My Alpha’s Betrayal: Burning In The Flames Of His Vengeance

| had barely slept all night. The morning came, and two omegas were awaiting to take my measurements for a gown. “Colour, miss?” Odessa asked. 1 “Neckline, miss?” Leonora added.

“Letsee what there is, and then givethe options on which can be most easily adjusted on such short notice.” | said, looking over at Charlene, who was looking through the gowns.

| hadn't gotten to talk to her about what Theon had told me.

“Yileyna, | think you should wear silver.” Charlene added suddenly. | nodded and the two women rushed to bring every silver gown they had brought with them. “As commanded, we went to every designer in the city and asked for their best.” Odessa stated.

When | had been asked this morning, all | had said was to not exclude fae designers.

“These all can be adjusted to your size madam.” Leonora added.

| looked at the gowns, although all my mind could focus on was how | would approach the topic with the king. | was lucky enough that he himself wanted a word before the ball in the evening “These two... One forone for Charlene. Charlene choose first.” | stated.

“They are meant for you, you're the one to who this night belongs to. | will go for this satin gown.” Charlene said, shaking her head as she held up a pink gown.

“Since when have we ever thought so hard? | was all dolled up on your night, Charlene.” | reminded her.

“A night | didn’t want.” She whispered. “And this is a night | want? These two.” | said firmly, making Charlene sigh and smile in defeat, givinga nod.

“I haven't worn anything from Fae designers... are you sure it's ok?” She asked hesitantly.

“Yes, the princess is correct... Perhaps designs from our own people for a special ball.” They didn’t know what it was regarding yet, otherwise, | knew they wouldn't speak up to me.

“The fae are part of our kingdom, why can’t we wear their designs? They are our people too. Come, this will be the start of our statement as a kingdom that respects all its people.” Charlene smiled and nodded, picking up one of the two dresses. “I'll wear this one, you can wear silver. Frankly, I'm bored of being expecting to wear grey and silver all the time.” We both laughed, she was right, growing up she often had to wear the pack colour, something she got fed up with, being a girl who loved her summery colours. My laughter faded, that swave of guilt washing through me. This should have been hers...

| hid my thoughts as Odessa discussed jewels and hair. Leonora had taken our measurements before taking the dresses and leaving. | was relieved being free from it all. | glanced at the time, it was almost tto go see the king... “Is there something important you want to discuss with Dad?” Charlene asked quietly. . “Kind of...” | said glancing at Odessa, Charlene gave a small knowing nod. “Have you spoken to your mother?” She frowned, shaking her head.

“No... I'm not ready to talk yet.” She said forlornly, | gave her a comforting hug. “Take your time. I'm going to leave, wishluck!” “Good luck to you both!” Charlene giggled as | left the room. | glanced towards the queen’s room, seeing the two guards that stood outside her door. The king hadn't decided what to do with her...

When | had left the bathroom at night after showering, the queen was in her room and two royal guards had been standing outside her door, but the king had vanished.

The fact that Gamma Grayson was her fated mate... and she had used an enchantment to hide that... She had planned it from the start. It was appalling, to say the least. Was that why she had miscarried two pups? Because she was not built to carry an Alpha heir? Those Alphas who didn’t find their true mates, often mated with Alpha- blooded females, so they could bear their heirs.

Lost in my own thoughts, | found myself outside the king's office. Taking a deep breath, | knocked on the door.

The two guards watcheduntil the king called forto enter, and | stepped inside. His office was messier than usual, as if he had been searching for something.

“Ah, Yileyna.” “You wanted to talk to me?” | asked, glancing around at the books and scrolls that were now scattered everywhere. 1 He nodded, brushing his long hair back. “Yes, close the door and take a seat.” He commanded. | shut the door and walked over to his desk, taking a seat as | watched him clear the shelf. He sighed in frustration and turned toward me. “As you know, tonight | am announcing you as my heir, There are alphas invited and many more, with Charlene being born and raised as an alpha’s daughter she knew what to expect. She has training you do not. Stay close and avoid conversation with anyone.” “Why?” | asked. | know Charlene was usually with her parents during these events, but she preferred it that way. “They will grill you on your knowledge of the kingdom. Expect to see what makes you good enough as Alpha. You don’t even have a wolf.” He remindedwith a once over, as if he was second-guessing his decision.

| frowned. My father always toldto be confident... | would do as | deem fit, I’ve always talked to visitors at these events. Why would | change that now? “Good.” He said, taking my silence as obedience. “Now, | know you and Theon are in a relationship anyway, so | will also announce your engagement tonight. As future alpha you have a reputation, you shouldn't be seen with young men when they are not your mates.” I almost smirked.

Yet it was ok to have secret affairs...

“I don’t wish to get engaged to Theon, he was happy to leavethe moment the Alpha position was offered to him, I will not marry him. If you want a man by my side, I'm sure you have others who could be potential suitors, anyone but him.” | said coldly.

His treatment still stung...

The king let out a frustrated growl.

“You are a disobedient one. William always said you were a spark.” | smiled softly at the mention of Dad. “I always have been, Dad said never to change.” | responded softly, trying to hide the emotions from my voice. “Theon is not to blame, | know you hold a grudge against him. However, | may or may not have indirectly warned Theon to stay away from you, or | would make sure you were gone...” He said curtly, turning back to his shelf. 1 | frowned as | stared at his back, my heart thundering.

“Excuse me?” “I wanted him for Charlene, and you were a thorn in my side, one | did not need. He was more concerned about you than he admitted, even making sure | paid you for your trip abroad. | told him | would make you an Epsilon rank guard. That would give you the respect and security you needed, and so he agreed. It is obvious that you are rather popular among the young men...” He gavea side-eyed frown. “But Theon is ideal for this position.” Theon... the man | loved for so long... the chance to have him as my mate was once something | would have only ever dreamt of... But after everything, | was scared, scared to let him in only for him to break my heart once again.

The king had threatened him... My mind was split, between that small part ofsaying to give him a chance, to the larger part ofnot wanting him or any man, not as my mate anyway. 1 “You need not mark yet, if it helps, take your time. However, if the kingdom knows you have a man by your side, you will be secure.” | highly doubted that...

| looked at the king sharply. This was my chance... He was occupied with rummaging through a small metal chest on the shelf.

“Fine. | will agree to get engaged to Theon on one condition.” | said, knowing that | was already boxed into a corner.

“What is it?” The king's irritation was clear on his face.

“I want to know the truth, the real truth of what happened between two friends. Andres Aphelion and Theoden Hale. How did conquering a kingdom side by side as two united Packs change to becoming enemies?” | had mulled over my words carefully, and | was now watching the king sharply. He almost dropped the box, his heart racing as he turned towith his eyes blazing. “Where did you hear that?” He hissed, and to my surprise, his canines were out.

“In Bellmead, it was the talk in the tavern when | said | was from Astalion.” | lied smoothly.

My words didn’t quell the king's anger, and he slammed his hand into the shelf.

“He is spreading lies...” He spat venomously. “What exactly did you hear?” | frowned slightly, repeating most of what Theon had told me.

There were moments | saw the guilt in his eyes, and others when there was outrage.

“I only turned on him because | knew him well enough! He was always power-hungry; it was obvious he would have ousted me.” He spat.

| frowned as | looked at him. “If that was the case, then why did he protect you during battle?” | asked.

ITE “| protected Nathalia! His woman! Did he forget to tell the world that?!” He spat angrily, before looking atsuspiciously.

| knew that there wasn’t much more I could say without it sounding like a blatant accusation, and | frowned.

Who exactly was right? “May | ask who told you that he was going to overturn you?” | asked the king, whose anger was rising. “Do not pry in what you know nothing of! | am the king, | claimed these lands! Where is he if he helped? | will destroy these lands before | ever let him set foot here!” I flinched as he slammed his fist into the table beside me.

He growled dangerously as the table shattered, | did my all not to cower under his aura. “I am king. Remember that.” He hissed, grabbing my arm. “You may be the heart of Kaeladia, but you are just a pawn, a woman can be nothing more than one to stand by the side of her man. Theon will be king!” So the issue was never Charlene, but the fact he wanted a man to rule... | didn’t bat an eyelid. No matter how much his aura was willingto yield, | fought against it. A flash of lightning filled the sky, striking the window. | didn’t flinch even when glass shot everywhere, making the king jump back “Control your anger.” He growled. “Likewise, my king.” | said, standing up as | glanced at the broken table pointedly.

Our eyes met, grey against grey, and | realised that perhaps there really was a better solution to this fight than to send our people to their deaths... | needed to find that solution, it’s what Dad would have wantedto do...

He always believed in peace...

“If we are done, | will be going.” | said coldly. | will work night and day until | becstronger, for my people. | didn’t wait for a reply, turning and storming to the door. Let the kingdom know | am the heir, that alone would bring power. | would spend the night talking to our allies, and | would derive a plan for the betterment of everyone...

| still couldn't shake off the random thought I'd had of Theon either... but that was just ridiculous. | pushed the thought away, focusing on what was important; to figure out a way to reach out to the Obsidian Shadow pack Alpha... 6||