HUNTED BY THE ALPHA KING

NELISSA ARANDELLE “Good heavens, my Queen, you are breathtaking!” Rahlia’s gasp matches the bright look of appraisal in her eyes that I can see from the mirror in front of me. I can also see my reflection in the antique mirror and truly, I am just as she describes—breathtaking. “All the other Lunas won’t be able to take their eyes off you at the ball tonight my queen, those witches, they’ll once again wish they were in your position.” I want to laugh at her words like I always do. I and Rahlia share a special bond, the kind a handmaid and the mistress she serves should never have and the kind of one that should never allow a female of her status to talk about other females who are ranks higher than she is in the hierarchy of wolves, but it’s been this way between us ever since I became the Luna Queen of the Werewolf Kingdom. Rahlia is about my age, our status and the blood running through my veins being the only thing that sets us apart. And maybe the carefreeness she exudes. Something which I lacked and envied. Something that made even the most beautifully done makeup look seemingly dull. It’s why I am unable to laugh at Rahlia’s jokes because, unlike her, I can see through my powdered face that is like a layer that covers my pain and the tears underneath it. Not even the fine lines of color she drew on my lids and the lushness of my lashes can hide the emptiness in my dull brown eyes. The emptiness doesn’t end there, it stretches right down to my chest, tightening painfully around my heart as I take in myself one more time in the mirror, knowing there is no point in looking this prim and perfect when the man whose attention I’ve only ever craved will not spare me as little as a glance throughout the night. I sigh. “My Queen! Don’t sag your shoulders like that.” Rahlia scolds. “Are you done, Rahlia?” I ask instead, ready to stand and go through the torture that is the annual ball for the rest of the night. “No.” She shakes her head and flattens her palms on my shoulders in a bid to raise them slightly. Her attempt fails even as she tries two more times. “Rahlia, my shoulders are fine the way they are.” I assure her. “No, they’re not, My Queen, and so are your eyes. You look like you’ve seen a ghost and I don’t want you to give all the Lunas another reason to talk about you.” But they always talk. Everyone does. I am one of the hottest topics for gossip throughout the kingdom and the reason for that hasn’t gone past my ears either. I force a smile at Rahlia. It’s half-hearted and doesn’t reach my eyes but I hope it is enough to convince her. “Let them talk, Rahlia. I’m not attending the ball because of them but because there are more pressing matters in the kingdom that needs attention.” Rahlia lets out a resigned sigh, obviously giving up. “Will you atleast smile even if you don’t mean it?” She asks. Asking me to fake a smile is like asking me if I can lead a spoonful of food to my mouth with my eyes closed. Because it’s just what I know how to do best. I do not remember the last time I genuinely smiled. Fake smiles are my facade, a way to hide my broken self from the world. I give her one of those smiles and she seems contented. “Come now, Rahlia, we don’t want to be late.” I say as I stand, my long red ball gown sweeping behind me. I lead the way out of my large chambers to get to the ball which is being held in the huge throne room at the palace. The annual ball is a tradition that has existed long before I even became the Luna Queen or dreamt of becoming one. Since the Kingdom spreads across distinct werewolf clans,each one lorded over by an Alpha-chief, the ball is the one of the ways all these clans connect, wine and dine over treaties that need to be signed, lands that need to be shared and borders that need to be made. That same tradition holds so many memories that make my heart clench whenever I walk into that hall. As I get closer to the said hall, my chest already starts to constrict but I close my eyes and pull myself together in the best way I can. I bunch up my dress and wait for Rahlia to open the doors to the huge hall where the ball is holding. Once she opens the door, I instantly put on my facade. The one of a happy Queen who is living the perfect life everyone envies so much. I tilt my chin up and walk into the hall with grace in every step. I pass a few males and females who bow to show their respect. They all make way for me, clearing a path that leads to the table designated for me and the other person who already makes my heart ache as I think of him. I don’t miss the whispers that are actually loud enough for my sensitive werewolf ears to catch. They are talking about me, just as expected and no matter how hard I try to close off my ears to their every word, they still trail after me. They speak it with every intention for me to hear. “She’s here.” An unknown female says. “I cannot believe her shamelessness, to be able to show her face here.” Another responds. “How many years has it been now?” One adds a few feet further into the hall. “I’ve been counting, it’s been three years. Three years since she married the Alpha King yet she has been unable to conceive—” Rahlia practically hisses at them behind me and their voices die down only for a moment. “Great, here comes the barren witch who thinks she is better than everyone.” Unlike all of the other voices, the last one is one I find familiar and the female the voice belongs to stands quickly from her designated table and is immediately joined by the other Lunas who had been sitting too. They all break into smiles as fake as the one on my own face. There are five of them, representing the five most powerful werewolf clans in the Kingdom. It was something they take so much pride in. “My Queen, I was just asking about you. Is everything all right? You are not one to arrive late to such an important occasion.” One of them, Luna Dianah says. I smile back, like I didn’t just overhear her say those harsh words from earlier. “Forgive me, Rahlia doesn’t fail to groom my face to perfection even if it means coming a tad bit late.” I am still smiling at her. “Well then, it is worth it because you look amazing.” She compliments me. “Thank you, Luna Dianah, you look…good yourself.” I intentionally drag the ‘good’ out and her mask almost slips to reveal the true face behind her smile but she manages to control it, mouthing a barely audible thank you. I say my greeting to the other women and walk away from them but not without hearing the next words Luna Dianah seethes. “No wonder the Alpha King prefers to sleep around with the maids. She is one rude and shameless whore.” “That witch—” Rahlia starts to say but I quickly turn to her, giving her one look that immediately causes her to simmer down. I do not need her getting worked up over something we both couldn’t control. Especially when what they speak is the truth. Well, except for the part where I’m barren. How can I be barren when I’ve never even been touched by my husband? By any male at all? I swallow nothing in particular as I get closer to my table. My heart gallops in my chest and my confidence starts to shred away as I get closer. The words people say don’t get to me the way this man affects me. One more step and I finally see him. Cedric. My breathing never fails to hitch each time I see him. I totally forget how to breathe and over the years, I have found it hard to tell if it happens because of how devastatingly handsome he is and how much I love him or because I also fear him—either way, it is beyond my control. Cedric, my husband and Alpha King has a smile on his face as one of the maids serves his table. He says something that I don’t hear from where I stand but I can bet it is dirty because it makes the poor maid blush shyly. She is the first to notice my presence when she suddenly looks up. Fear takes over her features and she scurries off. Cedric also looks up and the smile that was once on his face disappears so quickly you’d think it was never even there. Irritation replaces the look of lust he had in his eyes when that maid was there. You’d think I’d be used to it after seeing the same look everyday for three years but I can never get used to those blue eyes that speak of this man’s hatred for me.It still breaks me every time. I swallow once again and even though my cheeks hurt from faking all those smiles, I still manage to flash another. I walk closer to him and bow in front of him. He acknowledges me with a curt nod. I sit beside him but the seats are set so far apart that I can’t even feel his body heat. He moves to pour himself a glass of the wine that is placed on our table and desperate for his attention, I stand quickly to do it. “Please, let me pour you—” He beckons to Rahlia before my hands even touch the bottle. “Come.” He says, “Pour me a drink.” He commands and Rahlia does as she is told. My face tingling with humiliation, I slowly lower myself back into my seat as tears sting the back of my eyes. As she pours the wine into his glass, I watch him because I know he’s watching Rahlia. Just like every other maid, he wants her too and I know the only thing holding him back is the last shred of decency and respect he has towards me. I grip my dress tightly, holding back my tears. I can’t cry. Not here. Rahlia soon leaves. The girl’s understanding of things is one of the reasons why it’s so hard for me to hate her and wish it was me Cedric looks at with so much need and desire. The night progresses slowly and we don’t exchange a single word. The calm music does nothing to calm my nerves. I just want it all to be over so I can go back to my room and as always,cry myself to sleep. A few of the Alpha-chiefs who are the leaders of the werewolf clans all come to our table just to show their respect to the King. I ignore them until one of them finally manages to leave with the king so they can talk in private. I sit alone for a few minutes unsure of what to do. I can’t even eat the food because I know I will eventually throw up every bit of it. Unable to stand just sitting there like a dummy, I rise to my feet and head in the direction of the washroom. I am only halfway there when I hear a word that pulls me to a stop. Cedric and the Alpha-chief stand together at the balcony and even though I should leave, I stay, wanting to confirm if I heard right. I stay hidden behind the curtains of the balcony. With a lot of people in the palace for the ball, it will be hard for them both to sniff out my scent. “What are the other clans saying?” I hear Cedric ask. “The same old thing, Alpha King. The smaller clans see the lack of an heir to the throne as a sign of weakness and you know what that means? It means you give them a reason to come together and make a call to dethrone you. You can’t let that happen.” “And you think taking a new Luna Queen solves that problem?” Cedric asks. There it is. The words that made me stop on my track earlier and the ones that made my heart plummet to the ground right now. “The current Luna shows no sign of fruitfulness or is there something you are not telling us?” I wait for Cedric to say something to defend me because he knows as much as I do that the rumors aren’t true. I have never shared a bed with him and aside from Rahlia, no one knows this. From the very moment we said our vows on the altar, Cedric made it clear that he would never give me the satisfaction of his touch. Even though he detests the sight of me and avoids me like a plague, I still expect him to say something. To shun the Alpha-chief. I am still his wife and his Queen. “No.” My heart breaks even further. “So then you do not object to dethroning Luna Queen Nelissa and taking another Luna Queen?” The Alpha chief prodded. A pause and I once again raise my hopes high. “No.” Cedric responds, his voice hard, “I trust you to make the arrangements for that.” “Find me a new Luna before the next full moon and then we can talk about dethroning the current Luna Queen.” He adds with a tone of finality. My entire world comes crashing down.