Luna of the Cursed Alpha King (Helga and Siegren)

"WHAT'S WRONG?" Helga's voice was filled with concern as she turned to look at Siegren, feeling flustered under his intense gaze that had been fixed on her for quite some time. The past few days had been filled with monotonous tasks as they prepared for their trip away from the palace. They had worked tirelessly, trying to complete their duties ahead of time so they could attend Alpha Ezra's wedding in the Incarnadine pack's territory. Now, as they made their way towards the pack's land, Helga couldn't help but wonder what was bothering Siegren and why he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her without saying anything.

"Nothing, it just feels like it's been a while since we've been together like this without thinking of our duties," Siegren answered and Helga couldn't help but chuckle at the irony, for she had been thinking the same thing when they first climbed into the vehicle. Despite sharing a bed every night after their hectic days, it no longer felt like enough for either of them. Their connection and desire for each other had grown stronger with each passing day, but they never spoke of it aloud. They simply let things unfold naturally, unaware of how deeply they were falling into their bond.

"Right, I'm really glad that the children were saved immediately." Helga exhaled deeply because the child trafficking case was resolved sooner than expected. Who would have thought that the recently built casino in the central plaza had an underground tunnel leading to an auction where abducted children were being sold? The Alpha owner had taken a huge risk by doing such a heinous act in the capital, and now, he paid for it with his life while his accomplices suffered mutilation and imprisonment in the dungeon.

"Well, I made a promise to you that I will rescue them," Siegren said, his smile warm as he gently squeezed their intertwined hands. “I'll make sure nothing like that ever happens again. I'll work tirelessly to ensure those innocent children have a better life than the one they're currently living."

A feeling of warmth spread through Helga's heart upon hearing his sincere words. It was evident that he genuinely cared for the children and their well-being. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him, knowing that his reputation as a tyrant prevented others from seeing his true nature as a capable and compassionate leader. It pained her to see him forced to hide his true self behind a mask in order to appease those who feared him.

"What if we constructed a school for them, where they could attend classes without any financial burden? We could organize a fundraiser to gather the necessary funds and make it happen." Helga proposed, causing Siegren to look at her with admiration. Just the thought of her idea made him a proud husband, "It breaks my heart to see children making a living in the streets instead of receiving an education. Don't you think providing them with this opportunity would make a positive impact in their lives?"

"That sounds perfect," Siegren agreed, "Let's discuss that further once we return to the palace."

"Really?" As Helga's emerald eyes met his, they danced with a spark of excitement. Siegren couldn't help but feel surprised; he had just witnessed another one of her endearing expressions. It was a rare sight, but he enjoyed it every time it graced her delicate features. Despite being in her early 20s, life had forced her to mature beyond her years. Yet in this 

moment, she let go and allowed herself to simply act without the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. And it was a beautiful thing to witness.

"Of course," he assured with a gentle smile before leaning in to peck her lips sweetly. Helga's cheeks flushed as she realized they were not alone, and the driver had likely seen their intimate moment. But Siegren's loving gaze and affectionate gestures made her forget any embarrassment. She couldn't help but admire how their relationship had evolved over the past few days, from strangers thrown together by fate to passionate mates bound by a strong bond. The warmth of his touch and the sweetness of his kiss filled her with a sense of contentment that she had never experienced before.

The two of them chatted throughout the entire journey, and since they were driving by car, it would only take them one night to reach Incarnadine's territory. Nonetheless, they opted to pull over at a hotel for a meal and some rest before continuing their journey the following day. However, instead of a rest-they experienced stress instead.

“Isn't it uncomfortable to keep wearing a mask?” Helga asked as Siegren removed them after they entered the room. During their meal at the hotel restaurant, many of the guests, both human and werewolves alike, blatantly showed their fear of the Alpha King without even trying to hide it. It pained Helga to see how they acted as if Siegren would harm them at any moment. Some even went as far as leaving the area just to avoid being near him, and it broke her heart.

"I'm accustomed to wearing it and it makes me feel more at ease."

This statement caused Helga's heart to ache. She knew Siegren only wore the mask for his own comfort, but she despised the fact that he felt compelled to wear it in the first place. It had nothing to do with hiding his identity; rather, everyone perceived him as having a monstrous appearance and feared that looking into his eyes would bring bad luck. Helga longed for people to see beyond the rumors and discover the truth: that Siegren was actually a kind, considerate, handsome, intelligent...and loved leader.

"Have

you ever thought about proving to everyone that you don't have an ugly appearance befitting for someone cursed?" She looked at me with a tense expression and clenched her fist slowly. "Please don't take this the wrong way, Your Majesty, but how much longer will you allow those cruel rumors about you to persist?"

Siegren's heart ached as he heard the pain and anger in her tone. He quickly set aside the mask he had been holding onto and approached her, sitting down next to her on the bed. He then gently took hold of her trembling hand, hoping to soothe her. He knew she was concerned and bothered about how others treated him beyond the royal pack, but he didn't realize how deeply it affected her.

"I really don't care about the rumor—”

"Well, I do, and I wanted it to stop." Helga couldn't let him continue without getting her word in. The events from earlier still fueled her anger, and she refused to let it go. It sickened her how everyone avoided him as if he had a contagious illness. Sure, they showed some form of respect by bowing upon his arrival, but their eyes betrayed their true thoughts. "You said you want to change the ways of the royal family; shouldn't we begin by ending these absurd rumors surrounding you?"

Helga gently rested her hand on top of his, meeting his red eyes that were often labeled as dangerous. Her expression then softened as she tenderly brushed her fingertips against his cheek, a gesture that seemed to come naturally now.

"I know this is a ridiculous and rude request, Your Majesty but...Please give yourself a chance to live freely without needing to wear a mask. There's nothing wrong with you, your eyes wouldn't make someone unfortunate." she tried to convince him, wanting to stop the prejudice against him. "Let's show everyone that there's a good person inside of you, that you're not a tyrant and your curse isn't something they should be afraid of."

Helga gazed into his piercing red eyes, patiently awaiting his response. However, Siegren remained quiet and eventually got to his feet, running his hands through his hair with a deep sigh that made her flinch. She couldn't help but remember how their relationship began as she felt his Alpha presence emanating from him, it was almost as if this conversation had triggered a switch within him, causing his walls to rise again.

"No, I will continue to wear my mask outside the palace until the very end. It doesn't matter if it's for myself or everyone else," His words stirred a mixture of emotions in Helga: hurt, frustration, sadness, disappointment, and anger all vied for control in her mind as she met his cold gaze.

"The mask is part of me," Siegren continued, his tone lacking any emotion, causing Helga's heart to quicken with unease. "I cannot simply remove it from my life just because you desire it."