Fated to the Cursed King

It was on a Thursday. A scorching afternoon when the atmosphere of the Golden Blood Pack House rippled with gloom, and the entire pack cloaked in somber white attire to mourn the death of their Alpha. While everyone was immersed in grief, a black Citroën C3 pulled their drastic attention. It veered into the premises and screeched to a halt in front of the Royal Hall. As a guard on standby opened the car back's door, a light complexion petite figure, dressed in a black trouser and white t-shirt, alighted with solemn grace. Her gaze glistened with grief, she tucked her dark, silver-lined hair behind her ears and whipped her eyes around the hall and the premises. It had been years since she had left the pack, and never had she expected her arrival would be for a funeral. Not just any funeral. Her father’s funeral—the Alpha King of the Golden Blood Pack. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks, but she held them in. Showing weakness in public was something her father had strictly taught her not to. “Welcome, Miss Harlow,” the guards and everyone present greeted with respectful bows. She gave only a curt nod before ascending the stairs to the hall’s main entrance. As the guards widened the giant golden doors, a painful sigh escaped her lips and her eyes laced with tears the instant she sighted her father’s coffin. The casket was surrounded by massive floral arrangements and a grand portrait of him mounted above it. Recalling the details surrounding his death, Harlow wiped her eyes and replaced her sorrow with vengeance. “You’re here.” An older maid hastened toward her and it was then she noticed how packed the hall was. People from international packs, some of whom, she was certain, were spies, filled the space. Harlow gave the maid a quick nod and made a beeline for the casket. But as she reached it, her bottled emotions betrayed her and tears cascaded down her face like a downpour. “D-dad,” she mumbled weakly, trailing her fingers across the casket. “Why’d you leave me so soon?” She had left for an art university overseas and had just graduated when the devastating news reached her. “You promised you’d always be there for me, but here you are... leaving me like Mum did.” Her words choked on her throat as the reality of being an orphan hit her. “We’re so sorry for your loss, Harlow,” a cracked, aged voice sounded beside her. It was one of the Elders. But she ignored him for his concern was fake. Both he and his colleague had always despised her, and their hatred had never been subtle. After a few moments of silently wishing her father would burst from the casket and shout “I’m alive!”, Harlow wiped her face, her blood blazing with rage as the two Elders approached. “What?” she asked in a fierce, impassive tone. Elder Mart began, “Alpha Hayes died in battle, and the pack needs a new Alpha to assume office immediately.” “And this can’t wait until tomorrow?” Harlow cut in. “Even if you pretended to care while he was alive, can’t you pretend to care now, just for today?!” Silence diffused into the hall until the second Elder spoke. “We care. But we don’t delay tradition. A new Alpha must be chosen today.” Harlow knew exactly what this was about. But that moment wasn’t the time to argue. “I’ll engage with you only after my father has been buried.” And with those words, she stormed out of the hall, drawing surprised gasps from every angle. *****THREE HOURS LATER***** After Hayes was buried, Harlow sat in his monochrome-painted office in the Royal mansion. Her heart ached at the sight of his portraits hanging on the wall and at his scent which lingered in every corner. She rounded the table, rummaging through his drawers—hoping to find something—when the Elders barged in with three other officials. “That battle,” Harlow expressed with vengeance without lifting her chin, “you all knew it would end in his death, didn’t you?” Her accusation stunned the five men, but Elder Mart recovered quickly. “There was nothing a wolf-less girl like you could have done to stop it, even if you knew. You think you’d win against that Lycan monster?” His arrogance ignited fury in Harlow, and the file in her hand crumpled as her fingers curled into a fist. She loathed being underestimated. “I will avenge my father’s death. I need every piece of information on that Lycan bastard.” “The pack has more important issues to deal with than revenge. We can not–” Elder Mart began. Harlow scoffed interjected him. “As the next Alpha Queen, I command it.” “What?!” the men exclaimed, their brows arching in disbelief. Elder Tank stepped forward. “There has never been a female Alpha in the history of werewolves.” Becoming an Alpha had never been Harlow’s goal. She had planned to honor her father’s memory, move to a new pack, focus on her art career, and maybe find her mate. But watching these gray-haired dwarves plot to tarnish her father’s legacy was something she couldn’t tolerate. If she left now, she’d be consumed with rues for not standing her ground. “The firstborn of every Alpha is the rightful heir to the throne,” she said, punctuating her words with a withering glare, “unless there’s someone out there ready to fight me.” Disbelief echoed in the room. “How can you fight strong men when you’re wolf-less and lead a pack you know nothing about?” a robust, middle-aged official challenged. Harlow stepped away from the desk and closed the distance between them. She was ready to prove what a girl without a wolf could do, but somehow restrained herself. “Get the contestants ready and see for yourselves.” Their brows tightened, struggling to believe Harlow had become fiercer, and was now poised to ruin everything they had schemed. “A woman will not lead us. Never in my life will I watch you become this pack’s Alpha,” Mart spat bitterly. “Then die. The diggers are still around.” She noticed an instant mind-linking going on between the men, but paid it no mind until the youngest official, around her age, spoke up. “Please, Elders. Don’t take this from Harlow. Alpha Hayes trained her well in combat. We’re supposed to have faith in her," Raydes spoke. A wave of relief coursed through Harlow. It gladdened her heart that her childhood friend was by her side. However, the Elders shunned him in the link, and the unhappiness creased on his forehead made it obvious. “Send me the list of those I’ll be competing against. I’ll be in my car,” she declared. But before she could leave, the third official smirked. “You don’t have to fight anyone, Harlow. The Elders have agreed I become the new Alpha. Just be my wife and—” A jolt of electricity surged through Harlow's head. And in less than a second, she snapped his left arm, sent him crashing to the floor, and drove her knee into his spine. The other men staggered back, their bodies quivering in fear while she shook her head. “If this piece of trash is where you place your trust, I'm sorry for you all.” ***** Harlow darted outside, storming towards her car. Just as she reached it and opened its door, a cold, menacing baritone elicited from behind her. The voice breathed like a storm. “Are you the next Alpha I’m getting rid of?” She perfectly heard the words, but something else hijacked her attention. It was a sudden, strong, soft sandalwood scent mixed with musk which had just wafted into her nostrils. The scent was unusually intoxicating; so potent it caused her heart and dormant wolf to race and thrum violently after years of silence. She half-turned, drawn toward the scent. The moment her eyes landed on its source, golden rings ignited in her irises. Marveled, a tall, brawny, built like a Greek God man stood before her. His face lacked warmth and his demeanor exuded darkness. She could hardly breathe as he took approaching steps toward her, and her heart grew erratic the moment he stopped right in front of her and tilted his lips to her neck. Harlow had disappeared into the land of fantasy and not till he removed his mask and abrasively breathed, "It was a fun time killing your dad. I hope it will be with you, too," did her senses snapped back to her. "Lycan K-Kai?" she stuttered, struggling to process how the man who murdered her father… was the mate she wished to have.