The destined alpha

Chapter four

Opelia's POV

"Opelia!"

My eyes gradually opened and I saw a figure standing very close to me. My vision was a bit hazy as I had just been brought back to consciousness. I tried to get up but I was too weak and my head was wobbly. "Was I that badly hurt?" I asked myself, trying so hard to put myself together.

I yawned and stretched for almost a minute and then realised that I was on something soft and not on the battlefield. I looked around and saw a 7 feet tall black man, by my right, keenly fixing his gaze on me. Looking to see where I was, I noticed that I was on my bed and I wondered what was going on.

"What happened?" I asked. "How did I get here...Reed?"

"The dreams. They're here again, Opelia?"

I held my head in my hands. The pain in my head was excruciating but I had to bottle it. I didn't deem it good to scream in front of my Beta just because of a headache. Yet, it was killing me inside.

"It was all a dream?" I asked, three times, in a very low tone. It wasn't the first time. For over a hundred years I'd had dreams about the passing of my father at least twice every month. Each time I did, I always woke up with a headache.

"Why are you here?" I asked, hoping to hear something important as I didn't appreciate being woken up by anyone. I loved to sleep until the gods of sleep had had enough of my presence in their realm. It was only Reed who could dare wake me but only for matters that required urgent attention. Else, he'd be in trouble, just like everyone else, except I wasn't going to harm him. A few warnings or tasks were always enough for him. He was my Beta after all, but more than that, he was my trusted friend who would give his life to save me

"It's about the meeting, my Alpha; the Alpha king meeting. I wanted to know if you were going to be there."

"Is that why you cut my sleep short?" I asked, with rage in my heart. "Couldn't you just wait for me to wake up before coming here to ask such a question. Is the meeting important enough for you to interrupt my sleep or do you just want to get it from me, Reed?".

"I'm sorry, my Alpha," he apologised. "Let your anger not be kindled against me, I beg you. I would have waited for you to wake up first but I thought it was a matter of urgency."

"What makes you think that?" I asked as I took deep breaths to calm myself down. I never enjoyed speaking harshly to Reed but I did it quite a lot; I had to do it and I hoped he understood that. I was his Alpha regardless of whether he did or not.

"The meeting is to take place in three days so the ritual needs to commence today if you plan to go. The members of the council are already making their way to the palace as I speak and I didn't want you to meet them unprepared. That was why I thought it best to come to you as quickly as possible."

"You have done well, my friend. I misunderstood your intentions and actions. Do you know when exactly they'll arrive?" I knew I was supposed to apologise but for an Alpha, an apology wasn't something that was easily thrown around, especially to subjects lest they begin to feel more important than they already are. My father taught me that and I held on to those words.

"No, I don't. But I'm certain they'll be here pretty soon. I was informed that…"

We were interrupted by a knock on my door. "Come in," I said.

A young maiden whose name I did not know, opened the door and walked into the room. "Greetings, my alpha," she said, bowing a bit to show her respect.

"What brings you here, young lady?" I asked.

"The men, my Alpha. The men of the council are here to see you. They said it's a matter of urgency."

I didn't know they'd arrive that fast and I wasn't ready to meet anyone just yet. "Tell them that they'll have to wait a bit. I'll be there with them as soon as I can."

With a nod, she left the room but I didn't get up. I just lay back down and stared at the ceiling overwhelmed by emotions due to the dream that I just had.

"The council won't appreciate being kept waiting for a very long time, Opelia."

"Then, they can s**t themselves! Besides, the Alpha never keeps people waiting. People wait for the Alpha. I'll be with them when I can. I'll need to have a bath too, won't I?"

"Yes, my Alpha," he responded, slightly bowing his head. "Good. You can leave now."

I turned the other way until I heard the sound of the door. I was already tearing up and I didn't want anyone there with me. Not even Reed. Countless times, he did tell me that it was okay to let myself be free with him as he was my friend, just as much as he was my Beta. Yet, the vulnerability was always perceived as a sign of weakness and I did well to shield myself from looking that way in front of anyone at all.

Regaining some strength, I managed to stroll to the bathroom, still a bit wobbly, so I could take my bath. I took my clothes off and tossed them on the bed before stepping into the bathroom. I turned on the shower and just stood there, motionless, unable to move any part of my body as I let the tears flow with the water. For a very long time, I decided to let myself feel something for once. I had bottled in all the emotions for so long and it was time to let go.

I sat on the floor of the bathroom, with my knees raised and both hands on my head. The Alpha King meeting was one meeting that my father loved to go to. Yet, I didn't know if it was something I was supposed to do. Since the death of my father, I had never left the Pack for any reason whatsoever. No one knew that I was the Alpha of the Zoe Pack. My presence in the meeting was certainly going to be a surprise to them. I was going to be the Alpha Queen in an Alpha King meeting. I wasn't ready for any of that. I had to speak to the elders of the council first.

I finally got out of the bathroom and put on a long, blue gown before heading to the palace for the meeting. "Welcome, dear Alpha," all the elders greeted, with a huge grin on their faces. The elders weren't required to bow. Yet, they had to show their respect.

"Thank you, elders," I responded, with a smile of my own. "What brings you here?"

"We understand that you were sleeping when we arrived and we apologise for making you wake up. It wasn't our intention at all," he began. "We are here because of the Alpha King meeting which is held once every hundred years. We all know that it's a meeting that your father never missed for once and we want to know if you'd love to be around for this…"

"I'm not my father!" I cut in, infuriated by the subtle comparison.

"I do not doubt that," said their spokesman. Andrew, he was called. "But we know that he would have loved you to be there."

He was right, It was something that my father would have loved for me, and although he wasn't here to tell me, I was certain that he would have said that. Yet, I didn't feel ready to meet with other Alphas.

"Can I have time to think about it?" I asked.

"I'm afraid it's something that has to be decided now, Alpha. We need to commence the rituals by noon."

I stared him right in the eye, not knowing what exactly to say to him. I didn't want to make a mistake and I didn't have time either. I was at a crossroads and the next decision was key to a lot of things.

"What's your decision, Alpha?"