THE CONSPIRACY: REJECTED, BUT FATED FOR MY ALPHA KING

Katherine's POV

I've only heard of children suffering from the sins of their parents in movies until it happened to me. I couldn't help but think and wet my pillow every night. It was worse than bad for me. I never ever imagined in my wildest dreams that such a thing could happen to me.

I woke up that morning with a throbbing headache. I obviously had a hangover.

I had resolved to take more alcohol than usual, to make me forget my pains, at least.

My parents were said to have killed the alpha, thus, making everyone around me hate and despise me so much. I could remember vividly that very day.

The pack soldiers were going from house to house, trying to find the culprits that has killed the alpha. My parents on the other hand were nowhere to be found. They searched frantically for them all over the pack and couldn't find them.

One of them barged into our house that morning yelling,

"Where are those traitors? Where are they?" He barked, I watched from where I was hiding, already sighting them from the pinnacle of our

house beforehand. I was too scared to come out.

I thought they were going to have me killed too. They scattered everything in the house as they searched.

At this point, I began to wonder why my parents would do such an act and decided to leave me to dance to the tune of the music they played.

I felt a thick hand pull me up. I've been discovered.

"There is a cub here...what do we do to her?" The man that saw me said. He looked at me with bloodshot eyes, anger and pain obvious in his eyes. It was as though, waiting for orders so he can just drive his sword into me and have me silenced for good.

"Don't touch the child. We're taking her to the pack house" one of the men said.

News already went round the pack that my parents killed the alpha. I couldn't contain my tears. What a shame! I continued to wonder what on earth must have prompted them to think of such sacrilegious act.

The entire pack came out to watch as I was being taken to the pack house. Everyone was watching, mumbling inaudible things.

A good number of the angry mob stood at their windows and cursed, throwing things at me. Hot tears flowed down my cheeks.

What did I do to deserve this? I thought. It was way too much for a twelve year old.

We finally got to the pack house. This was my third time in the pack house. The first time, my parents were invited to dinner as well as the second, so they took me with them. My third visit to the house was far from pleasant.

The man holding me pushed me very hard. I fell down on my stomach, wincing in pains.

"Here's the traitor's seed master. We'd have had her killed, but we decided to bring her here first, for you to give her the final order" he said. It was obvious that this man in particular wanted to have me killed by all means.

He must have been a sworn enemy of my parents I thought.

For someone to be that desperate spoke volumes. I wondered why he hated me so much all of a sudden. Well, I don't blame him anyways.

"We won't kill this one. She has no idea what her parents had done. An eleven years old can't possibly handle a gun" the alpha said, looking at me with disgust in his eyes.

His apparel reminded me of the famous Game of Thrones movie I used to watch with my parents.

He depicted royalty and splendour. Obviously, he's temporal of the pack since his brother's sudden death. He is to occupy the position until the heir apparent was of age. Xavier is about my age I guess.

I couldn't help but beg for mercy. He was hell bent on making me suffer.

"Please have mercy. I have no idea what is going on" I said, clenching both hands together as if to pray, begging for his mercy.

The ever friendly alpha I used to know is the direct opposite of what I'm seeing now. I wondered frantically if he's the one I used to know.

As they'd always say, pain and certain circumstances change people. This is indeed an example.

"I'd let you live on one condition...on a condition that you're going to stay and live in this pack under my watch. You have no home anywhere. If you attempt to run, consider yourself dead" he said with a tone of finality. Two men were assigned to keep an eye on me.

This was nothing short of being a prisoner.

It hurt me so much that I was being punished and blamed for a crime I knew nothing about.

I looked around the room, looking for nothing in particular. I stood up slowly, careful enough not to knock down anything. I was still feeling tipsy anyway.

As it was the routine, I quickly tidied my room and put some things in place.

I couldn't believe I emptied four bottles of whiskey. I was gradually becoming a drunk but it's my own way of forgetting my pain and easing the pressure within me. I stood in front of the mirror, looking at how lean I was looking. I've been obviously thinking too much lately and it's affected me in ways I've never imagined.

All my life, since childhood I've always prayed and wished I would become a Luna someday. I've watched many of the mating ceremonies over the years and as such, I anticipated a day when I'd also be able to pick my mate.

It gladdens my heart whenever I think about this because it in most cases, helped me keep my mind and mentality in check. I stared into space, saying my silent prayers to the goddess, begging her to help me navigate my path through the journeys ahead

My eighteenth birthday was months away and I prayed and hope something worthwhile came out of it. For now, let me face the pains.

Xavier's POV

The agony of losing one's parents really hit me hard. I thought through it everyday and night. Anyone that says you could get over anything had made a big mistake.

A parent's death isn't something one could just let go of without stopping to think through once or twice. I was heartbroken.

The responsibilities resting on my shoulders as the new alpha of the pack was indeed a weight to be carried.

Uneasy they say, lies the head that bears the crown. All thanks to the goddess for giving me such relentless spirit to fight for what I wanted. I had out passed everyone during the trials, a rare feat that was achieved over four decades ago by my grandfather. The relentlessness of course, is a family trait.

I remembered waking up that morning from noise coming from the back of the house. The soldiers scampered for safety all over the place and everyone were running for their lives.

One of them barged into my room, "We need to get you to safety young master, it's not safe here" he said, stretching out his hand to pull me up. I quickly obeyed because there was no hope of the entire situation calming down anytime soon. The noise seemed to increase every now and then.

I followed him sheepishly, strapping myself to his back. That was my first time discovering a secret tunnel in the pack house, a house I've stayed in for the past twelve years of my life.

I was moved to safety. My uncle was in the secret tunnel, pacing around and looking at his wrist watch every now and then. He's been obviously waiting for us to come. His eyes brightened up upon seeing us

"Xavier! How're you my son?" He said, touching me all over. He turned to one of the men

"I hope he's not hurt?" He asked, looking with anticipation.

"At all sir. We found him sleeping peacefully in his room. The attack hasn't gotten to where he was" he said.

A coup d'etat was planned at my parents' abode from what I could remember. It was a silly occurrence no one thought could happen anytime soon. The pack was too peaceful for something of such to happen. Infact, I don't remember my father having any power tussle with anyone. It was just too perfect for anything like that to happen.

I searched frantically for questions I needed urgent answers to.

I was lost. What attack? What's going on? I asked myself.

I realised I was still putting on my pyjamas. It's too early for all this drama. I still wanted to sleep.

The men were seen pacing up and down in hushed tones. I was ushered to a seat to calm myself, my uncle came to where I was, trying to pacify and reassure me. All these didn't have any meaning to me whatsoever, all I wanted was to see my parents and nothing more.

"You just have to take things easy, okay? There's just a little tension ongoing. Everything's going to be fine" he said.

He was speaking in parables I didn't understand. I continued to wonder what this man was actually saying.

What tension? Why is he saying I'm going to be fine? These thoughts filled my mind as I wondered what exactly was going on.

News of my parents demise spread like wildfire.

I was heartbroken. Every move made by my uncle to pacify me proved abortive. I thought over the years what must have happened that lead to my parents death. It really broke me.

It was later discovered that Katherine's parents had perpetrated such an evil act. I hated her immediately. We used to be friends but not anymore.

I never saw myself being friends with someone whose parents killed mine.

My uncle stayed on the throne temporarily until I was of age. I was considered unfit because of my age and size. How could I possibly preside over a pack when I haven't even done my trials? So of course, I had to be introduced to the process early enough to prepare me for what was ahead.

"You have to put the past behind you if you really want to learn the art of leadership. It's not child's play. If you want to learn, show the commitment to want to learn. I know it's not easy but you just have to let go and let your mind and soul connect" my uncle will often say.

I wasn't concentrating at training and it was affecting my pace. My uncle later enrolled me for therapy classes. It helped a great deal. It helped me heal even faster and better. There I was again, back in shape.

I anticipated my birthday when I'd be crowned as the new alpha and of course, the undisputed leader of the pack.

I was advised to stay an extra year before choosing a mate, a principle I found very interesting. At least, it'd help me concentrate and get better. A lot of troubles and drama came with marriage and I wasn't ready for any of them. Infact, I was still too young to think of marriage at that point in time.

"The men are waiting for you outside sir" one of my men said,

"I'd join them in a jiffy. Tell them to be patient" I said, trying very hard to hide my nervousness.

I was anxious and nervous at the same time. I didn't know what to expect. I've witnessed many coronations my parents were invited to during their lifetime, now I was experiencing it myself. It was really worth all the worries.

"Xavier, you should be dressed by now...why aren't you dressed up?" my uncle asked, looking worried, his arms akimbo.

"I will get dressed uncle, I'm just being nervous"

"You shouldn't be. After all, it's your parents inheritance and not anyone's" he said, stepping out of the room. I sighed heavily picking up my clothes.

Katherine's POV

It was the day! I was very happy. It's my eighteenth birthday and a day to choose my mate. I've always hoped and prayed to become a Luna and as expected, it was slowly falling in place. Most of all,

I was happy since I'd not be referred to as a juvenile again.

I was full of ecstacy and wondered what it'd be like to have a mate.

Often I sat down during the moonlight to listen to the young maidens, as they told us stories of their relationships and how their mate picked them. I always wondered when mine would be and as it turned out to be, it finally came.

My best friend, Susan, helped me to dress up in the best way possible.

Susan has been of great help and support ever since my parents ran away from the pack. She helped me settle well in everything I did.

I was greatly despised amongst everyone, owing to the fact that my parents allegedly killed the alpha of the pack some years back. I was treated with disdain and contempt. I hated my parents for everything.

I hated them the most whenever I was being shoved aside by everyone. It didn't sit well with me as I had to carry this stigma for a very long time. I carried the mark of a killer's child.

I cursed the day I knew them. I cursed the day I had that recognition of who they were. They've stirred up a battle for me to fight at such a very young age and it wasn't getting any funny. I was depressed. I was mentally drained. At some point I contemplated suicide.

What always stopped me was the hope that I'd become a Luna one day coupled with the humiliation that'd follow. It'd be said that I died out of shame. Moreso, I've heard stories of men who had committed suicide and how their bodies were

treated. They were treated with contempt and were never buried in the city.

Instead, they were cremated and had their ashes poured into the cursed river. I never wanted that for myself so I had to bear the shame.

I lost my sense of belonging as everyone in the pack saw me as a traitor and as such, it really took a toll on me. I couldn't do anything peacefully as all my friends constantly taunted me, especially whenever we had an argument whatsoever.

Everywhere I went, I was labelled 'Traitor'sdaughter'l.

It stuck to me like a chieftaincy title. I always prayed that this would come to an end someday but when? When will all these become a thing of the past?

Thoughts of these made me wet my pillow many times. Thank goodness for Susan who was a shoulder to lean on during these times.

I could hear the drums, the chattering of men, women and children alike. Everywhere was bubbling with excitement.

All the young girls in the pack were beautifully dressed and waited in anticipation for their mates. I joined the queue in anticipation of mine too. I looked up and mumbled something inaudible, praying silently to the goddess for luck.

It could be today, I said, inaudibly. I walked briskly to the front row as the bombshell dropped.

Everyone opened their mouths in awe.

"What the hell is happening? How's that even possible?" I heard someone say. It was like I was dreaming.

The goddess has finally resolved to smile on me. My chosen mate is the great and undisputed leader of the pack, Alpha Xavier.

All the young maidens standing at the front row with me frowned. They looked at me with disgust. Everyone of them. No one expected it. Our souls were knotty and connected. My wolf accepted him effortlessly.

I couldn't help but let out a smile. The first time I was sincerely happy from the bottom of my heart. This time, I wasn't faking or trying to pretend. It was real.

"What rubbish is this? How could a traitor's daughter be my Luna? This will by far the most sacrilegious act in the history of this pack if I choose you as my mate. I can't possibly choose someone as filthy as you are"

The entire pack let out a sigh. I looked around and all I could see were people filled with hate, disgust and contempt in their eyes. Many of the men kept on cursing and nodded in agreement to what Xavier had said. I continued to wonder if it's the same Xavier I knew. He continued,

"As it stands, this lady here needs to be punished. How on earth could she of all people choose me? What guts do you have there!"

Everyone cheered in anticipation of my public disgrace. For once, I never imagined a day like this turning sour. And of course, it was turning sour right before my very eyes. Tears flowed freely from my eyes as I watched one of the pack soldiers holding a whip approached me with pleasure in his eyes.

I could tell from his looks that he's been waiting for this day to come, when he'd be able to deal with me. I looked at him with pleading eyes, trying to make Xavier change his mind and give me a mild punishment at least. it wasn't forthcoming. He looked away and commanded that I should be whipped publicly. My heart sank.

I could hear incessant giggles from the girls that stood close to where I was, waiting in line too to take a mate. I could hear their whispers

"Looser! She thinks she can get the alpha to choose her so she can kill him like her parents killed his... she wants history to repeat itself"

I cried bitterly upon hearing this. I watched my whole world crumbling down at my feet.