Alpha Prince Egon And His Bride

4. Bargaining

"Alpha... Alpha..." Beta Steven knocked on Alpha Levi's bedroom door. The sounds of moaning, crying, and skin slapping were so loud that they could be heard even in the hallway. Levi stopped thrusting for a second as he sensed urgency in Steven's knock. His Beta had never once interrupted him while he was engaged in pleasure, so this was a sign that something might be wrong. Levi withdrew his c**k from his w***e’s ass and allowed her to get out of the bed. As soon as the woman opened the door to leave, Steven rushed in.

"Alpha..." Beta Steven whimpered, dropping to the floor and falling to his knees.

"What's wrong?" Levi sat naked on his bed, frowning at his right-hand man's trembling.

“Harry, he just mind-linked me….” Beta Steven paused, raising his head to lock his eyes with Levi. While Levi was busy with s*x, he had blocked everyone’s mind-link so, Harry informed Steven instead.

“What did Harry say? Why hasn't he come back yet?” Levi raised his brows disliking the expression that Steven wore.

“Harry said that he didn't have a chance to talk to King Thomas. Now we can't make a peace agreement with them because….”

“WHERE IS HARRY?! WHY COULDN'T HE COMPLETE THIS SIMPLE TASK?!!” Levi yelled, cutting Steven off. Steven flinched and cowered away in fear, submitting to Levi. “Harry is the best at manipulating people and playing with their minds with his words. So why couldn't he secure the peace agreement?” he demanded.

“It’s because of Alpha Prince Egon!!” Beta Steven shouted out of panic and terror.

“What?” Levi’s eyes widened at the mention of the monster’s name. His heartbeat quickened, and his body grew cold. He was not scared of anyone in this world, but Egon was another case entirely.

“Yes, Alpha. Harry was at the mating ceremony when the Silver River Pack attacked. I don't think anyone else survived. They must have slaughtered the whole clan….” Steven hurriedly explained.

“Damn it!” The ground beneath Levi seemed to vanish. This was what he had feared. He got up from his bed and walked to the window, gazing out at his entire Kingdom. It was prosperous and powerful, but after hearing about Egon's destruction of his own uncle's family, Levi could see the bleak future awaiting his Kingdom—the Blood Moon Pack lands would be barren and destroyed. Levi clenched his trembling fist at his side. There was no way he could allow his Kingdom to fall.

“Alpha, what should we do now? The Silver River Pack is like a snake that devours its own blood. They are a constant threat to us,” Steven's voice shook with fear. Levi glared at his Beta for his cowardly statement, Steven immediately dropped his gaze.

“There's only one option left….” Levi had to make a decision that would affect and change many lives.

“What option?” Steven asked, puzzled.

“Princess Emily,” Levi declared.

****

Harry sat in the unfamiliar forest ground for the past hour with Tracey’s lifeless body in his lap. After mind-linking Beta Steven, he had ventured into this unclaimed land, considered neutral territory.

Staring at his daughter's pale face, cradling her in his arms, he couldn't escape the weight of her words echoing in his mind. He had never raised a hand against her, yet he was responsible for her death. His hands were stained with his daughter's blood, he couldn't envision a future for himself beyond this tragedy.

No tears fell from his eyes, even that right had been lost to him. He gently laid her motionless form on the forest floor as he began to dig a grave. If Alpha Levi were to discover Tracey's rebellious act—or perhaps he already knew, given his extensive network—she would not be granted a peaceful resting place.

He dug the grave deep enough to protect her from animals and any other disturbances. Embracing her one last time, he tenderly kissed her forehead before gently lowering her into the ground.

"The hands that should have shielded you ended your life. You were right, Tracey. Your father is weak, but I am proud to say that my daughter was strong and brave. Please forgive me and find happiness in your next life, where you won't have a father as feeble as me... forgive me," he cried for hours, covering her grave. He fervently prayed to the Moon Goddess to watch over her from now on.

Ensuring her final resting place would remain undiscovered, he kissed her grave goodbye. Stripping out of his clothes, he swiftly shifted into his wolf form and raced back to the territory of the Blood Moon Pack.

It took him four hours, but upon arrival he sensed an unsettling panic permeating the palace. Swiftly shifting back into human form, he dressed himself just as a pack member came running toward him.

"Where have you been? The Alpha has been waiting for you," the man said, prompting Harry to rush towards the meeting room. He didn't want to further anger Alpha Levi, who had already been kept waiting for hours. Determined to avoid any additional danger, Harry ran as fast as he could. Upon reaching the meeting room, he found Alpha Levi and Beta Steven already present. Beta Steven paused his writing and handed a wrapped-up paper to Alpha Levi when he noticed Harry's arrival.

"Alpha, forgive me for being late," Harry bowed, expecting to be scolded and growled at for testing the Alpha's patience. However, Levi remained surprisingly calm. He didn't question Harry about being late or about Tracey. This strange behavior both alarmed and relieved Harry. He was relieved that Levi seemed unaware of what had happened at the Shine Moon Pack, but the Alpha's unusual demeanor raised Harry's suspicions.

Deciding to seize the opportunity, Harry resolved to ensure that the matter would never come to light. His daughter would not be labeled a traitor! His eyes curiously lingered on the letter that Alpha Levi had been examining.

"Harry, this is your next task. We need to establish a peace agreement with this pack, under any circumstances, and this time I don't want any mistakes!" Alpha Levi ordered coldly, handing the letter to Harry.

Obediently nodding, Harry proceeded to review the task he had been assigned. However, as he read the contents, the ground beneath him seemed to crumble. It was a marriage proposal between Princess Emily and Alpha Prince Egon.

"Alpha...how is this possible?" Harry's widened eyes met Alpha Levi's calm gaze. Could he be serious about this?

"Why is it not possible?" Beta Steven interrupted, earning a glare from Harry.

"Using Princess Emily like this is wrong. She only turned twenty a few days ago, she could have a mate out there. Why do you think we should marry her off to Alpha Prince Egon? How can you even consider that Princess Emily would survive in that pack? I can't believe you would think of no one else but Alpha Prince Egon," Harry maintained his tone in front of Levi, but his heart brimmed with bitterness.

"It seems you're afraid of Alpha Prince Egon, Harry," Beta Steven chuckled, while Levi listened to both of them in peace. Harry smiled at the ignorant fool of a Beta and stepped closer to him.

"Don't talk to me about fear when you haven't witnessed the bloodshed I have seen back at the palace. Alpha Prince Egon made Prince Lucas's Beta faceless. I fear that the same fate awaits you because you're walking the same path they did," Harry's voice rose slightly as he spoke.

Steven felt humiliated and provoked by Harry's statement, their argument was on the brink of turning ugly.

"HARRY!" Alpha Levi shouted, cutting them off.

"Alpha," Harry turned to receive his orders, realizing that he had completely neglected his Alpha, which was a sign of disrespect. However, Alpha Levi didn't appear angry. Instead, an evil smirk played on his lips, as if he were concocting a sinister scheme in his mind.

"Follow my orders. Princess Emily will marry Alpha Prince Egon," declared Alpha Levi. Panic surged through Harry. He dropped to his knees, desperate to make him see reason.

"But Alpha...how is this possible?" Harry began to plead, but his words caught in his throat as he sensed Emily's presence—her sweet scent and aura. Princess Emily entered the meeting room, stopping in the middle and facing Alpha Levi. She neither bowed nor averted her gaze, which further angered Levi. Harry's heart raced as he witnessed Levi clenching his fists. The Princess' defiance toward her Alpha and father was a dangerous path to tread. However, the fact that she had willingly come to the meeting room indicated that Alpha Levi had summoned her.

"Harry, why did you stop speaking? Finish what you were saying," ordered Alpha Levi, his eyes fixed on Emily.

"Alpha...the Princess is here...she will hear it too," Harry stammered.

"SO WHAT? FOLLOW MY f*****g ORDERS AND SAY WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY!" Alpha Levi roared. Harry submitted, baring his neck in submission at the final warning.

"Alpha, as I was saying, it's impossible for Princess Emily to marry Alpha Prince Egon..." Harry glanced at Princess Emily's reaction from the corner of his eye. Surprisingly, instead of being scared at the mention of Alpha Prince Ego she remained calm. Harry’s corner of lips twitched in nervousness. She had just heard something dangerous that was going to change her life forever, probably end her life yet she wasn't afraid. Wasn’t she afraid of the name Egon? This was impossible.

Then, it dawned on Harry. This was what Tracey had meant when she said he only knew about Alpha Levi but not about Princess Emily. Curiosity gnawed at him—what did he not know about the Princess?

"Why do you think I won't make her marry Alpha Prince Egon? What reason do you have to stop me from handing her over to the monster?" Alpha Levi intentionally used these words, aiming to intimidate her. He was well aware of Egon's monstrous nature, yet he was still willing to proceed.

"Alpha, Princess Emily will find her mate someday. What happens if she finds her mate while married to Egon?" Harry couldn't finish his sentence before Alpha Levi stood up, shooting him a warning glare.

Levi walked over to Emily, standing face to face. Harry's heart leaped to his throat as the Princess met Alpha Levi's gaze directly. It wasn't the first time they had witnessed this sight. From birth, she had never submitted to her Alpha. Levi's Alpha tone could never make her cower or obey. Alpha Levi had made the entire Kingdom submit to him, yet he couldn't make his own daughter submit—an enduring mystery and the source of his anger. No one knew why or how it happened, why he could never control his daughter. It remained an unsolved enigma.

"She will marry Alpha Prince Egon to save my pack," announced Alpha Levi, never breaking eye contact with Emily. "As for her soulmate, I don't believe she is blessed with one. She couldn't find her mate, and she is nothing more than a burden in this palace. She only knows how to consume those around her—she consumed my Luna when she was born. She is no less than an evil witch. If she stays here, my entire pack will suffer. No, it's better if she consumes Alpha Prince Egon as well. I would be grateful to the Moon Goddess if that were to happen. For now, this girl will marry Alpha Prince Egon no matter the cost."

Alpha Levi's words revealed his disdain for Emily ever since he lost his soulmate. He blamed the Princess for his loss, and his curses always fell upon her. Yet, the most crucial factor was that if she refused the marriage, something terrible awaited her. Even after hearing her father's cruel words, Princess Emily didn't shed a tear nor display any signs of emotions. Faces in the room drained of color as she remained silent.

"That's it?" Emily asked, stepping closer to Alpha Levi, instilling terror in everyone present. The way she looked at him conveyed that he was no one. "Did you call me here just to inform me of my impending marriage? If you're finished, I'm leaving." With a slow blink, she turned on her heel to depart.

"The audacity of that girl!" Alpha Levi's eyes turned red as he threw a vase against the wall Emily had just passed. "Harry, you will go to the Silver River Pack immediately with this marriage proposal!"

Emily heard her father's roar as she walked down the hallway. She continued until she reached the garden, where her bodyguards' faces still bore a pallor of terror.

"Princess, how can you remain so calm after hearing all that? Didn't you hear that the Alpha is forcing you to marry Alpha Prince Egon?" Sonia, one of her bodyguards, questioned.

Emily walked over to the birdcage, where rare and precious birds were kept under her father's strict protection. Alpha Levi used to shed blood if someone touched them. She opened the tiny door, freeing the trapped birds.

"Don't get caught again," she whispered, smiling at their newfound freedom. She then gazed at the moon before looking away.