In order to survive, Darius, the Alpha King, requires his mate. He will perish if he does not unite with her by the next full moon. After searching for days, Darius finally finds her but she is not who he thinks her to be.
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OPHELIA STOOD UP from the floor and shuffled closer to Samuel. She saw Darius frown at the action but didn't pay him any mind. He had lost the right to feel jealous.
"Alpha..." Samuel began but Darius raised his free hand, silencing him instantly.
"Stay in your lane, Captain!"
"What is that?" Ophelia asked, warily staring at the bracelet in his hand like it was going to explode in her face.
No one responded to her question and it scared her even more.
"Get away from me, Darius! I won't let you put whatever that thing is on me!" Ophelia declared, ready to set everything on fire if that's what it took to get him away.
"Hold her down!" Queen Mother Alice ordered some guards and they immediately rushed over to Ophelia.
"Let me handle this, Mother," Darius said and the guards went back to standing behind the Queen Mother.
"For the sake of whatever we had, please... Please don't do this, Darius. I don't want to hurt you," Ophelia pleaded.
"There is a lot you don't know about the mate bond, Ophelia. Your powers won't work on me," Darius responded, instantly dashing her hopes to the ground.
Ophelia tried to think of another way to get away from whatever it was that Darius planned to do to her but came up with nothing.
"Just give in, Luna, it will be better for you," Noriel said, and she turned to look at the so-called friend she thought she had.
In that moment of distraction, Darius took hold of her and in one swift movement, forced the bracelet onto her wrist.
Suddenly, it felt as though all the energy in her body was sucked into the bracelet. Her legs went weak and she fell to the floor, unable to hold her body up any longer.
She felt herself quickly losing consciousness. Darius leaned over her, staring down at her in what looked like concern but she knew she was just being deceived.
With teary eyes, she looked up at the person she intended to spend the rest of her life with. She was only able to utter one word before everything went black,
"Why?"
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A WORD HAD never sounded so powerful as the one his mate uttered before passing out. Her face showed distress even while she slept.
The single tear at the edge of her eyes broke his heart. Gently, the Alpha King wiped the tear that had already begun to roll down her cheek.
Darius would never be able to forget the betrayed look on Ophelia's face when she realised that he wasn't going to help her.
"Alpha, permit me to take the Luna to your chambers," the Earl Delta Captain requested, his concerned eyes were focused on his mate.
The Captain's concern for Ophelia didn't seat well with Darius but he knew that it was purely out of loyalty. Besides, after what he just did, Darius no longer had the right to feel jealous.
"As long as I'm still alive, there's no way I'll allow this vile woman to step her feet in the Orman wing. Confine her to the Delphi wing of the Royal Concubine until the birth of the Royal heir.
"She will receive the title of the Royal Concubine tomorrow. Regardless of what she is, my grandchild can't be born to an untitled female," the Queen Mother instructed.
"Now is not the time, Mother," the Alpha King said tiredly. His eyes never left his mate's face.
Alice came and stood beside her son. "Look, Darius, I'm doing this for your sake. I understand the mate bond makes you feel sorry for her despite what she is.
"However, the court would immediately sentence her to death the moment they learn about her, if they haven't already.
"The only way to save her for the sake of Hunter and your child, is to make her your Royal Concubine in name alone."
Darius sighed. This was more reason for Ophelia to hate him. Then he thought perhaps it was for the best. He couldn't be with her anymore so she was better off hating him. Maybe he could protect her better that way.
"Take her to Delphi and let her live there. Have the Royal treasurer provide whatever she might need and assign two maids to serve her.
"You will be in charge of her security and you can choose more Earl Deltas from your team," the Alpha King informed the Earl Delta Captain.
"Isn't that giving her more than she deserves?" The Queen Mother asked in obvious distaste.
"Come on, Mother, you know that even the least important Royal amongst us enjoys more benefits than what we are offering her.
"Regardless of whether she is favoured or not, the fact remains that she is now a Royal concubine," Darius responded, still not satisfied with the whole concubine idea.
"Fine, do as you please but always remember that her family is responsible for the great loss our family suffered decades ago," his mother reminded him, her voice projecting nothing but pain.
Pain that Darius could fully understand.
"I understand, Mother," Darius said and turned to the Earl Deltas. "Escort Her Majesty back to Windford."
As soon as the Queen left, the Duke Beta walked up to the Alpha King. "Aunt Alice is right, you know. You mustn't be too soft on her or the people might discredit you because of it.
"The most important thing right now is the court. We should call the court for a session sooner than later. They do deserve an explanation, after all."
Darius nodded in agreement. "You take care of sending out the memo. Also, on your way, tell the court attendant to prepare the edict for Delphi."
"Yes, Alpha." Noriel bowed and left.
When Darius bent down to pick Ophelia, Samuel spoke up.
"Alpha, I don't think Luna would appreciate you touching her in this state. Her body would recognise yours and it may not help her recovery."
At his words, the wall that separated the Alpha King from his wolf fell flat and an extremely jealous Hunter forcefully took over, as he growled loudly.
