She Is The Alpha!

I trembled, shivers running down my spine at the sound of my father’s voice. I was on my knees, in the middle of the Council Hall. My mother and I being scrutinized by several burning, malicious gazes. “For the last time, Lyra. Did you and your mother instruct a spy to break into my chambers to steal the sacred seal?” I swallowed hard, bowing my head. “No, father.” “Look into my eyes while you talk!” He snarled, his voice making me flinch. My father, Alpha Harold of the BlackThorn pack, was a rough-tempered man. Despite what people assumed to be a privilege, my life as an Alpha’s daughter was one of treading eggshells, panic and constant torture. I glanced at my mother’s frail, haggard figure. Who would believe the woman kneeling next to me was the Luna of the most powerful Pack in Australia? I glanced up at the cause of all our sorrows- the 7 Wolf Elders, my step-mother, Tamara, and her 4 sons, Axel, Cohen, Norman & Lloyd. Last night, a spy from NightFang, our enemy pack was caught sneaking out of the Deep Chambers with the Sacred Seal. It was barely even dawn when father’s guards dragged us down here. My mother and I were prisoners in the royal palace, Tamara made sure of that. “Are you willing to swear on the Goddess?” Norman scoffed down at me. “We’re innocent, father. You believe me, right?” I looked up at him, but he refused to meet my eye. My gaze flitted through the room, a heavy shudder running through me. Did they think- “I’m sorry, Lyra.” My mother sobbed. “Bring in the criminal!” Father commanded and a slave was dragged in, chained hands and feet. Forced to his knees, he stared up at my father, shivering in fear. “I beg your Pardon, benevolent Alpha Harold. Someone promised to pay my son’s hospital bills if I get the Sacred Seal!” “I met her 3 nights ago, but I can recognize her anywhere!” His voice trembled. “Look through this room.” My father commanded. The slave obeyed, eyes widening when they fell on my mother. “She’s the one!” “That’s impossible!” I shouted right back. One thing I hated was injustice. “My mother would never do such a thing.” “I met her 3 days ago!” His face was resolute, shocking me to the core. “And I was able to avoid the guards thanks to the map and spare keys she gave me!” He retrieved a rough looking map. Gasps went up the air. “Mother, say something to defend yourself!” I turned to shake her, heart pounding loud in my ears. But she only kept sobbing. “You don’t deserve this kind of life, my child. I should have done better.” I could feel our bond getting weaker and weaker. The hall grew into a web of commotion, members of the high court throwing looks of contempt at us. “I saw the Luna sneaking off the palace 3 nights ago.” My mother’s maids cooked up false stories when they were brought in. When she didn’t deny the accusations, the Elders went berserk. “Were you planning to usurp the throne by having the Alpha murdered?” “Who would have thought her calm demeanor was all an evil façade?” “Celeste, did you do this?” Alpha Harold faced my mother. “Father, please-” My heart raced in trepidation, hoping this would all turn out to be a sick joke. But the smirk on Tamara’s face was a jolting reality-check. My sobbing mother. My father’s stony expression. Their vicious sneers. My chest tightened the moment everything clicked into place. “This is a capital offense punishable by death!” First Elder broke the silence, reading from the Official Scroll. “For blaspheming the Moon Goddess and exposing the Alpha’s life to danger. These traitors,” he gestured to my mother and I. “are to be publicly disowned from the royal family. Mother executed; daughter confined to the slave fields for 30 years!” Several voices agreed, and I watched in horror as father stamped it with the royal seal. “No!” My world shattered. I screamed, pleaded, shouted, cursed but no one listened. Father expressed his disappointment in us. My step-brothers ordered me thrown into the dungeons. I bared my fangs, tears of anguish as my wolf, Shayla, came alive to attack the guards pressing me down. “I’ll be back to reclaim my mother’s throne!” The last thing I saw was the hatred on Tamara’s face, right before everything went black. _ “Lower your heads! You slaves are not permitted to breath when the Alpha’s nearby!” The warden’s voice bellowed behind me, sending chills of fear down my spine. I bit my lips we stopped, bowing as the Alpha’s procession arrived. “It's now or never, Lyra.” Nana whispered in my head. But when I looked up, I met the warden’s fiery gaze. “How dare you?” Before he could raise his whip, I dashed off running. “Father!” I shrieked at the top of my voice. It’s been 6 days since my mother and I were convicted of treason. Subjected to humiliation, and public degradation, the pack members were disappointed in us. And when mother tried to plead innocent, we were beaten and drowned with pig’s blood. That day, my heart broke a million times over. As the Alpha’s only child, my mother possessed the royal bloodline but since tradition didn’t permit women to rule, she had to allow her mate take over. Mother had loved father, submitting completely to him. Even when he treated her unjustly and made her do all Tamara’s biddings. But now, if I do nothing, today would be her last day on earth! I grabbed father’s legs, tears streaming down my face. “Please reconsider the death sentence. A proper investigation will prove my mother’s innocence!” The guards tried to get me off, but I clutched harder at his robe. “Who let a slave in here?” My first step-brother, Cohen alighted the carriage. “I’m speaking to my father, stay away!” I shot daggers at him. “Your father?” Cohen let out a sarcastic laugh. I ignored him. “Please believe me, father-” “Celeste is a treacherous woman I no longer have relations with. Get off me, you illicit child!” Father sneered, kicking me off violently. I staggered back, more in shock from his words than the force of his kick. “F…Father?” “You heard that right, Alpha Harold isn’t your father! You are nothing but a bastard from another man!” Cohen spelled it out for me. My head spun dangerously for a second, heart racing in shock. I’d always questioned his behavior towards me, and… “No.” I choked. But Cohen was right. A father would never confine his daughter to a dungeon. The princes’ procession arrived and my other stepbrothers- Axel, Norman and Lloyd stepped down, glaring daggers at me. “What the hell is she doing here?” Axel was the first to spit profanity. “Why did you stop the Alpha’s procession?” Norman hit the head guard. “Why are you all so useless?” Cohen thundered. “If this slave had an ulterior motive, the Alpha would have been hurt by now!” Tears burned my eyes. “W...Why-?” Why did they suddenly turn against me and my mother? We were once a happy family. My step-brothers had been my saviours in childhood. We'd played, laughed and cried together, promising to always be there for each other. My heart felt as though it was being ripped apart. “Please, Cohen-” “Enough with your pathetic stories!” Cohen cut me off. “The verdict has been made; the Alpha’s seal cannot be broken!” “Father,” I clutched desperately at his robe, refusing to believe there was nothing he could do. “For the sake of the mating bond you once shared, please-” “Your mother was never my mate!” Alpha Harold looked me in the eye. “I don’t care if she’s innocent. Celeste has been condemned, now and forever!” _ Later that evening, I found myself sneaking into the royal mansion. I’ve seen my father revoke execution decrees when it was totally impossible. I had shed so much tears I didn't have any left. Nana and I have to give it all it takes. Tonight was the last chance we had. I’d sneaked out of the dungeons, almost running into the guards several times, but they seemed distracted. I sucked in a strangled breath, hiding behind a pillar in front of my father’s chambers. None of his guards were present, and as I moved closer to knock, I heard faint whispering inside. “Is he deep asleep?” Nana's hearing abilities perked up. “Father had severe mental confusion at the council meeting earlier. That drug is really potent.” I heard Cohen’s laugh. “Our first goal is accomplished, mother. What’s the next step?” My hands flew to my mouth in shock. “We go with the flow.” Tamara muttered so low I almost couldn’t hear her. “Graduating from the Iron-Claw Academy is a criterion to contesting for the throne.” “Since you graduated as the best student last year, your brothers would be training at the Academy this year. And when they return, you all participate in the Ultimate Alpha Trials.” “Why must I wait so long when the throne is already mine?” Cohen grumbled lowly. “Patience, my son. Everything has to progress naturally, so the Pack Council won’t stand in our way.” Heart racing, I staggered back. They hadn’t even factored me in existence. Was that how useless they thought me to be? “Bastards!” Nana snarled. But before I stepped away, I heard my name. “As long as Lyra and her mother remain dead, we have no opposition, now or ever!” Tamara’s voice was laced with venom. “You know what to do?” “Yes, mother.” I didn’t wait to hear the rest of the conversation before I fled.