Alpha King’s Bride (Moon Provinces Series #1)

Part 2

Shone used to be a happy place. People from all over wanted to come over and bask in its glory, carry some of the happiness in their pockets. Out of all the five provinces, Shone stood the most, maybe because, as the name suggested, people thrived. No one in the pack slept on an empty stomach; everything was available in abundance.

King Christian Zeno made it clear where he stood—by the people. The soldiers followed him; without any hesitation, councillors adored him, and other Kings envied his success.

The kingdom reached peaks of happiness, flourishing when the incident happened. Every single one of the royal family was brutally murdered. Or died in a fire accident, according to the common rumour.

After that, it's just murders, robberies and violence everywhere. The omegas were kidnapped left and right, sold in other kingdoms or used as knotwhores for elite, affluent Alphas; betas were given heavy doses of pheromones and then sold. Only Alphas were deemed to be safe, untouched due to their stature and strength.

Anna was just another omega, suffering in the midst of chaos and barely managing to survive. She wanted to run away from all of it, escape to someplace quiet and never look back. Then again, the omega was not a coward.

Especially nothing like Moons people. Those soldiers barged in the middle of the night and took away omegas all the time; most of the time knotted them and left to die. She detested those with a passion, especially the King who allowed such atrocities of his men. How can he not do anything?

The omega was broken out of her thoughts when she noticed a couple of familiar faces running around. Worry etched across each of their faces, pale at the edges. Something was off. She could feel it.

Anna got out of her one-bedroom hut she shared with Mimi, her only omega friend.

"Hey!" She stopped one of them. "What's going on? Where are you rushing to?"

The man stopped huffing, squirming on his feet as he tried to catch a breath. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Mimi inching close, equally confused. Maybe she doesn’t know about it as well.

"We found Kevin's daughter."

Anna's lips pressed in a thin line. Finding lost omegas never turned out pretty. Still, she swallowed the lump in her throat and enquired about the whereabouts.

"On route 14."

"Thank you! I'll catch up soon."

Once the man disappeared into the mass of bodies, Mimi reached the hut. Her omega friend had a thin scarf secured around her neck, strands blowing in her face. As both of them lived alone, they had to work in an apple orchard to survive. To guard their only home, they worked on alternative days, earning on an hourly basis. It was not much, but in their current state, they couldn't complain much. Mimi was returning from her shift.

"What's going on?"

"They found Kevin's daughter."

Mimi's face broke out in a hopeful smile, hands tightening around the lapels of her coat. Her eyes trailed towards the narrow road leading to their desired route. "Let's go then!"

Anna hummed.

As they inched nearer, something seemed to settle around the omega's neck, feet sinking into the ground and even walking became a struggle. Loud cries rang in her ears, making her shrink into herself. Despite that, the young woman pushed forward, shoulders hitting the mob surrounding the tree.

It's a body. Of course. The cries should have indicated that already. In the middle of nowhere, away from any prominent paths or walkways, in the midst of the fog, a body stared back at her.

The frozen shrubs around were splattered with blood. Kevin's daughter, Lily, was lying in a puddle indeed, but it's dark red with flies buzzing around.

Anna had to still and press a hand over her nose and mouth to suppress a gag that's pushing bile up her throat. Her pulse was galloping as the vision stayed cruelly clear and precise. Mimi threw up in the bushes, tears streaming down her face.

They knew Lily. Mimi more than anyone else as they worked the same shift. It came as a shock when they suddenly found out about their friend's disappearance.

As the parents turned towards her for assistance, a shiver ran through her. She had to cough, squeezing her eyes shut in the process, but when she opened them, they were still staring into hers, wide and full of horror.

Anna was just as helpless, bound by the cruel fate and unable to do anything. Mimi recoiled and stumbled down, falling on her knees, a mess of tears and snot, mourning for her friend. The sight tugged at her heart.

How long do they have to suffer? How many more bodies? Anna thought with a bitter curve of her lips.

***

A week passed away when Anna came to a decision. In those seven days, they found four more bodies—all omegas. She was not letting the cycle continue anymore. The omega had enough, suffered enough.

There's only one solution to the entire thing—Kill the Alpha King of Moons.

His death would shake the people of his kingdom, bringing them to the same vulnerable state. No one and nothing at this point could convince her of the plan otherwise.

Anna’s aware that it’s a one-way mission; if they caught her, she'd be hung. She was determined.

"This is madness!" Her friend threw her hands in the air. "What if they catch you? I cannot live without you, Anna."

Tears blinded her vision. Mimi lost her parents in the fire at a very young age. They were put under the same care ever since that and grown closer, almost like soul sisters. Anna knew her motive could orphan her friend again, but it's the only way to stop the killing.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Anna patted at her. "Please, Mimi, I have to do this."

Her friend was crying at this point; eyes rimmed red and voice cracking. "We could try to write another letter. Maybe that will work"

Anna snorted. They have been doing that for over a year now, and she's tired. No one responded to their letters. She's pretty sure that they might be shredded or thrown in some corner.

"It's useless and you know that."

Her friend threw her hands around her neck, sniffling and pretty sure getting her snot on Anna's coat. "Don't die on me. Promise me?"

Those words hung in the air, almost mocking at this point. No amount of promises could guarantee Anna's return. She's doomed. Still, the omega nodded her head for her friend's sake, taking a step back.

"I'll come back to you", Anna whispered, tightening her grip around the bag. "I promise"

***

Anna camped outside the Palace for three consecutive days, keeping a watch with the binoculars. She stayed on the trees, opting to move closer each day. Shivering, the omega let the binoculars fall back down to her chest, double-checking her bag.

It's time. The night she had been waiting for.

The omega unzipped it and made sure all of her gear was there; rope, harness, grappling hook—everything she could need.

Guards were fewer in numbers at the moment, maybe busy patrolling. Whatever the reason, it was the perfect opportunity for her to sneak in and attack the King. It didn't matter if they caught her after she succeeded in her mission.

The Palace belonged to the Alpha King of the Moons. Along with his trusted staff, he stayed all alone. Just as she expected, the Palace was not a typical four walls lump of building, instead, a grand eight-bedroom, two-storey construction. She managed to secure the blueprint from the library, planning her entry inside without getting caught.

As she had a more petite, bouncy frame, it would be easy for her to get in. The omega was also acrobatic, could scale a building, had no fear of heights. Didn't have any fears at all.

Stepping down the branch, she judged her surroundings. Her head tilted, taking in the grey coloured bricks of the Palace. It would be an easy toss with her grappling hook to latch onto the roof. Anna could then try and pull herself up if she had judged the distance correctly.

The rope was poised in her hand, the loose threads making the young woman swallow harshly. Anna had a dagger in the side pocket, the sharp blade enough to stab an Alpha in one quick succession. Maybe because she scrubbed the blade with a special kind of herb used to killing wolves—wild purple flower. Also known as wolfsbane.

Taking a lungful of air, Anna reminded herself of the reason she's doing this. For her people. They needed peace after years of torture, abuse and death, for the greater good. She muttered under her breath and started to swing the head of the grappling hook.

Finally, she managed to toss it towards the roof. The hook did its job and immediately grabbed onto the edge of one of the chimneys, even through the thin layer of snow.

Anna exhaled. She began sliding down the incline, pulling herself in with the rope, using the momentum to climb up. There was only a single window on this part of the Palace and belonged to the King's room.

Her muscles continued to protest, and the omega continued to breathe as evenly as possible. Seconds later, she finally gripped at the window still and pushed the latch open, a smirk curving around her lips.

Just like that, Anna was in the Alpha King's room.

***

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