THE Alpha's Second Chance Mate

Elena

I stopped trying to chug food down my throat and I pushed my chair back. All I wanted to do was be alone, safely curled up in my bed.

Kairis had had my belongings moved out of his room and had designated a personal room to me.

Whenever I fantasized about marriage as a kid, I never for once thought I'd be sleeping in a separate room from my husband. But I also hadn't known I was destined by the Moon Goddess to an Alpha King that treated me less than trash.

I held my dress as I quietly made my way up the stairs. I felt even more invisible that I had always felt at home with my family.

“Your Highness,” a voice called after me from down the stairs.

I looked down to stare into the stern face of an armoured guard. He was certainly one of those stationed to the front of the Council Chamber.

“Yes?” I answered, wondering what he wanted with me.

“The Elders have requested your presence in the Council Chamber right away,” he announced, looking a little above my head.

My heart skipped a beat. Has Kairis hastily found me unworthy as his Luna and had called the council to dissolve the union?

“Why am I being summoned?” I asked before I stopped to think.

“I do not know, Your Highness,” he answered, bowing slightly and retreating the same way he had come.

Of course he didn't know. Why did I bother asking?

I retraced my steps down the stairs and headed out into the hallway, down to the Council Chamber.

The guards swung the doors inward to admit me into the room. I swallowed through the lump that had formed in my throat as all eyes in the room turned to stare at me. I instantly felt like I was intruding on something.

Did the guard deliver the message correctly?

My gaze darted across the room, until my eyes found his. Kairis sat at the head of the table, staring fixedly at me.

Memories of how those eyes had stared down at me while he entered me forcefully last night, flashed across my head. I swallowed softly, stepping tentatively into the room.

I curtsied slightly, “You sent for me,” I said to no one in particular, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, Luna.” A small old man croaked from the circle of elders. “As a part of your duties to your people, you are mandated to attend council meetings. We were concerned ehen the Alpha came in without you.”

My gaze flickered to Kairis’ and his eyes were icy slits staring blankly at me.

“Take your seat next to the Alpha, Elena.” He concluded and with wobbly legs, I crossed the room to Kairis' side of the table.

Walking past his seat, I caught a whiff of his heady scent and my wolf purred in delight. I silenced her hastily. I couldn't have her embarrass me in a situation like this.

I perched on the edge of my seat, veiling my eyes with my lashes.

“Now that the Luna is here, I believe the seating can begin.”

A man that I recognized as the Commander of the Sentries stood up to address the table.

“ Yesterday, I received a worrisome report from the sentries stationed at the Southern border. Three of my men were murdered in cold blood. And those who escaped had only one name on their lips.

Victor Valtor.

The entire hall went still and I held my breath, afraid everyone could hear it.

No one had heard from the Alpha's brother in ten years.

“Nonsense!” Kairis snarled. “He hasn't been seen in ten years and he suddenly springs out of the blues killing sentries?”

“I'm afraid so, Your Highness. Your brother is back. His ten-year exile has come to an end.”

“Why am I just learning about this now, Joe?” Kairis boomed and the other man bowed from the force of his voice.

“You've been busy with fulfilling your duties to the pack, Alpha,” an Elder woman said across the table, her eyes darting to me and back to Kairis' face.

Kairis’ eyes followed hers and came to rest on my face. I looked up to see disdain written over his face. He ran his hand through his hair, and let out a huff.

He turned back to the Commander. “So, what you're saying is Victor is stronger than all of your sentries posted at the border? That they couldn't stop him?”

“Alpha,” the Commander bowed. “Even if Victor was out of order for killing the sentries, he still remains royal blood. And no member of the pack can spill it.”

Kairis' anger visibly dissolved at this realization and he sat back down heavily.

After a momentary silence, he spoke. “Stake out more sentries to be on the lookout for him and if he is found, I want him brought here to the pack house first. If he resists, you're allowed to use as much force as required on him. Do you understand what I mean, Commander?”

“But, Your Highness, he–”

“No buts. Kairis snapped.

“Why don't we try another approach, Your Highness?” A woman asked.

He stared at her like she had suddenly sprung horns on her head.

“Another approach?”

“Yes,” she maintained. “The council could invite to mediate for peace. For all we know, it could be that he means no harm and he just wants to be back as a member of his pack. Hearing him out fir–”

“Inviting and having a chat with a person who killed three of our own is not an option. No one is going to kill another pack member under my watch. Regardless of whoever he is. If he wants to act like a rogue, we treat him as such.”

Before now, I didn't know much about the royal family. All I knew was the same as everyone, Victor Valtor had been sent into exile on accounts of treason.

But with this today, I realized there was no love lost between both brothers.

“Elena?”

I jolted back into the present to see all eyes on me one more time.

What were they staring at me for?

“Uh, yeah– Yeah, I'm here.” I managed to croak, wringing my fingers in my laps. I felt colour rise in my cheeks as I realized they were waiting for some sort of response when I had not even heard the question asked.

The Elder woman put me out of my misery. “I asked what your opinion was, in all of this, dear.” She said with a sad smile. “It's your responsibility to listen and try to contribute to the affairs of the pack now, Elena.”

Oh, goodness! Why wasn't I paying attention to everything being said? I had no idea what to say. I could feel Kairis' condescending stare burning a hole in my cheeks and it made it even more difficult to collect my thoughts into coherent speech.

After the silence had stretched out too long, I felt compelled to say something. Anything.

“Yeah. It's all–”

“Don't try too hard to think,” Kairis spat with malicious sarcasm, cutting me off. “You might hurt your little head.”

“It is okay, Elena.” Kairis' grandfather said, speaking for the first time today. “This is new territory for you and it is bound to feel overwhelming. Just try to pay attention and you'll understand everything in no time.” he concluded with a small smile.

I nodded, feeling tears well up behind my eyes. I blinked rapidly to stop them from falling.

I sat staring into oblivion as the meeting concluded and the Elders trickled out of the hall.

As the last of them left the hall, I stood and suddenly found myself face to face with Kairis. My heart thumped hard against my ribcage at being so close to him.

“You're acting just as I expected, Elena.” He said, raising my chin with his index finger.

I opened my mouth to speak but the words were stuck in my throat.

He smiled at me, obviously enjoying my predicament. “Like the figurehead that you are. You can never be my Luna,

Elena.” He spat, striding out of the Council Chamber.

The tears that had been threatening to fall rolled down my cheeks.