The Alpha Killed My Husband

14| The Contest

There are rounds of cheers. A gun shoots confetti in the air with a boom. The orchestra starts the background melodies of Vina and Tabla.

Rudransh and Ronit go wild along with the mad dogs—they hoot and jump at the beats like kids in a carnival.

Rebecca smiles at the grand welcome and waits for the noise to lower down. It takes a few minutes for the wild crowd to refrain from their excitement before it becomes eerily silent again. The discipline of such a humongous crowd is commendable. Wolves surely know to coordinate.

No offense, but if it were an event in Samrajya, we would have to employ at least two hundred personnel to handle the obnoxiously loud serpents who’d make the event resemble a fish market.

‘Aren’t you feeling well, Aary? You’d strain your vocal cords otherwise. Do you want to go?’ I blink when I hear Rudransh speaking in my ears over the crowd.

His affectionate eyes search my face. He looks concerned as if he really…cares.

It ain’t for you, Sarva. It’s for Luna Aaradhya. Get over it!

I smile at him meekly, shaking my head negatively. I remember the alphas talking about the significance of this event. They were talking about some announcement due to be made. Moreover, they’d teased over who’d get what and who’d lose it all.

It makes me all the more intrigued to listen to her attentively. It might help me gather information about how things work in Cape Comorin.

Contrary to my expectations, the internet has taught me close to nothing about wolves' lives.

This world is poles apart from the world I have seen in Appy Lane. The wolves aren't rats living in poverty. They are rich, super-rich, advanced, and equipped with every modernized technology and method available in the market. I have seen things I’d never even imagined in Sarp-Samrajya.

It is going to be harder than I’d thought it will. The thought cripples my hopes and spreads sadness in my heart.

Rebecca clears her throat, breathes in the microphone, and starts reading her speech. The camera focuses on her, capturing every tiny gesture.

I do not have to know, it is being broadcasted live on the big flat screen and maybe on social media. The mass users are almost in billions.

'Once upon a time long back, I knew I should not start the inauguration speech with the ironic once upon a time which I might tell you, I have read in my eldest's bedtime story book, but I could not come up with anything better to recall and reminiscing the efforts our ancestors have put in.

And once upon a time seemed like a perfect beginning for every fairy tale for a reason.' Rebecca pauses with a giggle. There are chuckles in the audience too as more crowds peer at her attentively.

It looks like the wolves have been looking forward to the speech.

'So, once upon a time all mythical creatures joined hands, got over their rivalry, and begged the soul of the universe to bring justice to them from the selfish humans who saw no good in anyone else but themselves.

We asked for equal rights and places to live something we have been denied for ages. No more torture of innocent beings in the name of the ecosystem, no more superiority complexes!

As kind and generous as the soul of the Universe is, The almighty after listening to the pleadings of mistreated creatures, agreed to recreate His world upon the introduction of a new set of rules.

He created a Mirror Universe for us.' Rebecca pauses. She grins proudly, looking at the space as if traveling through space.

There are claps of encouragement and respect. Even Rudransh nods with a clap too. His face was relaxed and he had the same look as Rebecca. Almost all the wolves present in the auditorium have the same look.

'True!' Rudransh mumbles with a nod.

'Human beings are God's favorite children. He could not recreate the universe without protection. They were to remain on earth with us, away from us. They won't be harmed at any cost or any other creature unless necessary.

The Almighty proposed three terms before Moon Goddess—

• Any mythical creature can be a soulmate of another creature that did not belong to their clan or race. Hybrid Relations will be common and appreciated so there would be no superiority or inferiority—only love.

• A creature can have more than one soulmate in their life who can be from any clan, race, or species. The most deserving will win and retain. He intended to protect the less powerful from the evils.

The last of course was infamous—

• Only a soul can sense the soulmate and no other instincts can trace it. One has to deeply connect with one's soul to sense the bond. Though once found, they won't be able to part.

The earth being exploited for eras by humans had been finally taken over by mythical creatures that were once mocked.'

Another pause, another round of applause, another set of nods.

Meanwhile, I look around quizzically. I have never been taught all of it. The serpents aren't taught any of it. Our history books only contain wars of some hundred thousand years back. It is given to idolize our brave and heroic ancestors.

The struggle to get a piece of land comes out as a natural surprise to me. Surely, the wolves might be glorifying their contribution, it has to be somewhat true.

Besides the speech gave me another direction to work on, I will have to read as much as I can.

I come out of my zone when Rebecca's voice booms through the speaker again.

'As we all know, our beautiful world is now divided into four continents and shared inhabitants.

The West is ruled by the Demons and Vampires. The North is the residence of fairies and gnomes. The South is home to Witches and trolls. The East has shared boundaries amongst the werewolves and shape-shifting serpents.

The Asian continent has its land dividend amongst the Sarp-Samrajya (Country of Serpents) and Cape Comorin (country of werewolves).

The Sarp-Samrajya is bounded on the north by the Arctic ocean while Cape Comorin gets crashed by the great Indian Ocean waves. Together we share the horizons of the Pacific ocean.

It has been a hundred and thirteen thousand years since our race settled. Initially, we shared good neighboring relations. However, passing time hinted at the ulterior motives of the evil serpents.

Their intentions were not any less evil than the humans when it came to the exploitation of the less fortunate.

Back then, the Sarp-Samrajya used to be one of the most powerful Monarchies in the world. It was ruled by unconquerable kings—all from a clan of the king cobras, and their mates of the same clan.

Unfortunately, the king cobras were blessed with some supernatural power owing to their penance before their Lord.

They could shape-shift—not only into beings but any beings of their desires.

Lord AnantNath had blessed them with the power to serve society for the better cause. However, the evil minds used it for undue advantage.

Their males slept with witches under disguise, almost ruining their lives. Here, my dear friends, I’d like to remind you that some witches prefer the virginity of their spells.

The females performed a******y to gain secrets. It was so long before karma-chakra tallies one's deeds.

We have all witnessed the downfall of one kingdom that stretched beyond the horizons of endless possibilities. It is the beginning of the fourth year already.' Rebecca chuckles arrogantly.

Another shot of confetti welcomed her mockery with equally evil prevalent. The Vina and Dhols resume the rhythm.

Fourth-year? The statement catches me off guard. I surely have lost track of time. Unfortunately, I was not provided much time to ponder in anticipation. Rebecca continued.

'Sarp-Samrajya is home to millions of serpents that could shape-shift into any form at their whim and discretion or so we have been told. The confirmation is yet to be declared. Apart from being immensely manipulative, the serpents are born liars.

In the past king's leadership, the Samrajya has prospered to great heights while preserving the culture but it still stays back in the developed nation race.

While overtaking the administration, we have come up with some conclusions about the way of their living.

Starting with:

The males are dominant in the Samrajya. Voices of females are either ignored or unheard. The females do not work or go out. There are restraints on almost everything. They are compelled to fast in the name of spirituality. There ain't any concept of gender equality. The females have their roles limited to laying eggs and protecting the offspring whenever necessary.'

There are snickers amongst the crowd as the wolves openly humiliate our beliefs and upbringings. I watch everything unfolding with wide eyes. However, I do not feel even a fit of slight anger. Maybe, I am just taking it all without a vehemence of attack.

Not paying heed to the audience, Rebecca goes on.

'Prima facie, the netizens seemed happy with the culture. The females are content. It is until the exploitation begins. The downfall of the kingdom has to be one of the outcomes.

Apart from it, the serpents have a name for maintaining bad relations with neighboring countries that kept getting worse in the past ruler, Maharaja Vachaspati’s regime. The taxes on cross-border business has become a source of displeasure and the international ties have broken.

For the past sixty years, the awful political relations between werewolves and serpents are known to all of us.

I do not feel the need to recall how the economic rivalry turned into animosity. How the invasions through the boundaries became frequent, and so is the killing of the soldiers from both sides.

The war was a last resort.

The serpents were jealous of our progressive economy. They could not tolerate our growth. However, the werewolves never reciprocated the hatred.

We only resolved to break free and look past what has happened.

Today on the sixtieth anniversary of Alpha King Atharva and Luna Queen Laxmi, under whose guidance Cape Comorin has become one of the leading nations in the world. As a new superpower and the head of many international associations, we are going to announce a cross-merger policy.'

There is a murmur amongst the audience. Rudransh takes a sharp intake of breath. His posture turns tense. I observe how he taps his feet, but stops as if a cold bucket of ice water is splashed on his face.

I notice how Rebecca has turned rigid and more professional.

I glance sideways to find Ronit smirking at Rudransh who mouths 'No way!' and revert his attention to the lady on the podium.

'Since the Alpha king Atharva is getting old, he expresses his wish to step down and give the realm to a worthy contender. In consultation with his ministers, he has come up with a scheme to eliminate the boundaries between both regions.

We believe that a modern country with development beyond expectations can only be preserved when in good hands.

Unlike Samrajya, the Cape Comorin has foundational beliefs in providing equal rights to females. We'd like them to participate in every field with equal enthusiasm. Now, Sarp-Samrajya under the leadership of Cape Comorin is about to get renovated. The task will be assigned to one who possesses exceptional expertise, integrity, and professionalism. The Alpha has to be a fit and proper wolf with relevant experience. Now, I’d like to invite our honorable Alpha King to announce the name.'