The Alpha King Is Here

Nyx

She wore a sparkling white dress, eyes sparkling as she held two wine glasses.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you," she said, offering me a warm smile. "I'm Lilac, Draven's younger sister and the Alpha King's niece. I’m pleased to welcome you to the Iron Fang Pack. It is such an honor to finally meet the Blessed One."

My jaw clenched. Those words echoed the same as in my memories. In my past life, this exact attitude was what made me let down my guard.

Before I became this blessed one I was an orphan within the Blood Moon pack. My mother died during childbirth and my father, one of the few soldiers within the pack died far before she was born. Like other orphans I was raised within the Pack's Temples under old nuns, isolated from the world.

When I was discovered to have the mark, I hadn't had time to adjust before I was abruptly summoned, taken from everyone I knew.

Under the pressure and praise of the heavy title, I was desperate for connection in this unfamiliar pack. That was why when Lilac approached me back then with her warm demeanor, I was visibly elated, eager to have a friend.

The mockery on her face before my death flashed by and my gut clenched. Staring at her now, there laid only coldness.

"Thank you, Lilac," I said, keeping a polite, neutral expression unlike my joy in the past. "It's nice to meet you."

She didn't seem to notice and stepped closer, offering a glass.

"In that case, a toast is in order. Let me be the first." she smiled gently, "Don't worry, it's non-alcoholic. I know you must be tired from your long journey. I wouldn't want to offer you anything too strong."

The sight of the glass made my chest tighten.

Once, I'd eagerly taken Lilac's drink without a second thought. Not just hers, but those of all pack members who wanted to offer toasts to the Blessed One.

It was partly because I'd drank from so many different people, that during investigations, none could pinpoint a culprit. The drug could never be traced back to Lilac.

That was, in a sense, the advantage of their plan.

I didn't take it and for a split second, impatience flashed in her eyes before it quickly smoothed over.

‘She was nervous.’ I realised. She wanted me to take it.

I didn't want to. And yet…

I forced a smile and took the offered glass.

"Thank you." I said and her expression instantly brightened.

"To new beginnings." She raised her glass and determination filled me.

"To new beginnings," I echoed.

She drank hers and I did the same, sipping the cool wine.

When I looked back there was a gleam in her eyes that quickly disappeared.

"I am so glad you're here, Nyx," she said. "I know that coming here on your own must have been hard. You can come find me anytime you feel lonely. I would love to be your friend. Oh! And I think you'd move to meet my brother Draven. He's asked about you recently and I think you two would really get along."

She winked playfully and disgust roiled in me. Still, I nodded silently, maintaining my polite smile. She accepted it without a second thought.

"It was nice speaking to you. Fortunately we'd have more time to talk later. I have to go. Please, enjoy the party." She bid farewell. I remained silent as she turned away without a second thought into the crowd.

The moment I was sure she was gone I let my smile fall. Keeping my cool, I moved until I was hidden under a decorative pillar before spitting out the drugged wine, which I'd withheld without swallowing, onto a potted plant.

If I'd refused it, it would have caused more problems. She'd watched me take it, but not whether I'd swallowed it.

My chest heaved as I wiped my mouth in disgust before tossing the rest of the drink away. As the drink emptied, so did a weight in my chest.

In this life, I was no one's puppet.

I returned back to my position minutes later. Just like before, several pack members came over to toast me, offering words of respect. I smiled and exchanged pleasantries, accepting their toasts without a second thought. I had nothing to worry about this time.

As time passed, I felt a heavy gaze on me. My gaze shifted towards the direction to find Lilac standing afar, seemingly talking to a guard but I knew better.

She was watching me, waiting for the drug to take effect.

I waited for several minutes before my eyes fluttered shut as if a sudden wave of dizziness had hit me.

"Miss Rivers?” As those on cue, a servant appeared at my side, "Are you alright? You look very pale."

I looked at the person and immediately recognised her. Bertha, the same servant that Lilac later offered to me as a personal maid. She must have been, even in my hazy memories, the same person that had led me away in my past life.

So even that had been orchestrated.

"I... I feel very dizzy," I slurred, leaning against the wall to make it look convincing. "My head…is spinning..."

"Oh dear," she said, reaching out to support my elbow. "Please, allow me to escort you back to your room so you can rest."

My gut clenched in disgust but I nodded.

"Thank you..." I whispered, leaning against the woman. "Please... lead the way."

I let her guide me out of the loud, brightly lit ballroom and into the long corridors of the pack house. I stumbled with every few steps to make it believable and could feel the ease of the servant, no doubt assured that nothing would go wrong.

Little did she know.

Following the path, I saw that she was heading towards the East Wing, towards Draven's room and not the guest room as she claimed.

Rage flared, but I forced myself to stay patient.

In my past life, I knew nothing about this pack house but now I had the experience of living in this place for a year. I knew the path like the back of my hand.

Which would make my escape easy.

Just a little further...

As we reached the corridor I was anticipating, I doubled over and retched.

"I... I think I'm going to throw up!" I gasped, staggering backward. The maid panicked, immediately letting me go.

"Wait. Miss Rivers! Not here—"

Before she could finish, I bolted through the side corridor.

"Miss Rivers! Stop!" the servant yelled, "Come back! You're going the wrong way!"

I ignored his calls. My heart hammered from the thrill of escape, but I knew it wasn't over. Not yet.

I turned around another corner, taking a staircase that led upwards to the Pack House. Behind me, the frantic footsteps of the servant and now a guard echoed.

They were chasing after me.

Panic twisted. The guest rooms were too far away, and they would easily catch me in the open hallway.

I needed to hide. Fast.

Turning towards another corner. I reached for the first door I saw and slipped inside before shutting it.

My heart hammered in the silence. I leaned my back against the door and let out a breath.

I made it. I escaped their trap.

Relief flooded me like in waves. The event that changed the trajectory of my life had been avoided. I wasn't safe yet, but this?

This was a start.

It took a few more seconds to calm down before I opened my eyes and looked around. The sight made me stop in my tracks.

I was familiar enough with the rooms in the Pack House, after being moved from guest rooms to my own private room after marriage and seeing Draven and Lilac's rooms. This room trumped all of those.

The place was massive and luxurious. Golden light flickered from a grand fireplace, casting long shadows across rich dark-wood furniture and massive bookshelves that lined the walls.

Where was I?

I sniffed at the air lightly trying to place the scent. The air was thick with the scent of cedarwood and fresh rain. Strangely soothing, but not overly familiar.

‘No.’ I thought with a chill, ‘I knew this room.’

My memory of this place was little, but there was only one room that could trump all others.

This was, without a doubt, the room of Lucien Thorne, the Alpha King.

Panic surged through me. Lucien was a distant figure, but an intimidating one. As Draven's uncle, he'd been ruling for the past 15 years since he was 17, known to be cold and powerful until his sudden death in my past life.

What would happen if he saw me here?

"Calm down," I whispered, shutting my eyes.

I was overthinking things. The Alpha King was also at the Welcoming party with others and wouldn't return for hours.

In a way, this was perfect. They could search everywhere else for me but nobody would dare to search the Alpha King's room.

Taking a deep breath rested my head against the door and closed my eyes.

I just had to wait for some time. Maybe a half an hour. By then, they would have given up searching and the party would still be going on. Then I could return to my room safely.

It was foolproof. Nobody would know. After all, it wasn't like I could get caught—

"Who are you?"