Chapter 2 - The Competition Schemed By The Alpha King

Suddenly, the hushes and murmurs come to a halt when the lead guard of the Alpha King announces his arrival. The arrival of the Alpha King drew  Zainah’s attention. His every stride into the hall is marked by an aura of command; his elegant and strong presence leaves the spectators around mute, their eyes fixed in awe.

The Alpha Kin, who just recently inherit his throne from his old father, is hard to see lingering around. He is young, maybe in his early twenties, with piercing eyes and a regal bearing.

 Zainah felt a strange pull towards him, an inexplicable connection that made her breath catch in her throat. A scent akin to a mixture of citrus and wood penetrates her nostrils. “Such a unique scent”, she thought.

 As the Alpha King’s gaze landed on her, Zainah felt a jolt of electricity surge through her veins. His eyes widen almost imperceptibly, then her forehead furrows. She could sense his surprise at first and then maybe … confusion? The air around them seems to crackle with unspoken queries.

 "The Gizli Princess," the Alpha King said, his voice deep and resonant. "A pleasure to finally see you."

 Zainah inclines her head, her voice barely a whisper. "The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty."

 That kind of moment lingers, thick with unspoken words. Zainah could feel the weight of his gaze, the intensity of his presence. But then, a flicker of conflict crosses his face, a shadow that seems to dim the light in his eyes.  

 The Alpha King shakes his head in an attempt to wiggle anything that made him uneasy. He then continues, his tone shifting, "I find myself unable to make a choice tonight. The decision of a groom for the Gizli Princess is not one to be taken lightly."

 A collective murmur ripples through the hall. Zainah’s heart sank, yet thereafter she felt a sudden relief. She will still be free from the bondage of marriage, while the Alpha King cannot choose a groom for her tonight. She smiles secretly, her heart seems to dance with gratefulness, while her wolf inside cries out, “Mate, he is our mate!”

 A gasp escapes Zainah’s lips. “You might be mistaken Zanai or hallucinating. How could it be?” she reprimands her wolf and tells her to shut her ambitious mind. Zanai persists, but Zainah shuts off the link of communication between them.

 "Therefore," the Alpha King announces, "I propose a month’s courtship competition. Let the ten candidate Alphas present themselves and their worth. At the end of the week, the Gizli Princess shall choose her groom."

  Mentally, Zainah once again praises the Moon Goddess. She will still be a free woman for a week? But, thinking about a week of scrutiny, of forced interactions, and of playing a game with men that she didn’t understand, her nose almost crinkles.

 "The competition will begin at dawn," the Alpha King declares. "May the best Alpha win."

 With that, he turns and strides out of the hall, leaving Princess Zainah standing alone on the platform, feeling the weight of her destiny suddenly pressing down on her.

 The next morning, the castle grounds were transformed into a stage for the courtship competition. Elaborate displays of power, wealth, and skills are shown, each Alpha vying for the Gizli Princess’s attention. There are demonstrations of strength, displays of magical prowess, and extravagant gifts presented at her feet.

 Zainah moves through the spectacle like a ghost, her heart heavy with dread. She is like a prize to be won, a trophy to be displayed. None of these Alphas seems to see her, the person beneath the title, the woman with her own hopes and dreams.

 "My Gizli Princess," Alpha Brandy booms, his voice cutting through the noise. He is a hulking figure, his muscles bulging beneath his tunic. "Allow me to demonstrate my strength. I have single-handedly defeated a rogue tiger, and I present its head as a token of my esteem."

 She forces a smile. "Thank you, Alpha Brandy. It’s… impressive."

 "Impressive is just the beginning," he chuckles, flexing his biceps. "With me as your groom, you’ll never have to fear for your safety."

 Zainah nods; she wants to sigh to display her dissatisfaction, but she controls herself. Safety is not what she craved. She longed for connection, for understanding, for someone who saw her beyond her title and beauty. She longed for that mate pull that would make her heart dribble with nervousness, yet with excitement.

 As the day wore on, the actions of the ten Alphas became more elaborate, more desperate. Alpha Caeruz of Moonshine Pack, the tallest among the  Alphas, with a height of six feet and seven inches, presents to her a rare enchanted rose that he claims to have found on Mount Everest, the highest Mountain in the land.

The Alpha of Golden Bridge Pack, Alpha Daniez, a true-blooded musical artist, serenades her with a haunting melody being played on his golden flute.

Alpha Darius of High Hill Pack, a romantic man of well-built body, and genius-looking face because of his black-rimmed eyeglasses, recites different love poems that he proudly announces as his own creations, and Alpha Senon of Dark Clouds Pack, a witty, handsome man, displays some magics, in a funny yet convincing antics.

 Zainah appreciated their display of talents and gestures, but none of them touched her heart. She felt like an actress in a play, going through the motions but never truly connecting with the script.

 Just as she is about to retreat to her room, a commotion at the entrance to the grounds catches her attention. A hush fell over the crowd as a lone figure approached, his presence radiating an aura of mystery and power.

 He is tall and lean, his movements fluid and graceful. A long cloak conceals his body, and a black mask covers the upper half of his face,  obscuring his whole features. Zainah could feel the intensity of his gaze; his eyes seemed to be penetrating her soul.

 "Who is that?" she whispers to her Nanny Melby, who is standing beside her.

 "I don’t know, Princess," her Nanny replies, her voice trembles with doubt. "I’ve never seen him before."

 The masked Alpha stops before the Gizli Princess, his presence commanding the attention of everyone on the ground. He bows his head slightly, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down her spine.

 "My Gizli Princess," he said, "I am Alpha Zay of Bloodbath Pack, and I have come to compete for your hand in marriage."

 She gasps as her right hand lands on her bosom. She could feel its beat double in intensity as her nose was being wafted with that scent that seemed familiar.

 A collective gasp swept through the crowd. Alpha Zay? No one had ever heard of him, nor his pack. Where did he really come from?