The Alpha’s Bald Luna

Someone’s lying

~ KELANI ~

“I said let him go.” he repeated when their hands remained on my clothes.

“It’s the freeborn Alpha. We should go.” one of them said and let go. Many others did the same.

But a lanky one with loc’d hair was feeling really brave. “The freeborn Alpha, yes? Is he stronger than all of us?”

“This is not the time, Payal. You have no witnesses. Everyone would just assume you got injured in the ruckus.” another advised the brave one.

“Listen to your friend, Payal. Shanas are not the only ones experiencing a power surge.” Alpha Mardeo said in the critically unbothered tone I was learning was typical of him.

“And if I don’t? If I decide-“ Payal began to step into Alpha Mardeo’s space, a clear request for him to do his worst.

Alpha Mardeo didn’t do his worst. I had seen him beat a man to pulp in minutes and knew that what he did next was just him flexing his muscles. His fist flew to Payal's mouth, cutting him off mid sentence. By the time he retrieved it, one bloodied tooth was stuck between the base of his fingers.

He uprooted it and placed it in Payal’s shaky right hand. “You might want to keep this as a reminder.”

The other males had already scurried away and Payal was alone, vibrating in anger, his mouth filled with red. “You will pay for this. I swear to Koi!” he sputtered as he stormed away.

“Follow me.” Alpha Mardeo said to me, already making his way down the rows.

I fixed my disheveled clothes and began to push through sweaty bodies. The largest gust of fire yet erupted and the crowd screamed. I couldn’t tell if it was from excitement or fear this time. In the chaos, I saw some females being groped by excited males and felt sorry for them. For us.

It was a stampede at this point and I struggled not to step on fallen people. I fought to keep my balance as the ground was now not only shaky but wet - Aqua Shanas had joined the party. Alpha Mardeo maintained his pace like he was walking on a plateau.

“Can you move faster?” He sounded frustrated when he turned to me.

I’m trying, Sir. Not all of us are six feet two, chisel bodied men with the stamina and balance of an actual wolf, I thought.

“I’m trying…” was all I said.

He muttered something under his breath, picked me up like I was a bag of feathers and flung me over his shoulder. So close to him, his scent assaulted my senses. He smelled like a rare blend of oakmoss and sandalwood. I greedily filled my lungs with the scent as he continued to march out of the stadium.

The cool night breeze alerted me that we had successfully made it out of the Onyx, a place I knew I never wanted to go into again. He set me down on my feet and started walking away.

I ran after him.

“Thank you for saving me.”

No response.

“Can you take me back to the palace? I don’t know my way there.”

No response.

“You weren’t dumb last night when you were blackmailing the princess.” I shot at him. Surely, this would make him talk.

It did. He kept walking as he spoke. “Really bold of you to speak to me in that manner. But I guess that would be typical of someone who has no self preservation instinct. You’re lucky I’ve had enough gore for the night.”

I suddenly realized just how audacious my last statement was. What was I thinking speaking to this fearsome man in that manner? Alone. In the dark. Maybe dressing like a man had made me start thinking I was one. A strong one too.

“Forgive my manners,” I muttered, not hiding my displeasure at having to apologize, “What do you mean by I have no self preservation instinct?”

Thankfully, he seemed to have gotten over my rude statement rather quickly. He answered, “It’s your second night in Shanakoi. Why did you think it would be a good idea to come to the Onyx? You could have easily died in that stampede.”

I was nearly breathless from keeping up with his pace. “How was I supposed to know it would be this… horrible? Besides, I didn’t come alone. I came with the princess… doing my assignment as her chaperone.”

“So why aren’t you with her?” he asked.

“She saw Philip’s brother in the crowd… Philip, the man you-“

“I know who Philip is.”

“Well, I got lost trying to reach him in the arena. The princess wanted to ask if he had seen Philip. We didn’t hear from you all day.” I explained, finally catching my breath. I wondered if I had adjusted to his pace or if he had slowed down for me.

“First of all, Philip does not have a brother. For some reason, the princess wanted you alone and lost in that dangerous crowd. I wonder why.”

My lips pursed. I didn’t think the princess liked me. I didn’t like her either. But setting me up like that? I felt a mixture of fury and fear.

Fury that she would try to harm me when we barely met and I have been nothing but cordial towards her. Fear of what other malicious plans she might have up her fancy dress sleeves.

Alpha Mardeo stopped abruptly and I nearly ran into his broad back. Turning to look at me, he said somewhat somberly, “For a supposed Alpha, you seem naive as a baby so I’ll give you a piece of advice. Shanas are not friends to our kind - or any kind outside of themselves. And the princess especially doesn’t have a reputation of being compassionate.”

It was impossible not to believe him. Supple lips like his don’t tell lies.

“Thank you. I would keep that in mind,” I replied, “Can you please show me the way to the palace?”

“We are already on the way.”

The rest of the walk was quiet till I could see the towering castles of the Grand Opal.

“I can find my way from here.” I offered, feeling sorry for him for the distance he would have to walk back.

No response.

He just kept walking and I followed. When we reached the palace, the guards at the gate welcomed him without questions. My curiosity to know who this man was multiplied a thousand fold.

He walked like he owned Shanakoi but he was not even a Shana. He rejected ten silvers from the princess - brothers have betrayed brothers for way less. That male at the Onyx called him the freeborn Alpha. And now, he was welcome at the Grand Opal?

I wanted to know his story, his pack, what he truly wanted from me - I wasn’t buying the lab rat story, and just out of curiosity, what it would feel like to touch the hard lines of his abdomen.

He made his way to the princess’s quarters. Princess Orlanda was right outside, pacing up and down the veranda downstairs. She was clearly restless. Was she wondering if I had been killed yet?

“Hail your Majesty.” I greeted when we were close enough, the words feeling like dry sand on my tongue.

“Kelani!” her face lit up a little, “I was worried when I lost you in the crowd.”

Of course, you were.

“Greetings, Princess Orlanda.” Mardeo said simply.

Her head whipped to him, like she hadn’t noticed him before. But that was just impossible. His commanding presence was not something that could go unnoticed. When she recognized him, she stilled. “You said you would report back the next day.”

“The day is not over yet.” he answered.

“How is he?”

“Dead.”

I watched Princess Orlanda’s face contort into something ghastly. Her fists clenched so tightly, I feared her fingers would dislocate.

“You monster…” She wanted to lurch at him but held herself back. We were right in the royal palace. Guards were all around. She would have to tell the full story if she did anything stupid. I could see the restraint was killing her. Tears began to stream down her face.

“I tried my best. He’s human-“ Alpha Mardeo started.

“And that’s exactly why you let him die because you know he has no laws to protect him in Shanakoi.” the princess interjected.

He continued like she hadn’t spoken. “He’s human and that’s why he easily succumbed to such minor injuries. A wolf would never.”

She shook her head vehemently. “This is not about the strength of his kind but a monster like you wouldn’t know that. I can tell that you don’t know what it feels like to love or be loved. You say it without remorse - ‘Dead’. But that man was someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s… beloved,” she choked the last word out, “Rest assured you will pay dearly for this.”

She was the second person to promise vengeance to Alpha Mardeo in the last hour. How many more people want his head? But somehow, I had confidence that he would be just fine.

Even now, he looked at her like he was watching a performance by an untalented artist. Producing a folded paper from his pocket, he handed it to her. “Details of his gravesite in case you would like to leave him flowers.”

He turned to me. “Our experiment will start tomorrow. Come to the laboratory by morning.”

With that, he turned and walked away. Princess Orlanda nearly tripped on her dress as she ran up the stairs.

Later that night, Coco interrupted my tossing and turning on my bed to inform me that Princess Orlanda requested to see me.

She was looking out of her window when I walked into her chamber. The same window we had sneaked out from. She was still in her formal dress even though she should have long changed into something casual for the night.

“Did you find Philip’s brother? Did he confirm Philip is dead?”

I was taken aback. She was sticking to her script. Like she didn’t send me into that mob to get hurt.

“No, I wasn’t able to talk to him. I lost him in the crowd.” I answered.

Then without thinking, I blurted, “Alpha Mardeo said Philip has no brother.”

She turned to look at me now and her face was a sorry sight. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying and her face was puffy.

“So Alpha Mardeo is not only a murderer but a liar.”

It sounded like a question and an accusation and a realization all wrapped in one. I said nothing.

“Goodnight, Kelani.”

I understood that I was dismissed and left her chamber, a single question on my mind. Between the princess and the Alpha, someone was lying to me. Who was lying and why?