loved having serpents around and could not sleep without a whole lot of us around him. He specifically liked the winter nights. When it got dark he used to take his place by the large chimney in the massive dining room on floor seven. I used to sit with him.

Maharani used to accompany him occasionally. They never had a pleasant marriage. There used to be comforting music, delicious from the kitchen, finest alcohol of the land and the most beautiful and plump dancers and enchantresses from the world.’

‘Your queen never objected to any of those? Did she participate?’ Strange female.

‘Object? Why would she object to general entertainment that pleased her husband so much? He never stepped back from her duty. She was content. And since when did females start to poke into their husband’s business? However one could tell she never enjoyed any of those evenings. She was a rather calm serpent upfront. Within, she always had a volcano erupting. The manor used to shake from her wrath.

Her children, Shema, Sudha and Gauri had been sent to a distant college for fundamental education. All of them were females. The Maharaja was unhappy with the misfortune but there was still hope for the male heir. Of course, there was another breeding season to come and bless the couple.

If not, Maharaja always had a mistress—a new one—every year to deal with his load. He was fond of females. Who would not be? This was in his family, and it began with his friends too with Purushottam Singh, the former ruler; he already had nine illegitimate siblings before he was born out of the Queen’s vent. All from different females–eight of them were unofficial.’

‘The f**k!’ I mumble under my breath, climbing the sloppy steps that opened into a huge dining room.

It was decorated in plush white and caramel with rims of golden and silver everywhere. The chandelier and furniture were classic while the architecture seem ancient and exquisite.

The butler dragged the head chair after bowing at ninety degrees and I flopped myself carelessly on the throne-like chair.

‘So, Ramesh.’ I continue the conversation.

‘Rakesh, Sir.’

‘Yeah, Rakesh. Would you help me find a certain gentleman.’

‘Gentleman, you say?’

‘Ah, yes! He visited me midnight. Just barged in the room from the window, minded his business and went back. He was the tall gentleman.’ I quizzed remembering the vague silhouette of my visitor. ‘He looked like a butler. Smartly dressed, very dignified. But it was very different from yours.’ The butler and the royal chef exchanged meaningful glances as they present me with a promissory note on the head of the palace.

I signed it without sparing a glance. The chef hurriedly handed it over to one of his assistance who slithered out of the room in a blink.

‘You tell him,’ said the chef to his companion.

‘I cannot.’ The Butler shook his head, confusing me to the level of irritation.