Fated to the cruel Alpha

The Proposal

Alpha Lex's POV

The next morning, I woke up feeling a rare sense of refreshment. The brutal clarity that follows decisive action had settled over me, leaving my mind sharp and my body relaxed. I had handled every immediate threat, every lingering dispute. The pack was secure, for now.

A glance at the clock shattered the calm. I was late.

I rushed to the bathroom, taking a shower so quick the steam barely had time to fog the mirrors. The icy needles of water were a ritual—it kept me sharp. I guess I’d grown addicted to the shock of it.

Wrapping a towel around my waist, I strode back into the bedroom, my mind already shifting to the day’s burdens: my grieving mother, the restless elders, the endless politics of stability.

"Good morning, Alpha."

The voice, sweet and syrupy, brought me to a halt. Annie. She stood by the bed, holding a steaming mug, her expression one of practiced devotion. I’d forgotten she was even in the palace.

"Morning, Annie," I replied, my voice cool. I took the mug from her hands—black coffee, no sugar, just as I required—and drank it in one scalming gulp. I always have coffee before starting my day.

"Gosh," she exclaimed, a breathy sound meant to be enticing.

Before I could react, she wrapped herself around me, her hands sliding over my damp back, clinging with a seductive desperation. The smell of her perfume, cloying and floral, clashed violently with the clean, bitter scent of my coffee.

Anger, swift and hot, flared in my chest. I wasn’t in the mood to f**k anyone this morning, least of all her. I understood why she acted so clumsily, so boldly. She sensed the changing tides, the whispers of a necessary political union. She was making her play.

I peeled her arms from me and tossed her away from my body, not gently. "Enough."

I expected her to read the finality in my tone, the ice in my gaze. But no. She chose to ignore the signs, her painted lips forming a pout. That was her mistake. Patience was a currency I spent sparingly, and my account with her was empty.

Left with no other option, I raised my voice just enough. "Bellamy!"

My Beta appeared at the door in seconds, his eyes taking in the scene with impassive efficiency. "Alpha."

"Throw her out of my wing," I commanded, turning my back to fetch my clothes from the wardrobe. "And look for a new replacement. This one has overstayed her usefulness."

Annie’s gasp was a satisfying punctuation to the order. I didn't watch as Bellamy escorted her out, her pleas fading down the corridor. Finally, silence.

Heaving a sigh of relief, I dressed in the formal, dark attire required for council meetings. As I left the throne room to meet with the elders, I took a moment to stroll along the palace's main gallery. Below, through the arched windows, I could see the training grounds.

The way my men manhandled the newly brought-in maids got my attention.

I went to address them and salvage the situation.

It was a rule in the Crimson Pack to empower those slaves and recruit them as maids or soldiers and that is what I’m going to do now before going to meet the elders.

“As you all know, this is the Crimson Pack, and I welcome you all to my pack”.

“You’ll be given a duty to do in the palace and it will be inspected by the Chief Maid,” I rattled on scanning their faces till my gaze fell on Elena, who was hiding in the corners playing with her hair as she hung her head low avoiding my gaze.

I left the servants after giving out some orders and headed for the meeting room.

Walking into the throne room, I took my seat beside my mother.

Of course, I wasn’t crowned as an Alpha yet even though I acted as the alpha and was proclaimed one.

Mom was allowed into the throne room today, which made me guess what the topic of the discussion would be.

I sat there silently, listening to the plight of what my people had to say. The elders represented each clan in the pack.

Hours later, when I thought the meeting would come to an end, one of the elders raised an intriguing topic that couldn’t be avoided.

I looked at him with a piercing gaze as he lamented about me getting a wife and Luna for the pack, which I was reluctant to do.

“Son, you have three days to show us your wife or you have no other choice but to marry your betrothed, Princess Selene from the Red-Moon Pack,” Mother bellowed.

Clenching my fist into a ball, I sat there with a plain face that showed no emotions on my face. Deep within me, I felt my heart beating wildly as I imagined getting married to someone I didn’t love.

Princess Selene and I have never been on good terms even though we were betrothed to each other.

Our marriage is more like a peace treaty between the two packs. I also understood that breaking off the bond would bring doom to my pack.

I frowned, lost in thought, trying to find a solution when my wolf spoke to me.

“Why are you being bothered about these threats?” he asked.

I shunned him and I knew my wolf hated to be ignored.

"I was thinking, why not just propose a contract marriage to someone you like?" he added.

A smile crept into my face as a thought flashed through my mind.

"I have a fiancée!" I uttered.

With a smirk on my face, I watched the elders freeze with shock and confusion on their faces.

I knew they didn't expect to hear that, but I didn't expect to say that too, I scoffed.

My mother wasn't left out as she looked at me with bewilderment, as she searched my eyes for a hint of deceit. I kept my emotions hidden as I put on an innocent look.

“Meeting dismissed,” I walked out of the throne room tiredly with droopy red eyes and went to Elena’s room.

The meeting ended quite late in the evening, I slipped into her room to find her looking all elegant and beautiful in a gown.

I narrowed my gaze as I walked deeper into the room, closing the gap between us. Sniffing her scents, I felt my wolf aroused for some reason.

Clearing my throat, I slouched into a seat and watched her fiddle with her hands anxiously.

My eyes darkened at the thought of her fearing me.

Anyone should fear me, not her!

Oh......no, what was I even thinking? Why must I care about her feelings?

Snapping back into reality, I decided to find out who Elena was and why she had such effects on me.

We had a passionate and intense evening together.

It was a moment-filled night that almost made me lose control of myself.

I couldn't imagine that I almost marked her.

Jumping out of the bed, I left the room hastily to my room.

I ran my hands all over my hair, pacing back and forth as thoughts of what happened earlier flashed in my mind.

When I met Elena back then at the field, I felt a connection between us, though I could never have imagined that we were fated mates by the moon's goodness.

Now I had to set the ball rolling upon discovering the truth and the bond between Elena and me.