Mateless Alpha

Prologue

"Just trust me, everything will be alright," he said, gazing into the eyes of the woman he had hopelessly fallen in love with. He had her cornered in the hallway, where he was towering over her, with his warm breath fanning her face. For a long time, he had fought his feelings for her, but what he wished he had known was that one cannot tell the heart whom to love.

"You know this is impossible, Adonis. A prince can never be with a maid. Come on, my parents and I are slaves."

"That's not a problem. What matters is that you are my mate. I have tried all I can to forget you, but I can't. Don't give up on us. I will speak to my parents about it. I know they will understand me and accept you." He gently held her left hand, his eyes pleading with her as if he was talking to her soul. He caressed her face with his other hand. Her eyes were glistering with tears as she stared into his eager ones, his cold hand causing cold shivers to run through her spine.

"You thief! Where is my money?"

Their tender moment was shattered by a sudden commotion in the palace hall. They rushed over to see the Luna, Adonis' mother, angrily accusing Ishtar's mother. The poor lady lay on the floor, looking helpless.

"Ma'am, I have not taken any money, believe me."

"Liar! Who doesn't know you and your family are thieves? Now give me the money or..." The Luna's voice dripped with malice.

"Please, my Queen, believe me, I am innocent," she cried. The Luna paced around her prey, a bottle in hand, ready to unleash its contents. Ishtar, desperate to stop the impending disaster, darted forward, unaware of what the bottle contained. In her courageous attempt, she got between her mother and the Luna, pushing the bottle away, but the liquid spilled and splashed onto her face instead.

"Ahhhhhh! Ahhhhhh! It burns! It burns! Ahhhhhh!"

The lady on the floor turned only to see her daughter writhing in agony, clutching her head.

"Mu-mummy, my face is on fire. Help!"

Adonis rushed to them, eager to assist, but his mother had already commanded the guards to take him away before she coldly walked off, leaving a wailing Ishtar and her mother to their fate.

"What-what is wrong? I can't see any fire. Ishtar, what is wrong with you?" Her mother's voice trembled with worry. Then the realization struck—her daughter had saved her from the Luna's malicious intent. The Luna had poured acid on Ishtar.

Her heart pounded as she grappled with fear and uncertainty. She couldn't bear to lose her daughter, her only surviving family. Her husband and eldest son had died mysteriously, and her younger son drowned tragically in the river. Her husband’s body had also been found in a river suggesting he had drowned too.

Rumors circulated, suggesting the royal family's involvement in these tragedies. But what could she, a mere slave, do against the powerful? In Visiondale, slaves had no voice or standing.

Summoning her last ounce of strength and with the help of a guard, she carried Ishtar to the pack's doctor, who managed to stabilize her condition.

As evening approached, she returned to the palace, only to find a crowd gathered at the forecourt. The Alpha and Luna stood before them, and all eyes turned to her, making her wonder what was going on.

"That's her. The traitor and her family are the thieves. She and her daughter stole my jewelry and money. They must die!" The Luna pointed at her, an evil smirk on her face.

"Yes, they must die!" The crowd echoed.

"No, no, we-we are not thieves. I have not taken anything," she cried out, but her voice was drowned amidst the clamor.

"They must die!" The chants grew louder and harsher. Some even marched toward her.

"Enough! No one will die. But that doesn't mean they won't be punished," Alpha Maximus proclaimed with scorn.

"As of today, I declare that Athaliah, wife of the late Hercules, and her daughter Ishtar, slaves of the royal family, will no longer be citizens of Visiondale. They are banished on account of theft and blasphemy." The beta read the letter, stamped and sealed by the Alpha.

"N-no, y-you can't do this to us. We-we have no—"

"Guards! Make sure you escort them out immediately," the beta ordered.

Luna Grace was satisfied, though this was not what she hoped for. She had wanted to wipe them off the face of the earth. But banishment wasn't bad at all, as long as the slave was far away from her son, she was okay.

But how could she, a slave, think of having an affair with her prince, her first fruit and the heir to the throne? She had already picked a bride for her son, forgetting that their mates are naturally chosen. Or perhaps she didn't forget at all. She believed her son's mate couldn't be a slave and was ready to challenge nature's selection.

The guards stormed the town's small clinic, detaining Athaliah and were there to take Ishta along.

"You can't do this. If you take her now, she will die. She is not stable and strong," the doctor protested.

"Sorry, little man, there is nothing we can do. These are orders from the Alpha and Luna. This woman must leave Visiondale with her daughter immediately."

"Please, let's talk to the prince. He can do something about this. My daughter can't die." Athaliah pleaded, tears rolling down her face. This was by far her biggest challenge after her husband and sons' deaths.

"Who do you think your daughter is, the princess? The prince is fully aware and supports this," they mocked with contempt.

The doctor tried all he could, but their hearts remained unyielding. They carried Ishtar on a wooden mat and, together with her mother, escorted them out of Visiondale. Though her eyes were closed, her ears weren't. Ishtar heard every painful word, every cruel chant, as the place she once called home turned its back on her.