The Unforgiving Alpha King

Bad Morning

ETHAN'S POV

I needed a break to make my mind feel at peace with the decision I just made. I have never felt this amount of guilt after passing a sentence against a cold-blooded murderer before. I made the right decision, but the unneeded mate bond makes my heart feel like it has been frozen. I have told myself a million times already that I shouldn't care about a murderer. But the feeling doesn't go away.

I need to lay down for minute and find my resolve. The council will probably take an entire hour to gather and be briefed about the culprit and her crimes before the actual court session starts. Hope that by then my heart will have overcome the unnecessary grief.

My chest feels heavier than the rest of me as I push the door to my room open and step inside. I sigh in frustration when I find my mother waiting, taping her foot against the floor like she has been here forever.

She has a cup of tea in her hands that she sets down on the small table beside the bed and literally runs up to me. "Tracy just told me the good news." She gasps in awe as her hands wrap around my shoulders. "I am so happy that you made the right decision. Now I can always sleep well knowing that I will not lose my son in order for the curse to be lifted."

She steps back and wipes off her

tears of joy. I wonder if she cares about how I feel now that my fated mate is an evil, envious murderer.

Her death will of course lift the curse and take this Kingdom back to the good old days when no one was afraid of falling sick or shifting during the fall season. But something about executing her feels wrong despite knowing well that she is a murderer. No one should ever be allowed to get away with such a wicked act, I know. I just need a moment to convince my heart to let go.

"I need a rest." I say walking past my mother. I take a seat on the bed and she hurries to sit by my side.

"Don't you see we were right? That girl was mated to you just so she would die in your place and lift the curse. That must have been Goddess Israel's plan and it's brilliant. At least no innocent life is going to die. And no one will miss a murderer." She says then sighs in relief.

She is probably right, but my heart feels wrecked anyway. I nod my head just so she can stop talking. She smiles and pats my back.

"I figured that her execution cannot be carried out any day because it's should be like a ritual to lift the curse. I will sent two servants to get the Priest of Goddess Israel's temple so he can guide us on choosing the right date for the execution to happen." She informs in an excited tone. Can't believe she is openly enjoying this.

"I think it's obvious that the execution should happen on the day of atonement. It's two weeks from now." I say and see her smile drop.

"That's a little bit far. The curse will have taken away many more lives. But at least we finally have a solution that won't hurt our family or the people of the Kingdom." She mutters, picks up the cup of tea and hands it to me with a fresh smile like we are supposed to be celebrating.

EMMA'S POV

I never imagined that someone can be in a magnificent palace like this and not be happy. I feel more miserable here than I felt back home where I escaped. The threat of being banished is nothing compared to the one of being killed to lift a curse.

I would have been the luckiest girl if my royal mate wasn't in love with someone else and if they weren't waiting for me to accept to die in his place. Unlike his mother and his mean girlfriend he didn't seem too focused on . I feel like there is hope that he won't have my life taken to rid his kingdom of the curse. But that would mean that he will sacrifice his life instead of mine.

I really don't see a way this can end well. One of us will have to die and I am the least needed person here. I wasn't appealing enough even to him. But his girlfriend said he would not choose to sacrifice my life unless I willingly agree to it. For some weird reason I feel scared of loosing him too. I however don't want to die and be forgotten because he has someone else to replace me.

I jerk upright from the bed when the door suddenly bursts open with a startling bang. I was expecting my mate to finally come back just to check on me. But I see five soldiers in uniform march in, their gazes cold and threatening.

"Get off the bed you cold-blooded murderer!" One snarls angrily while taking fast steps towards me. I get completely dumbfounded that my feet refuse to move even when two of them grab me by the arms and hair.

What did the man mean by "Cold-blooded murderer?" Are they lost or something?"

I gasp when they roughly pull me out of the bed and I fall on the hard floor. Pain shoots out from all the parts that were still sore.

"Don't think refusing to walk is going to save you. We will drag you if we have to!" The soldier gripping my hair snaps and literally pulls hard. The pain forces me to get back on my feet and follow.

"Please wait! Where are you taking me? I haven't done any wrong!" I scream at them, horrified.

"We know exactly what you've done! And you're going to pay for it dearly!" The second soldier replies in a voice laced with rage.

"You may be our King's mate but believe me when I tell you that he never forgives." The soldier walking behind us says in a thrilled tone.

What on earth do they think I have done? I did lie to my mate about the reason I was leaving Silver Moon at night, but I heard the soldier pulling my arm call me a murderer. They must be nuts!

"Let go of me! You're all crazy!" I shout, trying to wriggle free.

The soldier pulling me by my hair slaps my face hard with the other hand. The blow stings and I scream in pain.

"Shut the f**k up!" He snaps, pulling on my hair harder.

Tears stream down my cheeks as I struggle to follow. One would think that by now I have gotten used to pain, but no, it's actually hurts like it's the first time I am feeling it.

"Is that her?" I hear servants ask in astounded voices as the soldiers drag me down a long corridor.

"She looks so pathetic. She cannot be Ethan's mate unless she is was meant to die!" Another snorts.

They all sound jealous, but maybe I actually look that despicable. Obviously I could not have been destined to live among this mean refined people in this gilded palace. My mate is clearly too perfect for me. What if they are right that I was meant to die for him? Thinking of it alone makes my stomach churn with terror.

"You will be the most untidy culprit to ever stand in front of the King's council. You're an embarrassment to our Alpha King." One of the soldiers mock.

I am going to meet a King's council? Like I am an actual culprit? Obviously they have made a mistake. Sad part is that these soldiers aren't willing to listen.

They drag me through two white doors that open into a spacious room full of noble looking men. The only ladies in the room are my mate's girlfriend and his elegantly dressed mother. He is seated between them, an expression of rage and distaste plastered on his attractive face. His cold glare makes my entire body shiver.

The two women next to him give me the same angry, disgusted glares. The rest of the crowd watch me with astounded eyes as the soldiers pull me to the front of the room. I immediately become aware of how wretched I look.

My tangled, dirty hair may still be harbouring visible stains of dried blood since I didn't get a chance to wash it after the attack. The buggy night gown I was given by a maid to wear last night looks like a sack with hands. And I am barefoot since the soldiers didn't let me put on my old boots. The refined councilmen must be thinking I am a mad woman.

I know my mate doesn't love me but how could he allow this to happen? He doesn't utter a word to defend me even when the soldier that was pulling me by the hair shoves me forward and I fall again on the concrete floor with a thud.

"Get up!" The soldier grabs my hair again and pulls until I stumble back to my feet.

Half of the councilmen shake their heads in vivid disappointment. I know I look awful, nothing like the Princess their Alpha king deserved. Maybe I should have asked for a better dress since my mate's mother had said could ask for anything I need while I mull over the terrifying idea of dying to lift the curse. Seeing how she is glaring at me now I am sure that offer is no longer on the table. What exactly do they think I have done? It would feel better if my mate just uttered a word to defend me, but he is watching me like I am the most disgusting thing he has ever had to look at.

"This is your last chance to tell the truth. Confess to the murders you committed without wasting our time and maybe I won't make your execution as excruciating and mortifying as I had already planned." He hisses and I freeze with shock.

"Murders?!" I exclaim and his glare hardens with impatience. I see his mate fighting a smile but she covers it up quickly with an expression of anger.