Chapter 4 The one hand king

~ KELANI ~

I stood and dusted myself.

"Follow me." he said simply.

I did. We walked through a long pathway before arriving at a building so grand, I could tell by myself it was the royal palace.

On entering the building, I had to press my lips firmly together to stop my mouth from hanging open. The ceiling stretched into the high skies, held up by mighty pillars made from precious stones. Walls covered in lush tapestry surrounded me. A beautiful fountain sat in the middle of the large space, the water spouting in delicate patterns. I officially had a mental picture to put to the word; luxury.

We continued through a labyrinth of corridors that led to massive double doors. They opened from within as we approached and I was greeted with a view of the most magnificent court I had ever seen. My eyes scanned the room as I walked in behind the guard. Chairs were lined up on both sides of the room, most empty but few occupied by well-dressed men who watched me like hawks. Right ahead on a large cushioned throne sat a bulky man with only one hand.

Finally, King Aries. My first kill. Right there, I decided that I would kill him just like he killed my parents. I would chop his head off and set it on his throne. His blood would soak his seat like my pack's blood had soaked our soil.

But first, greetings.

"Hail your Majesty, King Aries." I greeted as the guard who led me in had done.

The king was silent for a long time, scrutinizing me from my hair - no, head - to my dirty feet before responding.

"So you are the child of the miserable Alpha Trojan and his all so beautiful mate, Luna Misella," he drawled arrogantly, "You know, just before I sliced off her head, I wondered what it would feel like to have her perfect body under me."

I hoped my expressive face was hiding my disgust well. On the seat by his right sat a woman in an exquisite dress with lacy sleeves and a long train. She was probably King Aries's queen so why did he feel so comfortable saying such things in her presence? My father would never.

He continued. "I see you have her eyes and skin. It's a pity you are a male. You would have replaced her in my bed."

Male??? Did he just call me male?

No one else in the room flinched. That was when it hit me; Lord Yuso asking me intensive questions about pack training, the warriors expecting me to take a piss standing, being thrown into a male cell...

They all really thought I was male. Who knew being bald and clad in three layers of clothing including an old man's unflattering tunic could make me look so different?

"What's your name, boy?" King Aries asked.

My first instinct was to correct him, to say I was female not male. But I decided to play along. Maybe the universe had a reason for their mistake. Maybe the Goddess was protecting me from something I didn't know yet.

"Kelani... Alpha Kelani." I replied.

"Your parents made this hard, Kelani. It was supposed to be sooo easy. The Shanas needed good land for farming and we heard Left Stone has the best soil there is. I asked Alpha Trojan for half of Left Stone in exchange for... nothing!" he laughed, immediately joined by the other men sitting in the courtroom.

"He refused. So I did what I do best. I tried to take it by force but look how it ended." He waved his handless arm. It felt oddly satisfying to see my father's handiwork on him.

"Then I had to make a deal with the Alpha of the neighboring pack. Wise leader. I opened his eyes to the opportunity he was missing. Why pay for milk when you can own the whole cow? We could seize Left Stone; Shanakoi gets half while his pack gets the other half to do as they please."

My eyes became as wide as saucers. So Right Stone threw away centuries of pack friendship just for acres of land? When they could have asked my father and he would have leased them as many as they wanted for their farming? Morons.

"At the end of the day, I got what I wanted. I always do," he grinned before barking an order, "Send for Lord Yuso!"

Two guards promptly bowed and marched out of the room. They returned minutes later with Lord Yuso.

He bowed to King Aries. "Hail your Majesty."

"Yuso, my trusted brother. The son of the Left Stone Alpha, what do you reckon we do with him? He is not fit to be a menial slave. Maybe a s*x slave?"

My heart started palpitating wildly. I couldn't be a s*x slave. The Moon Goddess said my first s*xual intercourse had to be with my fated mate in order for me to get my hair back. Besides, they would find out I wasn't male and had willfully led them on to believe I was. Dear Goddess, please.

My eyes darted to Lord Yuso who had a bored look on his face.

"He is your captive, King Aries. Do with him whatever you wish."

"Whatever I wish..." King Aries repeated as he twisted his goatee with his index finger, "If he has to work as a slave, whether a menial or s*x slave, he would be dead before we know it. His frail body cannot handle the stress."

Apparently, I still looked sickly. No one knew the Moon Goddess had healed me and I was no longer a weak wolf. It was only a matter of time before my body began to show signs of good health. Weight gain. High energy levels. Even more radiant skin...

"Why let his death be a waste when he can entertain us at the Onyx?" He looked around, as if for objections but the court remained quiet. "I have decided. At midnight, the young Alpha will be executed at the Onyx!"

The colour drained from my face and my heart palpitations doubled. So they had indeed brought me all the way just to kill me. Was this really the end? Would I die like the rest of my pack while our killers walked free?

Just then, a door beside the king's throne burst open and a young girl ran in, laughing hysterically. She wore regal garments and looked absolutely beautiful, but she was acting crazy.

Two older women followed closely, trying to pull her back through the door. An attempt that proved futile.

King Aries rose from his throne in fury. "Foolish females! Can you not do anything right? This is why your kind are exempted from important matters because you cannot be trusted with a simple task!"

"Hail your Majesty, King Aries," the older women bowed in unison before one started speaking while the other nodded in agreement. "We desperately tried to keep the princess away, your Majesty. But she fled her chambers saying her friend was in the courtroom. She even used her gifts to fight us when we tried to hold her back."

"Excuses! You have succeeded in embarrassing me in front of my court. You must face the consequences." he fumed.

"My friend!" the princess shrieked excitedly as she ran to me and gave me a hug. Seeing her up close, it was crystal clear that she wasn't in her right mind. Her eyes were vacant and she had a permanent grin on her lips. She was insane.

"My mood is ruined. Return the princess to her chambers. Take the young Alpha back to his cell. He will be executed tomorrow night." he ordered.

"Executed?!" the princess screamed in horror like I was her only child before laughing mindlessly again, "But he is my friend, father. If you kill him, you kill me as well. I am not leaving his side."

I was her friend? I had never seen this girl a day in my life.

King Aries looked at her for a while, then at the rest of the court before his eyes settled on me.

"Very well then," he started with a resigned shrug, "It seems we have found another use for you, young Alpha. Since my little princess has taken an interest in your 'friendship', you shall be her personal slave. You are required to do whatever she wants you to. What-ever."

His eyes narrowed as he concluded. "If you are any wiser than your father, you can tell she is... unwell. Let no harm come to her. From you, someone else or even herself. I would not hesitate to kill you with my own hands... well, hand."

"Yes, your Majesty," I quavered as I nodded vehemently, still shaken from the thought of being executed, "Thank you."

"Follow us." one of the older women said and I even though I was suddenly feeling very lightheaded, I obliged, gingerly placing one foot in front of the other. We left the courtroom through the same door they came in from.

The princess dragged me along eagerly, chattering about everything and nothing, her eyes still widely vacant. The last thing I remember was being amused that King Aries also had a child of disappointment before my knees buckled and my world went black.