THE LYCAN KING’S REDEMPTION

A million pins pricked my heart as I stared at the abominable sight before me. Alpha Alex, my mate and husband, cupped Linda's face in the most affectionate way as their bodies moved in practiced steps to the rhythm of the song that played in the background.

“Wendy, what's going on here?” I asked with a trembling breath. Wendy, my attending maid servant jerked, quickly turning her frail body to greet me. She genuflected, while tugging the hem of her dress nervously.

“My lady, you're back?” Wendy’s lips twitched. “We organised everything for the party like you instructed, but…”

I tilted my face, a questioning glare lingering and waiting for Wendy's statement. I already knew the answer, it was staring me right in the eyes. I had organised a surprise banquet to celebrate my four-year marriage anniversary with my husband, Alpha Alex, but somehow, I'd ended up being the surprised one.

“Luna, I deserve to be punished,” Wendy let out a shrill cry, throwing her body to the cold floor and prostrating at my feet.

“Stand up, Wendy, this has nothing to do with you,” I whispered as a drop of tears slipped from my face and dropped on Wendy's back.

Prior to this day, Alex had travelled to Warwick Pack for a meeting with the Lycan King, whilst promising to be back in time for our anniversary celebration. Excited, I had decided to add a little surprise to the celebration. I had invited every member of the pack to the palace, and organised a large banquet to celebrate our anniversary.

I had even gone the extra mile of training throughout the day— because according to my husband, he loves my scent when I'm all sweaty.

Everything was going according to the plan, until my husband, Alpha Alex, returned home with a red-haired woman by his side. The face was unmistakable and striking. It was Linda Woodspeck, Alex’s highschool sweetheart and ex-girlfriend.

Five years ago, Alex's parents had died during a rogue attack, and in a bid to start his own family, Alex had proposed to Linda, but she blatantly turned down Alex’s proposal, and instead, she married Alpha Sebastian as her mate. Alex had become a figure of ridicule among the pack members, but everything changed when I inhaled the sweet mate scent from Alex's wolf.

I had the female alpha blood in me and because I loved Alex so much, I united my pack with his, making him the Alpha of both my pack and his. Within a year of our marriage, I helped Alex regain his authority as the Alpha of the Vandi pack, and soon his fame spread across the seven packs in North Wales.

But suddenly, Linda resurfaced and everything changed. I was dressed in a flowing cream-colored silk gown, a diamond encrusted purse in my hand and a ruby stones necklace on my neck, but I felt bare, naked, as I watched my husband twirl Linda's body on the dancefloor. A proud smile etched onto Linda's face as she flipped her hair backwards and collapsed into Alex's arms.

The pack members spoke in hushed tones as I passed by, my heels clicking against the marble tiles, as I made a beeline for where Alex and Linda stood.

“Alex, what's going on here?” I gritted, raising my eyebrows.

Instantly, blood drained from Alex's face, and his towering figure froze in surprise.

“Hey, Camille,” Linda's sultry voice came. “It's been ages since I last saw you!”

“Hush,” I interrupted, raising my hands to stop her endless chatter. “I'm not talking to you Linda, as you can see, I'm talking to my husband.”

Linda's face suddenly crumpled into shock and I turned back to Alex's direction. “Alex, today's our four-year marriage anniversary. Why did you bring her?”

“Camille, don't be dramatic. I was the one who asked her to come. She's my guest and you should treat her as one,” Alpha Alex seethed, causing bile to rise to my throat.

I suddenly felt nauseous. “Are you defending her in front of me?” I blurted out.

A smirk curled up on Linda's face, but she was quick to put up an act. “Alex, I'm sorry if I'm causing a drift between you and Camille. I guess I'll just leave.”

“Yes, you should leave!” I barked in response, but Alex’s hands snaked around Linda's lower back in a possessive manner.

“Camille, you are a Luna and you should carry yourself with grace, instead of throwing tantrums. Linda heard about the anniversary celebration and decided to grace us with her presence. What's so wrong with it?” Alex fired back, jabbing his index finger at me.

“Grace us with her presence? What's so gracious about having your ex around?” I retorted.

Murmur rose among the pack members as the scene unfolded. Shame blanketed over my body and tears stung in my eyes, but I'd never give Linda the privilege of seeing me hurt.

“Instead of starting an unnecessary fight, I think you should go back to your chambers and shower up, you stink like filth, Camille,” Alex spat out, his words slashing through my chest.

My knees buckled and I staggered backwards as I watched Alex pull Linda closer to his arm and headed towards the banquet table where an array of exotic dishes sprawled on the table top. I had prepared all these glamour to celebrate with my husband, but in my stead was another woman.

I watched a wicked smile creep up Linda's face as Alex pulled out a seat for her at the side of the table. Everything suddenly faded to the background and a loud-pitched ringing went off in my ears. With wobbly legs, I ran out of the banquet hall, ignoring the pitiful stares I got from the pack members.

•••••

After I had cried to my heart's content, I groggily rose to my feet and walked to the bathroom. I soaked my tired body into the king-sized bathtub, letting the warm water wash off my tiredness. Tears stung in my eyes as I replayed the scene on loop. Is Alex under some kind of spell? For the past four years, Alpha Alex had been the sweetest man I've ever known. He'd doted on me like a baby, and had never spoken to me harshly— not even when he was angry. Why was he acting like a stranger all of a sudden?

A soft creak of the door jolted me out of my thoughts. Soft footfalls threaded on the wooden floor and I couldn't help but feel warmth glide over my skin. Alex is probably tiptoeing into the room, because he's remorseful for treating me badly.

I quickly rinsed my body and draped a white towel around my bare body, leaving a trail of wetness in my wake as I walked towards the door.

“Alex, I'm not in the mood for any apologies right now—” I rambled on but as soon as I opened the bathroom door, my words dried in my throat.

Standing beside the bed wasn't Alex, instead, Wendy, stood there with neatly folded sheets in her hands. A wave of embarrassment smacked me in the face and I paused in my tracks, water trickling down my body and pooling at my feet.