The Alpha's Queen

Pit. Pat.

The sound of dripping water.

It was dark. And cold. The atmosphere was depressing, but somehow, I could not leave.

I could not bear to leave. Because if I did, it felt as if I was leaving something... very important.

Pit. Pat.

There was it, the same melancholy sound. Just hearing the sound made my heart flutter and the sadness in my heart grew.

Pit. Pat.

No... that was not the sound of dripping water. Wasn't it the sound of tears? Someone was crying. Yet aside from the sound of his tears, I could not hear anything else.

Like he was suffering in silence... and bearing the pain inside of him alone.

Soon, my own tears found my eyes.

"Why... are you crying?" I softly asked the person whose face I could not see.

But silence was his only reply. Several seconds passed by, and more tears fell from his eyes.

"You... left me," I heard a soft and weak voice in my ears.

"You promised to stay with me. Yet, you left me," he added and heart shook.

"...I- I don't know what you mean," I stuttered. I did not know this person. But his words inflicted unbearable pain in my heart. And for some reason... I felt like begging down my knees to ask for forgiveness.

"I-I'm sor-" I started to say, but was not able to finish, because I felt a warm finger covering my lips.

"Those words... I don't need them," the man softly added.

"What I need... is you..." he added before seeing a dangerous gaze that threatened to devour me.

It was a beautiful day.

The sky was bright and clear. In the open fields, lush greeneries were scattered, providing clean and healthy air. Posh infrastructures and well-made roads creating a well-balanced, modern environment. The inhabitants, who were seemingly free, were disciplined and consciously maintaining order.

This peaceful and beautiful place was the territory of the most powerful pack in the world.

The Pack of Karalius.

Everyone in the werewolf world knew about the Pack of Karalius. Although they were known to be reclusive compared to the others, there were several achievements that only this pack has attained.

For one, they possessed an army of warriors comparatively powerful as that of the royal family. Each and every warrior of the Karalius was more powerful and talented compared to normal warriors. They were all fiercely loyal towards their alpha, making it possible for them to organize an army so powerful that not even the royal family could ignore.

Moreover, because of the unlimited and terrifying potential he displayed, the only son of the Alpha and relative of the Alpha King, Neo Karalius, was chosen to be one of the potential successors to the throne.

The young alpha brought prestige to the pack from the moment he was born.

He was exceptionally smart and powerful. He was a talent that could only be seen once in a hundred years.

Inevitably, when he turned four, he was taken to the imperial castle to receive education as the heir to the throne.

Thus, his future is set. Either he would be crowned the Alpha king, or he would succeed as Alpha Karalius, the Alpha of the most powerful pack in the world.

And like him, each and every werewolf in this pack was strong and proud.

Well, except for me.

To be exact, I could not even say that I was a member of this pack.

Among all the pure blooded members of the Karalius Pack, I was the only hybrid.

My father was a werewolf... while my mother... was a human.

Hybrids are generally looked down upon by the werewolf society so it was already my destiny to be looked down and disdained upon by the pack.

But to make my matter worse, I took after my human mother and had all the characteristics of a human.

In my veins, the werewolf blood of my late father, the Beta of the pack, supposedly flowed.

But my body was that of a human. I was not given any power, talent or strength of a werewolf.

To top it all, I was not blessed with a wolf.

However, my parents loved and accepted me.

Though I was despised by everyone in this powerful pack, in order to protect me and my mother, my powerful father used his authority as the Beta to make a deal with the Alpha.

He created a safe and happy home for the two of us.

Unfortunately, when I was ten years old, my mother fell sick with a strange disease. Desperately, my father went outside to search for a cure.

However, he did not return.

Through the years, my mother and I awaited his return.

However, he never came back.

Slowly, the hidden contempt in the eyes of the pack turned into open aggressions. The werewolves who respected and relied on my father started blaming us for his disappearance.

It was then when the bullying started.

We were kicked out of the house provided for the Beta's family.

They limited our food and other essential supplies, and it was a miracle that they allowed me to attend school.

My sick human mother and I were seen as the disgrace of the pack and were treated like trash.

Alpha Radin, the honorable alpha of the pack, did not follow through with the deal between my father and him, and turned blind eyes towards the maltreatment we suffered in the pack.

I grew up in a harsh environment where... I had to struggle daily... in order to live and to protect my sick mother.

'That's why... I don't even know why I'm here,' I thought as I looked at the huge Victorian building in front of me.

'If mom didn't get so angry, I would prefer working full time than attending university,' I sighed.

The Pack of Karalius was not only the most powerful pack in the world, it was also the most populous, and the most wealthy.

The whole territory was akin to a major city, with everything available inside. And at the moment, I was standing in front of the prestigious university that was exclusive for werewolf students.

'I'm not even... really allowed here,' I sighed, slightly clenching my fist.

"What! Can't believe you really came here?"

"No way, are you even allowed to attend the university? Isn't this place exclusive for us, werewolves?" Someone loudly sneered and I flinched.

That sneering voice was very familiar to me.

Angelica, my previous classmate, and the daughter of the Gamma.

Contrary to her name, she was one of the cruelest werewolves in my age bracket and one of the primary sources of my misery at school. Just hearing her voice would make my body tremble as I remember the years of pain she inflicted upon me.

"Why am I this unlucky?" Angelica said, her voice was getting louder, indicating that she was getting upset.

"I already suffered looking at this trash for years! And now on the first day as a university student, she's the first one I've seen? Is someone messing with me?!"

"And you are not even moving away? You really dare to block my path?" Angelica yelled in disgust.

It has only been a few seconds when Angelica started calling me out, but our surroundings were already crowded by on-lookers. There were many students, some professors, and staff members who were curious about what was going on. And of course, most of them were watching with indifferent eyes.

In fact, some of them were even watching with delight.

Angelica was very arrogant and haughty. However, she was the daughter of the Gamma, someone that could not be crossed against. Moreover, no one would stand up for me, the unwanted hybrid who was the disgrace of the pack.

Even if Angelica decided to beat me up until I was half dead, in front of the university, no one would say anything.

No one would help me out. This much, I knew.

Thus, clenching my fists tighter, I did not say anything.

No, I could not say anything.

I could only bow my head down and look straight at my feet, bracing my body for the pain that was about to come.

True enough, just a second later, I felt a force hitting my stomach. I flinched in pain.

The blow I received was stronger than what I used to get before, and the pain was more severe. For a moment, my eyes darkened, and I felt dizzy before feeling the metallic taste of my blood in my mouth.

'Did she get stronger again?' Was my only thought as I hugged my own body and trembled in pain.

Angelica greatly despised me and loved lashing out on me. Always, she would say how disgusting I was and how she would never want to be physically in contact with me. Because of this, she never punched or kicked me. Rather, she used the aura of her wolf against me. And though her blows never completely broke my bone, the pain was so much... that I would feel my body tremble and my knees weak.

A few years ago, when she was younger, Angelica's aura was not stable and the blows I received was not too severe. Unfortunately, she had become stronger as the years went by, making her blow more unbearable, and my safety more and more questionable.

'If she attacked me again... I might really pass out...' I thought.

'Mom will get very worried,' I closed my eyes to keep a tear from falling.

Thankfully, seconds passed by, and I did not receive another blow.

'Did I go?' I bit my lower lip before secretly checking if Angelica left.

To my surprise, I saw that Angelica was still there. But instead of looking at me, her attention was with the woman beside her.

"What? Lord Keifer? The aide of our Alpha King?" Angelica asked with wide eyes.

"No way... he is really coming here?"

Suddenly, the students surrounding me loudly whispered.

"Everyone. The dean ordered that everyone should immediately report their respective classrooms. Keep the order in the university."

"This will be formally announced later, but our Alpha along with an important guest is coming," one of the professors said.

I heard gasped and whispers of excitement. And within a couple of seconds, the scattered students and staff members hurried inside the university premises, leaving me, who was still huffing from pain, crouching on the ground.

I stared at the pavement and took a deep breath while a cold sweat slowly dripped from my forehead.

I knew I should go too. But my body was still paralyzed from pain.

"I gather you are Eliza Meile? " An indifferent voice was directed at me. With difficulty, I opened my eyes and stared at the old professor who was looking at me.

"You cannot stay here," he said with a strict voice.

"I-I'm sorry, pro-professor," I spoke in between labored breathing. "I don't th-think I can... stand up," I softly added before a sliver of blood dripped from my mouth.

It seemed like... the blow that I received from Angelica gave me internal damage. I felt that my intestinal organs were twisted.

Unfortunately, the old professor's stare was not kind. He did not reply for a long time.

"Tsk."

"Madon, bring Ms. Meile to the healer so she can receive some healing pills."

"We can't let her miss her first day of class, right?" His words were kind, but the old professor's eyes were cold. Even without saying anything, I could feel his hatred towards me.

I have never seen him before, but I was not surprised by his hostility towards me.

I was used to being hated by the people who I have never met before.

Thus, I merely lowered my head again, and with difficulty, I replied to him gratefully.

"Thank you, professor," I softly told him.

I had been injured countless times before, but no one had ever tried helping me, even though he only did it out of propriety.

After all, healing pills were a luxury to me, and I was sincerely grateful for receiving them.

"Excuse me, I will carry you to the healer's place," suddenly, a man said before I felt myself being lifted.

"Ah..." Surprised, I looked at the man who had a serious look on his face while walking inside the building. Although he was walking briskly, he was holding me carefully and his actions were respectful.

"Tha-thank you... Mr. Madon..." I said, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm not Madon," the man merely replied before silently sending me to the clinic.