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CHAPTER 7

Danika

The Alpha King just called me his. His words drummed in my ears as I struggled to recover from the initial shock of everything that just transpired.

"I said who did this to her?" His voice roared around the arena as he veered around, his gait and Alpha aura taming every other wolf around.

I could literally feel his stifling dominant aura myself but wasn't affected much by it, maybe because of my powers mixed with what I'm still struggling to take in; he is my second-fated mate.

But how is that possible? My thoughts strayed from my immediate environment, wild reflections cascading at once.

Around us, no one spoke but from their facial expressions and body movements I could tell they were very scared, even our almighty Alpha Derrick.

My eyes trailed to my Dad, he was trembling by the corner close to my sister who as usual was trying to remain as vain as she can manage in the trying moment.

I was still observing the dumbfounding scenario frailly when the Alpha King's eyes snapped to me at once, making me cower as I looked down my feet. Yet my body still quivered with the intensity of his perusal. Then to worsen my case, he stalked closer to me like a precise predator and stopped a foot from me, his lower body moving as he raised a finger up slowly to my face, but stopped midway as if realizing his action.

Instead of doing whatever he had in mind initially, his finger found my chin and tipped my face up to meet his mesmerizing blue eyes. My Adam's apple bobbed breathlessly as I gulped down not so mildly in fear mixed with something else I couldn't decipher.

This man is a sin, and he knows it.

"Who did this to you?" He demanded hoarsely, his eyes not relenting from mine. Five words. Enormous consequences. I persistently gazed at him in lack of words.

What am I expected to say? Oh, my family and pack members hate me so much that they get happiness from beating me up. Or better still... oh, my father and my sister detest me passionately, that my death would be the only thing that would appease them, and maybe give them the justice they deserve for me being the reason my mother is six feet. Is that it?

I went ahead to shake my head at him, pleading with him with my eyes not to make me say it. I really pray right now that the mate bond works so he could read my mind and not make me the one that would call the boot on my tormentors, despite them deserving it. I am not like them.

His chest was heaving heavily, and his face was morphed into untold rage. I was alarmed beyond words because I never believed anyone would stand up this way for me in this life or next for that matter. Maybe I'm dreaming.

Seeing that I wasn't coming forth with any tangible answer, his raging eyes traveled through my face- still arching from his hard grasp-and then like a stung buffalo, he huffed loudly and in a flash ripped away from me to face the others.

Now I know why they call him ruthless.

I took my time to recoup after our encounter and what I felt from that touch, my body still trembling from his closeness and touch.

"Derrick, I don't have the entire day to waste in this pack. So I'm going to ask one last time who did all this,"he motioned his hand all over me to my humiliation, "To her?"

Alpha Derrick's eyes sat up to meet that of the enraged Alpha king, stuttering on his feet in a panic. In his eyes, I could see nothing but fear as his mouth opened and closed with nothing to say.

"Derrick!"

"Her family did!" Alpha Derrick uttered frantically, his dreadful orbs pleading with the Alpha king for forgiveness. However, from the perspective of the taller and much more powerful man, he doesn't look like he was willing to absolve.

"Her family maltreated her and what did you do to help her?" the Alpha king asked, this time his voice sounding menacingly too calm.

Alpha Derrick shook his head "I wasn't aware of what was happening..." a growl from the Alpha King stopped him mid-sentence, and at once Alpha Derrick knew he had just flopped.

In our region, it was very difficult to lie to Alpha kings because as the most powerful Alpha, he had the ability to smell out untruths and that meant severe punishment for anyone that was bold enough to even attempt it.

Alpha King strode close to Alpha Derrick, his eyes more menacing now. He raised his arm and grabbed Alpha Derrick cruelly by his collar, yanking him up, not minding that his pack members at this moment were watching "You have been very nefarious and useless to me, Derick. I handed this pack to you to handle, but what did you do? you maltreat my lieges and allow guardians go rogue on their pups. Once again you have failed me and for that, you will be severely punished."

His words were like hot water doused on us. Everyone became alert-fear an imminent picture on their faces not knowing what would be the fate of our Alpha.

I felt bad for him that instant.

"Please, Alpha King Alonso. I beg you, have mercy on me. I tried to stop them but they persisted. I have been a good Alpha and listened to my people" implored Alpha Derrick.

Another growl from the Alpha King made him shut up at once "You have done nothing pleasing or worth keeping your throne for, Derrick. All you do is keep seeking for my presence when there is obviously no reason for me to be here!" Alpha King roared once more, bringing the other wolf cowering due to the enormous power contained in his rage. His aura is that powerful.

"Okay, I promise to do better. Please give me one last chance. I beg you. You can't do this to me."

"Oh, I will do even more...You crossed the line by allowing the family of this girl to bring her to this wretched position...Tell me why did she try to kill someone again?" he craned his neck towards Derrick whose face moved from the Alpha king to his son and back hesitantly.

"Speak, man!"

"Her sister seduced her mate from her" Alpha Derrick breathed out vehemently, making my feet quiver. To say I was embarrassed by that admission from him was putting it mildly. I wish the ground would open and swallow me at once.

What would the Alpha King think about me now? He would think I'm an idiot who had to attempt to kill her own sister just because of a man. An odious mate.

Still, as usual, since he arrived here, he surprised me by twisting around to face my father and Liam where they have been cowering behind him, looking like they wanted to shit their pants.

"Are you the so-called weasel of a son?" he sneered at them, his gaze determined and brooking no argument. "Are you?!" he coursed at Liam whose face was pale even though he was striving to keep up his appearance.

"I am." Liam dangled out like a petulant dog, his features masked with hurt. For once, I wanted to pity him, but recalling all he has made me pass through up to this time, I maintained my resolve against him.

"She is my mate" he went on to say.

What an impetus.

"Who is your mate?" asked the Alpha king, distastefully.

Liam had the effrontery to point at me and to top off his stupidity, he applied a resolute facade.

"Liam!" Bianca cried out from her position, trepidation set in her tone.

"You rejected me, don't forget that" I replied at once, not willing to allow him to try that nonsense with me.

"We are fated to be" Liam's voice was broken as he said it.

"You destroyed that when you slept with her!" I pointed at Bianca who was seeing red by now.

"I said I'm sorry" Liam cried "I didn't know. I was stupid, please"

I snorted in dismissal. "After all you made me go through?" tears rained afresh down my face at his boldness "I told you already I cut off every fetter with you! That's my decision"

"But you__"

"Enough!" rang the hard voice of the Alpha king as he towered gallantly over Liam "Henceforth, you will not dare refer to her as your mate. She is mine now. It's your loss"

"Buu__"

"Liam!" cried Derrick, cutting off whatever absurdity Liam wanted to vomit. What is wrong with him? Why does he suddenly want me after everything?

"Yea, Alpha king" Liam made out brokenly_my relief coming at once.

"Now that we have that out of the way, who is your unfortunate family?"

My heart lurched. I had hoped by now that he would forget about my family. I have disowned them but I wouldn't want them to go down by my hands. They deserved the worst.

"Who is her father, Derrick?" Alpha King shifted once more to Alpha Derrick whose face snapped up to show he wasn't expecting the question.

At once Alpha Derrick's fingers were pointed at my father who tried to hide behind my sister who in turn tried to hide behind him. It was a hilarious scene.

"Take them to the dungeon and make sure that_" He paused, coming closer to Bianca and leaning in to sniff her. The action broke my heart.

What is he doing?

He stepped back abruptly like was repelled by her. "She is practising dark magic in my land," he revealed and flicked his fingers at his Beta. "Take her and her father straight to the gallows. They will be executed immediately according to the laws guiding our Kingdom for their crimes." My sister and father fell to their knees as reality hit them, begging the Alpha King who at that point turned in my direction.

As they were dragged away, the Alpha King came to stand beside me, cupped my neck in his two large hands and leaned in to sniff me. I melted. "Henceforth, she belongs to me and will go back with me to my pack. No man is allowed to come an inch close to her or else will suffer my wrath." He sealed the words by embracing me against his rocky chest which had my head spinning rockers from hyperventilation.

Did the Alpha King just claim me before the entire pack?

...

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