The alpha’s false heir.

I woke up before the sun rose, even before the servants came to call me. I remained in bed for a while, looking up at the ceiling. The room was too silent for a day that required important sounds. The day of my eighteenth birthday. The day every Alpha heir was meant to celebrate. The day that marked the beginning of real power. My heart held no excitement. My chest felt empty of all emotions. The only thing I experienced was pressure. I exhaled slowly before lifting my body from the floor. The cold air touched my skin as I walked to the bed's edge. I remained in that position for an extended period, looking at my knees. These hands were supposed to rule a pack one day. The thought made my chest feel tight. A soft knock came from the door before it opened. Two servants entered the room, bowing their heads as they walked. “Good morning, young Alpha,” one of them said. That title again. I nodded once, forcing my face into a calm expression. “Good morning.” The employees completed their tasks with their usual speed. One brought water for washing while the other laid out my clothes for the day. The outfit consisted of dark formal wear that had a structured design for masculine appearance. I stood and walked toward the mirror. I stopped for a moment before looking at my reflection. I forced myself to look at my reflection. A boy stared back at me. He had short dark hair with a sharp jawline. He maintained straight posture. The reflection showed everything about me that had been developed through years of training and controlled behavior and forced development. However, that person was not me. I raised my hand to touch my face. I pressed my fingers lightly against my cheek because I wanted to feel something different beneath my skin. There was nothing. I had lived the same lie for eighteen years. “You must prepare, young Alpha,” the second servant said gently. I lowered my hand and stepped back. I replied yes. They dressed me by adjusting my clothing until all pieces matched perfectly. The fabric felt heavy on my body, like it always did. The outfit fit me in an uncomfortable way because it was too tight and too structured and too incorrect. I stayed silent. I never did. I dismissed them after they finished their work. I stood alone again. I thought about taking everything off my body. Just for a second. Just to breathe. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. A knock sounded again, sharper this time. “My lord the Luna requests your presence.” A servant said from outside. Of course she did. “I’m coming,” I said. I took one last look at the mirror before turning away. The boy followed me. My mother was already waiting when I entered her chambers. Luna Vaelira Dorne stood near the window, her back straight, her hands clasped behind her. Her posture showed authority because she maintained that effect while facing her back to the room. “Mother,” I said, stepping inside. She turned slowly, her eyes settling on me. She remained silent while she examined me from head to toe. “You’re late,” she said. “I woke early,” I replied. “I was preparing.” Her gaze lingered on my face. “You look distracted.” “I’m not.” A brief silence followed. She walked toward me, her expression unreadable. She moved directly in front of me and used her hands to fix my collar. “Stand straight,” she said. I straightened slightly. Her fingers remained on my body for a brief moment before she took her hand back. “Today is important,” she continued. “You know this.” “I know.” “Do you?” she asked, her voice sharper now. “Because you don’t look like someone who understands the weight of what today means.” I clenched my jaw slightly. “I understand,” I repeated. She watched me closely, as if trying to read something deeper. She always did that. Always searching for cracks in the image she had built. For once, I didn’t look away. “I said, "I am tired." in a low voice. Her facial expression changed to a hardened state. "Of what?" I said, "I am tired of this" while pointing at my body. "I am tired of pretending to be someone else every day." She said, "Enough." in an immediate response. I said no while my voice became more tense. "I want to spend one day without restrictions." She repeated no again while she spoke with stronger certainty. I tried to swallow but my mouth kept forcing words out. I said I want to be myself. "I want to be myself only for today. "No one has to see. "No one has to know. "I just—" She interrupted him with a sharp tone. "What do you want to say? "You think this is a game?" I became quiet. Her eyes had frozen into a cold state. She spoke at a slow pace to say, "Eighteen years were spent for this purpose. "Eighteen years of sacrifice, of planning, of control. "Do you think all of that exists so you can indulge in a childish desire?" I said under my breath, "It is not childish." She said, "It is dangerous." She confirmed his idea. I looked at her, my chest tightening. "I didn’t ask for this life." She replied, "You did not ask for this life. "You were given it. "You will fulfill your life duty now." Her voice dropped but her tone remained strong. “If the truth comes out “When the truth becomes known all things will vanish. The throne and the pack will disappear. Your entire existence will vanish. I chose to remain silent. She said, "You are more than just a girl." "Your role as future Alpha of Ironclaw holds greater importance than anything else. The words started to feel like chains that became tighter around me. I said, "I am not a boy" while using alpha clothes and young Alpha title. "I am an omega because I lack a wolf." Her gaze became sharper. “That does not matter.” I said, “It matters to everyone else” because they already think I’m weak. She snapped at him to prove himself to the doubters. We both fell into silence which stretched out between us. I looked away first. She told him to control himself. The guests had started arriving at the present moment and he needed to avoid embarrassment. "I never do," I replied quietly. She chose not to provide a response to that statement. She turned her body away from him to indicate their discussion had reached its conclusion. I stayed for one more second before I bowed my head slightly to go out of the room. I left the room. The grand hall was already filled when I entered. Voices echoed through the space. Laughter and conversation formed a combination with the power that filled the room. The Alphas from different packs formed small groups while they wore formal attire. Their presence created a powerful atmosphere. The elders observed from the front with their sharp eyes. Every step I took felt measured. Controlled. I walked forward while I kept my back straight. I maintained a calm expression throughout my path. “Alpha Kaiven,” one of the visiting Alphas greeted with a nod. I returned the greeting by saying, "Welcome to Ironclaw." Another approached. “You’ve grown.” “I have,” I replied. The conversations between the people remained short. The discussions sounded polite but they lacked genuine content. I spoke every word as if they had been part of a script that I had memorized long ago. I moved through the crowd to greet each guest while I acknowledged their presence and played my role perfectly. No one questioned me. No one saw anything wrong. To them, I was exactly what I was supposed to be. A boy. The heir. The future Alpha. The lie. I stepped forward when they called my name. The hall quieted as I stepped up, turning to face everyone. The crowd of people watched me with dozens of eyes. They waited. The audience expected something. I took a slow breath. I began speaking. “Thank you all for coming,” I began, my voice steady. “Today marks an important moment—not just for me, but for the future of Ironclaw.” The words came easily. Practiced. “I stand before you not only as the son of Alpha Rhaegor, but as the one who will carry his legacy forward.” The audience showed a few nods. Approval. “I understand the responsibility that comes with this position. "I understand what is expected of me. "I will not fail my duties. The people in the room stayed silent as they listened to him. “I will grow stronger. I will lead with strength and reason. "I will protect the pack with all my strength when I take my position as Alpha. I paused. “Thank you.” The hall filled with applause. I stepped back, my expression unchanged. Inside, something twisted. Because every word I had just spoken felt like a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep. The celebration continued for several hours. I felt exhausted at the moment all festivities ended. I distanced myself from the last guests who remained. I walked toward a quieter area of the hall. My shoulders relaxed slightly once I was out of direct view. I managed to breathe for the first time that day. “Alpha Kaiven.” I turned at the sound of my name. A guard stood a few steps away, his posture straight. “Yes?” I asked. He lowered his head. “The council requests your presence,” he said. My chest tightened with the news. I asked him, “At this hour?”. “Yes,” he replied. The man said, “You need to come immediately.“