A Deadly Fate Match With The Alpha king

•Charlotte• My morning had started out peacefully—until it turned into absolute madness. I had just settled into bed with a book, enjoying my rare moment of quiet, when a loud crash echoed through the house. Then came the scream. “You absolute menace!” Sarah. I sighed and slowly closed my book, already dreading whatever drama awaited me. Sarah burst into my room, waving a shredded dress in the air like a crime scene exhibit. “You ruined my dress!” I barely glanced up. “What are you talking about?” She dramatically clutched her chest, holding up the ruined silky fabric. “Look at this! My favorite dress! Destroyed!” I stared at her blankly. “Sarah, I didn’t touch your dress.” She gasped. “You must have! I left it on the floor, and now it’s torn!” I raised an eyebrow. “So… what I’m hearing is that you left it on the floor, and somehow, I’m to blame?” She stomped her foot. “You’re dead to me!” Then she stormed off. “Finally,” I muttered. I had just relaxed again when—another crash. Groaning, I dragged myself downstairs, already knowing who the culprit was this time. Sure enough, I walked into the kitchen and found Lily standing there, covered in flour, looking extremely guilty. A mixing bowl lay on the counter, pancake batter dripping onto the floor and walls. I sighed. “Lily… what did you do?” She lifted her hands like she was about to plead her case. “Okay, listen. It was an accident.” I folded my arms. “Go on.” She pointed at the mess. “I was making pancakes, but then I sneezed, and my magic just… reacted.” I stared at her. “You sneezed pancake batter across the room?” Lily sighed. “It was a very powerful sneeze.” I rubbed my temples. I was too tired for this. And then, to make things worse— “Charlotte, come down here for a minute!” My father’s deep voice echoed through the house, carrying the weight of authority that I knew better than to ignore. I sighed, rolling off my bed and tossing my book aside. I had barely gotten through a chapter before being summoned like a child. I stretched my limbs before reluctantly making my way downstairs. As I walked, I let my wolf senses sharpen, extending my hearing toward my dad’s office. Three heartbeats. His, Asher’s, and Williams’s. Great. This wasn’t just a casual chat. The fact that both my brothers were in there? Not a good sign. I let my hearing fade back to normal as I strode the rest of the way to my father’s office, already preparing for whatever ridiculous situation I was about to walk into. Without knocking, I pushed the heavy wooden door open and stepped inside. I never usually ignored formalities, but something about my father’s tone put me on edge. The office was just as intimidating as ever—dark wooden shelves stacked with books, large windows that let in too little sunlight, and the heavy presence of power that clung to the space. Dad sat behind his desk, leaning back in his chair, but I wasn’t fooled. His casual posture did nothing to hide the tension in his features. Williams, my oldest brother and the future Alpha, stood off to the side, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He was six-foot-four, built like a warrior, and yet his usually calm, confident demeanor was missing. And that was concerning. Asher, my other brother, sat on the couch to the right, looking way too tense, like he was bracing for an argument. Okay. What the hell was going on? My gaze swept over them, noting the eerily similar features that we all shared—espresso-brown hair, russet eyes, the only real difference being Asher’s shoulder-length curls and Williams’s sharper jawline. Even Dad, with his streaks of gray and eyes etched with years of experience, still carried the powerful presence of an Alpha. But right now? That presence was clouded with unease. I crossed my arms. “Alright. What’s going on?” Dad gestured to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit down, Charlotte.” His voice was calm—too calm. I hesitated, my instincts whispering that I wouldn’t like this conversation. Reluctantly, I sank into the chair, feeling oddly small in the presence of three men who had spent my entire life towering over me. The last time I had been summoned like this, I had crashed Dad’s car into the training grounds (long story, totally not my fault). Something told me that this was worse. I tapped my fingers against my thigh impatiently, waiting for someone to start. Dad exhaled slowly. “You know I’ve been working on earning a seat on the High Council.” I nodded. He had spent years trying to gain recognition among the most powerful Alphas, those who advised the King on werewolf affairs. “Well,” he continued, “I’ve finally been considered.” Excitement flared in my chest. “Dad, that’s incredible!” But he didn’t look happy. And that immediately killed my excitement. “There’s a condition,” he said, voice steady. “They want me to send representatives to the royal castle—for a few months.” I frowned. “Okay… so who’s going?” Silence. Then— “Asher will be going,” Dad said. “And so will you.” My stomach hit the floor. “What?” My voice came out choked. “You, Asher, and Lily.” I turned to Asher, narrowing my eyes. “And you agreed to this?” He rubbed the back of his neck, not meeting my gaze. Traitor. “No,” I blurted. “Absolutely not.” Dad didn’t even blink. “Sarah isn’t an option. That leaves you.” Of course, it couldn’t be Sarah. My older sister was too busy collecting boyfriends and partying to be trusted with something like this. I scowled. “Why aren’t Asher and Lily enough?” Dad exhaled sharply. “Because I need to prove my commitment. Sending two of my children and a powerful witch shows the King I’m serious.” I hated how logical that sounded. Still, I wasn’t giving up. “And Kade?” I shot back. Dad didn’t even flinch. “He’s going too.” I groaned, dragging my hands down my face. Kade, our future Beta, was my worst nightmare. We had been rivals since childhood—constantly competing, constantly bickering over everything. The idea of spending months with him? Hell. “This is a nightmare,” I muttered. Dad ignored me. “This isn’t just about the Council. It’s about strengthening alliances. The King is choosing his advisors carefully. This is a rare opportunity.” I shook my head. “Dad, I just finished my degree to help with pack finances, not be dragged into royal politics.” His expression softened—briefly—before turning to steel. “You said you wanted to be more involved. This is your chance.” And then, the final blow. “This isn’t a request, Charlotte. It’s an order from your Alpha.” The air in the room grew heavy. There it was. The end of the argument. I could fight all I wanted, but Dad wasn’t just my father. He was my Alpha. I couldn’t say no. I gritted my teeth. “Fine. But when I get back, I want control over my own role. No micromanaging.” Dad studied me before nodding. “Fine. You have a deal.” I exhaled sharply. “When do we leave?” Dad’s face remained unreadable. “Tomorrow.” I froze. “Tomorrow?! Are you serious?” Dad gave me a firm look. No way out of this. My stomach dropped. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. That meant tonight was my last night at home. That meant I had to pack, say goodbye, prepare for a journey I didn’t want. That meant, by this time tomorrow, I would be stepping into the unknown. I wanted to argue more, wanted to fight back against the unfairness of it all, but the look in Dad’s eyes shut me down. This was happening. Whether I liked it or not. I slowly stood, pushing the chair back. My legs felt heavy, like I was carrying the weight of something much bigger than I understood. Asher finally looked up at me, his expression almost apologetic. Williams remained silent, watching. Dad didn’t say another word. I turned toward the door, gripping the handle, my pulse pounding in my ears. This was it. Everything in my life was about to change. And I had no idea what waited for me on the other side. Well at least I knew Lily and Sarah were waiting for me in the hallway. The moment they saw my face, they knew. “Oh no,” Lily said. “How bad is it?” I groaned. “I have to leave. Tomorrow.” Sarah burst out laughing. Lily gasped. “Wait, what? Why?” “Because Dad’s trying to ruin my life.” Lily sighed. “Charlotte, this could be a great opportunity.” I shot her a look. “Do you know who’s going? Asher, Kade, and you.” Lily’s face lit up. “At least I’ll be there!” Sarah smirked. “And Kade. Your favorite person.” I growled. Sarah’s grin widened. “This is going to be hilarious.” Lily nudged me. “Come on. Maybe it won’t be that bad.” I sighed, rubbing my temples. I had a really bad feeling about this.