CHAPTER 4

SCARLET'S POV

Jasper walked into the room, draped in a mourning attire. 

“Jasper, what's going on? What's with the attire?” I asked softly. 

Jasper dropped his eyes to the marble floor, his voice shaking as he spoke. “The Alpha is dead.”

The book in my hand dropped to the floor. “What do you mean?”

He blurted out with his fists to his sides. “Alpha Kaiden is dead. We found him a few hours ago. The physician confirmed it. I'm sorry, Scarlet, but he's gone.”

I shook my head, refusing to believe what he had just said. “Is this some kind of joke? Kaiden just returned yesterday. How could he - ” 

“The news about his death is spreading –”

Before he could complete his sentence, I bolted downstairs. 

“No…no… no, this can't be happening,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. 

I arrived at the bottom of the stairs, my eyes scanning the bustling pack hall, searching for any sign of Kaiden. Surely, this must be a prank. He can't be gone. It's impossible.

My fears were confirmed when I caught snippets of hushed conversations :

“...found him this morning.”

“...he wasn't breathing.”

“...Alpha Kaiden's gone.”

“...Just 100 days after getting married.”

“...suspicious.”

 

My stomach twisted. Kaiden? Gone? It couldn't be.

I spun around, seeking confirmation. The room seemed to spin with me. Faces blurred, whispers merging into a cacophony.

A gentle hand grabbed my elbow. It was Isabella, my step sister. 

Her concerned voice cut through the din. “Selena, I'm so sorry. I just heard.” 

My lips trembled. “What… what happened?” 

She replied softly, letting go of me. “They found him dead in his chambers. No one knows how or why it happened. I'm so sorry, Selena.” 

I collapsed to my knees, unable to comprehend the cruelty of it all. 

Was I cursed? 

“She's cursed.” A female voice hissed behind me.

Another voice echoed. “How can the Alpha die 100 days after choosing his mate?” 

“She must have killed him.” 

I looked at the people staring disgustedly at me. They were the same people that welcomed me with a smile, the same people who gave me flowers and called me the “chosen mate,” the same people who gathered under the moonlight for me and Kaiden! 

How could they so easily turn their backs on me? 

How could they? 

Tears filled my eyes and I hugged myself, releasing the scream I had held back in a while.

The news of Kaiden's death spread throughout the kingdom like wildfire. 

Within 24 hours, I received condolence letters and visits from several Alphas, especially Kaiden's allies. And just like I received sympathies, I equally received a siren song - a warning from the enemy packs. They were specific in their threats. 

“We are coming for the throne and you better be ready, Queen!”

There was a wave of unrest among the pack members and the council elders were not left out in the fair share of panic.

 

I heard they held a meeting in the Council Hall. No one told me anything being discussed and I stayed locked up in my room, wondering about my fate and that of the pack. 

AUTHOR'S POV

“A woman will not rule over us!” Eric barked angrily.

“That wench has killed her husband and now, she wants the throne? They will not happen. Not when I am an elder in the BloodMoon pack.” Alan supported Eric's submission.

Jasper shook his head, refusing to concur with their views. “Scarlet is the true Luna. She deserves the throne.” 

 

“That wench will not sit on the BloodMoon throne!”

“And who will? You?”

The hall was plunged into complete silence by the echo of Jasper's roar. 

“Scarlet will be dethroned, Jasper.” Eric's eyes went dark. “And you better not stop us. We will elect our own Alpha as king.”

“This isn't right! You're betraying Kaiden!” Jasper yeller as the guards came over to hurl him out of the room.

A smirk graced Alan’s thin lips. “Betray Kaiden? We were never loyal to him in the first place.” 

After he was tossed out of the room, Jasper made a beeline for Scarlet's chambers.

He pushed open the double doors without knocking. 

“Scarlet, you've gotta get out of here.” he said.

Scarlet whipped around to face him. Her eyes were bloodshot as though she had been crying. 

“Is something wrong?” she asked with furrowed brows and quiet sniffles. 

“Yes. The council is against you. You and your family aren't safe here.” Jasper shut the door behind him and stepped in further into the room.

Isabella exploded into laughter. “What? Seriously?”

“This isn't a game, Bella!” Jasper raised his voice and she praised her lips.

Scarlet slumped into the couch and sobbed into the palm of her hand. 

“I'm sorry. I just don't understand how things would go like this. Kaiden's death was just too sudden –” Jasper rakes his hands through his disheveled hair and kisses the skin between his teeth.

He went on as Scarlet sobbed quietly. “The pack’s council wants to elect a new Alpha and he won't rise to the throne without wiping out your bloodline.”

“They can't do that to us! We did nothing wrong!” Isabella threw her hands in midair.

Scarlet peeled her hands off her face. “They want a new Alpha…”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Jasper whispered softly.

Her eyes dropped to the floor, the tears streaming down her cheeks silently. “Then I have no choice.” 

“No choice but to do what?” Isabella turned to her sister with squinted eyes.

“Bring back an ancient tradition.” Scarlet wiped her face with the heel of her hands. 

“That's insane and you know it!” Jasper blurted out in shock. 

“Yeah. He's right,” Isabella agreed with him. “That tradition has been in practice for a long time. It's practically forbidden. What are you planning?”

Scarlet held her head high. “The Council chose their own Alpha. I'll have to choose mine.”

Jasper’s eyes darkened. “You want to elect one of your late husband's brothers as the Alpha? What the hell are you thinking, Scarlet?!” 

Scarlet yelled back with tears pooling at the end of her eyes. “What do you want me to do, Jasper? Sit still and watch the council kill me and my family? No. This is the only way and you know it!” 

Jasper countered her statement. “Kaiden's brothers are crazy! I would advise against your plan. We need to find another way.”

“There's no other way,” Scarlet balled both her hands in a fist. “I'll deal with this one way or another.”

“It's a game of chess, Scarlet. You'll choose between being killed or being the killer.”

Scarlet replied. “Well, It's a good game. I'd rather be the killer.”