The Alpha King's Innocent Bride.

Chapter 3. Mating ball?..

 King Emmett's P.O.V

The main door of the palace opened before my arrival because they had received a mind link of it beforehand from the guards. My horse was going at full speed and if someone happened to be in the way they were going to be crushed under us. The only sound was that of the horse’s hooves pounding on the ground as it ran. Behind us were the other members of the pack who went hunting with me. We all entered through the main gate of the palace and came to a stop.

My Beta, Rex dismounted and immediately came running towards me. I just wanted to go to my room and relax because, after being out of the palace for two days without sleeping or eating, I just wanted to sleep. As usual, everyone was standing by the main gate of the palace to welcome me back. Seeing all of their bowed heads caused my anger to reignite as I remembered the reason that I went hunting in the first place.

Sensing my rising anger, Rex knew that someone was about to get a brutal punishment unless he intervened. "Alpha, there are no wolves here that are mated and marked. These are all unmated wolves. I can assure you. I will take full responsibility if that situation happens again." Rex said confidently. My eyes roamed over all of them. They were trembling with their heads bowed and eyes on the ground. If it were possible, they would bury their heads in the ground to escape my gaze. 

"I apologize again for what happened a few days ago Alpha. It will not happen again.” Rex assured me and without saying anything, I started walking again.

If any wolf is in front of me and I see a mark on his or her neck, my blood boils. I go insane. Whenever someone finds his or her mate they are sent out of the palace and appointed to another pack house. If any mated wolf is in my presence then his only punishment is death. Breaking any of my laws is the greatest sin in my kingdom.

This is my kingdom and I am the Cursed Alpha King. I was born with this curse. A curse that will always leave me incomplete. I will be mateless forever. I will always be half. Without her… It is an unbearable pain that no one can even imagine. 

No one knows about my curse, except for my Beta and my best friend, Vincent who is also the Alpha Prince of his own kingdom, but I am the King of Alpha’s.

As I entered the palace my stepmother, Amanda, was waiting for me with a big smile on her face. She is my father's second chance mate. My mother died when I was five. A few months after my mother’s death, my father found out that my mother’s younger sister, my aunt, was his second chance mate. She took care of me as if she were my own mother.

Not only her but her son, my step-brother Raymond, and his mate April were standing there.

“Emmett… my son. Where have you been? I was so worried.” Amanda said as she walked towards me and hugged me tightly.

“I’m fine, mother.” I replied with a little smile, but I moved slightly away from her to make her let go of me. She looked a little offended, but she knows that I do not like to be touched. If someone touches me I feel like my skin is burning. I can't stand it. Since childhood, only my mother's touch could calm me and I never felt any kind of burning sensation from her touch. Maybe it’s also because of my curse.

“Welcome back Alpha.” Raymond said and bowed his head with respect. My eyes went to his mate April who quickly lowered her eyes and followed her mate by bowing her head too.

“Emmett, you must be hungry. Let’s eat. We have all been waiting for you and no one has eaten anything as we all wanted to eat with you.” Amanda said and my eyes went to the dining table. They had made so much food and it all looked delicious. I could even smell that they are all my favorites. I didn't say anything and she understood that I only wanted to sleep.

“Please Emmett? Will you not do this for your mother?” She asked sadly.

“Please brother? We all want to spend some time with you.” Raymond added and I finally conceded. 

Having lunch was not a bad idea as I was hungry. Quickly sitting in my chair at the head of the table, I ask Rex to join me. Rex always sits on my left side and the chair to my right is always empty. No one dares to sit there. I don’t know why I continue to  think that my mate would someday be the queen of this palace and take her rightful place in that chair. Everyone began eating, but I was still focused on the chair.

All of a sudden everyone’s eyes focused on me. 

“Emmett dear, don’t you think it is time for you to choose a mate?” Amanda suddenly asked and it made me tear my eyes away from the precious seat to her face in surprise.

“Choose a mate?” I asked in confusion. 

“Yes.” She said, placing her spoon back on her plate and focusing on the discussion. “You are already twenty-seven, Emmett and tomorrow is your twenty-eighth birthday. People are starting to gossip. I know that you are looking for your mate everywhere, but I don’t think she is in our kingdom. I think you should choose a mate for yourself instead of waiting for someone who you may never find.” Amanda gently said to me with a concerned smile.

She doesn’t know that I am mateless. Everyone thinks that I am trying to search for her and that I have just not been able to find her. Rex had also told me that some people were spreading rumours about me and that those caught had been sentenced to death immediately, but now I think that I should consider Amanda's words.

“What do you think, Emmett?” She asked, attracting my attention and I was not sure how I should react. I just nodded my head and she jumped out of joy.

“Oh my Goddess! This means you will have a chosen mate!” She said and looked at Raymond with happiness. He looked shocked as I always pushed discussions regarding my mate to a future time and never gave a definitive answer, but today I felt that a ‘chosen mate’ was the only option left for me.

“Yes, that is good news brother. Finally you’re considering it. Mother was so worried about you.” Raymond said and looked at April who smiled back at him.

“So if you don’t mind…” Amanda started to say, looking hesitant, “we will plan to have a mating ball tomorrow on your birthday.” She said and I looked at Rex to see his expression.

“What? Tomorrow? It’s too soon.” Rex exclaimed, looking at me.

“I can understand your concern Beta Rex, but believe me. I will handle everything. The whole kingdom wants to celebrate their King’s birthday. All the packs of our kingdom will be invited along with all of their pack members. The King will choose his mate from the many women who will attend.” Amanda said and I was thinking about it all. Who will be that woman? Will she only want to marry me because of my position and power and the thought of becoming the queen? Just thinking about someone being so selfish made the rage inside me flare and I broke my silence.

“Rex.” I said and he looked at me to get orders. “Do as my mother says. Organize a mating ball, but in my palace.” I said and everyone’s jaw dropped.

“What? In the palace?” April said, finally breaking her silence.

“Yes, invite all the unmated, noble women from the packs. If I don’t like any of the women, and I don’t choose a mate, then I will feed them to my pets.” I said, getting up from my chair. Everyone’s faces were pale in fear and shock from what I just announced. Too many women have tried to play the slut game with me. Greed, lies and betrayal are the things that I hate the most!

  Raymond’s P.O.V 

As Emmett left, Beta Rex followed him and my mother also got up to leave. I looked at April who just gave me a deadly glare while also leaving the dining room. Her high heels were stomping against the floor like she wanted to make a hole to prove her rage. I got up and followed her to our room. Closing the door softly behind me, I saw that she was looking out of the window,  her arms crossed over her chest.

“April.” I said, wrapping my hands around her waist. She didn’t respond so I started to trail kisses up her neck. Suddenly she turned and pushed me back.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING RAYMOND?” She shouted and her voice echoed throughout the whole room.

“Why the f**k you are shouting, April? Someone will hear you!” I said, gritting my teeth in anger. 

“You don’t know why I’m shouting? Your brother is the reason for all of my problems. Because of him my life has become hell.” She replied and I closed my eyes in anger.

“I know. This is why I suggested that mother ask Emmett to take a chosen mate so that we will be able to live as we want.” I said to her and her face turned red with anger.

“Yeah, I see what the f**k you did! What happened after your fantastic suggestion? Did you not hear what he said? He will throw every woman who comes to this mating ball to his pets if he does not like anyone!” She exclaims, turning her face away from me. Emmett’s pets are none other than a lion and crocodile which he grew up playing with. He is also a beast himself. I have been living with him for many years and I am even afraid of him.

“Ok, I get it. It didn’t quite go as planned. Why are you so worried about it? We won’t know any of the women. Why do you care what Emmett does to them?” I asked, lazily sitting on the bed. April turned her face towards me and looked at me with disbelief.

“Did you forget about my sister, Naomi?” She asked and now I understood why she was so angry. “She will also be at the mating ball. She will do anything to make Emmett choose her as his chosen mate. She has been in love with him since childhood. When she hears about this ball she won’t listen to anything I have to say to try to warn her to stay away. I’m scared for her. Emmett won’t hesitate to throw her in the lion's cage. My life has already been ruined because I have a useless mate, but I refuse to let her ruin her life as well.” April said and I got up, clutching her arm in anger.

“What do you mean by useless, April?” I asked, tightening my grip on her arm, but she just shoved my hand away.

“See this!” She said, indicating her bare neck. “I HAVE BEEN DYING FOR YOU TO MARK ME!! IT HAS BEEN A WHOLE YEAR, BUT YOU STILL WON’T DARE MARK ME BECAUSE OF YOUR FEAR OF THE KING!! WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY?” She shouted and I was taking deep breaths to try to control my anger. I wanted to mark her so badly but I couldn’t.

“Listen to me, April. I am not marking you because I am thinking of our future. All marked werewolves can not live in the palace. You know this. You know it is one of Emmett’s laws. This law didn’t just come into effect today. It has been around for years, but I don’t know why this law even exists! Don’t you remember what happened to those who dared to disobey him? If I mark you then we will be forced to leave the palace and I can’t afford that. I have dreams that require me to stay in the palace if I have any hope in achieving them and so I am willing to wait to mark you. Despite what you may think, I am also dying inside and feeling the same pain that you are. You are not the only one who is suffering.” I told her and left the room, slamming the door behind me. I heard April crying through the door and this caused my anger and hatred for Emmett to grow.