The Alpha King's Claim

Serena

The cheers around me are deafening. I want to cover my ears, but I can’t.

I stand tall on a raised platform near the king’s throne, knowing I have to hold myself together. I’m their queen now.

Me, a queen. Their queen.

A queen.

The word echoes in my head. How did I end up here? I ask myself.

With a foggy mind, I remember everything that happened when I woke up that morning two days ago…

***

“Did you sleep well?” the king asks, his sharp voice slicing through the sweet chirping of the birds outside my window.

My sleepiness evaporates instantly. He’s wearing a loose white shirt, black trousers, and black boots. His dark hair is tousled in a sexy way.

He looks like he just stepped out of a bath.

God, he’s handsome, I think, but I quickly scold myself. ~Stay focused!~

He’s lounging in the plush chair in my bedroom, legs crossed, looking bored.

Goosebumps pop up on my arms.

I don’t know why he’s in my room or how he found me among all the rooms in the manor, but I know his visit comes with a cost—a cost like... my life.

Maybe he’s changed his mind and is ready to execute me now.

I sit up in bed, pulling the sheet up to cover my body from the chest down, and frown at him. “I did. Why do you care?”

“Because I need you fit for today's agenda,” he snaps.

Chills run down my spine. “I hope it doesn't involve me digging my own grave.”

He scoffs. “Depends on how you see it.”

He looks at me and I feel frozen in place. This man needs to take a class on social skills. His conversations with me are always one-sided.

“Why are you here, Your Highness?” I ask when I realize he’s holding back information. Or maybe he’s just too scared to say it.

“I've got a proposition for you. A business deal, if you will,” he finally says, emphasizing the harmless word. His aura is still that of a proud man. I’ve never seen it change, not even a little.

On Earth, business deals are important, and both parties should respect each other. I see no respect in this king’s eyes, only arrogance.

“First your brother, and now you?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.

He waves a hand dismissively and scrunches up his nose. “Forget about your deal with my brother. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

“Oh really?” I question, not really believing him. “He said he knew people who could help me return to my world.”

For a moment, there’s a flicker of recognition in his eyes, and then he grins. “Hmm, true, but I have a better deal.”

I furrow my brows. Well, he is a king, and if I base my knowledge of deals on Earth traditions, kings always have the better offer.

“Once upon a time, the realms were created to maintain order and peace,” he begins. I raise an eyebrow again, not expecting a history lesson.

“It’s an absolute rule that a person can only cross between realms for valid reasons like royal meetings, official court gatherings, commercial exports, imports, and life-threatening events.

“There’s a bridge to each realm guarded by certain individuals. Elijah plans to reach out to one of the guardians to help you return, but that’s not a solid plan.”

“Where are you going with this?” I ask, wanting to skip the history lesson.

The muscle in his jaw twitches. “Hold your tongue, woman, and wait,” he growls, then lets out a long, controlled sigh while glaring at me.

I’m pretty sure I just tested his patience.

“The bridges are the primary way to travel between realms, but there’s an exception,” he continues.

“There are gifted, powerful individuals who can hop between realms. Luckily for you, I’m one of them.”

Slowly, an idea forms in my head. Is he offering to help me?

“You want to go back, right? If you agree to my terms, I can get you back to your realm in a snap. Safe and sound. Not a scratch on you.”

My mouth falls open. I was right. He’s offering to help me. But there are conditions. I wonder what they are.

“Can I have a moment then?” I ask, realizing this conversation is going to take a while. “I just woke up. I need to freshen up and use the bathroom.”

“No, I’m a busy man,” he snaps. “I don’t want you wasting my time, so listen to me now.”

I sigh inwardly. This king really needs to learn some manners. “I’m listening then,” I say, giving in even though I don’t want to.

“As I said, this is purely business. I’m offering you a quick way home if you agree to marry me and become my queen.”

A wave of dread washes over me. “What!” My eyes go wide.

How would marrying him help me? As far as I understand, marrying him and becoming his queen means I’d be stuck in this werewolf-infested world forever. Forever!

“Are you out of your mind?” I blurt out. “I thought you wanted me to leave. Marrying you and becoming your queen would mean the opposite!”

“Don’t worry about that. I have a plan,” he says calmly, as if we’re just talking about the weather.

I struggle to keep my temper in check. God, it’s so damn hard. “Let me guess, you want me to die after we get married?”

“Hmm, thanks for the idea,” he says with a smirk. “But no, that’s not my plan. However, I might consider it as a backup.” I clench my teeth. He’s just too much!

“I’m offering you this because I don’t have a choice. As you’re well aware, thanks to my brother, I’m having trouble finding a queen.”

“Because you hate women,” I blurt out.

He ignores my comment and continues, his voice tight with barely suppressed anger. “The late king, my father, issued an absolute decree that I must marry and produce a queen for my kingdom.

“If I fail to do this, I’ll lose my position as the ruler of Phanteon. Obviously, I don’t want that to happen. It would be a blow to my pride.”

“Well, you wouldn’t have this problem if you didn’t hate women in the first place,” I point out.

He scowls at me. “Enough with your interruptions!”

I shrug, laughing silently to myself at the irony of his predicament. Ha! Serves him right. “Sorry, Your Highness. I can’t help myself.”

He sighs and settles back into his chair. “Luckily, the decree only requires me to find a queen and marry her. It doesn’t say anything about producing an heir.” He gives me a smug look.

I roll my eyes. That was going to be my next question. If I were to accept his proposal, I needed to be sure we wouldn’t be sharing a bed.

“Right,” I mutter. “That’s good to know.”

“Very good to know,” he adds, giving me a frosty glare.

For a moment, my pride as a woman takes a hit. It feels like he doesn’t see me as a desirable woman, a suitable partner in bed, or even someone worth kissing. It stings.

Ugh.

I shake off the unexpected thoughts. Damn it. Where did that come from?

He’s using me as a pawn—that much is clear. But then again, I’m doing the same. We’re both using each other for our own purposes.

“So,” he stands up and straightens his shirt, “I take it you’re in. I expect you at the castle in your wedding dress in two days.”

“Two days!” I exclaim, unsure of how to feel. Should I be happy or upset?

The sooner I marry him, the sooner I can go home; but the sooner I marry him, the sooner I become his, well, wife.

Even though it might be in name only, I’ll be expected to live with him in the castle, act affectionate in front of his subjects, and even share his room to keep up appearances.

Maybe this isn’t such a good idea after all.

But I can’t turn down his offer. He’s my quickest ticket out of this realm.

“Yes, in two days,” he confirms. “I want to fulfill my father’s decree on my birthday. Two celebrations in one. Bigger party, less expense.”

I scoff. So the king hates women and is a cheapskate. Or, in the terms of this realm, a gold miser.

“See you in two days then,” I respond, avoiding any talk of preparations. I’m sure he’s got that all sorted out.

He is the king of this kingdom, after all. He’ll probably plan a lavish wedding to show his subjects he’s not afraid of a woman.

Ha! What a grand charade that will be.

If these two days mean I get to stay in this manor alone and in peace, then I’ll gladly take it. As the saying goes, “The calm before the storm.”

So I’ll take this ‘calm’ before the mother of all shitstorms hits.