Alpha King, Unknown Mate

Chapter 2: Una's Destiny Journey Begins

Una’s eyelids flutter open, and the harsh light of the morning stings her groggy vision. The room around her is unfamiliar, but the sterile scent of herbs and medicine tells her she’s still in the pack's infirmary.

The sounds of hurried footsteps echo through the room—doctors and healers moving between the injured. Her head throbs as she lifts a hand to feel the wound, remembering the chaos of the battle and the moment she fell.

The world is blurry, and her mind is scattered with fragments of memories—a blurred image of a fierce warrior with dark eyes, reaching out to her.

She tries to sit up, but dizziness pulls her back into the bed.

Her breath catches in her throat, and she calls out weakly, "Mother? Father?"

The words come out as little more than a whisper. But there’s no answer. The room feels colder now.

Suddenly, a soft voice breaks through the fog of her mind. "Shh... You’re safe now." A woman, older than Una but with a gentle touch, lifts her and cradles her in her arms. "Rest now. You’ve been through much."

Una closes her eyes, surrendering to the woman’s care, but deep down, an ache gnaws at her. Where are my parents?

Thirteen years have passed since the war.

The Blue Moon Pack was victorious, but the scars of the battle ran deep. Una was only a child, too young to remember much about the day the Rogues attacked—only stories of her miraculous rescue by a mysterious warrior of the Shadows Pack, and the loss of her family.

Now, at seventeen, Una is alone. She has no family, no blood relatives to take her in. The Alpha of the Shadows Pack has made sure she’s cared for, though—one of the many orphans rescued from the aftermath.

"Yes, Mistress Pat," Una replies, quickly wrapping herself in a towel after a hasty shower. The cool water had helped wash away some of the heaviness in her chest, but not all of it.

Patricia, standing in the doorway, raises an eyebrow. "What’s this? Planning to flood the town with your waterworks?"

Her tone is teasing, but there’s an edge to it. Una bows her head in apology.

"I’m sorry, Mistress Pat. I’ll get to work right away."

Pat’s scowl softens a fraction as she walks away, but not before giving Una a critical glance. “Better not catch you dawdling again.”

Una watches the older woman leave, and for a moment, her thoughts linger on the strange instructions she’s received from mistress pat. Though all servants must show deference to Patricia, Una’s beauty has earned her a different kind of treatment—one that raises the envy of the other maids.

But Una has learned to keep her head down, never making waves. She’s been told to keep her distance from the royal family, though their eyes often linger on her. There’s something... magnetic about her. She doesn’t quite understand it herself.

The kitchen is already alive with the sounds of breakfast preparation. The scent of sizzling bacon and freshly baked bread fills the air, making Una’s stomach growl with hunger.

As she ties on an apron and starts preparing the dining room, she can’t shake the feeling of being watched.

She crosses the grand hallway, her soft steps muffled by the luxurious red carpet. Portraits of past Alphas and Luna's gaze down from the walls, their painted eyes heavy with centuries of history.

She passes the Alpha’s conference hall, where the pack’s leaders meet, and quickens her pace.

When she enters the dining room, she’s struck by the magnificence of the setting—polished silver, gleaming candlesticks, and fine china on a long, exquisite table. As she works to set the chairs in order, her heart beats louder in her chest. She can feel the presence of the royal family drawing nearer. She’s not sure if it’s her imagination or something more.

The door was opened and the King and Queen entered. They are as expensive as they say. But her son - Ralph, the eldest son of the royal family - is Úna's focus.

Alpha Railph. Tall and dramatic, his sculpted design reflects his father's heritage. His blond hair was neatly cut and blue eyes caught her eye immediately. As he walks past Una to sit down, he feels the air moving - a magnetism he can't explain.

Her breath caught in her throat, and her head bowed.

The royal family sat down at the table, and the servants brought a tray of steamed food. Úna stood on the wall, holding her hands in front of her as she watched. It was hard to take her eyes off Ralph. There was something about the way he carried him—something different from the other men in the room. It commands only vigilance; respect him

"Pat, as usual, you never disappoint," said the queen with a smile, causing Patricia to beam with pride.

"You can leave." Una waited for the others to leave, but when the queen called her, her heart skipped a beat.

"Una, stay behind.”

The room was silent as the king looked at her. She was used to being watched—her beauty was known—but this was different. The king's eyes were approving, the queen's warm and pensive, and Ralph . . . Ralph's eyes were empty, but he stayed longer than he should have.

"Yes, Your Majesty, " Una replied, her voice calm but her heart beating.

"I want to speak to you some other time," said the queen, smiling, "in my chambers

Una's stomach tightened. This is not normal. She bowed deeply and left the room, her mind racing.

Then, in the queen's chambers, Una stood nervously, looking down, waiting for permission to sit down. The Queen motioned for her to rest, and Una carefully sat down on the plush chair.

The Queen's eyes were soft but firm as she spoke. “Una, Alpha and I have decided. She paused and looked at Una carefully. “You are to be mated with our son, Ralph'.

Une held her breath. Her heart pounded in her chest. “My queen…” Her voice trailed off. "I'm... flattered, but-"

The Queen's eyes hardened slightly. "No objection Una, the decision is final, Ralph is very excited about it."

“But I…” Una's voice shook. "I never spoke to him."

"That's about to change. Ralph cares about you. And though you don't understand it now, this is your destiny, Una."

Her heart pounded as she tried to process the news. A thousand questions raced through her mind—about Ralph, about her place in this new world—but only one. Prominent ideas include: This is not just about the wedding. It's about power.

Una looked down, her heart heavy with what was about to happen. “I will do my best, Your Majesty.

The Queen nodded with a soft smile. "Of course, you will be trained. We will prepare you for your new role as the future Luna of the Shadow Pack. But know that our son will need someone strong by his side. Someone who can handle what's to come."

When Una left the room, her heart filled with a storm of emotions - excitement, fear, uncertainty. And Ralph? How did he feel about it all?

But she knew one thing for sure: life would be forever changed.