ALPHA DERATUS'S SLAVE QUEEN

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AGO

Reaching for his mate, he rolled over in bed. He routinely began his mornings in this manner. He discovered a vacant area on his bed and scowled. In panic, he sat up. In his imagination, he reached for her, but something was keeping him from doing so. He bolted from the bed and left the room. Although it was subtle, her perfume persisted throughout the hallway.

He went down the stairs and into the kitchen, following her smell. As he watched his friend dance while preparing breakfast, a smile came to his face. He approached her in silence and put his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head as she leaned toward him.

She confronted him and said, "Stop getting out of bed before me."

She pouted and said, "Today, I wanted to serve you breakfast in bed."

"I could have had breakfast between your legs." She slapped his chest and her cheeks flushed. They kissed each other, his lips pressing against hers.

As the King and Queen publicly showed their love for one another, the ladies watched in wonder. Except for his devoted partner or their puppy, the King hardly ever smiled. Forgetting his breakfast, he embraced her. Holding her, he placed her on the bed in their bedroom. He kissed her neck repeatedly. A knock on the door interrupted his plans to remove her dress. Pushing him away, she went to get the door.

"Good morning sister-in-law"

He said "Morning Eridian" as he entered the room.

"Is your mate not keeping you busy enough that you have to disturb me so early in the morning"

"She's sleeping. The pleasure I gave her at night has left her completely worn out. She won't be up until the late afternoon. Smugly, he answered. A comforter was thrown at him by Deratus.

He walked out of the room, saying, "We have an important meeting in section 6 of the north."

Catalina, his partner, sulked at him. "I thought we were going to spend the day together?"

"We are. He kissed her lips and went into the bathroom, saying, "I won't take long." She was still sat on the bed when he came out. He gave her a lengthy kiss.

"After this meeting you have me all to yourself" she nodded and he kissed her forehead. She went to find her friend as he went to his meeting. When she spotted her companion sprawled on the bed, she laughed and unlocked the doors. Her friend woke up with a start as she leaped into the bed.

"Catalina!" She reprimanded.

"Let's go out"

"No. She covered herself with a duvet and laid back on the bed, saying, "I'm tired." She was dragged out of bed by Catalina.

"Okay, okay" she moaned as she entered the restroom. The two strolled in discussing various topics after meeting at the forest's edge. In her hands, her pal grasped a basket.

"You never bring food"

They located a little clearing and sat down to eat after saying, "I didn't have breakfast today."

*******

The king listened to the beta's grievance while seated with his brother and advisors. A stab of pain went through his abdomen. He wasn't in pain. There was a problem with his partner. Suddenly he rose from the table.

"My king, is there a problem?" With a loud snarl, he fled the building. To reach his mate, he felt his insides itch. He was aware that someone was chasing after him, but he didn't give a damn. When he arrived in the center capital, he dashed upstairs into the castle. He dashed inside the room he and his partner shared, but she was not there. He entered the area in the woodland by following her scent. Blood gushed from her mouth as she lay in someone else's arms. As he took in the lady who had harmed his partner, rage clouded his judgment.

"I apologize. He pulled out her heart with his claws after saying, "I'm really sorry." He hurried back to the palace after grabbing his mate in his arms. A deep growl broke the stillness. The loss of their own wolf caused the other wolves to howl loudly. He cut his veins and lay her gently on the bed.

He pressed it to her lips so she could sip. She forced it out of her lips while holding his hands.

He shook his head in disbelief, saying, "It's too late." Blood poured from her mouth as she coughed.

Her eyes began to well up with "I-I- lo- love y-you" tears, which poured into the bed sheet. As she drew her final breath, he sobbed while holding her hands tightly. He let out a loud cry, and his pack followed suit. They lost a queen, and he lost a mate.

TWENTY THREE YEARS AGO

A sudden pain shot through the woman, and she grasped her stomach. The baby was shifting uneasily. She tried to stand, groaning. The baby wasn't due yet, and it would be unhealthy to deliver it too soon in the current situation.

She couldn't afford to hire a witch because she was the only person living there. The members of her clan have left for their employment for the day. Her face was drenched with sweat. She made it to the ill-equipped restroom. She felt her vagina while squatting and supporting herself with the door frame. She was broader than usual. Despite her lack of knowledge about childbirth, she was overcome by the constant impulse to push. As she forced the baby out, she twisted her face in agony. As she pushed the baby out, blood gathered at her feet. The baby slipped out into her waiting arms as she let out a loud cry and gave it one last push. Babe on the chilly floor, she fell to the ground. She was too weak and struggled to get to the infant. She hoped the neighbors would notice the baby's loud cries. She prayed for the baby's survival to the deity.

She mumbled "My Elpida" right before she passed out.

********************************

Our living room sat in silence as we contemplated what the coming day would hold.

The yearly remembrance has arrived. Fifteen halfbreeds were sent annually to the capital in the North from the South, East, and West. Loyalty to the King of the Alphas was demonstrated by this action.

Alcius Deratus is the Alpha King.

In essence, he was a god, unrivaled in wisdom and strength. A direct descendent of the goddess of the moon. Lycan.

He destroyed the pack system more than a thousand years ago, some time after he attained Alpha status.

There were more than a thousand packs at that time. Their alphas were despots, and some of them were distant.

Poverty and persecution resulted from the pack system. As a result, the territorial system was implemented and all packs were destroyed.

Betas were in control of the sections, while sub-alphas oversaw each region.

Each territory has a capital and a total of fifteen sections.

The capital was home to the sub-alpha, his family, and advisors.

Each section's welfare was managed by the betas, who reported to the sub-alpha, who then reported to the monarch.

Although they lacked a sub-alpha, the north was likewise covered by this scheme.

The royal beta received reports from the northern betas before reporting to the monarch.

The sub-alphas and betas in the north had a party every year following the arrival of half-breeds.

Alpha Alcius hated us to his core.

Werewolves and lycans started finding mates in half-breeds after he once said we should be murdered. Since killing them would eliminate possible mates, the ruling was overturned. Our purpose was to serve as slaves.

At the age of 20, all halfbreeds were either sent to the north or to the territory capital. Despite the fact that we were mistreated in the territory capital, a greater faith was undoubtedly in store for those that visited.

At the central capital, we were informed that both werewolves and lycans would treat us like scum.

***

"Esme... You recall all that was taught to you, correct? I gave a nod.

"You must ensure you follow all the rules and most importantly stay away from the alpha"

"Ma, I heard you. Don't stress yourself. I'm going to be fine." Dusting my skirts, I muttered as I made my way to the door.

I was from Section 3. I was unlucky enough to be chosen, as our sub-alpha had chosen from each area.

Together with my parents, I was scheduled to travel to the East Capital, where the other females from the other parts would follow. In two days we were to depart for the central capital.

I followed the well-traveled route to the stream. my zone of comfort. I didn't have many pals when I was little. I was a shy person who tended to isolate herself. I took a particular brew for my weak vision since I became sick very quickly. In addition, I healed more slowly and wounded more readily than a typical halfbreed. I was feeble. I came here to hide and cry every time I was harassed by halfbreeds or werewolves. How will I make it through the north?

We left our borders by midday. The roads leading out of the east were bumpy and rough.

We were to reach the north in three days. I kept to myself most of the time and replied the girl beside me. Her name was Tessa and she was from section 7.

She looked worse than I did......hair covering her face as she kept her head bowed at all times.

We made few bathroom stops and food was shared in the van but the drivers drove during the night. The other girls didn't talk much either. We all sat in silence like sacrificial lambs going to be slaughtered.....Of course.... we were lambs and the north was our place of sacrifice....

We reached the main borders of the north at dusk two days later. We were ushered into a small house.

We were given clothes to change into after taking a bath. There was one bathroom so we had to go in one at a time starting from the girl in section 1 till the girl in section 15.

There was an open space with beds were we lay down. That night I heard a few crying, I couldn't even cry. I felt numb. I prayed to the moon goddess that whatever may come, my parents would not loose another child. I was going to go home and see my parents again.

***

In the morning after our bath, we were given a white dress. It was the official slave dress. We walked out in a single file into a van. The other girls from other territories were present. We were sixty girls in total. This van was to take us to the central capital where the king lived. The drive to the palace was smoother and the roads were levelled.

When we arrived at the palace, some people were waiting outside. We were given dresses as we alighted. My dress was red and red was for cleaning. We were assigned to our bunks and given toiletries. There was a row call and we were given food. The matron instructed us to go to bed as soon as we were done because from the next day, sleeping would be a guilty pleasure. Tomorrow our duties will begin formally.

As I lay on my bed and turned, I kept thinking of my fate here. I prayed to the moon goddess to keep me safe and protect me from the wrath of the werewolves and Lycans alike.

************

It has been two weeks since I began my duties and so far I've managed to avoid trouble. To be honest, the way the north was described was far from how it was. Through there were a few that spiteful towards us but we were treated as paid slaves. Today I was to clean the library in the south wing. The alphas wing. The matron said the king was not around this morning but if he came back while I was still up there, I was to make myself invisible until he left.

I pulled my trolley up with me to the south wing. The place was quiet because no other person lived on this side of the palace. I unlocked the library doors and pulled the trolley inside. The library was so fucking large. Some of the shelves were so high a ladder was required to reach them. I decided to take one key out of the bunch of library keys. I could spend my free time here since it was rarely used. I began to clean and arrange the books that were lying about. After four hours I was done, I left the library to return my cleaning supplies and the key to the library. I went to the lunch hall were the other slaves had gathered for the midday meal. I had made few friends including an older maid Nessa who had taken me under her wing. We shared the same bunk and I sat bedide her as the meals were distributed. Our table consisted of girls from the same room as I and Nessa. A few were older girls but majority of us were the new girls.

My duties end at lunch each day and I spend the rest of the day in my bunk hiding away from the rest of the palace. Today the hallways were quiet. The yellow sash slaves were preparing lunch for the prime alpha.

I opened the door of the library and slipped in. I quickly locked the door and ran to the shelve at the far end of the room that held romance books. I picked one and looked for where to sit. The only chair here was the alphas and I couldn't risk sitting there. There was an open space behind a shelf with a single couch and a table. A cabinet holding what I presumed to be liquor stood at one end and a window. I peeped through the window and saw three men discussing. As a half-breed I couldn't hear what they were saying but they looked like they were in deep discussion. One of the men looked up at the window I was standing out and I moved away immediately. I quickly ran out of the library and back to my bunk.