The Alpha King and His Human Queen

His Slave

Alexandra

“Well…” Sirius says, more of a statement than a question, giving himself time to think whether to continue. Or maybe he is giving me time to stop him. A final chance to end this, because we both know there’s no going back after what he is about to say.

Tell me everything. I am torn between the need to hear everything and know more about them. About Nathaniel. And to never hear from and about either of his betas in my life. As I have always done in my life, I choose what’s the worst option for me.

So a heartbeat later I hear myself say :

“Tell me.”

He frowns and begins, we walk towards the castle but still remain far away from it because Sirius makes sure neither of the prince’s betas can overhear our conversation.

“Nathaniel had a brother. “ Sirius speaks calmly, “He was older than him and he was going to be the king.”

A brother?!

“I… had no idea about this,” I admit.

And I really didn’t know. No news of this arrived in our kingdom. No news of any of it.

“It happened so suddenly,” Sirius goes on, “Everyone loved Gareth. He was the favourite of all subjects in the kingdom. After his parents - the queen and the king - passed away the subjects to our kingdom all swore they would be loyal to Gareth when the time for him to become a king came. But then…”

Sirius’ voice trails and I discover I have been holding my breath the whole time, listening intently.

“What… What happened? Where is he now?”

Sirius said, “Had”...

“Gareth was only a year older than his brother, strong and one of the best fighters the kingdom had. He led by example. Not only as a wise prince but as a brave wolf. He was also a great leader.”

Sirius’ face darkens, like the sky above us.

“He was going to be the best king we’ve had. Very much like his father was, who was my beloved brother.”

Sirius exhales slowly.

“But Nathaniel… he’s always been so ambitious. You’ve seen him, right? Anytime he enters the room it’s like the air changes, it’s so… odd.”

Sirius is right. This is the feeling I’ve had ever since I met Nathaniel. I haven’t spent much time with the prince but the brief exchanges are enough for me to know there’s something strange about him. And it’s strange in a bad way.

“As a second son,” Sirius goes on,” Nathaniel was never going to rule the kingdom. Not… not unless something happened to the firstborn heir.”

Oh, no… no…

The terrible feeling I have begins awakening again. It starts moving from inside me, spreading all over my body, numbing my legs, and my arms, making it impossible for me to walk further.

I don’t have to guess what happened. Because the truth comes with Sirius's next words.

“And Nathaniel was - and still is- ready to do anything to become a king.”

My blood turns to ice. Sirius resumes speaking.

“My brother passed away when Gareth had just turned seventeen. I was going to be a regent until Gareth turned eighteen. But then a war broke out and Gareth left for the battlefield. The war went on for years. Gareth had already turned twenty-one by the time he came back home. It was one of the longest wars we’ve ever fought and he was so young… But once he came back, bringing victory to the kingdom I was going to step down and he would be crowned. The whole kingdom celebrated. It was one of the best times for all of us. And then, on the night before the ceremony…”

Sirius runs his hand over his face as if trying to hide how upset he is.

My heart clenches for him. I never met Gareth but seeing how much Sirius loved him - and still does- makes my heart ache. Sirius is such a confident and strong man, reacting like this means the loss really changed him. He misses the prince.

Sirius wipes his eyes and clears his throat.

“I am sorry about this,” he says,” I am not much older than my nephews, I know. But Gareth was like a son to me, especially when I don’t have my own children.”

Then Sirulius confirms my suspicion- and my biggest fear.

“Nathaniel's brother was killed the night before he had to be crowned. The blood was everywhere in his room. It was definitely done by a wolf. “

I am unable to move.

“ And since Nathaniel is the second son and I have no heirs, “Sirius says, “ Nathaniel is of age now and he is to be officially crowned as a king. I rule only temporarily until the ceremony happens, which is going to be tonight.”

“Tonight?” I exclaim, “But…”

Too many questions are running through my head. It hasn't been too long since Gareth is gone. Nathaniel is going to be crowned. Tonight?! I don’t know where to begin asking so I just stand there as Sirius speaks.

“As I said, Nathaniel is very ambitious. It hurts me to say it because he is my blood too, but… there are some people and wolves in the palace who have suspicions about who killed Gareth. “

No, no, no… is it possible that Nathaniel is that cruel? But when I think about it I dread to know the answer.

“But…” I mutter, “It looks like the staff in the castle and even some people in the town we went to today still have faith in Nathaniel.”

“Oh, this?” Sirius smiles sadly - I don’t know if he smiles this way because he thinks that I am naive and for some stupid reason after everything I heard I try to justify Nathaniel’s behaviour.

“Some of the peasants believe the royal family is cursed,” he says,” and that’s why they believe Nathaniel has nothing to do with it.”

“Do you…” I begin,” Do you think it was Nathaniel who killed his own brother?”

The words sound outrageous even to my ears. I also know that if any of his wolves heard me accuse Nathaniel of killing his brother I could be sent to death for treason.

Sirius doesn’t respond. The answer is in his eyes.

“I just want you to know, “ he says, “That you should be careful. That’s all. “

That’s when I realized I could not stay here anymore. Whatever happens, I have to escape as soon as possible.

If Nathaniel killed his brother out of ambition I can only imagine what he might do when he decides the deal with my father is no longer in his best interest. If he is bloodthirsty he wouldn’t want peace. On the contrary. He will attack my kingdom without any warning and they won’t be prepared because they will think they have the crown’s protection.

Oh, no…

What a terrible mistake all of us have made.

***

When I return to my room a woman is waiting for me, standing by the widow. I brace myself almost sure she is here to take me and close me in a dungeon.

I remain at the doorway.

“Alexandra,” she says and walks toward me,” I am here to prepare you for tonight. “

“I… I am not going.” I blurt out. “I am only a gift, after all, I doubt my presence is needed at the coronation. “

“Who says anything about the coronation? “ she inquired, slightly mocking. “I am talking about after the coronation. You will be sent to him as a bed slave. Those are the orders.“