Luna of the Cursed Alpha King (Helga and Siegren)

AS HELGA STROLLED alongside the beta, a heavy silence hung in the air, making her wonder if he harbored any dislike towards her. Reflecting on her earlier behavior, she couldn't help but acknowledge that she might have come off as rude or uncivilized. She had hoped for a friendly introduction, some guidance on palace rules, or at least a casual chat. Compared to the imposing Alpha King, the beta seemed more approachable. With his gentle features, gray eyes, and brown hair, he exuded a sense of familiarity that put Helga at ease. He was one of those people who just exuded support and kindness, she had assumed he would be friendly, but maybe she was wrong. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by his voice, snapping her out of her reverie.

"I'm impressed," he said, catching her off guard. "You're quite straightforward and brave. I can't decide if that's because you don't value your life or simply naive."

Turning to look at her with his gray eyes, he seemed genuinely curious about her. He halted their walk, facing her directly, causing Helga to blink in surprise.

"Apologies for the late introduction," he said, adjusting his glasses with his index finger which has a cross tattoo before extending his hand, "I'm David, Beta of the Royal pack."

"Pleased to meet you, Beta, my name is Helga," she replied, shaking his hand, feeling slightly surprised as he was actually introducing himself properly despite her status as an orphan. He was respectful and welcoming, and that alone was enough for Helga to sigh a breath of relief. She assumed she would be mistreated otherwise, after all, the members of the royal pack are way more superior than Incarnadine.

"But may I ask, what's the real reason behind your volunteering?" David inquired, his steps echoing through the hall as they walked. Each servant they passed bowed their heads in respect at the sight of the beta and glanced at Helga with curiosity, whispering among themselves. She wasn't surprised by the attention though; she knew her unique features and presence must have stirred up some intrigue, especially since tonight was the Luna selection.

"My life is at risk," Helga admitted without hesitation. She believed honesty was the best policy in this situation. "Miranda, Ezra's mate, was planning to frame me tonight by poisoning Alpha Aldous."

David stopped in his tracks; disbelief written all over his face as he stared at Helga. He met her gaze with unwavering intensity, her green eyes piercing through him. At the moment, he felt a sense of unease wash over him, sensing there was something undeniably special about her that he couldn't quite grasp.

"How did you come to discover that?" he finally managed to ask, resuming their walk.

"I overheard her talking to his father, the beta of Silver Pack on the balcony," Helga replied, just the thought of it made shivers run down her spine. She had a chance to expose Miranda during her conversation with the Alpha King earlier, but she chose not to. Survival was her main goal, and she knew speaking up would only make things worse for her. Besides, she had other plans.

"Why didn't you tell that to the Alpha King when he asked why you volunteered? You could have exposed Miranda for the crime she was about to commit and be punished accordingly." David questioned, his curiosity about this mysterious woman growing with each conversation they had.

"Because I want Miranda to stay at Incarnadine and take over as the Luna," her answer caused him to halt in his tracks again, looking at her in surprise, but his confusion quickly vanished the moment he saw the smile on her face, "Miranda would surely bring ruins to the Incarnadine Pack, a fitting karma for them for abandoning and mistreating me."

David was at a loss for words after hearing her statement. The confidence in her tone and the unwavering gaze in her eyes suggested that she truly believed what she was saying, almost as if she had foreseen how events would unfold.

"Who are you, really?" he asked, his voice dripped with curiosity. Her enigmatic personality both intrigued and unsettled him. There was something about her that made him feel like he shouldn't let his guard down around her. He might be reading too much into things, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that she held a hidden power or danger. His mind raced with endless possibilities as he waited for her answer, unsure of what he might uncover about this mysterious woman before him.

"I know my entire existence is suspicious, and I'm just an orphan but... I'm not a bad person. All I want is to survive and be treated with kindness. The constant ridicule and torment, both physically and emotionally from the packs who abandoned me are wearing me down. I want to be someone that others can look up to, who cannot be mistreated or disrespected any longer. Someone who is deserving of genuine love and compassion." Helga's lips formed a bitter smile as she held onto this bittersweet dream. She then turned to David, whose expression shifted from curiosity to pity. With a chuckle, she continued speaking, "I will do whatever it takes to achieve this goal; I will work tirelessly to gain the trust of the Royal pack and become the Luna of the Alpha King. I want to show what an orphan like me is capable of."

The words she had just spoken caused a shiver to run down David's spine, but he couldn't help the smile that formed on his face. He had been skeptical of her intentions, but after hearing her explanation, he found it rather amusing. In an instant, his perception of her changed and he couldn't shake the feeling that she would be a valuable addition to their pack and would easily withstand the challenges of being the Luna candidate.

"Well, I'm looking forward to that," he said as he stopped in front of the double door. He opened it and stepped aside, letting Helga enter first. "This will be your temporary bed chamber, this is just a guest room but once you pass the test next week, you'll be given a room in the main palace."

"Thank you, this room is a drastic improvement from the attic I've been staying in for the past three months." Her eyes wandered around the luxurious room, taking in every lavish detail: the deep red curtains, the grand canopy bed with its soft white pillows, the plush fur carpeting on the floor, and the intricately carved wood sofa with a center table. It was clear that this room exuded wealth and royalty in every aspect.

"You stayed in the attic?" David frowned slightly, causing Helga to look at him.

"You're familiar with Incarnadine's prophecy, right?" she asked with a smile on her face. He simply nodded, adjusting his glasses. "When Miranda appeared, I was accused of being a fake so from being the future Luna of the pack, I was relegated to the role of a servant living in the attic."

She awkwardly shrugged, hesitant to divulge too much about her past. But she knew they needed to understand the reality of her life before arriving at the Alpha King's palace. She was sure he would conduct a thorough background check on her, so it was best to be upfront and honest about everything.

"As the sole candidate for this year's Luna Selection, you will be treated with utmost care and respect while living in the palace, regardless of your background," he reassured her, causing a warm smile to grow on her face. "Thank you, Beta David."

"Don't mention it. You can have a good night's rest here. I'll call for the servants to bring you food and new clothes." David informed her and Helga thanked him again before he left the room. As soon as she was alone, her legs gave out on her, and she stumbled onto the sofa. With a deep sigh and closing her eyes, all the tension that had plagued her earlier melted away, leaving behind the usual exhaustion that overtook her. In her state of weakness, she drifted into slumber on the comfortable sofa.

"HOW IS SHE?" Siegren asked as David stepped into his study. He took a sip of his wine and casually leaned against his chair, observing as the beta made his way toward the sofa.

"She was quite interesting," David answered, sitting on the sofa and loosening his tie. Siegren raised a brow, surprised as he looked at the beta. David rarely found anyone to be interesting, but he had to agree that Helga was definitely intriguing. Not only did she have the courage to volunteer as his Luna despite the rumors surrounding him and the past candidates who had met unfortunate fates, but she also wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Her determination was commendable, and it was refreshing for Siegren to finally be entertained by someone. He couldn't wait to see how this year's Luna Selection would unfold with Helga in the running.

"What makes you think so?" he inquired.

"She was not one to hold back or be shy; she spoke her mind and was direct. When I asked her why she had really volunteered, she gave me a surprising answer. She told me her life was in danger. She then went on to explain that Miranda, the new key to the prophecy and future Luna of Incarnadine, was planning to poison Alpha Aldous and frame her for it." David explained, watching how Siegren tapped the table with his index finger while listening to him. "When I asked why she didn't simply tell the truth and expose Miranda, she replied that she wanted Miranda to stay at Incarnadine's and become the Luna... Can you guess why?"

Siegren hummed, twirling the deep crimson liquid in his glass before taking a small sip. "No idea, why don't you enlighten me then?"

"Helga believes that Miranda will bring destruction upon the pack, a befitting karma they would soon face for abandoning and mistreating her..." David answered with a smirk on his lips. "Interesting, wouldn't you say, Your Majesty?"

"Indeed," Siegren nodded in agreement, surprised by her bold statement. As an orphan, she had no reason to be so confident, and this only added to his curiosity about her. As he sipped on his wine, Beta David shared more details about his interactions with Helga while escorting her to her chambers. Siegren listened attentively and nodded along until he gave an order.

"Do a thorough background check on her, dig into her past including childhood and true origins. Her identity has sparked my intense curiosity. I need to know more about her."