Chains of Betrayal

Chapter NINE: The Meeting

Mals POV

"With the power as king of the Alphas, I celebrate the start of the FEAST!" My dad began his speech, everyone cheered, and the fires he had set to go off when he spoke hit their cue. I rolled my eyes, not caring about the theatrics, and only could focus on the pull back to my mates. Mates? Huh came off more straightforward than I thought. I waved and smiled at everyone like a good little princess, then I turned and went to walk off the stage.

As I caught the steps, my father gripped me by my upper arm, causing a slight whimper to fall from my lips. The grip wasn't light; it was bruising even as he smiled and waved to everyone as we walked inside. When we got inside the door and out of everyone's sight, my dad did what I didn't think he would do just before we met with my mates.

He let his left hand fly free slapping my across the face. The power and strength behind it bruised my face and split my lip. Then threw me up against the wall and grabbed me by my face with one hand. The grip was firm, and I felt his aura slip out.
"Are you tricking us? Did you plan this to make a pack with one of your 'mates' and then the other one your real one? If this is some game Maleri" "Mal," I cut him off; my anger seethed from my insides despite being smothered from his aura.

How could he think I was lying? *smack* I grabbed my face where he came in contact—now looking to the ground, the taste of blood from the inside of my cheek light cut, allowing the blood to drain. I grounded my teeth as I looked back up to him, not meeting his eyes not to upset him more. "No, alpha, this isn't a trick. I don't know why the moon goddess would do this but doesn't this Benefit mother and you? Now you have two alphas with lands to choose from."

I felt him stand up and away from me as he thought, then he grabbed me again, pulling me into the study, this time more gentle. I know instinctively it was because he didn't want the two alphas inside to get mad from any harm to me. The cut in my cheek healed, the split lip almost and no bruise was left to show his abuse thanks to my wolf healing powers. As we stepped inside, I felt the heavy auras in the room and the overwhelming scents. It made me dizzy and almost sick from how potent they were.

My father released me and walked to his desk, sitting behind it. My mother followed and stood attentively behind him, one hand on the back of his chair, the other motioning the three of us to sit in front of them. I felt like we were getting scolded at school by the principal. We all obliged. I was sitting in the middle between alpha Liam on my left after pulling a chair from the wall and alpha Sylus to my right. We sat still for what seemed like forever before my father spoke.

"This is a very unusual occurrence; it hasn't been heard of for she-wolf to have multiple mates."

He paused again while he tapped the desk with his pointer finger.

"I feel we have no choice but to honor the goddess in her choosing; it appears she knows something we do not. Alpha Liam Alpha Sylus, if I remember correctly, your lands but up to each other correct? And there is a mansion on the border of Sylus's land near your land Liam. I know it has been abandoned since the ban on witches and wizards from our packs, but I feel that can be changed quickly, and then you three, will be able to control the packs with ease as Maleri as your Lunas."

Alpha Liam stood from his chair with a growl that vibrated my chest. "Alpha king, sir you can't expect us to share! What about our heirs I refused to allow him to bed her!" Alpha Liam shook with anger. "We already agreed before I even found her to be my mate that I would make her my Luna! Now you want us to share."
Alpha Sylus stayed seated and looked at Liam with a calm reaction. "Liam the king has spoken as much as sharing her with you seems like a total drag we should respect his decision." Sylus turned to the king. "My king, I can have the mansion cleaned but the morning, and we can reside there as the renovations take pla-"
"NO!" Alpha Liam's voice rang out, making me sit up straighter. The anger coming from him chilled me to my bones. "She will come home with me and me only."
"Now, now, alphas, don't lose your head and go challenging one another over the princess. I have already spoken Liam, and what I say will happen. I will also be visiting bi-weekly to see my daughter and check your process in the mating bonds. No marking shall be done until the queen and I have fully decided if you both are worthy of being her mate."

I jumped up this time, tired of them all talking about me as if I wasn't here. "Who said I even wanted two mates! I didn't even want an alpha mate. I don't want any of this, yet none of you ask! I am sitting right here. I should be addressed when discussing my future and what will happen." My aura slipped in my anger and frustration; my father glared at me; my aura wasn't that strong. I don't know if it was that I had just gotten my wolf or if it wasn't strong, but it didn't seem as though anyone was affected by it.

The room turned cold as my father slowly stood, my mother even back up, but her face never changed. My anger fled and turned to fear as he placed his hands on his desk, eyes glued to me. "Maleri ivy-rose brooks, you know your place in this kingdom and your duties that follow that. If you are unwilling to comply, you have limited reasons to remain alive. As the princess, you will listen to your king and sit. You are to be seen, not heard. His voice was deep yet steady. It never rose to a yell which made my skin crawl. Was he really threatening my life over these 'mates'? He didn't even know them, and I was his daughter! His aura was out and sting; it made me and my wolf whimper lightly as we sat down in our chair, his command making us mute the rest of the meeting. I felt both the alphas next to me shift in their seats, my father's aura also taking a toll on them. After that, all I could hear was their plans that I would be taken to the old mansion on the border of both their lands when we woke. No one argued from there on out, and it ended in what felt like seconds after I was told to no longer speak. My heart felt a pang of disbelief and hurt.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when my mother touched my shoulder. "Maleri, let's go; we will have the maids pack your clothes and essentials while you try to sleep. Your father wants you gone before he wakes" I nodded and stood following her to my quarters. My eyes stung with the threat of tears. I had no say in this, and even though getting away from here and from my father was a good thing, I should be excited about moving to my mates. I couldn't be my heart sunk, and I just blinked back the tears. All I could do was push myself on. I walked into my room after I hugged my mother quickly. I shuffled over to my bed and crawled, not caring I was still in my makeup and dress. I could hear the maids trying to pack quietly. I closed my eyes and fought the tears, but they finally won. I cried until I was welcomed into a deep sleep.