Chapter 2 Untitled Chapter
Chapter Two
The matebond was intense and instant. It felt like one had died and reborn again, only to become two halves of a whole.
True mates couldn’t live without the other. They became the other’s reason for living and there were no others. That was the power of the matebond.
Everyone seated in the hall could feel and see the matebond, as it snapped into place between the two.
“Lyon!” The alpha king’s voice boomed out, startling them.
Prince Lyon was the first to recover from the shock and turned to face his father.
“Lyon, leave the slave.” The king waved dismissively at her. “The ladies are waiting. You have to pick a mate before the full moon goes.”
“I cannot choose any of them, father.”
“What do you mean, son? The females are standing right here.”
Lyon stared directly at his father. “I cannot choose any of them because the goddess has already chosen for me. This slave, as you said, is my mate.”
As soon as Lyon confirmed it, all hell broke loose. The crowd were clamoring, and the nobles were flabbergasted. No one could have predicted this turn of events.
An Alpha mated to an omega.
The three gossiping omegas were present and stared in disbelief.
“True mates?” One of the noble men uttered in disbelief, “That phenomenon hasn’t happened since the Great War!”
“How can the future King be mated with a slave? She’s human! A slave!” Another cried.
The whole place was in chaos.
“Silence!”
The Alpha king’s voice thundered out and immediately the whole place fell as silent as a tomb.
For the first time during this event, the king stood up from his throne, his eyes flashing deadly fire.
“Lyon, what is the meaning of this? You know very well that our laws don’t permit an Alpha to be mated to an Omega.” The alpha king said, outraged.
“Yes but I didn’t choose her. Not in the way you mean. When I touched her, I felt the sparks of the mate bond.” He looked at Rina. “She’s my true mate, chosen for me by the moon goddess herself.”
The alpha king was vibrating with fury.
“Stop! An alpha cannot be mated to an omega! It is impossible.” His gaze sliced to Rina who trembled at the ire in his gaze. “This must be a trick by the witch. Guards, arrest her!”
“No one will touch her.” The order by the prince was enough to halt the guards in their tracks.
The entire pack was holding their breaths, watching how this would play out. For the first time the prince was defying his father, the alpha king of all the four kingdoms.
Rina’s entire body was shaking badly. Her legs felt like noodles. The only thing keeping her upright was Lyon’s hands which have never left her arm since this nightmare began.
Before the king could spark at this direct challenge to his authority by his own son, the seer who had been watching things unfold interrupted.
“Everyone out!”
The command was enough to make the entire pack leave the hall until the only ones remaining were the Alpha king, the seer and high ranking noble men, the Alpha prince and of course, Rina.
The seer stepped forward. “Alpha prince, I'm sure you can understand our skepticism. The last record of true mates was over two hundred years ago. If what you say is true, then would you mind if I conduct a small test?”
“Will it hurt her?”
The seer’s eyes narrowed. Already the prince seemed to care so much for the human.
“Only a little bit.”
After hesitating, the prince nodded and the seer brought out a small ceremonial dagger and made a straight cut on the prince’s arm. Under everyone’s gaze the same cut appeared on Rina’s arm on the same exact spot.
Everyone was astonished. They were really mates?
“It’s true. They are really mates.” The seer confirmed gravely.
The alpha king who had been livid before was now calmly sitting on his throne.
“Wise woman, is there any way to break this bond?” The king addressed the seer coldly.
Before the seer could answer, Lyon said unflinchingly. “No one’s breaking any bond. I’ll not spit on the face of the goddess by rejecting her gift to me.”
“There’s no way that an omega can be the Luna, Queen of all the four kingdoms.” He sneered at Rina who was cowering at all the dominance in the room. “She’s weak. A spineless creature. I’ll never accept her.”
“You don’t have a choice, father.”
The tension between father and son was rising, the power so dominant that even the strongest guards in the room were finding it difficult to even breathe.
“You dare challenge me son?”
“I might have a solution,” the seer said hastily. “I recommend the Luna challenges.”
The Luna challenges was a trial where one woman fought seven females and if she successfully defeated them, she automatically became the mate of the alpha and Luna of the pack.
“The Luna challenges?” One of the noble men asked. “But won’t that be too dangerous for an omega?”
“I’m afraid that's the only way. If the omega can defeat the seven best female warriors in the kingdom then she’ll prove that she is worthy and will be accepted as the mate and Luna queen of the kingdoms.”
“Do you agree with this, your majesty?”
The alpha king was pleased with this idea. He was certain that the weakling would never win. He nodded.
The seer turned to Lyon next. “Alpha Lyon do you agree that in order to claim the female she has to prove her worth by defeating seven female warriors?”
There was a thick silence as they all awaited Lyon’s answer.
“And what if I don’t?” The prince's voice was silky, soft and dangerous.
“The girl will be whipped a hundred and fifty times for insubordination and interruption of royal affairs.” The alpha king interjected harshly.
Just then a small voice spoke.
“I agree.”
The eyes of the people in the room all turned to Rina in surprise. Somehow it hadn’t occurred to them that the omega would ever agree to such a thing.
“No, Rina don’t-”
On shaky legs, she stepped forward letting go of Lyon’s hand on her arm.
She didn’t want to be the cause of a rift between the alpha king and his son. If she had to participate in this challenge for peace to reign, she would gladly accept it.
She raised her chin, her voice laced with determination and repeated, “I agree to the Luna challenges.”
