Chapter 4
Relina
“So, how do wolves get chosen to become concubines of the king?”
I heaved a sigh. “Through the annual test for all wolves if their strength and their capabilities are below the expected meter or if they haven’t shifted until now.”
“What is their role in the palace?”
I gulped as I stared at Madam Potter before answering, “To provide entertainment and pleasure for the Alpha King as his harem.”
“And?”
“A c-chance for the concubine to be his wife,” I replied, shaking my head. “But it's been decades since a concubine has become the queen of any of the Alpha Kings both the past and present.”
“Next, what makes the Alpha King different from the rest of the wolves?” Madam Potter ignored my statement, urging me to change the topic and she continued asking questions as I answered based on what I read.
“The unique eye color. All descendants of the High Alpha have amethyst eyes.”
After a few days of information overload, I felt completely burned out. Aslan hadn’t returned since our last conversation and according to Madam Potter, he was out for a task personally given by the Alpha King.
Speaking of Aslan… I frowned when one of the books I read was about the alpha attendants. After reading more information about their role, I couldn’t believe the discovery I’d found out about them.
“You are not paying attention again, Miss Relina.”
Oh. My cheeks turned red before I decided to bring it up. “Is it true about alpha attendants? The title itself is a guise to hide their true roles and in reality, they a-are…eunuchs?” A cold sweat dropped from my cheek. “So, does that mean these former leaders of the packs are now c-castrated?!”
Madam Potter shrugged with indignance, finding my discovery amusing to her eyes. “Why are you surprised? After all, wolves are sexual by nature. Why would the Alpha King let other men touch what belongs to him?”
“Then there is nothing for these Alphas to benefit as the alpha attendants at all! They can’t have a mate and they can’t provide an offspring for their pack anymore.”
Madam Potter sighed. “They didn’t come here on their will, Miss Relina. The ones who are the fallen Alphas, the ones being sold and the ones who have a debt to pay for the sake of their packs, this is the easy way out to earn money, don’t you think so?”
I hesitated for a moment. “Is there such an Alpha who would willingly become a eunuch?”
“Willingly?” The old woman laughed for the first time. “I would like to meet this fool who volunteered willingly!”
I remembered what Aslan said before he left who-knows-where.
‘Because I chose to.’
What in the name of the Moon Goddess is going on with his head? But seeing that Madam Potter had no clue about Aslan Grimulf, I decided to keep mum and continue with my studies.
Yet, it was such a shame. Aslan was a handsome man—you could describe him as beautiful now that I thought about it. He might be an annoying prick but it was a shame he lost the ability to breed.
“Why are you so interested in alpha attendants when their miserable lives have nothing to do with you?” Madam Potter gave me a suspicious look.
“Nothing.” Shaking my head, my eyes wander back to my notes.
After a while, I got up, my ass numbed from the hours of sitting on this same chair. “I needed a break.”
She eyed me warily but still gave me an approving grunt. “Don’t be too long.”
I got out of the bungalow for the first time, a sigh of relief escaped from my lips as I looked around. It had me thinking–hey, I should get a quick tour around here now that I had a moment to spare. I hadn’t properly toured around the palace grounds on my first day due to my stubbornness of locking myself inside my room.
My eyes wandered, blessed with the view of this picturesque garden. There are roses everywhere—all kinds that I haven’t seen before. Walking to the cobblestoned path behind the bungalow, I could see a gazebo beside a lake.
“Wow,” I muttered, running my hand along the wooden rail of the gazebo.
Loons are swimming around the lake, making those eerie sounds I often heard from the movies. I crouched closer as I stared at these clumsy birds limping at the grassy lakeside—who would have thought that these rare birds are residing within these palace walls?
Everything here seems beautiful but at the same time feels unreal. Up until now, I’m not sure if I’m dreaming that I’ve been living here as the Alpha King’s concubine.
Maybe I should just suck it up and deal with it? I thought to myself. I eat delicious meals everyday, I can request things from Aslan or the other maids to buy me things and not to mention, the view in this bungalow is amazing.
But I still miss my grandmother…I requested Aslan to send my letter to my grandmother the other day and all I wished was to communicate with her through letters.
Apparently, the internet and phones are prohibited here, making us more isolated from the world.
“There are always ups and downs but I guess it’s better to live a luxurious life like this than to struggle with the problems outside, dealing with the hostile stares of my pack.” I sighed as I got up, ready to return.
Suddenly, I overheard the voices from the maids on the far side of the elegant arched bridge. Without thinking, I ducked down, concealing myself before they caught me eavesdropping—though the reason for the sudden urge to hide eluded me.
“How long do you think the new concubine would last?” One of the maids asked.
Were they talking about me? My eyes slightly narrowed, shifting closer so I could hear the conversation properly.
“It’s been a while since we had a defiant omega. The last one was a male omega and well…you know where that led him to.”
“Oh? What happened?”
“He became the crows’ supper afterwards!” The third maid laughed. “Eyes gouged out just as the Alpha King ordered!”
“Nadine, you shouldn’t laugh over someone’s death!”
“What? He asked for it. After all, concubines know that if they dare to anger the king, they would be punished in the most grotesque way possible!”
What?
“Who knows if the new concubine will be next. I mean the Alpha King will visit her soon. Everyone is saying she is more beautiful than his favorite.”
“If she couldn’t please him, he might wring her neck during sex. It isn’t the first time he did that.”
NO!
Not long after, my feet ran on their own as I ran away before the maids would notice my presence. I ran past the bungalow and out of the pavement to the road and headed as far as possible.
My heart raced, my breath hitched, my chest throbbing on each thundering step as I ran as fast as I could.
No! No! No!
I didn’t want to die! I didn’t want to live the rest of my life thinking one day I would be killed once I made a single stupid mistake!
I NEED TO LEAVE THIS PALACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
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Article number 42: If a concubine decides to flee or attempt to leave the palace grounds, the concubine along with the alpha attendant shall be punished through execution.
