Her Cursed Alpha

CHAPTER 3 - CORALINE'S POV

The second I walked back into my home, the King was waiting for me. I'd thought he'd have returned to the ball, but instead he was pacing the hallway. The second he saw me, he charged over and slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground.

I gasped in pain, as my cheek stung and my lip bled.

"HOW DARE YOU EMBARRASS ME!" He shouted, as I glared up at him, "ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL KINGS ALIVE IS YOUR MATE AND YOU RUN FROM HIM!"

I took a steadying breath and stood up, my fists clenched, before I swung. Years of pent-up rage exploded in an instant, and though I knew breaking my hand against an Alpha's hard chin would leave me with regret, I also knew it would make me feel better.

The King stepped back in shock. Though he looked unharmed.

"IF YOU EVER PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME AGAIN, I'LL GO TELL THAT OH SO POWERFUL ALPHA, AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU!" I screamed back.

The King laughed and rubbed his jaw, "You don't want him, but you'll use him for protection. You really are a piece of work."

"I guess I take after you."

"Watch how you speak to me. I'm not just your father. I'm your King!"

"You're not a father, you're a sperm donor!" I shouted back, "And King. Don't make me laugh. I've never seen you as my King. You're just a b*stard who killed my mother!"

The King raised his hand again, but I just smiled and turned my face, "Go on. Let's see what King Derick does to you!"

The King growled in rage as he lowered his hand, "You will not bring shame to this family. You are going to accept him. Your heat is usually what? The tenth of every month, so we'll organize the wedding for three days after your birthday. You will give him an heir and lock this man down."

"I am not marrying him!"

"Oh yes you are," He said, leaning in closer, the smell of wine thick on his breath, "Because if you don't, I'll have your Omega trash thrown into the dungeons where his hands will be removed. You can't work as a blacksmith without hands."

"YOU WOULDN'T!" I shouted and shoved him, but he grabbed me by the throat and shoved me into the wall.

"I WOULD!" He shouted back, sending small slashes of spit over my face, disgusting me further, "Derek is one of the richest men on the planet, and the dowry he'll give me for you will be enough for my packs to survive until I can recoup, after years being ravished by war expenses. You are a Princess, like it or not, that is what you are, it's your duty to put your packs first. So. You will accept him and live in luxury for the rest of your days, or you can go with your omega like you've been secretly planning, and yes, I know all about that, your not as clever as you think you are, and you can live taking care of a c.ripple with no hands and no income until you die. Make your choice. Go to room and think it over, and if you try to run tonight, I will kill your maid. I expect you to be in the dining hall in the morning for breakfast with the rest of the family, where you will publicly accept your mate!"

He gave me one last shove before walking away.

Tears fell down my cheeks as I rushed to my bedroom, slamming the door and ripping off the dress that was suffocating me.

I fell into the bed, crying until I felt like I couldn't breathe. Why had the Goddess done this to me?

I rolled over and stared at the ceiling. What should I do?

"I want to be with our mate," Clara told me, and I froze in shock.

"Are you crazy? He's an Alpha. A King Alpha. Do you really want the same life as our mother?"

"I spoke to his Lycan Dash while you were talking to Derek," She said, using their names so casually, "And I like him. He seems genuine and sincere. Nothing like the King, I believe we'll have a good life with him, and Eric will be alright. He can have the home we helped pay for as compensation, and he'll find his true mate. I know he will."

As if he sensed us talking about him, Eric's voice sprang up into my head, and I tensed.

"Cora!"

I closed my eyes as fresh tears fell.

"Coraline!"

I finally opened the link and answered, "Eric."

"Oh, Cora. Are you alright? What's happening? Is the King truly your mate? Did you accept him?"

I took a breath, "Eric. I..." I hesitated, not wanting to break his heart, but it had to be done, "I have no choice. I have to accept him. You can have the home, but we have to end things here."

"No. What are you even talking about? I don't want the home," He argued, "I want you. I've only ever wanted you. You don't like Alpha's, you don't love him. You don't have to choose him simply because he's your mate. You have a choice."

"I don't. Please don't contact me again. I don't want my mate or the King to hurt you. Please Eric. Just forget me."

I cut the link and started crying anew, and the next thing I knew, I was being gently woken up by Merin.

"Princess," She shook my arm, as my eyes opened. "Did you sleep in your underwear. You must be freezing. I've drawn you a hot bath. Please go wash up. The King expects you down for breakfast in one hour, and your mate has sent you those flowers."

She pointed to a vase filled with beautiful lilies. She'd sat on my makeup table.

"Oh," I said numbly, no one has ever given me flowers.

"He personally delivered them," She added, as I sat up, "He seemed very sweet. I know you wanted to leave here, but..."

"Enough," I ordered and climbed off the bed.

I took my bath, letting the hot water flow over my skin and warm me. I felt numb, like I was no longer in control of my own life. I hadn't felt like this since the day I'd found my mother's body, and yet, it was my own mate making me feel this way.

Clara was still insisting that we accept our mate, and not just because of the King's threat. She was already smitten with him.

I on the other hand, was still torn. Yes, he was attractive, he was actually the most attractive man I'd ever seen, and yes, he smelt incredible, all of my favorite scents all rolled into one, and yes, he was powerful and rich, but was that a good enough foundation to build a life on?

I wanted peace. I wanted a simple little life with a true partner, and he couldn't give me that.

''Yes, he can," Clara argued, "You don't know him. He asked us to give him a chance, and we should. Ignore the threat of the King and just get to know our mate first, and then we'll decide."

"Okay, fine."

I climbed out of the tub, dripping water behind me and dried myself off before pulling on my robe and rejoining Merin.

"I've laid out this dress for you," She pointed to my bed where a baby pink dress sat, "It matches the flowers from the King. Please sit, and I'll do your hair."

"Just do my usual braid," I ordered, as I sat down.

Merin exhaled in frustration but complied with my demands.

"Um, Princess. I was speaking with Lathan last night after word reached me of your mate," She said, as her hands wove my usual braid, "And if you're alright with it, we don't mind relocating to your new home. I can continue to be your personal maid and my mate can join the troops there. King Dericks troops are the best there are, and Lathan would love to learn from them."

I exhaled angrily. Everyone wanted something from me, but no one's cared what I wanted, but Merin was a good woman. I knew she meant no harm in her words, she was just looking out for herself and her mate, as it should be.

"It's not really up to me," I answered, as I looked at her in the mirror, "King Derick calls the shots, but I will ask him, and if you really want to go, I'm sure he will allow it."

Merin smiled warmly at me, "Thank you, Princess... Oh, perhaps I should get used to calling you Luna, or your majesty. Which would you prefer?"

Neither.

''I don't care," I answered emotionlessly.

"Please don't be upset," Merin said, as she sneakily added some pink and gold pendants to my hair, "I know it's not the life you planned, but there are worse things than being mated to a King. There. All set."

"Thank you."

After dressing and slipping into my shoes, I walked out of my bedroom and left the private wing of the royal family, when a man I didn't know stepped over to me and bowed.

"Hello Luna," A large man with several thick scars over his face, neck and arms bowed to me, "My name is Roman, the King has assigned me as your personal guard. There will be others that will alternate your protection while I'm off duty, but I will be your head guard. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am to escort you to breakfast."

I didn't answer, I just nodded and angrily walked ahead of him. So I was to be guarded now. And just like that, another side of my gilded cage was locked into place.

"It's not like that, mate just wants to keep us safe."

I frowned in response, even my own Lycan was on his side now, how easily she switched sides.

I smelt his scent before I'd even entered the pack's dining room, and my heart began to race. This damn bond was messing with my head.

I pushed open the doors and walked inside, only to have everyone momentarily pause, look at me, and then quickly look away and begin their conversations again.

It didn't escape my attention that a majority of the women gave me jealous-loathing looks, but I ignored them, and continued through the tables towards the royal dining table stretched out at the very back.

Derick smiled the moment he saw me, and rose from his seat, before pulling out a chair beside him.

"Behave or your Omega pays the price," The King linked me, when I hesitated.

I glanced at the King, who nodded with his chin, and I followed his line of sight, only to see Eric sitting with two guards he'd never have befriended in a million years. The implication was clear, sit down and play my role, or he dies.

I smiled at my mate, "Thank you, your majesty." I said, before sitting down.

"It's Derick to you," He told me, as he pushed my chair in, and gently ran his fingers over the back of my neck as he leaned in, "You look lovely this morning. Did you like the flowers?" He asked as he sat back down, "I wasn't sure which you'd prefer, but you smell like Lillies to me, so I thought they'd be your favorite."

"I don't have a favorite flower," I lied. Lillie's were in fact, my favorite. "No one's ever given me any, so thank you."

"Really?" He questioned, as he began to put some items on my plate, "Well, I'm glad to be the first."

I didn't answer, I just smiled politely, and held up my hand to stop him from putting avocado on my plate.

"I don't like avocado," I told him and pulled my plate closer, "This is enough, thank you, but in the future, I can get my own food."

The King cleared his throat and glared at me, "Coraline, don't be so ungrateful, your mate is just..."

"I hope I don't need to remind you again, that she is now mine, Damien," Derick said softly, but there was a layer of threat in his tone, "I will not have anyone, her father included, speaking to her with such disrespect. Anything said between myself and my mate, is between us, and not for an outsider to interfere with."

"I'm hardly an outsider, Derick," The King commented, but Derick just turned back to me.

"Eat, you're far to thin," He told me, as his eyes ran over my body, making me feel exposed and yet, slightly excited and flushed.

"So, little sister," Beta Noah leaned forward, his cutlery gripped in each hand, "If you want any embarrassing stories on my brother, feel free to come to me anytime."

"Brother?" I said in confusion, as Derick glared at him.

"Noah's my brother." Derick answered.

"That's a little unusual, isn't it?" Ryker asked, "Having your brother as your Beta, I imagine that causes a lot of arguments when he thinks he can cross the line."

Noah laughed and shook his head. "Perhaps for other siblings, but I respect my King. He's proven what a good man and leader he is, I'm honored to follow him and be his Beta."

Ryker looked frustrated, as I glanced at Derick. Was Noah just saying this for my sake or was it true? Was Derick a good man?

I glanced from his face to Eric who was watching me with a pained expression, and I quickly looked away in guilt, only to catch Dericks eyes.

He looked over at Eric too, and his eyes darkened for a fraction of a second before returning to their normal warm brown.

"I have meetings with your father today," He told me, "But perhaps we could spend some time together this afternoon. I would love to buy you a gift for your birthday tomorrow."

Like I have a choice.

"That would be lovely, thank you." I said as I began to eat.

"Is there going to be a party?" King Shalock asked, "The food here isn't half bad, I could sample more of it before leaving."

"They never throw me birthday parties," I spoke before anyone else could. "

"What?" The King asked, turning to his mate, "I was under the impression you were thrown a party every year."

Bonnie looked awkward and gulped, "Don't be silly, Coraline, of course we celebrate your birthday, it's just that you always preferred to spend the day with your little friend. The omega boy, what's his name again?"

I felt Derick tense beside me as Clara growled, we both got her meaning. If I was taking her down for lying, she'd take Eric with her, but I was long past playing her game.

"Well, that's news to me," I shrugged, loving the look of anger flicker in her expression, "Perhaps I missed the invitations."

We glared at one another before I smiled and continued eating.

"Well, in that case, I will throw you a party," Derick said, easing the tension.

"No, that's not necessary," I said quickly, blushing slightly.

"Of course it is, it's our first of your birthdays. We'll spend together. I'd like to make it memorable," He announced, and looked at the King, "You have no objections, right?"

"No, none at all," He answered, sounding slightly annoyed, "Why don't you let Bonnie know what you need, and she'll..."

"No need," My mate cut him off, sounding casual but the expression on his face was anything but, "She's my mate. I will take care of things and pay for it myself. Roman," He called out, and my guard, who was eating, quickly sprang up and came over to us.

"Yes, Alpha."

"Take my mate to pick out a dress and accessories for her birthday," He ordered and passed him over a satchel of coins, "Unless you have plans today?"

"I have training."

"I'm sure that can wait," The King told me, "Your mate is being very generous, you should thank him."

"Again, Damien, she is mine now. I have already warned you that conversations between my mate and me are between us. She doesn't need to thank me for anything," He said in warning, making the King angrier, "After training then, Roman will provide the gold, get whatever you desire, and I will handle the rest of the party."

"It really isn't necessary," I insisted, but he just touched my cheek.

"Eat," He ordered once more, before wiping his face, "I'm finished, shall we go get these meetings started?"

"Yes, I'd like it over with so I can return home," King Palmor stood up, "It's far too chilly here. I prefer my volcano."

The King laughed and stood up, "You can keep your volcano to yourself, I'll stick with the forest."

"I will see you later," Derick leaned down and kissed the top of my head, before walking away.