A Baby for the Alpha King

A MEANS TO AN END

CLEO

I was almost ready to let go of my bond with Alpha Solan, but was offered something else. A baby for the Alpha King. If I could give him a successor, an important duty his Luna could not fulfill despite being married for three years, then I could stay.

Alpha Solan convinced me, saying that it wasn’t the first time in history that an alpha took another woman because their luna could not produce a successor to the position. The mother of the child is to be respected even if she’s not the Alpha’s wife, and it wasn’t shameful as it was part of his duty to produce an heir.

I understood what he meant, but both of us perfectly knew that it wasn’t just duty that we were fulfilling for the sake of the pack. He wanted to do this because it was the only way he could think of for us to be together… but even that sounded questionable.

Maybe he just found me convenient. I guess I’d never know.

No matter how much thought I put into it, it feels so wrong for so many reasons. My entire life, it was etched in our minds that the only good thing an omega like me could do was either to serve someone of a higher status or to breed.

I’ve always hated that belief. Even though omegas are mostly not as strong as the rest, we could still be capable of so many other things. I hoped that being different would lead me to a different path, but fate brought me to the exact path everyone expected an omega to be.

Nothing but a baby maker.

It’s almost like the Goddess wanted to rub it in my face that I’d never escape what I am. Not even being mated to the most powerful Alpha would change anything. I’m still an object at their disposal.

And now, here I am doing exactly what Alpha Solan asked me. I wanted to refuse, but I didn’t have much of a say when the king brought out the order, and maybe deep inside, I also wanted to stay. Not because I wanted comfort or safety, but because Alpha Solan is still my fated mate. I know it’s wrong… but for once I wanted to be selfish, to choose myself first.

But now, I’m quickly having doubts about my decision.

“Everyone has arrived. Let’s start.”

I tensed up when someone announced the start of the meeting. I said yes to his proposal out of whim, but I was already starting to regret not giving myself enough time to think it through.

What I didn’t expect was that Alpha Solan immediately had the council of elders called for to propose the arrangement. I almost forgot that he was the king and such things could be arranged with a snap of his fingers. It barely took a day before I was called and led here.

My eyes landed on Luna Vera sitting at the other end of the table. She glared at me as if she was trying to tear me apart in her mind, and I couldn’t even blame her. She should be the one beside Alpha Solan and not me.

I found myself inching away from Solan, suddenly ashamed that I let myself sit so near to him. The others were also stealing glances at me, probably wondering why an omega was even in their presence.

Alpha Solan stood from his seat, making everyone’s attention automatically focus on him.

“This woman is Cleo Moonvale. She is my fated mate.” He revealed it almost so casually as if he hadn’t dropped a huge news out of the blue.

I kept my head low the entire time, but I could feel everyone’s stares becoming glares. I was expecting the first violent reaction from Vera, but heard nothing. She remained quiet, which felt more terrifying than her yelling at me like last time.

“The council has voiced serious concerns about the future of our pack and the need for an heir.” Alpha Solan continued, not giving anyone the chance to complain or react. “For three years, Vera and I have tried so hard to fulfill this duty, but the Goddess has yet to bless us with a child.”

The tension in the room grew heavier as the king spoke. As expected, they were all listening intently. Meanwhile, my hands are already cold in fear of what would happen. Their stares felt like daggers, all eager to end me. The only thing that kept me from rushing out of the room was the eagerness in Alpha Solan’s eyes when he asked me this favor. A huge part of me wanted to think he proposed this because he wanted me to stay, that my mate wanted to be with me… and it might be the only thing that keeps me sane right now.

“That is why I have made a decision,” he continued, certain with his words, “Cleo will bear my child.”

There was complete silence after Alpha Solan’s announcement. I lifted my head, and everyone looked like they wanted to say something but were afraid of Solan’s wrath. As expected, even this setup will be frowned upon.

One of the elders calmly raised his hand amidst the silent commotion. “We understand where you’re coming from, Alpha, but isn’t that woman one of the omegas captured by rogues and rescued by our guards? It’s true that we were worried about the pack’s future, but if you really want, we can choose another woman from our beta bloodline to-”

The elder could not continue with his suggestion when Solan suddenly glared at the person. “Enough. I didn’t call for this meeting to get suggestions or alternatives from anyone. I am simply telling you out of courtesy.”

Solan roamed his eyes to everyone, daring them to challenge him, but no one did.

I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. I wished I could feel relief with his words, but all I felt was worry and pain. They couldn’t question him easily, but it didn’t mean that they agreed with what he wanted. The judgment would always follow me, no matter what. I’m starting to worry that if I get pregnant, my child will face the same criticism that I did.

Vera suddenly got up from her seat. Although she looked calm, she was obviously displeased with what was happening.

“By our laws, such matters are possible but with my approval with respect to my position. If you’re just, you’d have to respect that.” Vera uttered, now grinning menacingly.

Solan’s expression darkened with her remark. “What do you want?”

“We’re still married, and I am still your Luna. You have to acknowledge and respect that, but I also admit my shortcomings of my duties unfulfilled. With that, I’ll agree to this setup only, and only if you agree to my terms. First, your relationship should only be to fulfill what I couldn’t. I don’t care if you’re mates. I don’t care if you’re falling for that filthy woman. You’re only allowed to mate when the omega is in heat. Second, she can’t stay in the pack house. I think seeing a random slut in my own bed is enough disgrace on my part. She could only stay in the pack house if she got pregnant.”

I shuddered when Alpha Solan suddenly snarled at her, but Vera didn’t even budge. Instead, she grinned and raised her hand. “I’m not yet done. Lastly, and this should go without saying, but you can’t mark that omega. To ensure that you’d uphold the promise if any of that were violated, that woman would be thrown out of this pack. That’s my term, and I won’t negotiate.”

My wolf whimpered, hearing Vera’s terms. She made sure that we wouldn’t have any other relationship other than producing an heir.

I looked at Alpha Solan. He looked conflicted and angry, but he knew that agreeing with her terms was the only way to make this work.

“Fine. I agree to your terms.”

They continued discussing the rest of the things to consider. At the same time, I sat there, hands clasped under the table, realizing how truly powerless I was.

They were deciding my fate, but not once did anyone ask if I was okay with any of what they discussed. I was nothing more than a solution to their problem. They also discussed the possibility that I bear a girl instead, and that if Vera somehow gets pregnant before me, the deal will also be off.

Vera’s grins were etched into my mind. She already won one way or another. The queen had stripped away every hope I had clung to. She rubbed into my face that I was only here to be a breeder for the king, and nothing more. To them, I was a means to an end.

My fate was decided the moment I agreed to this arrangement, and now I had no choice but to obey.