The Alpha’s Bride Crowned With Shadows by Tcee Eke
Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE – ROYAL DILEMMA

LYRA

“Uncle, please,” I pleaded, tears streaming down my cheeks as he dragged me from the sitting room to the basement where my room was.

“I promise I’ll be good, I won’t disturb you and aunty again,” I wailed but it all fell on deaf ears.

“I don’t want to strike you, Lyra, pack your things and go to the werewolf palace,” he said.

I shivered at the thought of being mated to the werewolf prince. It was rumored her was a crippled, and very cruel. He would burn the head of his slaves if they didn’t serve him properly.

He hasn’t found his fated and he was useless. His uncle had taken over the throne after his parents died in a rogue attack five years ago and since then no one had seen him while he had remained in the palace and became a useless, crippled, tyrant.

I had heard a few days ago that the Prince was looking for a bride who would bear him pups so the royal lineage can continue. I hadn’t paid much attention to it because I didn’t think my uncle would go as far as taking me to that tyrant.

“Uncle, he would kill me,” I cried, remembering the story of the girl who he had taken as his mate two years ago and she had mysteriously disappeared.

“It’s all rumors, I’m sure you would love to go there and know the truth,” my uncle sneered, “Aren’t you such a curious cat?”

“Uncle…”

He slapped me so hard I saw stars.

“Pack your things, Lyra,” he instructed.

Blinking back the tears that threatened to stream down my cheeks, I packed my things into a small duffel bag. He then dragged me out of the house and led me to the palace.

The road to the palace wasn’t far from our house as the palace was in the middle of the town. The structure of the building was ancient but beautiful.

There were about six guards on duty when my uncle arrived.

“State your name and purpose,” the guard ordered.

“Name is Mark Fitch, I’m a Gamma wolf, I would like to present my daughter as the Prince’s bride,” he stated.

I felt dread rise within me as the gates opened and I was led inside while my uncle remained outside.

“You may leave, she belongs to the royal family now,” the guards informed him.

I watched as my uncle walked away, grinning while I remained inside the compound, terrified and begging him to come back.

“Silence!” the guards growled at me, “The werewolf king doesn’t entertain noise on the palace grounds.”

I wiped off a stray tear as I whimpered. The second guard led me to the palace courtyard before he handed me over to an elderly woman.

I was so terrified I couldn’t even bear the thought of admiring the palace especially since this was the first time I’ve been here.

“My name is Leeza. Are you alright, young pup?” the woman asked me.

I took in her kind appearance, she had grey long hair and wise brown eyes.

“I wanna go home,” I cried as she led me into the palace hallway.

The woman chuckled mirthlessly, “I don’t think you have a home again at least not after your family sold you here.”

I frowned, “Sold?”

She nodded, “The minute a werewolf is brought to the palace by their family, they are paid because those people become slaves to the palace and can’t return back home unless someone from the royal family allows it.”

I shook my head trying to make sense of what she was saying but it seemed like I wasn’t able to comprehend anything.

“No, they wouldn’t. My uncle said he’s bringing me to mate with the Prince,” I argued.

“Still doesn’t mean you’re not a prisoner, so best get yourself prepared to face the Prince rather than wailing of going home because you have no home,” the woman stated.

Goosebumps crawled up my skin as I stared at her and tears rolled down my cheeks even though I tried to stop it.

The woman looked at me and sighed, “I don’t think you’re going to survive here for long, child.”

Her words seemed to make more tears flow freely down my cheeks as I stared at her.

“What am I going to do now?” I asked, sniffling.

“What’s your name, child?” she asked me.

“Lyra,” I answered.

“Well, Lyra, you’re going to wait for the Prince in the palace waiting room and if you’re so lucky, the Prince will love you and then perhaps you wouldn’t want to go home again,” she said.

I shook my head again, “I heard he’s a bully and cruel and disabled.”

“Rumors in the palace will only get you killed,” she said to me.

Fear coursed through my veins as she led me to the palace waiting room. It was a grand room filled with paintings of past and present royal family. The only portrait missing was that of the Prince.

I had no idea what he looked like and that thought alone terrified me as I sat down in the empty waiting room waiting for what could possibly be a death sentence for me.

***

KIAN

“What is this I’m hearing, Kian?”

I remained seated on the wheelchair without making an effort to stand up as I kept staring out of the window.

My Beta and best friend, James, was standing beside me as his hands rested on my wheelchair while my uncle sauntered in, his voice shaking with rage.

“Kian!” my uncle growled.

I finally wheeled the chair to face him and sighed.

“What do you want, Harold?” I asked, a tired look on my face.

My uncle’s eyes flew open at the mention of his name. I knew he hated it when I used his name instead of his title but I’d rather chew out my tongue rather than address him with a title that he stole.

“Get out!” he growled.

I nodded at James and gave him the signal to leave. The moment the door was closed behind us, my uncle held my throat in a choking hold.

“I… can’t… Breathe…” I stuttered, tapping at his hands.

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t!” Harold hissed.

I pulled out his hands and twisted it just slightly and he yelped as I remained seated in the wheelchair.

“Even in this condition I can break your fingers faster than you can say a word,” I said to him calmly.

He stared at me, anger visible in his cruel brown eyes and scoffed.

“Try it and you’ll never see them again,” he threatened.

I relaxed, still trying to keep in the rage I was feeling.

“What do you want, Harold?” I asked him.

“I asked you to get married and you sent all the eligible brides away,” he snapped.

“Why do you want me to get married? I’m a useless, disabled Prince,” I stated, a smirk playing on my l*ps.

“Stop smirking and answer my question!” Harold snapped.

“You didn’t ask a question, Harold, stop yelling you’re going to collapse from stress,” I replied.

I noticed how Harold clenched his fist and unclenched it as he took deep breath to calm himself.

“You’re acting so cocky, Kian, you seem to have forgotten your place in this palace!” Harold snapped.

I sighed, “What do you want me to do?”

“I have selected a wife for you, her name is Nora and she will be your mate. You need to have a mate as the Prince that you are and keep up with your appearances,” Harold replied.

“Why would you bring in a new face to the palace? To me especially?” I asked, suspicion lacing my tone.

“Like I said, you need to keep up your appearances,” Harold replied.

“Fine,” I nodded.

He chuckled, “You don’t have a choice, Kian, no matter how strong you are there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Then with those words he turned and left my room. I waited for a few minutes before James entered the room again.

“My Prince,” James bowed slightly.

I waved him off, “Cut the formalities, James, give me an update.”

“I’ve seen the person your uncle choose for you, I think she might be a spy,” James said.

“We’ll have to be extremely careful around her,” I stated.

James nodded.

I noticed his countenance and I frowned, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m just worried about her,” James replied.

“We’ll get them back soon, the plan is already in motion that’s why we can’t have anyb*dy jeopardizing it,” I said.

James nodded, “There’s another thing.”

“What? Time isn’t on our side again, James.”

“There’s a girl in the waiting room, she was brought here by her uncle to be your bride,” James said.

“She didn’t leave with the others?” I asked.

James shook his head, “She came after Harold had already selected Nora.”

“Get rid of her. Tell her she’s free to go. Inform Leeza and get back here now,” I ordered.

The moment James left I picked up my sword that was lying on the table and sighed. I just have to keep up this act for a little while then I would be able to save them.

James entered the room after a few minutes and then locked it securely. He stared at me and I nodded.

“Let’s go,” I said.

With one swift movement, I stood up from the wheelchair and headed to the secret passageway that was hidden in my office.

James followed me closely behind as we went towards the underground bunker where other werewolves were already gathered.

“Are you ready?” James asked.

I nodded as he handed me the skull mask. I secured it around my face leaving only my eyes showing as we pushed the door open and entered.

“Welcome Trainer!” the werewolves waiting chanted.

I smiled, this was the one place I could be myself for the past five years and soon, I would reclaim the throne from Harold and rescue them.