Chapter 2: The Cold Alpha King
1331 Words
The morning after the wedding was quiet.
Alessia woke up alone in the big, cold bed. The silk sheets were smooth against her skin, but there was no warmth in the room. Kael hadn’t slept beside her, not even for one night. Part of her was relieved. The other part felt… confused.
She sat up slowly and looked around the Luna chambers. The furniture was rich and dark, with silver carvings of wolves and moons on the walls. It looked like a queen’s room.
But Alessia didn’t feel like a queen.
She felt like a stranger in a golden cage.
There was a soft knock on the door. A young maid peeked inside. “Luna Alessia, Alpha Kael asks you to join him for breakfast.”
Alessia nodded. “I’ll be there soon.”
She found Kael waiting in the dining hall, already seated at the head of the long table. He didn’t look up when she entered. He was dressed in all black, reading something on a scroll while sipping black coffee.
“Good morning,” Alessia said, sitting down across from him.
“Morning,” he replied, still not looking at her.
The silence between them stretched. A servant placed plates of eggs, toast, and fruit in front of them. Alessia picked at her food, watching him.
“You didn’t come back last night,” she said quietly.
“I had work to finish,” he replied without emotion.
“You mean… you didn’t want to share the bed with me.”
Kael finally looked at her. His golden eyes were sharp. “This is not a love match. Don’t expect affection from me.”
His words were like knives, but Alessia didn’t flinch.
“I didn’t expect love,” she said calmly. “Only honesty.”
Kael leaned back in his chair. “Then here is honesty: I don’t trust you. I didn’t ask for this marriage. You were offered to me by your Alpha. I accepted only to stop the war.”
Alessia’s heart pounded in her chest. Good, she thought. Keep thinking I’m just a tool.
But something in his voice caught her attention.
There was no anger only emptiness.
Like a man who had nothing left to feel.
“I understand,” she said softly. “Then let’s do our duties. I’ll act as Luna. You’ll act as Alpha. We don’t have to do anything else.”
Kael nodded once. “Good. Keep it that way.”
Later that day, Alessia joined the daily patrol of the pack border. She wore a soft gray cloak and walked with two female guards. The Nightfang territory was large, filled with forests, mountains, and rivers. It was beautiful but cold, just like Kael.
The warriors trained hard. Everyone respected Kael. No one dared to question him.
But Alessia noticed something strange.
No one smiled. No one laughed.
It was like the whole pack was trapped in silence.
“Why is everyone so serious here?” she asked one of the guards, a girl named Myra.
Myra looked around before answering. “After the war last year… many wolves died. The Alpha hasn’t been the same since.”
“What happened?” Alessia asked, pretending not to know.
Myra lowered her voice. “Alpha Kael trusted someone. That person betrayed him. Many warriors died because of it. Since then, Alpha closed his heart to everyone.”
Alessia nodded, pretending to be surprised.
But inside, a storm was growing.
So even he knows the pain of betrayal.
That night, Alessia walked into the study room. She asked Kael if she could read some of the history books. He said nothing, just waved his hand like he didn’t care.
She opened a thick book and turned the pages slowly. It was a record of past Luna queens. Beautiful paintings. Powerful stories.
Then Kael walked in.
He didn’t notice her at first. He stood in front of the window, staring at the night sky. His hands were behind his back. He looked like a king watching over a kingdom he didn’t trust.
“You’re up late,” Alessia said, standing.
He turned, his face expressionless. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“I couldn’t either.”
He walked past her toward a shelf and took a bottle of wine. He poured himself a glass and drank slowly.
“Do you always drink alone?” she asked.
He looked at her. “It’s better than being lied to.”
She blinked. “Is that why you don’t trust anyone?”
Kael stared at her for a long moment. Then he sat on the leather chair by the fire.
“Once,” he said quietly, “I loved someone. I thought she would be my mate. I planned to make her Luna.”
Alessia sat across from him, surprised by his sudden honesty.
“What happened?” she asked.
“She betrayed me. Gave my battle plans to the enemy. Twenty of my warriors died because of her.”
“I’m sorry,” Alessia said. And she meant it.
“Don’t be. I learned something important.” He looked at her, his eyes dark. “Love is weakness. Trust is foolish. Power is the only thing that matters.”
Alessia stayed quiet.
She wanted to hate him.
But at that moment, he looked less like a monster and more like a broken man.
“Do you believe in second chances?” she asked softly.
Kael didn’t answer right away.
Then he said, “Only fools give them.”
The next morning, the mate bond hit her hard.
Alessia woke up with a strange heat in her chest. Her body felt warm. Her heart raced. She walked to the window and took a deep breath, but it didn’t help.
Her wolf stirred inside her. Kael.
She could feel him.
He was in pain.
Without thinking, she ran down the hall and followed the pull in her heart. It led her to the training grounds. She saw Kael fighting with two warriors, moving fast and hard.
He was angry. His strikes were sharper than usual. His growls were low and dangerous.
“Alpha, you should rest,” one of the warriors said.
Kael knocked him down with one blow.
Alessia stepped forward. “Kael, stop!”
Everyone froze.
Kael turned to her, eyes glowing gold. His chest rose and fell as he breathed hard.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded.
“I felt something was wrong,” she said.
He blinked, confused. “You felt it?”
She nodded.
The mate bond was growing stronger.
Kael looked away, as if ashamed. He dropped the sword and walked past her.
Later, in the garden, he sat under a tree, wiping sweat from his face.
“I didn’t ask for this bond,” he said.
“I didn’t either,” she replied.
They sat in silence.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said quietly.
“Then don’t,” she said.
He looked at her. “You think it’s that simple?”
“No. But maybe… there doesn’t have to be war between us.”
Kael leaned his head back against the tree.
For a moment, he looked like a boy lost in time.
“I don’t know how to be kind anymore,” he whispered.
“You don’t have to be kind,” she said. “Just be real.”
That night, Kael surprised her.
He brought her to the roof of the packhouse.
The stars were bright. The moon was full.
“This was my mother’s favorite place,” he said. “She used to sing to the moon.”
Alessia listened in silence.
Kael turned to her. “Why did you agree to this marriage?”
She hesitated.
Then she smiled gently. “Because I wanted peace.”
Kael watched her closely.
“For a moment,” he said, “I almost believe you.”
🌕 End of Chapter 2
- Writer
