Alpha’s Second Choice

Bewildered by the sudden declaration, Jo took a few steps back. She could feel herself palpitate as her body released an extra gush of adrenaline. Queen? She pondered to herself.

‘You are married to Dante?’, Jo heard herself speak, her body no longer under her control.

Oliva’s pretty honey-coloured eyes gazed at her oddly, her lips lop siding for a fraction of second.

‘I am. You must be very close to my husband to call him by his first name’, a hint of challenge was present in the queen’s voice.

‘I-I met the Alpha King under extraordinary circumstances. Please pardon my rude manners, my queen’, Jo curtsied before her and kept her head down. Finally.

‘Rise Jolene’, Oliva commanded as she observed the girl closely. She was not cowering in her presence like other werewolves did. She had Alpha’s blood in her after all. ‘You are very well spoken. I have been meaning to change the entrance rules for a while now. Susan, remove the endurance point requirement for the warrior training from henceforth’.

‘As you command, my queen. Leticia, come and fill in some paper works’, the trainer respectfully guided Letica from the ground under the queen’s watch.

‘The rest of you, continue training’, Olivia dismissed the female warriors. ‘Walk with me Jolene’.

Olivia adjusted the long hanging sleeves of her teal gown as she turned and started walking, expecting Jo to join in. And she did.

‘Tell me about yourself’.

‘Um-there is really nothing to know about me, your highness. I am an omega from Dark Slayer Pack. Recently, I have decided to renounce my pack and live in the human settlements. But me and my friends were attacked by demons on the way and the gracious Alpha king saved us’, Jo narrated, choosing her words carefully each sentence.

‘You must have been very scared. I am glad my husband was there to protect our kind. Funny, I cannot sense any wolf spirits from you’, the queen finished as Jo’s heart started racing again. She could not tell if the queen was interrogating her or if she was genuinely curious.

‘Omegas have low wolf spirits, sometimes none. I hope that answers your question, your highness’, Jo replied without hesitating. She was not going to let anything get under her skin.

‘One would think that. But from the courage and words you spoke of earlier, I assumed you would have had beta’s blood at least’, the queen brought her delicate hands together. ‘Anyways, this is good. It means Omegas are getting bold enough to speak out their thoughts and opinions. This is the kind of safe place me and my husband are trying to build’.

It did not miss Jo that Olivia stressed on mentioning Dante as her husband multiple times. What was she trying to signal? Jo was usually good with reading people, but this queen really had her thinking in circles.

When they arrived near a small canopy, there were already some noble women there drinking high tea and chattering amongst themselves.

They rose when Olivia entered the canopy and curtsied before her. Jo just stood outside the canopy, conflicted. The high tea consisted of aromatic and different flavoured teas accompanied by baked biscuits, and some freshly cut fruits on the side.

‘Come in and sit Jolene’, Oliva gestured to a seat next to her. All of the noble women were now studying Jo intensely.

‘Ladies, this is Jolene. She speaks very bravely despite being a low ranked omega’, the queen stressed on the ‘omega’ part. Some of the noble women’s face contorted in disgust realising that they were sharing the same table as a low ranked omega.

And at that moment, Jo knew her motive. She was trying to show Jo her place, that she was only a lowly ranked omega before her. Was the queen angry at her for challenging the endurance test of the warrior training? Or was she angry at her for calling the Alpha king by his first name. She simply did not know.

‘I am honoured that her majesty thinks so highly of me’, Jo played along. She was used to this life before. Being a noble lady in her own land, she was accustomed to passive aggressive comments and behaviours.

‘I remember her now’, Jo heard a voice say. ‘You are the same person who defended that devil child before. My queen, Evelyn spilled tea on me again and this lowly omega was defending her!’, one of the noble ladies yelled.

Jo just shook her head. Why would anyone speak that way about a royal princess? She thought to herself.

‘You raised your hands on a small child’, Jo replied nonchalantly.

‘Jolene’, one of the noble ladies with short, bobbed hair spoke. ‘Evelyn is not in the right state of mind. She is known for being notorious and pranking on most of the noble ladies in the kingdom. Olivia has guided us all that we can discipline her properly and maybe that will fix her one day’.

The queen looked happy with the answer her minions were babbling out.

‘With all due respect, Evelyn is a royal princess. Does the king know about this discipline method the noble ladies are imposing on his little sister?’, Jo impugned, not batting an eye lash.

‘Why you little disrespectful little bra-‘, the noble lady with bobbed hair voiced again.

‘Veronica’, the queen sternly interjected making her pause. ‘Language please’.

‘My sincerest apologies’, Veronica mumbled under her breath.

‘Jolene, you should not challenge my authority on how to discipline Evelyn. I treat her like my own sister’, the queen began. Lies, Jo knew instantly.

‘Dante will be pleased with whatever method I employ to do what is best for Evelyn’. Another lie. Jo bet Dante did not even have a slightest clue about it. But she knew having an argument with a werewolf queen was futile.

‘I understand, your highness’, was all that came out of her mouth.

‘Ladies, I see you have all met Jolene’, Don’s voice chirped in. ‘Jo, I was looking everywhere for you’.

Veronica flinched a little hearing that, but she acted calm.

Oliva was more interested in Jolene now. Not only was she feisty but she was also friends with an Alpha. Was she really just an omega? There was definitely more to it than meets the eye.

‘Alpha Don, what a pleasant surprise. I did not know you were visiting the royal mansion’, Oliva asked as she sipped some herbal tea.

‘My queen, I had some urgent matters to discuss with the King. Sorry for arriving unannounced’, Don responded as he leaned against the canopy walls. Most of the ladies present were throwing glances at the Wind Alpha. He certainly was not dressed in the most charming clothes but he had a dashing rough look to him that made him very attractive. Also ruling the third largest pack in the werewolf kingdom only added the cherry to the top of the cake.

‘You know you are always welcome here Don’, the queen replied, displaying her perfect set of teeth again.

‘Thank you, my queen’, Don replied as he proceed to exchange pleasantries with the rest of the noble ladies. ‘Please continue your high tea. I will see you around ladies and you too Jolene’. He said her name a little too endearing making Jo flinch a little.

She simply smiled in his direction as she continued sitting awkwardly in the high tea. This was the last place she wanted to be.

*

In the office

Dante continued staring at the weird text message he had received from an unknown number. It had Jo’s name credentialed at the end.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

‘You deserve it after what you have done. I am rooting for Jo to take your crown’, Theo spitefully said.

‘You fool, if I am no longer a king that means you are no longer one too. We are ONE, don’t forget that’, Dante was tired with Theo’s none stop rant. He was hurting too, from pushing his mate away and rejecting her the moment he realised they were fated mates. But what could he do? He was already married and had taken Olivia as his chosen mate. He had promised to honour the wedding vows forever, under the full moon.

Mate or no mate, Olivia was his lawfully wedded wife now.

He gave Olivia his words. And a king always keeps his word. Always.