A Startling Discovery

AZALEA

I make my way down the corridor towards the Alpha King's quarters. I'm excited to see what he's gotten me. I quickly arrive at the room, and even though it is heavily protected, the guards let me in. When I walk in, the room is dark, but after groping around in the darkness, I find the light switch and turn it on. The room lights up, and that’s when I see it—a red box on the king-sized bed.

I approach the box and pick it up, excitedly biting my bottom lip. I eagerly unwrap the red wrapper until only a tiny black velvet box remains. I carefully open it, and my heart leaps at the sight of a stunning ruby necklace.

I gently place the box on the bed, taking small steps towards the nearest mirror. I put the jewelry around my neck. It complements my porcelain skin and chocolate hair.

I take up the box and set the necklace inside before leaving the room to go to mine.

As I dash down the hall and into my room, I throw the package on my bed, grab a towel, and run into my small bathroom to shower.

The shower is quick, and I'm soon standing in front of my mirror in black jeans and a blue t-shirt, my semi-damp hair in a loose ponytail. I wrap the jewelry around my neck again, giddy with delight at how lovely it looks against my flesh.

This is stunning, but it would be prohibitively pricey. Still, I must thank Alpha Hunt for this gift.

I leave my room and skip down the hallway, rounding a turn to reach his office's large black mahogany door. I raise my hand, preparing to knock, when I hear hushed whispers, and I freeze instantly.

I hear Landon's anxious voice, and my interest is quickly awakened. I press against the door, eager to catch up on this conversation.

"I can't believe you right now, Dad. Are you asking me to be kind to her when you already know I can't stand the sight of her? Is it your intention to drive me insane? Because if so, you’re doing a damn great job.”

At his words, my heart sinks. I know it's a bad idea to give him another chance.

Alpha Hunt's lethal snarl sends chills down my spine. "Landon, how stupid can you be? I expected you to be smarter than this, as the future Alpha of this pack and my son, but you aren't. The only thing that exists in your mind is how to get laid. I have my motives for telling you to accept her as your mate, in case you haven't noticed, you fool."

His motives? What on earth is he on about?

Landon's flare-up interrupts my thoughts. "Oh, yes? So spill the beans because I am completely unconvinced and angry with you."

"Open your brain and ears to the story I'm about to tell you, and so help me if you fucking misbehave again.” Alpha Hunt sighs, clearing his throat.

What on earth is Alpha Hunt talking about? I lean in closer. A chill runs down my spine, and the horrible feeling from earlier returns.

"When I discovered Azalea nineteen years ago, she was just a baby wrapped in a thick fur blanket, with the body of a pale woman lying next to her. A locket on a silver chain was in her death grip. I moved in closer and picked up the locket... it appeared to be quite expensive, and underneath it were the initials, K.S.”

I take a breather. This tale was never conveyed to me by Alpha Hunt. If I ask him about my childhood, he tells me I am the sole survivor of a rogue attack on my clan. This story has been fed to my ears for years, so what the heck am I hearing now?

"You know what 'K.S' stands for?" Alpha Hunt goes on. "This is King Silverman. That meant the woman on the floor was the supposed new Luna of the Alpha king, Queen Jade, and the baby was the new pup everyone in the realm was talking about. I opened the locket to confirm my suspicions, and there was a picture of the King standing lovingly with his wife, who was holding a newborn in her arms. Behind the image was a small note that read, 'property of Azalea Silverman.' So now you have it, Azalea Silverman is that Alpha king's daughter." I slump backward as he finishes, and the room falls silent.

To say I'm surprised is an understatement. This astounding discovery has left me stunned and speechless. I was born into royalty? I am not a weak wolf or Omega, as I've been led to think for years. My father is a powerful Alpha king, and my mother is no longer alive. I can't believe what I'm hearing.

"Rumors of an assassination attempt on King Silverman drove him to flee for his life. He most likely sent his wife and child to flee, but she did not survive. Some think he's dead, while others think he's still alive. The council, as a major party, has refused to hold an election for a new monarch, and the Alphas of various packs are not happy with this. As a result, whoever discovers ruler Silverman's lost ring, which serves as the royal seal, will be anointed the Alpha ruler of all the werewolf territories."

I can hear Landon's skeptical scoff. "And where are you going with this? I do not understand this story."

Alpha Hunt growls again fiercely, pounding his massive hand against the table. "I told you to open your brain and ears; don't get me any angrier than I am. Can't you see the connection between two and two? If Azalea is truly King Silverman's daughter, it implies that I can use her connection to his blood to find the King. If I can track him down, I'll murder them both, seize the ring, and become the Alpha king. We'd be unstoppable and the most powerful wolves in the area. Do you not get this, Landon?"

His confession nearly causes my heart to burst. Alpha Hunt isn't being friendly to me because he has a good heart or is a fair man. No! He's using me because he has dark motives. I am only a pawn in his quest to become the most potent Alpha King in the entire werewolf community. Oh my goodness, I’ve been so foolish.

How could I have been so naive?

Landon's defeated sigh fills the room, startling me from my reverie. "So you want me to pretend to be in love with her while you put your plan into action?"

"Yes!" Alpha Hunt half yells. “You're now using your nuggets. Consider yourself a man, son. That's the essence." His tone reflects his satisfaction.

"And how long do you plan on this charade going on, huh?"

"Long enough till she helps find her father." Alpha Hunt reacts. "Then we can dispose her as quickly as we found her."

Damn! I am foolish, and while I listen to their ongoing discourse, my heartbeat thumps violently. My eyes well up with tears as I wait for Landon to say anything.

I hear him sigh again, and he says. "Fine. Fine. I'll do it."

As Landon delivers his decision, my jaw hangs wide, and the worst of my fear returns.

They're going to murder me...Alpha Hunt will kill me and my father if they find him alive. I can't believe that all these years of him being good to me were a ruse. I am nothing to him. I'm just a ticket to power.

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I sniff and start running to my room, not stopping until I'm safe inside. As I shut the door, I drop to the ground.

What is going on with me? What have I done to deserve all of this? They don't want me to be here... I'm not supposed to be here. So, with all of this knowledge, what is the point of remaining in this hell?

As a notion crosses my thoughts, I sniffle, wiping the tears that have stained my cheeks.

If they believe I'm a moron, they are mistaken. I will show Alpha Hunt that Azalea Silverman is more than meets the eye. I'm going to stomp on his cruel scheme and completely demolish it. I'm not going to let him use me the way he wants. He will not see my father, and he will not have me.

So, with this resolution in mind, I get myself up off the floor, straighten for a few moments, and smirk at my unexpected decision.

I'm going to look for my father. I'm unsure where or how I'll look for him, but I won't sit back and let these people decide my fate. Our fate. I'll go to the ends of the planet if necessary, but there's one thing I must do first.

Run! I have to Run!