Mating The Alpha King Kairos

Aelys’s POV “I, Kieran Blackwell, reject you, Aelys Veyneth, as my mate.” The words echoed through the grand hall of Moonstone Pack. My heart slammed against my ribs, my stomach dropped as I stared at him in disbelief. Just yesterday, we both stood in this very same hall, beaming with smiles as Kieran and I announced to the entire pack the news of our mating ceremony! Now, those same pack members surrounded us, watching as my mate rejected me in front of everyone. “Wha…What?” I whispered, too stunned to make sense of whatever words he spoke. “Why?! What have I done to deserve your rejection?!” “Why?!” He snarled, “Are you trying to pretend now that you’ve been caught?” “Caught?” My brows furrowed. My wolf paced around restlessly in my head, my skin itched and my body bristled with tell-tale signs that she wanted out. She was already beyond agitated. “What are you talking about, Kieran?! If I did something and I cannot remember, shouldn’t you have at least discussed it with me before calling over the pack and elders?!” This all felt like one bad dream I was so eager to wake up from. What could have gone wrong? Clenching my fists, I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to remember the events of last night. He cackled, his gaze shifting to feral slits as he walked towards me. “Where were you last night?” Glancing at him, I blinked in confusion. Where was I? “We hosted guests last night! You and I! Where else would I be if it wasn’t my room. We had drinks and I…..I…” I faltered back, clutching my head tight when my temples pulsed with a headache. Where was I?! I couldn’t remember anything else apart from that. “Tell us, Regent!” Valthor Eldrin, the pack Elder muttered impatiently. “Your mate has laid before us some very disturbing news about you. We can only get to the bottom of this if you tell us the truth.” His eyes that once softened when they looked at me, hardened in scorn. “You can’t say? If you cannot, allow me help you instead.” Turning towards the crowd, he began. “You betrayed our pack, Aelys. You invited enemies into our home. You plotted with your lover, and brought him into our home! Into our pack, under the guise of a truce! If I hadn’t come find you so early, I would never have caught him in your very bed!” The accusation hit harder than any blow I gasped, slapping a hand over my mouth to muffle the sound that escaped from shock. A few pack members shifted uneasily; Valthor Eldrin shook his head I saw doubt flicker past his face before it hardened into suspicion. “Are you insane?” I shot back, voice shaking with fury. “Moonstone is my home! I’m the Regent Alpha, and my father’s blood runs through my veins too! Why would I risk everything that my bloodline has worked hard for, just for a lover?! If the Moon goddess chose you as my mate, why then would I risk my mate bond for an affair with another man? Where is your proof of these accusations laid against me?!” The crowd’s whispers and murmurs rippled through the halls. Kieran’s gaze remained indifferent, but the corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk that faded in an instant. “The proof you seek, is right here!” A familiar voice muttered through the crowd. My eyes widened in bewilderment as I stared at the female in front of me, seething. “This man was taken from your very room by Kieran. Of course you wouldn’t remember since you’ve been too excited to celebrate your illicit affairs with your lover.” The guards tossed over a male who’d been covered in bruises in my direction. He flinched, cowering as I took shaky steps towards him. I recognized him from last night! Zareth. One of the Rogue Enforcers who’d entered our pack for a trade and a truce. I sniffled, fighting back a tear as I crouched low, placing my hand on his shoulder. “Tell them. Please. Tell them this isn’t true! Tell them this is a misunderstanding, tell them—” “—It’s too late, Aelys. They already know.” His lips quivered, he snatched my hand, holding onto me while he shifted frantically. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have listened when you asked me to stay, I should’ve stopped you from drinking too much when you invited me over to your quarters. I should’ve—” “Lies!” I screamed. Snatching my hand away from his as my wolf lurched forward. I charged at him with my claws aiming for his throat when Sylira pulled him out of reach just in time. “Are you trying to murder him in front of everyone, just for speaking the truth?!” She motioned towards the guards to take him away. Tears, hot tears trickled down my cheeks when reality hit; this wasn’t some nightmare that I could wake up from, this was real, and it was happening! “Would you choose to believe the words of a stranger, of a rogue, over that of your sister?! Over the words of your mate?! Why would I ever…” I gasped, breaking into streams of sobs. “Why would I ever bring over a man who claims he’s my lover, right after we’ve announced our mating ceremony, Kieran?” “How am I supposed to know that, huh?!” Kieran snatched my wrist, shrugging me forward. The part where his mark covered my neck, burned as it started to fade. “You only wear my claiming mark. Whatever bond we share isn’t complete, everyone knows that. I’m a Beta and you’re a Regent Alpha who’s my mate, but refuses to put a claiming mark on me too. Was it all for this, Aelys? To carry on your clandestine acts behind my back?!” “No!” A shudder coursed through me. His bond tethering me to him, snapped in two like a fragile thread, pain sluicing through me as the illusion of my future shattered. “I didn’t…I swear it…it wasn’t..” “Oh, save your tears. No need to pretend anymore, sister. We all know you don’t see Kieran as a worthy mate. You only stuck with him because father blessed your union with Kieran on his deathbed, yet you threw it away, for a filthy rogue. You’ve been plotting with those border packs to kill your own mate.” My knees nearly buckled. “Kieran, please….No.. it’s not what you think. I would never take them in if if wasn’t because you agreed to it. You were there the whole time, last night!” Sylira’s lips curled. “He was there the whole night, in your chambers too? While you were f*****g your rogue male?” “Lies!” I screamed, turning desperately to the pack. “You know me! I’ve led you, fought for you! Please believe me, please—” But the faces of the ones I’d once led as their Regent Alpha, stared back with scorn. A few shouts rang out as they labeled me a traitor. Others joined in, demanding justice for Kieran who was supposedly wronged by his cheated mate. Even Valthor Eldrin looked away. “I’m afraid this is beyond us, Regent.” Valthor Eldrin croaked out. “But as Moonstone laws demands; any mate who sullies their mate bond and has an affair with another will be cut off from the pack. You’re the Regent alpha and as such, should serve as an example to the others who might think to commit such crimes.” Bile rose in my throat as it constricted painfully. My vision hazed with tears and for a moment, I could fee my consciousness slipping. My wolf cried out, the outright terror and betrayal colliding into us in waves. Too unbearable for either of us when Valthor Eldrin continued. “ Ans as such, you’ll be stripped of your title as the Alpha, and the role of the Regent be passed onto your sister. She can choose to carry out your father’s wishes and as a recompense, take your mate as hers.” I shook my head, rushing forward in a frenzy, screaming out in hysteria when my knees caved. “I swear on the Moon goddess!” I pleaded, voice breaking as I faced Kieran again. “I’ve never touched by anyone, and you know that. Please….you cannot do this to me!” He didn’t flinch, instead, his lips twitched in a smile. “Save your breath, Aelys. The law is, and cannot be changed for you, or anyone. As much as I hate to see you like this. You brought this upon yourself….You’ll be stripped of your title and punished.”