The Alpha King

CHAPTER ONE

Today was a blur of hushed preparations in the form of banners, posters as well as old, familiar relatives running in and out of the house all in excitement for the highly anticipated arrival. By noon, even I who had made a show of my nonchalant, uncaring attitude towards all the celebration was forced to acknowledge the beauty of the recently transformed hall in preparation for this evening's event.

And towards the end of the day, when the sun had set to a glittering twilight and our extended family and friends had all lined out on the open front prepared for the outdoor dinner by the quay and it was almost starting to feel as though our esteemed guest would cancel, or at least be a no-show- it happened.

My best friend and I skipped the fawning adults outdoors and escaped upstairs to gain a better glimpse at the spectacle unfolding below as he pulled up with an entourage of several cars to our long winding driveway as night fell and was received with a very warm welcome.

Father had lined the skilled combatants as security and was now pushing to the front of the crowd to ensure his doors opened first and he was able to navigate himself into the appropriate position to greet him, whilst Anne and I squinted greedily desperate to get a glimpse of what he looked like.

"Oh my god! He's coming out." Anne gasped shaking me, and I too in excitement I had concealed all day heaved out breaths as we pressed our faces closer to the window.

"I can’t see anything..." I trained my eyes unto the door which had now open and the crowd which slowly formed as politely as possible to give their greetings.

Then a sudden squeal snapped us both around as Barbara the daughter of our chef flung the door open in excitement and threw herself unto my bed as though she bore a piece of most remarkable news.

"What the hell-" Anne laughed. I followed as she stood up.

"He’s just come in downstairs," Barbara said.

“Oh my God! Did you see him?”

“Tell us what does he look like!”

Anne and I chorused then laughed simultaneously at the state of our desperation.

She raised her head, looking at both of us and nodded breaking into a girlish smile.

"He- he’s-"

My father’s head of staff knocked and called from outside my bedroom door.

"Forgive me, Miss but your father would like you to come down as quickly as possible please, the ball is scheduled to start any moment now."

“Ugh.” Barbara groaned knowing this was her cue to go down to work.

“Thank you, Charles.” I called, though he would most likely have already gone.

"Now we'll never know until we see him." Anne sighed exasperated, plopping down on the bed.

"Yes, at the ball." I cooed at her, spinning around holding the dress I was wearing to my body as she rolled her eyes watching.

"You better start getting ready.” She said.

I sat in front of the mirror as the last to get done up and dressed as Anne had done hers before and began to wonder.

“Do you think he could be for you?” I asked aloud out of sheer curiosity.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean; do you think you could be a mate to someone like him?”

“I don’t know, I couldn’t say darling, but it wouldn’t be easy at all.”

About half an hour later I was dressed and Anne was fussing over little details in my appearance.

"Just a little twist here and some volume their and... Done!" Anne finished dramatically.

I looked into the mirror noticing for the first time the sharp intensity of my eyes when lined with kohl, and the effect of the deep rouge lipstick instead of my usual gloss on my lips. It was a look designed to draw attention and one that matched my dress perfectly.

“Oh, Annie.” I exclaimed. “The hair? How did you manage it?" I turned to face her.

"Oh, it was nothing." She shrugged nonchalantly whilst I stroked my blonde hair quite unable to believe the miracle she’d worked to transform the unruly frizz into a lovely, soft heap of golden curls on my head.

I stood up from the vanity and hugged her for it was the least I could do, I did nothing to deserve her and she always remained the best of friends.

"Your turn now, let's get you something to wear." I smirked evilly.

"Yes but you know that I have to wear something black and simple." She warned.

"Oh, it'll be simple don’t worry." I grinned dubiously and she narrowed those green eyes with apprehension and distrust.

Tradition stated I was to accompany my dad when entering the event for the first time and so Charles returned to fetch me once my dad was too impatient to wait any longer. Dad and I met at the top of the grand staircase and I appraised his very dashing look, appearing still so dapper in his old age.

"You look so good, dad." I complimented while he thanked me roughly, trying and failing to conceal a pleased smile.

"You look beautiful yourself." He praised when the announcement came for my introduction and the crowd in the hall gathered at the bottom of the stairs and into the foyer.

I smiled widely to conceal my awkwardness, gripping my father’s arm tightly as we progressed down the stairs and into a sea of waiting people all spectacularly dressed and excited to see me. I immediately noticed the large empty throne at the front but also the absence of the owner in the seat.

Upon descending to the bottom I was immediately inserted into a flurry of greetings from strangers, relatives and important people relating to the pack. My father handled it all swimmingly but I was eager to depart and find my friends, or maybe engage in a little dancing.

A passing waiter slipped me a glass of some champagne which I all too happily accepted, I was about to down the thing when I froze mid-drink to a sharp pain in my chest. I clutched my chest to find my heart contracting too quickly, palpitations in my chest breaking a cold sweat all over my body.

“what’s happening?” I wanted to say but the room began to blur and my words translated into a weak mumble as my body swayed side to side. All around me people laughed, squealing with glee swirling drinks in hand, seemingly oblivious to the swoon that had overcome me as I felt the lights flashing alarmingly and my body dropping as the beast within me emerged more powerfully than she ever had before.

My body gave out and I collapsed to a faint in a strong set of arms.

In my head, I had drifted into a hazy utopia of forests and unnatural things, where I could hear my wolf calling furiously from deep within my chest but I refused to answer, I had a headache and she wouldn’t let up.

Cut it out! I begged.

My perfect dream world was changing, the colours spinning blindly and the trees shifting and disappearing from me, leaving only light, more light, blinding light.

I Jolted awake as my eyes flung open.

“Sophie! Oh my God we’re so glad you’re okay, what happened?” My father’s worried voice boomed overhead. I vaguely remember him being sat on the high table next to the empty throne, now he was at the far end of the hall in a hidden corner hovering over me in a blanket on a sofa.

I could feel a strong presence around me, I made sure to not to life my head as I felt unprepared, as though my body had caved under the pressure of a big storm coming and now it was here. I closed my eyes and groaned, my heart felt very heavy which was no doubt pressure from the beast within me because it wanted something.

"Terribly sorry your grace, she’ll be better once she rests." I heard my father say to the other person as my mind faded in and out of consciousness as though I was about to fall asleep. That was the first time I heard the word Mate in relation to myself.

It may have come from within me or one of the two or maybe a conversation I picked up tonight but then I couldn’t shake it out of my head.

“Leave us.” The instruction was curt and shockingly heeded to immediately by my father. Who did this guy think he is? From the unmistakable air of authority, he reeked to the close proximity at which he made himself to me; I quickly remembered the strong arms that enveloped me several moments ago when I passed out.

I kept my eyes shut pretending to be asleep so hopefully, he’d go away.

“Your father’s gone you can stop pretending to be asleep now.”

I opened my eyes in shock and came face to face with what I could only describe as the devil reincarnated into a man.

His lips were set firmly into an unreadable expression, his total form one of seriousness and a I-don’t-joke around attitude.

"Call me Luke."

“I don’t care.”

He raised his eyebrows as he watched me struggle to remove the blanket and get up off the chair.

“That’s not the usual response I get.”

“And what usual response do you get?” I mocked sarcastically.

He stood up towering over me and my confidence bucked a little, I swallowed as all six foot two inches of him spoke.

“Respect. Gratitude. Most people are humbled to be in the presence of their sovereign Alpha.” He smiled.

I couldn’t hide the surprise that crossed my face, giving way to realisation and then horror and apology. The Alpha King, I’d been rude to the Alpha king, he had not used the Alpha tone to command me yet in punishment but I was already frightened in anticipation.

“Look,” I said finally standing up to meet him. “I didn’t know- I had no idea…”

“It’s a pity.” He interrupted, “Because I can see that your father worked very hard to put this lovely welcome together for me and now I’m pissed off.” He gulped a full glass down and revealed eyes that glowed dangerously.

“Stop the music!” He roared immediately, and the entire building, from the foyer to the hall, to the workers in the empty rooms upstairs halted to a silence.

My throat ran dry, all the colour washed from my face as my father, the only brave man in the room being our Alpha came dashing over to us to see what had stirred the matter.

“Your sovereign highness, if I may ask-”

“I’m leaving.” He deadpanned.

“No! Please.”

“You can’t!”

I pleaded with my dad knowing how important this was to him and the pack for future relations.

“I can damn well do whatever I want.” He countered. “But I want one thing, Alpha.” He faced my father calmly.

“Anything you want your highness, it’s the least we could do.”

“Good. Because I’m taking her with me.”

“What?!” I balked taking several steps back.

“I’m sorry I don’t understand-” my father stammered, seeming unsure for perhaps the first time in his life.

“I came here because my scouts confirmed a prophecy of the Lycan gods decreed long before anybody inside this room was born.” He stated casually. “My mate will be born to this very pack and will be an offspring from an Alpha, making her the only Luna with the blood of an alpha running through her veins.

“I still don’t get what this has to do with me…” I said my voice shaking horribly as I mentally scanned for a getaway because deep down I knew. It was what my wolf had been trying to say, what was so uncanny about the atmosphere tonight, and why I had fainted even before I saw him, from the mere proximity of being in the same room as him.

He looked at me with those calculating eyes more intimidating and attractive than I initially presumed.

“You’re my mate.

A crowd had gathered including the security for my family and Luke’s own entourage and seemed to enclose me into this on toward conversation which was beginning to make my headache. In the back of my mind, I could hear my father trying to argue hopelessly against a man who battered with the lives of thousands each day.

"Your Highness, in my understanding this was to be a welcome party in your honour." He reasoned calmly but I knew him well enough to hear the thinly-veiled panic, he had wanted to impress the Alpha not give away his only child.

Luke smiled slowly, more to himself as my father tried all the angles as though he had foreseen it all but was still amused watching it play out.

“Excuse me.” He waved his hand at my father who was still talking and stalked over to the corner I’d backed myself into to get myself away from the conversation.

"Look at me." He instructed slowly. When I didn’t he signed gripping one wrist in his hands and dragging me off into the hallways.