The Mate She Rejected

The Last Hope

Chapter 2 : The Last Hope

I woke up only to find myself back in my room. The broken furniture had been removed, and the remaining pieces were rearranged. My hand immediately shot up to my head, which felt heavy as if an entire cloud of darkness had descended upon it.

My eyes felt tired and dried from crying.

"Good evening, Princess. How are you feeling?"

Sally, one of my maids, entered with a tray of soup and a strip of medicine. Pushing aside the comforter, I tried to sit up.

"How are Mom and Dad?" I asked urgently, and she shook her head sadly. Her voice was low.

"No improvement, Princess."

I slumped back onto the bed, running my fingers through my tangled hair, which had been smooth silk until yesterday. Tears once again stung my eyes, and my head felt heavy.

"Tell me, this is a dream... I want to wake up. I can't bear this anymore... please, Moon Goddess,"

I pleaded silently.

"I overheard the guards talking. The enemy will strike again, Princess. And this time... we will all die,"

Sally said, her hands trembling as she spoke. A new kind of adrenaline rushed through me. These people were my kingdom... I couldn't let them die like this. I had to do something.

Holding her hands in mine, I spoke with newfound determination.

"Nothing will happen, Sally. Trust me. I won't let those bastards win."

She looked shocked. She hadn't seen me like this before. I was always the rude and spoiled princess who only cared about her makeup and jewelry.

"But, Princess--"

Walking past her, I made my way towards the meeting room. Pushing open the door, I was met with two pairs of eyes: Uncle Gray and his son, Ronald. Ronald immediately bowed in my presence, but I ignored him. Stopping in front of Uncle Grey, I spoke in a cold, emotionless voice, my eyes burning and fists clenched.

"Who was it?"

"It was a coup, Princess. An attempt to overthrow the Kingdom by an insider," Uncle Grey revealed.

My dad had been nothing but a considerate and good king to everyone his entire life. So why would anyone do this? The dots weren't connecting here.

"No one would go against him unless someone manipulated others," I reasoned. Uncle Grey nodded.

"You're right, Princess Amira. Someone did manipulate others, but we are yet to find the culprit."

"Then find him! What are you waiting for?"

Ronald stepped forward and spoke this time.

"We don't have time for it, Princess. They are going to attack again tomorrow. Seventy percent of our army is badly injured. Your Highness is on his deathbed. We won't be able to stop them."

"This kingdom is bound to topple, Princess."

Damn it! That was it! All those years of my father's hard work came down to this? There was a mole within our very Kingdom?

"Did we ask others for help?"

Uncle Grey sighed. "Our allies have also turned their backs on us. Some have even sided with the enemy. Seven packs are attacking us together, Princess. It's no use."

My mind immediately drifted to one person who could help me; Hunter, my fiance. Maybe he could help?

Hunter!

I tried to mindlink him. But nothing.What if he got hurt while fighting? Maybe he was fighting alongside Dad.

"Have you seen Gabriel?" I asked Uncle Grey, and he shook his head. Dammit! What do I do now? We only have tonight. I paced around the room, lost in my thoughts, along with Uncle Grey and Ronald.

"There must be someone powerful enough to protect us, Uncle Grey! There has to be something we can do!"

Ronald's face suddenly lit up as he looked at me with hope, nodding.

"There is someone! Oh, Moon Goddess! Why didn't I think of it before?"

"Who?" I asked eagerly.

And that's when he spoke with hope shining in his eyes, and admiration evident.

"If he comes to our rescue, no one can even touch us, let alone overthrow our Kingdom! This is it! He is the one!"

"The strongest man ever known to exist in our world."

"The king of all kings, the Alpha of all Alphas. The undefeated one!"

I tried to digest his words. A flicker of hope shone in my own eyes. Then, suddenly, Uncle Grey roared at him, grabbing him by the collar.

"Are you fu*king stupid, kid? Do you have a death wish?"

"But, Dad--"

"Do you even know who he is? He is not a fu*king man! He is a beast! The reincarnation of the devil himself! No one had seen him before! No one can even step into his territory! And those who did were never found again. How can you even suggest something so absurd? You fool!"

"If someone even hears you mention his name, you're dead!"

"But, Dad--"

"Uncle Grey," I interjected. I was suddenly very interested in this man. Why hadn't I heard of him before? Could he really help us?

"Is this true? Is he really that powerful?"

Uncle Grey pushed Ronald back and looked at me with anger. "Don't listen to him, Princess. He is not an option."

"But didn't you say he is very powerful?"

Uncle Grey sighed, holding my shoulders and looking into my eyes. "Listen, child. Yes, he is very powerful. But he hates us werewolves with undying passion. No werewolf has ever entered his territory and returned. It's a suicide mission."

That was all.

Turning around to look at Ronald, I nodded at him.

"Can you draw me a map that leads to his kingdom? I will go there myself."

Both father and son looked at me with shock, and I clenched my fists. I didn't care about my life anymore. I had to save my parents and my people. And I would do anything for them.

"No. This is crazy. Your Highness would never allow this--"

"In my father's absence, I am the Queen of this Kingdom, Beta Grey. And I command you to assist me in this!"

I used my Alpha tone for the first time in my life, shocked at my own bravery.

"Either way, we are all going to die tomorrow. If there is even a 0.001 percent chance of him helping us save our Kingdom, I am ready to go ahead with this."

Seeing the resolve in my eyes, Beta Grey nodded and sighed. Ronald took out a map from his pocket and laid it in front of me. They started explaining the way.

My heart thumped in my chest, not knowing if what I was doing was wrong or right. The only thing that mattered to me was everyone's lives. And I would do anything for it. Just anything.

"I am coming, Lycan King. And I won't return until I have you on our side. I promise."

If only I had known then who he was. I would have welcomed death with open arms rather than going to him.