Luna of the Cursed Alpha King (Helga and Siegren)

"UGH!" Helga let out a low groan, resting her palm against the cool bathroom wall. After having breakfast with the Alpha King, she felt like she was going to get indigestion. She couldn't tell if it was because she hadn't eaten much in a while or if his presence made her stomach uneasy. Regardless, all she wanted to do now was hide under the covers and stay there for days. She sighed and closed her eyes, only to open them again when she heard a knock on the door. "It's me David." The beta said, "Siegren had instructed me to give you a tour of the palace to help you become acquainted with your new surroundings."

With a smile on her face, Helga stepped out of the room and composed herself. The discomfort she had been feeling moments ago vanished as she heard that she would get to tour the palace. As a child, she had always been fascinated by the royal palace and had read countless books about it. She even had a photo of it that she would often stare at, dreaming of one day seeing it for herself.

Whenever Alpha Aldous and Luna Viola would visit the palace with Ezra, Helga would beg to join them, but her requests were always declined. They would kindly tell her that it wasn't a place for someone like her and that she should wait until she became the Luna. Looking back, Helga realized they had always looked down on her in secret, but at the time, she was too young and naive to even notice.

"Is something the matter?" David's voice startled her out of her thoughts, causing her to blink rapidly as if coming out of a trance. He looked at her, realizing that she appeared pale and uneasy, possibly due to having breakfast with Siegren moments ago.

"Yeah, I just felt a little queasy. I think I may have eaten too much," Helga's cheeks flushed slightly as she replied, her hand rubbing her arm in a sheepish manner. David nodded knowingly; it was no surprise that she had an indigestion after being seated at the same table as Siegren. It wasn't the first time someone had experienced stomach troubles during a meal with him. The Alpha King's presence exuded power and authority, making even the most confident individuals feel uneasy in his presence.

"You'll get used to his presence, eventually." he assured her, causing Helga to blink in surprise. Perhaps the beta had guessed the reason for her queasiness. "Siegren may appear intimidating at first, but you'll grow accustomed to him with time. You'll soon see that he's not quite as he appears on the surface."

David flashed a soft smile, and began to move forward, with Helga by his side, eagerly listening to his words. She couldn't wait to get a better sense of the Alpha King's true character.

"His Alpha presence was overwhelmingly dominant, making it difficult to even be in the same room as him. Personality-wise, he could come off as rude and distant, but underneath that exterior is a kind and nurturing heart. However, not many people are able to see past his facade, which is why you must be patient and put in effort to earn his affection." David added, his tone was tender and filled with admiration, showing just how much he respected the Alpha King.

As Helga strolled beside him down the hallway, she couldn't help but wonder if any rumors she had heard about the Alpha King was merely exaggeration. "But do you mind if I ask about his curse?"

The words tumbled out of Helga's mouth even before she could stop them, fueled by her curiosity. David stopped in his tracks, his previously relaxed expression now tensed and guarded as he turned to face her. His features were clouded with a mixture of emotions- doubt and caution. Helga immediately regretted her question, realizing it must be a sensitive topic for him. "Sorry, was that a touchy subject?"

"No, not really," he shook his head, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he spoke. "But I'll answer your question once you have been officially crowned as Queen Luna."

With a wave of his hand, he gestured for her to follow him as he began a tour around the magnificent palace. His voice was low and soothing as he explained the layout of the palace, pointing out important rooms and areas that she would need to know about for now. The walls and ceilings were adorned with intricate designs, each one telling a story of Verdentia's rich history. The colors used were bold and vibrant, capturing the eye and inviting closer inspection. The patterns seemed to come alive as the light from the windows danced across them, creating a mesmerizing display. Not only that but the air was filled with a warm, regal scent like a mix of jasmine and sandalwood. It was a comforting and luxurious fragrance that enveloped Helga as she walked through the palace grounds. "Helga," a familiar voice called out to her as she and Beta David were taking a leisurely walk in the garden. She froze and turned to see Ezra striding towards her. She was surprised to see him there; she had assumed he would have left the palace with the Alpha and Luna. Was he staying here with Miranda as well? She wondered.

"Good morning, Beta David, may I borrow her for a moment? I need to have a word with her." Ezra said, stopping in front of them. David glanced at Helga and she gave him a subtle nod of approval. As the beta, he was hesitant to leave her alone with the future Alpha of Incarnadine, but he had no valid reason to intervene.

"Just guarantee that you won't cause any harm to her. She's been selected as the future Luna of the Royal Pack, and any harm that comes to her will have severe consequences." David's tone was serious, and Ezra nodded in understanding.

Regardless of the test, the Alpha King had assigned Helga, which she would have to take in a matter of days, it didn't change the fact that she could potentially become the Luna of their pack. To ensure her safety until the day of her test, Siegren had given specific instructions to make sure she was protected and taken care of at all times.

"Of course. Have a good day." Ezra responded. Then, Beta David walked off, once he was far enough, Ezra looked at Helga expectantly which led her to raise an eyebrow before speaking.

"Why are you still here at the Palace" she started to ask, but Ezra's forceful tug on her arms made her fall silent. She frowned, yanking her arms out of his hold while shooting daggers at him, "What are you doing? Didn't you listen to what Beta David just said?" "I should be the one questioning you. What were you thinking? Volunteering like that? Are you out of your mind?" he gritted through clenched teeth. His parents were equally furious and humiliated by Helga's impulsive actions during the banquet. Alpha Aldous even reprimanded him for not keeping a tighter leash on Helga.

"I may be considered insane, but I don't care. I'd rather be the Alpha King's mate and Luna than continue to endure the mistreatment and humiliation in your pack. The only reason I haven't left yet is because I'm waiting for the perfect opportunity to escape." She clenched her fist, feeling Stella's anger bubbling up from deep within her soul. She longed to tear Ezra apart, but she knew she had to restrain her wolf for now. They couldn't afford any mistakes when they were so close to escaping the hellish environment they had endured. Helga was fed up with the constant mistreatment, humiliation, and torment from her fellow pack members. She refused to let them have the satisfaction of getting the last laugh.

"You really think I'll let that happen? There's no escaping me; I will always have a hold on you. And remember, my father saved your life; you owe everything to us," Ezra growled, clenching his jaw and glaring at Helga with intense anger but she just rolled her eyes and scoffed in response, surprising him.

"Look here, I am grateful to Alpha Aldous for saving my life; I will never forget that. But I have already repaid him by dedicating twelve years of service to the pack. I did half of Luna Viola's duties and was practically a slave, except for the slight privilege of being the key to the prophecy until recently. However, now that you have abandoned me, I no longer feel indebted to you in any way."

Ezra was seething with anger. He couldn't believe this was the same Helga he had known for so long. She had always been compliant and never talked back, even when he treated her poorly. As children, she always listened to his parents and him like a loyal dog. His fists tightened as he realized his father was right; he should have kept a tighter rein on Helga. It turns out, she had more fire in her than he ever imagined.

Throughout the years, she presented herself as nothing but charming and kind. She was always affectionate and clingy, but it was all just a mask to hide the true monster within her. It waited beneath the surface, ready to attack at any moment. Ezra sighed and tried to calm himself, feeling his inner wolf growling in response to the tense situation. It was clear that things were quickly spiraling out of control, especially with Helga pushing his boundaries.

"Why are you acting so arrogantly? Do you think just because you were selected, you will truly become the Luna of the Royal Pack? A queen, even? Don't delude yourself, Helga. You will just die at the hands of the Alpha King." He forcefully grabbed her slender arms and squeezed tightly, causing Helga to wince in pain. She was ready to fight back when she felt a familiar energy surrounding them.

A shiver shot down her spine and looked at Ezra, who was now gasping for air and gradually releasing his grip on her. He was struggling to stand, and before she knew it. He was already kneeling while clutching his chest. Helga's eyes widened in shock as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Her eyes then darted around in panic until they landed on the Alpha King, standing on one of the balconies with a bored expression directed towards them.