Betrayed By The Alpha: Unknown Twins

In A Month

NATALIA

~~

As Derek and I walked through the grand entrance of the Royal Pack palace, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of awareness and discomfort. Even though I had been here just a few days ago, I still found the opulence and grandness of the place to be unlike anything I had ever experienced, and the sight of numerous servants bowing to us sent a flutter of unfamiliarity through my veins.

There were several servants lined up in the hallways with their eyes downcast, and their heads bowing in respect as we passed. I felt a surge of discomfort, my unease growing with every bow. I had never experienced such gestures before, and it left me feeling both overwhelmed and uneasy.

Derek noticed my unease and leaned in, whispering, "Relax, Natalia. They're simply showing respect. Don't feel nervous or out of place, because you're my fiancée now, and you belong here," he assured me, and even though his words didn't completely stop me from being nervous,

Taking a deep breath, I nodded, allowing his reassurance to calm my nerves. We proceeded towards the dining hall, anticipation and a touch of anxiety settling in the pit of my stomach. As we entered the room, my eyes met the smiling face of the Alpha King, Nathan, who radiated a welcoming aura.

With as much politeness as I could muster, I greeted him, "Good evening, Your Majesty. It's a pleasure to see you again, and thank you for inviting me." My voice betrayed a hint of nervousness, despite my attempts to maintain composure.

Returning my greeting, the Alpha King's smile widened. "Ah, Natalia. It's wonderful to have you here. The pleasure is all mine, dear," he replied warmly, his voice carrying a gentle authority.

His presence was both imposing and comforting at the same time.

Before I could fully comprehend and take in the entire room, my gaze shifted slightly, and I noticed a petite woman standing a few feet behind the Alpha King.

She exuded an air of grace and elegance that seemed to fit her surroundings perfectly. If I didn't know better, I would think she was the queen.

Intrigued, I couldn't tear my eyes away, though a wave of anxiousness washed over me.

Almost instinctively, I found myself bowing slightly, a reflex born out of respect and ingrained manners. I tried to mask my uncertainty and discomfort at her staring since I was still unsure of whom this woman might be.

She couldn't be Derek's mother since he had mentioned her disappearance, and she appeared a little too young to fit that role, even though I could be wrong, and she was just incredibly beautiful and young-looking.

Behind the Alpha King, my action caught his attention. He turned his gaze towards the woman, his expression tender. "Soraya, please come forward," he beckoned, his voice filled with warmth and affection. "Why are you standing so far away?"

Complying with his request, she stepped forward, her eyes never leaving mine. There was an unspoken curiosity in her gaze, mirrored by my own curiosity about the woman who seemed important to the Alpha King.

As she moved closer, the Alpha King introduced her to me.

"Natalia, may I introduce you to my wife, Soraya?" he announced, his voice tinged with pride and adoration. I was a little surprised that she was his wife, but I was even more surprised by the fact that Derek had never mentioned her to me. I had expected that we would only have dinner with the king, so it caught me off guard that Soraya was also going to be here.

Soraya's eyes softened, reflecting an unimpressed look as she observed my reaction. Her voice was gentle when she spoke. "Natalia, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Derek speaks very highly of you.”

I greeted Soraya with as much politeness as I could muster, reciprocating her pleasantries.

As we took our seats at the grand dining table, I couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and curiosity. The Alpha King sat at the head of the table, exuding a sense of authority and control. Soraya took her place beside him, and Derek sat opposite her, while I sat right beside him.

The anticipation mounted as Soraya gently rang a silver bell, summoning the servants. My eyes widened as the servants walked in, immediately placing an array of delicacies in front of us.

Soraya turned to me with a kind smile.

"I wasn't sure about your preferences, Natalia, so I had the servants prepare a variety. I hope there's something to your liking," she said, her voice laced with a concern that I thought was genuine.

I appreciated her thoughtfulness and replied, "Thank you, Soraya. Everything looks so delicious."

The Alpha King observed us, his gaze filled with curiosity. "Natalia dear, tell me, why didn't your children come with you tonight? I had expected to see them as well," he pointed out.

A feeling of discomfort shot through me. Derek quickly interjected before I could respond. "One of the twins wasn't feeling well, so we thought it best not to bring them along."

Soraya responded in a voice dripping with thinly veiled skepticism. "Oh, is that really the reason, Derek? Or perhaps Natalia was a little embarrassed to introduce some other man's children to her fiancé's family?" she said, taking me by surprise.

I blinked in shock, taken aback by Soraya's strange tone. The heavy silence lingered in the room as I struggled to find my words. Derek, sensing my distress, spoke up in an attempt to defuse the tension.

"That's enough, Lady Soraya. Kindly watch your words," he warned, his voice firm but tinged with annoyance.

Soraya's lips curled into a mocking smile, her words devoid of genuine remorse. "My apologies, Natalia. I only wanted you to know that we wouldn't have judged you if you had brought your children along. After all, there's nothing wrong with being a single mother who aspires to marry herself and her children into a prestigious family, is there?"

Her words cut deep, exposing the resentment and judgment that she clearly had towards me.

My voice shook slightly as I responded, "You're mistaken, Lady Soraya. I am proud to be a single mother, and there's nothing for me to be embarrassed about when it comes to my children. Also, my purpose in life is not to marry into a prestigious family, but to create a happy future for my children. And my children love Derek."

Soraya's smile faltered, her eyes narrowing as she assessed me. "Well, then it seems that your intentions align perfectly with Derek's. I hope you both find the happiness you seek. I can't wait to meet your children and my soon-to-be grandchildren."

Soraya's words hung in the air, laced with an obvious insincerity.

I sensed that she didn't really mean meeting my children, and her words were merely a facade.

But I played along, maintaining a gracious smile as I replied, "Yes, Lady Soraya, I will make sure they meet their soon-to-be grandmother soon."

Unsettled by the unease, the Alpha King spoke up, suggesting we begin our meal. As we indulged in the feast in front of us, I couldn't help but feel a knot tighten in my stomach, sensing that something significant was about to happen.

Just as the weight of the conversation seemed to dissipate, the Alpha King turned his gaze toward Derek, his voice calm but filled with expectancy. "Derek, when do you intend to have the wedding?"

My heart skipped a beat, nerves coursing through my veins at the mention of the wedding. I hadn't yet adjusted to the reality of our engagement, let alone considered the next step of actually tying the knot.

The thought of marrying Derek so soon felt overwhelming as if the world was shifting too rapidly underneath my feet.

Derek hesitated, his eyes briefly flickering to meet mine. Then, he responded honestly, "We haven't decided yet, Father. Natalia and I are not in a hurry. We want to take the time to ensure that we are fully ready for the commitment of marriage."

I held my breath, silently praying that the Alpha King would understand our hesitation and allow us the freedom to determine our own timeline.

But his reaction was swift, his voice filled with disapproval. "No, Derek. This union needs to happen soon. The Lunar Eclipse is approaching, and it is considered highly auspicious for a mating to take place during such a celestial event. We need to start making the necessary preparations immediately."

My heart dropped to my stomach as the weight of his words hit me with an even greater force than I had anticipated.

The eclipse was in a month, and a month was merely a blink of an eye in terms of wedding planning.

I couldn't fathom the thought of walking down the aisle, making lifelong vows, when I still couldn't imagine myself as Derek's wife.

“Father, forgive me, but we should decide this on our own,” Derek responded.

“Well, you're the Alpha Prince and something as important as your wedding is not something you decide alone. The wedding is in a month, and that is final,” the alpha king replied, and I mentally froze.