Alpha King Of The Heavens (Heavenly Alphas Book One)

Disapproving The Luna

ADRIA’S POV

As I opened my eyes to the blinding sun shining through, the whole packhouse seemed to be packed with noise. Ah. And so it begins. Awkward conversations over breakfast. Introductions. The worst part of any change. I sat up quickly patting the space of the bed next to me. The strange warmth he carried seemed to be long gone. He had fallen asleep holding me last night. It was...strange. But comforting. Something in me longed for that warmth. The coldness that was there now seemed...depressing in a way.

I slid out of the bed slowly and noticed an outfit already laid out for me. One of the maids must have brought it in while I slept. I touched the fabric delicately. It wasn’t anything that I had brought from home. It matched the traditions of the wolves more. But outlining the beautiful gold trim that matched his pack, was black diamonds shining on the edges. It seemed to symbolize my heritage. I couldn’t help but smile at the gesture. It looked freshly made. He seemed to have put thought into the design. And whoever sewed it together did it beautifully.

I walked into the bathroom and put it on slowly staring at myself in the mirror. It was an elegant summer dress that flowed flawlessly. It cut off right above my knees and the sleeves flowed down my shoulders with a slit so my arms could move freely as the sleeves flowed down them. I put on the matching black high heels that bore my family crest, as well as his. A raven, next to the mark of Leo.

I walked out of the bathroom and decided it was probably best if I go ahead and head to the main dining hall...if I could ever find my way that is. I walked out of the bedroom and immediately felt overwhelmed.

“My Luna,” a familiar voice said as he walked down the hall. “It is good to see you are up and about. Is there somewhere you would like to go?” Liekos smiled as he walked down the hall.

I smiled as warmly as I could and nodded a little. “Thank you. I was actually going to attempt to find my way to the dining hall. Would you be willing to show me the way? I fear that I may get lost if I go alone.”

He smiled and laughed playfully. “Of course. Who am I to deny such a sweet request. I was on my way there as well.” He smiled watching me. “And please. There is no need to be so formal. We are a family here.” He motioned for me to follow him as he continued to walk past.

I followed him and as I tried to commit to memory the path that he was leading me down. He noticed my tension and focus and smiled. “My Luna, don’t stress yourself trying to remember your way around all at once. No one expects you to be settled in so soon. Everyone will help you until you learn.”

I smiled a little trying to relax a bit. “I do appreciate your help.” I laughed a little. “For someone telling me not to be so formal, you never call me by name.”

He laughed as we walked into the dining hall. “Touche Adria. Here we are. The dining hall.” He smiled kindly as he motioned around him. “Typically the whole pack gathers here for meals. You and Leo will sit at the head of the table of course. Please, feel free to take your seat while breakfast is still being prepared.” He said as he walked into the kitchen.

I walked over to my seat silently. The only sound that seemed to be in the once noisy dining hall was the click-clack of my shoes against the tile floor. All eyes were on me. Just as I knew they would be. I felt my whole body tense up as I took my seat. No one moved...and no one spoke.

I heard footsteps approaching the second I sat down. Leo came out of the kitchen so quickly it was almost impossible to say anything before he stepped into the dining hall.

“Forgive them, my Luna. They aren’t used to seeing new faces around here.” He smiled warmly as he walked toward me. “As for the rest of you. Stop acting like you Luna is some animal in a cage at the zoo. Either introduce yourselves or continue with your conversations as normal.” His tone had changed drastically when speaking to the staring crowd. Not that of the man that spoke to me. But that of a leader. An alpha in every right.

Everyone immediately jumped back into their conversations, not wanting to go against their alpha’s wishes I would assume.

He took his seat next to me quickly as a few from his pack brought out all of the food in the center of the table. Everyone followed suit taking their seats excitedly. The side conversations continued. I bowed my head hoping that no one paid any more attention to me...but I was wrong.

I watched as Leo stood from his seat and cleared his throat. At this simple gesture, silence spread through the room and all eyes landed on him. The respect they had for their alpha was incredible.

He smiled as his eyes scanned the room. “As you noticed, we have a new member of the pack with us today. I expect that every one of you will treat her with even more respect than you would treat me. The same kind of respect that you treated my mother with. That staring nonsense when she first walked in the room will not happen again.” He looked down and me and reached for my hand. “Stand my love. Introduce yourself.”

I took his hand and stood from my seat trying desperately to maintain the composure a princess is raised to have. “My name is Adria. As most of you know, I am the princess of Primordial. I can manipulate the shadows,” I tensed up as I spoke. I sighed heavily, “I know this situation isn’t ideal. But, I hope you can give me a chance to be the Luna and Queen you deserve.” I bowed my head and sat down quickly.

Leo lifted my hand and kissed it as he took his seat. The pack began to make their plates quickly as their conversation began again. A bit of the tension seemed to lift after I spoke. I was grateful for that though. If everything went right, I was hoping to make them see that I am on their side. As a Queen should be. This no longer seemed like another task I had to fulfill on behalf of my father and my kingdom. It seemed much more than that. Like I now had a responsibility to protect and to serve them, as my subjects. As my pack.

As the whole pack sat to eat, Leo stood and made my plate for me. He set it down and smiled, but before I could respond to his action, he was already speaking. “You would make my plate for me, I know. But...I wanted to make yours for you so my Queen can just sit to eat on her first day here.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

He took his seat next to me as we began to eat the most amazing breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, even biscuits, and gravy. He had piled my plate with so much food, it became hard to eat it all. This must be because of the massive appetites it seemed wolves possessed.

After Leo had cleared his plate, he smiled at me sorrowfully. “I apologize, my love. I have to go to a brief meeting. I know it is your first day, but...this is something I couldn’t seem to get out of. I promise I will make it up to you tonight though.” He kissed my head as he walked away quickly.

Some of the pack rose from their seats and began to clear the table. I silently wondered what the meeting could be about, or if he would even tell me if I were to ask tonight.

LEO’S POV:

Liekos followed me into the board room quickly. I was just ready to get this over with so I could get back to Adria. Guilt was eating me for leaving her alone while she attempted to get settled into her new life here. I walked in quickly and took my seat at the head of the table, Liekos taking his seat on my right.

I watched as a few other men walked in. Alphas of their own packs with their betas flanking right behind them. These were men who represented two of the strongest packs in the country...well...below mine of course.

“Alright gentlemen, what’s on your minds?” I asked as my eyes scanned around the room.

The first to speak was an older man. One that I knew well. Emory’s dark blue eyes scanned over my features as he smoothed back his slowly greying hair with one hand. “Now that your marriage is final, what is your next step to handle this...problem?” He sucked his teeth as he spoke.

For some reason, the question caught me off guard. “Problem? What problem, Emory?” I felt every single nerve in my body tense at the thought of what he was about to say.

He smiled as he stood. “You know the problem I speak of. Don’t act coy. What is our plan to handle this...elemental problem?” He almost spits out the words. In the midst of the wedding and getting her settled in...I almost forgot the prejudice some still held against other beings.

“I don’t see an elemental problem, Emory. The problem was handled when the alliance was established.” I gritted my teeth in an attempt to keep calm and not rip him to shreds here and now.

His laugh boomed through the room and I clenched my fist. “You know the throne is not meant for her kind,” he smiled turning his full attention to me. “It is meant for a wolf. She isn’t fit to rule here. Surely deep down you understand that. Did your father not raise you with the right values? I thought you were supposed to be the moon goddess’ ‘chosen’ child. I highly doubt she would choose someone like…someone like that for the throne she so desperately thought to create.” He leaned down close to my face as he spoke.

I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand. I couldn’t contain the growl that came from deep in my throat. “I advise you to watch your mouth when in the presence of the Alpha King,” Liekos warned before I could speak. He stood from his seat quickly. “I also advise you to watch the way you speak about his Luna and YOUR Queen.”

Emory smirked as he watched Liekos’ every move. “Sit down, boy. This is a discussion between Alphas. The last I checked, no one asked your opinion.”

Most don’t know Liekos as I do. He wouldn’t be easy to back into a corner like most Betas. A smile spread across his face. “If you haven’t noticed, Emory, even as a Beta, I still outrank you. So it is you, that need to remember your place.”

I couldn’t help but let a small laugh slip as Emory’s smirk was just a memory compared to the scowl he now wore. He grit his teeth and turned his attention back to me. “All I am saying is now would be the perfect moment to strike. We could end their entire kingdom. The royals would die at our hands. And then once the problem is taking care of and this so-called Luna of yours is out of the way you could settle down with a sweet wolf girl. Someone more deserving of your crown.”

Rage boiled beneath my skin as my blood boiled. I snarled and let a growl boom through the room. “I have listened to what you had to say. And as Liekos stated, I suggest you stay in your place. Primordial will not be harmed. More importantly...MY LUNA WILL NOT BE HARMED.” I warned as I stood from my seat. “I will see you torn to shreds long before I would let that happen. And keep in mind, Emory. That is far from a threat. It is a promise.”

His eyes landed on mine as I stood. “You can’t be serious. You would allow someone to claim the throne she wasn’t even born to follow? She would destroy this kingdom from the inside out. Surely there must be a way I can talk some sense into you.”

I turned to face him completely. “I was born and bred to take this crown. I know what is best for my kingdom.”

His smile returned quickly. “Boy, I have been an Alpha since before you were born. If anyone knows what is best for this kingdom, it would be me.”

A familiar voice I knew all too well finally spoke from his seat across the room. “If you know what is best for the kingdom, maybe you should wear the crown then, Emory. Oh, that’s right. The moon goddess didn’t choose you. And she had no intention of choosing you.” Shilo smiled as he stood from his seat. “If you do not stop acting like such a disgrace, I will be forced to remove you from the palace.”

Emory laughed. “You couldn’t if you wanted to. But...I am done here. Mark my words ‘king’, you will regret the day you allowed her to sit on the throne.” Emory hissed as he stormed out slamming the door shut behind him.

I sighed and took my seat, anger still boiling beneath my skin. “Thank you, Shilo. Now that he is gone, what was the business you wanted to discuss?”

He laughed taking his seat again. “I don’t have anything that needs to be discussed. Your dad mentioned Emory had requested an audience with you today, so I tagged along because well...I know how he can be. I wanted to make sure he stayed in line. Well...that and I wanted to congratulate you on your wedding.”

I laughed a little and ran my hand through my hair taking my crown off and laying it on the table for a minute. “Thank you, I actually appreciate that.”

Shilo laughed a little. “So tell me about her. The last time I heard you were upset that you were being forced to marry. But...the way you acted when Emory had threatened her tells me maybe she isn’t so bad after all. You were strangely protective of her specifically.”

I laughed watching his movements. “Alright, you caught me. I think...no...I know she is my mate.”

Shilo clapped his hands together excitedly. “That is great! I am so happy for you! You found happiness after all.”

I nodded as my mind drifted back to the scene that had unfolded just a few moments ago. “Do you think he will be a problem?”

Shilo smiled as he walked over and pat my shoulder. “From what I know, he is all bark and no bite. Hell, even if he means it, we will handle him when we get there.”

  I nodded as I thought about it. I hope for the sake of the kingdom he was only letting steam out. The last thing I needed was a war between his pack and mine. But something told me that I would be hearing from him again. Soon.