The Blackfang Alphas and Slaves

10

Lira’s POV

The night of my son’s coronation, his 18th birthday, the moment he is to be officially declared heir and he is nowhere to be found.

Servants scurry around like frightened mice, warriors continue exchanging nervous glances, and the elders murmur amongst themselves, already questioning Kai’s worthiness.

The throne, where my son should be kneeling before his father, remains empty.

“Where is he?” Alpha Rhodes thunders, his deep voice silencing the room. His eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, scan the gathering. The weight of his fury is enough to make seasoned warriors shift uncomfortably.

“I sent for him over an hour ago, my Alpha,” Beta Garrik steps forward, his voice steady. “His chambers were empty.”

Useless.

I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes. Kai isn’t the type to wait around for ceremony, but disappearing the night of his coronation? That isn’t just reckless, it’s dangerous.

I storm out of the hall, my heart pounding. This isn't Kai, something is wrong. I can feel it.

A Mother’s Instinct

I move through the corridors, my dress trailing behind me. The torches flicker as I pass, the shadows stretching and twisting like dark omens.

I stop abruptly.

I heard a whisper, it was faint, but unmistakable.

I press my back against the stone wall and listen.

“Everything is in place,” a woman’s voice says, low and urgent.

I recognize that voice.

Lady Seraphine. I peek around the corner.

Seraphine stands in the candlelit chamber, her auburn hair loose around her shoulders, her delicate fingers clutching a folded parchment. Across from her stands Lady Vanya, with her arms crossed.

Lady Ilara paces around near the window, her golden curls bouncing as she huffs impatiently. “This was supposed to be easy,” she hisses. “He was supposed to be here, getting crowned, not running off like some wild mutt!”

My breath catches in my throat. They know where he is.

Seraphine exhales sharply. “It doesn’t matter. We have control of the situation. By the time he returns, the evidence will be waiting.”

Evidence?

Vanya smirks. “A foolish prince who committed treason against his own pack. His father will have no choice but to strip him of his title.”

My stomach twists. They’re framing Kai.

I want to burst into the room, claw their faces, scream that they’ll never touch my son, but I force myself to stay hidden. Charging in now won’t help him.

I need help. And the only person I can think of is Beta Garrik.

I find him near the northern wing, speaking to a group of warriors. He notices my approach immediately and dismisses them.

“My Queen,” he greets, bowing slightly. “I assume this is about your son.”

My fingers curl into the fabric of my gown. “Kai is in danger.”

He doesn’t react.

“The Alpha’s wives are conspiring against him. They plan to frame him for treason,” I continue, my voice urgent. “We must act before..”

A slow smirk creeps onto Garrik’s face. The hairs on my arms rise, something isn’t right.

I take a step back, but he moves faster, grabbing my wrist in a firm grip. “You really shouldn’t be poking around in things that don’t concern you, my Queen.”

My blood turns ice cold.

No. No, no, no.

“You’re with them,” I whisper, horrified.

Garrik sighs dramatically. “Lira, my dear, don’t look so betrayed.” He leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “This was always going to happen. Kai is reckless, a liability. It’s time the pack had a real heir.”

I yank my wrist free and slap him across the face, the sound echoes through the corridor.

Garrik’s jaw tightens, his eyes darkening. “That was unwise.”

I take another step back, my mind racing. I need to get to Kai. I need to warn him.

Then, before Garrik can react, I do the only thing I can think of.

I lift my foot and stomp down hard on his d**k

He lets out a sharp curse. I spin on my heel and run.

I could hear footsteps thunder behind me. I fly down the corridor, I shove past startled servants, ignoring their gasps.

I need to reach the stables. If I can get a horse, I can…

A hand grabs the back of my dress and yanks me to a stop.

I let out a strangled gasp as Garrik slams me against the wall.

“You really should have stayed out of this,” he growls, his grip tightening.

My mind whirls. Think, think.

Then, I do the second dumbest thing tonight.

I knee him.

Hard, right on his d**K again. Garrik lets out a strangled sound and crumples to the floor.

I don’t waste a second. I sprint toward the courtyard, lungs burning.

I don’t know where Kai is, but I swear on the Moon Goddess, I will find him. Before it’s too late.

***********

I try to move, but my body won’t cooperate.

What… what happened?

Memories started flashing back, running from Garrik, his men grabbing me, the sharp prick of something against my neck…

I was drugged. A sickening wave of dread rolls through me. My breath quickens as I force my eyes open.

The room was a bit bright, the scent of incense was everywhere, the sheets beneath me felt foreign.

And then I realize… I’m naked.

Panic surges through me as I bolt upright, only to freeze at the sight before me.

Garrik. Sitting at the edge of the bed.

Also naked.

A slow, smug smile curls across his lips as he leans back against the headboard, looking every bit like a predator who has already won the hunt.

"Ah, you’re awake," he muses, his voice smooth, too casual, as if this is all perfectly normal.

My stomach churns violently. I clutch the sheets against my chest, my heart pounding so loud it drowns out everything else.

No. No. This isn’t happening.

I whip my head around, searching for a weapon, an escape, anything when my gaze lands on the figures standing near the door.

Lady Seraphine. Lady Vanya. Lady Ilara.

And The Alpha himself.

Their expressions range from cruel amusement to barely concealed disgust.

My blood turns to ice. This was just a setup.

A Perfectly Laid Trap

"What… what is this?" My voice cracks, barely above a whisper.

Seraphine tilts her head, feigning concern. "Oh, Lira. The real question is,what have you done?"

My breath catches. "This isn’t…"

"Don’t even try," Ilara cuts me off, folding her arms. "We found you naked in bed with Garrik on the very night of your son’s coronation. When he’s missing, no less."

I shake my head furiously. "I… I was drugged! They took me, I would never…"

"Enough," Alpha's voice slices through the room like a blade.

I turn to him desperately. "You know I would never betray you like this! I swear it on the Moon Goddess, I…"

"You swore yourself to me years ago," he says, his eyes filled with fury. "Yet here you are, humiliating me, humiliating our family, sleeping with my Beta on our son’s most important night."

I scramble to my feet, clutching the sheets around me. "Please, you have to listen! This isn’t what it looks like… Garrik set this up!"

Vanya scoffs. "Oh, so now you’re the victim?" She turns to the Alpha. "This is disgraceful. Our Queen, lying with another man while her son is missing. If word of this spreads…" She trails off, letting the implication settle.

Alpha's jaw tightens. "It already has."

No. No, no, no.

I look at Garrik, who simply shrugs, completely unbothered. "What can I say?" He smirks. "The flesh is weak, even for a Queen."

This wasn’t just about Kai anymore.

They’ve turned everything against me. I have no proof, no way to fight back.

And the man I swore my loyalty to, the man who once loved me, is looking at me like I’m nothing.

I swallow the lump in my throat. "Rhodes ….. please."

But his face is already set in stone.

"You have dishonored this family, Lira." His voice is cold, final. "You will face the consequences."

And then the guards step forward, to take me away.