The Alpha's Royal Concubine

　　Chapter||Chapter One

　　Relina

　　I stared at the calendar as I crossed out another number with a red pen. I stepped back, carefully counting the dates with a grim expression.

　　Six days, twelve hours and eighteen min–no, nineteen minutes.

　　That was how long I had been staying in the Royal Concubine Palace. That was how long I’d been wearing different luxurious dresses from different high-class brands that most women yearn to have for a lifetime. And—I sighed as I slumped back on my seat–that was how long I’d been the official “concubine” of the King.

　　A position I was forced to be in.

　　==================

　　“Are you Miss Relina Keane?” A handsome man around his early 20s entered the living room. He was carrying a notebook with scribbles of names I assumed to be a list. “I’ve come here to personally collect you.”

　　When our eyes met, the man immediately gave me a professional smile.

　　My grandmother's hand squeezed mine, trying to give me comfort, yet I felt her small body trembled.

　　“Ah, where are my manners?” The young man gave me and my grandmother a flawless bow and I immediately knew this man—this Alpha, was trained for this.

　　“My name is Aslan Grimulf, one of the Alpha attendants of the Royal Concubine Hall.”

　　I refused to speak. He noticed it immediately and his facade hadn’t broken from my resilience.

　　"You are far more beautiful in person than the photo your father sent me," he said as his handsome face eyed me quizzically. "The royal council could say that you're equally or if not, far more beautiful than the King's favorite."

　　"C-can you w-wait until we get the second test result?” My grandmother finally spoke, changing the topic. “T-The first doctor might make a mistake and—”

　　He placed his hand on his lips as he cleared his throat. “There is no mistake with the results given to all wolves, ma’am. And Miss Relina Keane’s results are clear: She’s weaker than any wolf shown for this week’s batch.”

　　Nowadays, wolves rely on taking the tests of their raw strength and efficiency through tests of their DNA, their physical exercises and emotional quotient.

　　I was aware that I wasn’t as incredible as my siblings but to receive the lowest score in the history? It only brought shame to my father’s pack!

　　My grandmother shook her head. “N-No, that’s impossible. My Relina isn’t weak. S-She’s stronger than that!”

　　He flipped a page of his “list” notebook. “July 4, Independence Day: During the Wolf Scavenger Hunt, Relina Keane failed to kill the target and thus, brought failure to her team. July 8, Relina Keane nearly got assaulted upon the discovery of her results as an Omega and she failed to defend herself despite her powerful lineage. July 14, Relina Keane hasn’t gotten her wolf yet while her peers have theirs after consulting a doctor. July 15—”

　　“That’s all right, I get it! You don’t need to tell everything in front of my grandmother!” I snapped, my cheeks burning red from shame while my grandmother sobbed on my shoulder. I patted her back while the Alpha, Aslan Grimulf and I exchanged stares: my glare for this handsome stranger in my house and his eyes—the bluest I’ve ever seen–return with indifference.

　　“I suppose a clarification is needed to convince your grandmother, Miss Keane. After all, those families who refused to send off their omega offspring shall be punished under the decree of section 4.”

　　It was an implication of warning despite that reassuring smile.

　　My father entered the living room and was the only one in high-spirits as he smiled at our visitor.

　　"So, is it true that we receive money every month?"

　　Aslan nodded. "Yes, as the law stated if we take the omega from their household, the family will be compensated.” He paused before he added, “That is, as long as the omega is “living and breathing” within the palace.”

　　‘W-what…what’s that supposed to mean?’ I thought, more alarmed.

　　Dad's eyes glimmered at the thought of it and turned to me. "Well, Relina. We can't let this gentleman wait. I already packed all of your things, so you're ready to go." He pulled me away from my grandmother as she continued crying for my name, reaching out to me but my father held her, restrained her from grabbing me.

　　"Please, Cedric! She's my grandchild! I can't lose her!" She said in between sobs.

　　"She's not your ONLY grandchild, mother! My children have fully shifted but her! Besides, she is doing us a favor now that we have already lost our fortune! This is our chance of a comeback!" His eyes widened, realizing that he said embarrassing words in front of a high-class Alpha and then, he glared at me. "Don't just stand there, leave!"

　　It hurt a lot hearing these words from your biological father. My hands clenched tight while I bit my lower lip.

　　I couldn't say anything or else I would only say spiteful words before my parting. My grandmother didn't deserve to witness my anger at our last moment together.

　　W-wait…our last moment together? I felt a cold sweat drop from my forehead.

　　"Shall we go, Miss Keane?" The young Alpha said, noticing my brows furrowed.

　　“Wait, c-can I at least hug my grandmother?”

　　“You already had a touching farewell already, now go or else you’ll worsen it for my mother!” My father bellowed as he swung his arm with an aggressive force.

　　I was too stunned to move. The fact that he called her “mother” instead of the usual “your grandmother” when talking to me didn’t sit through me.

　　But what should we do now that my so-called prestigious family has now fallen grace after one bankruptcy after another?

　　I stared at my grandmother as I gave her a sad smile.

　　"Goodbye, granny. P-please take care of yourself.”

　　My grandmother cried loudly as her knees dropped on the floor, my name was the only word she uttered after we left the living room.

　　My heart ached and I immediately grabbed the Alpha's sleeve.

　　"Mr. G-Grimulf—”

　　“Oh, please, call me Aslan. I am not worthy to be addressed with respect, Miss Keane,” he said, calmly.

　　An Alpha giving respect to an omega? This is something I couldn’t understand until now. Are the Alpha King’s concubines that precious to be addressed with respect?

　　I stared at his face once more.

　　He, too, was from a noble lineage of strong Alphas, I noted. Grimulf was a notable family name in Europe.

　　Yet why did he give up that privilege of ruling a prestigious pack to work for the royal family?

　　“Miss Keane?” He asked and it snapped me back to reality.

　　“Oh, right…” I took a deep breath. It wasn’t the right time to question this enigmatic man. “If I become a concubine,will I be able to visit my grandmother sometimes?”

　　Aslan's lips formed a thin smile.

　　"I am afraid I couldn't answer that. It is all entirely up to His Majesty…"

　　"...as his personal property."

　　=======================

　　The country that was once ruled in Democracy changed to monarchy the moment a High Alpha announced himself as the king. It is rumored the High Alpha is the descendant of Fenrir and the Moon Goddess.

　　Declaring all weak wolves—be it wolfless, omegas or incapable of bringing usefulness to the pack, are going to be his concubines for the rest of their lives.

　　No questions asked.

　　After all, in this new era, the king’s word is absolute.

　　In our eyes, we deemed these wolves as fortunate to be blessed living in the Palace for the rest of their lives in luxury. Yet, the moment they step inside the Palace, it is as if they ceased to exist, forgotten and not shown in the public eye even once.

　　And that scared me the most: to be abandoned and forgotten.

　　I, Relina Keane, should be fortunate to be born in a prominent family of Betas directly working for the Alpha of the Whitemoon Pack.

　　Yet, this was the first time my pack had a weak omega. My father and my siblings were humiliated afterwards.

　　And thus, here I was back in the present, staring at the birds as they flew farther from the distance and away from the Palace.

　　At that moment, I wished I was mistaken as a bird so I could fly farther away from this prison you called a “paradise”.