Luna of the Cursed Alpha King (Helga and Siegren)

THE DARKNESS PERVADING the palace's dungeon sent shivers down Helga's spine. The stone walls loomed over her,

sting ominous shadows that seemed to swallow the very air. This was a kind of place she knew well, having spent countless hours in the dungeon of Incarnadine. However, this place was a hundred times more terrifying, perhaps due to its size or the overwhelming atmosphere that made it hard for her to breathe. Each step she took felt like wading through thick fog. and she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched from all directions.

*I already told you, there's no need for you to come. Just go back Sieg up at him and noticed that he had halted his steps, the torch on the wall bore into hers as he frowned in disapproval.

words snapped her out of her daze. She glanced low on his features. His piercing red eyes

Helga nervously chewed on the inside of her cheek, feeling a bit intimidated. She had been the one to insist on tagging along with him today, determined to find out the truth behind why the maid had tried to kill her last night. Even though she had already been told the reason. Helga sensed there was more to the story. The Alpha King also had warned her that the palace's dungeon was not a place people willingly visited as it was filled with terrifying and disturbing things. Perhaps she had upset him by appearing so terrified, despite his prior warning

"I'm alright, Your Majesty. Going to a dungeon isn't new to me... I've been to places like this before." she assured him.

"You say that, but I could feel your anxiety radiating off you" he scowled before continuing walking. Helga pressed her lips together and walked alongside him, flinching when she heard a loud growl coming from one of the cells. She glanced over and was taken aback to see a wolf with a chain around its neck, sitting on the ground and staring intently at her, but what caught her attention the most was its missing limbs.

"Keep walking, ignore everything you see," Siegren commanded, causing Helga to shift her focus ahead and follow his instructions. However, the sight of so many werewolves in both their human and wolf forms imprisoned was enough to make her heart race. She couldn't help but wonder what they had done to deserve being kept in a dungeon like this.

"Your Majesty." One of the royal guards bows as they reach the location where the maid is being kept. She was in a corner. sitting on the ground with her knees pulled up to her chest and her head hidden between them.

"What happened?" Siegren scowled, causing the guard and Helga to become perplexed. The Alpha King's words left them wondering what he was talking about, "She's dead."

Helga's eyes widened, and the royal guard swiftly peered into the prison cell to verify if the maid was truly dead. He then redirected his gaze to the Alpha King, his expression filled with distress.

"I saw her earlier, Your Majesty. She seemed fine and even ate before heading to the corner. I assumed she was just dozing off." The guard tried to reassure the King, but Siegren's brow just furrowed deeper at the explanation.

"Open the gate," he commanded, and the guard swiftly retrieved the key from his uniform pocket and unlocked the gate. Siegren then strode into the cell, glaring down at the motionless maid before carelessly placing his shoe on her arm and shoving her to the ground. Helga winced at the violent display but when the maid toppled over, she let out a gasp upon noticing the blood on her mouth-a clear sign that she had been poisoned.

The guard rushed forward and examined the maid's pulse but found none, causing Siegren to let our heavy sigh and massage his temples in frustration.

"Who gave her the foo-" Before he could finish his sentence, a small bottle rolled out of the maid's pocket and onto the floor, making the Alpha King freeze for a brief moment.

"She took her own life?" Helga whispered, "Perhaps she didn't want to face interrogation and reveal the truth, so she chose to end her own life.

"If that's the case, then she isn't the only traitor inside the palace, there's more of them" Siegren stated, realizing the gravity of the situation before looking at the guard, "Hang her body outside the palace walls."

Helga's heart skipped a beat as the words hit her, and she flinchell in response. She watched as the Alpha King turned to

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leave the cell, feeling frozen for a moment before snapping back to reality at the sound of Siegren's voice calling her attention. She looked up and saw him outside the cell, patiently waiting for her to follow. Her feet were rooted to the ground, but she knew she had to move.

"Why are you still standing there? Do you want to stay behind?" he asked, and she quickly shook her head before hurrying to catch up with the Alpha King A heavy silence settled between them as they walked through the halls without speaking Helga stole glances at Siegren every now and then, waiting to ask him something, but his stern expression made her hesitate

As they emerged from the dark dungeon and were enveloped by the bright light, she finally gathered her courage and turned to Siegren, determined to ask the question that had been weigh her. "Your Majesty, why did you order the guard to hang the maid instead of burying her?"

on

The Alpha King abruptly halted his stride and spun around, his gaze

His expression transformed in a split second, shifting from casual to intense. Helga felt like she was staring to the eye of a storm as she met his piercing stare. She could feel the shift in the atmosphere, it was as if he had reverted back to his distant, aloof self, putting up walls and defenses again "I must make it clear to all members of the pack that betraying me will result in their death." he answered coldly before resuming his walk, "While the maid may have taken her own life, hanging her body within the palace grounds will serve as a warning for anyone who dares to betray the royal pack."

unease.

"Go back to your chambers and continue preparing for the wedding. I will handle this matter and make sure to find the root of this treachery." Siegren added, not sparing Helga a single glance as he continued walking ahead without turning back or slowing down, giving her no opportunity to reply. Helga just stood there, watching how his asymmetrical cape fluttered in the wind and his dark hair swayed alongside it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before gazing outside: the weather was pleasant, but she couldn't shake off her "We're back to square one," she muttered under her breath, feeling utterly helpless. It was bad enough that someone was targeting her for death, determined to end the royal bloodline, but amidst all this chaos, she still had to carry on with preparations for her wedding. Ever since the incident, the once peaceful palace now seemed shrouded in tension and suspicion. Every day, as Helga walked through the halls, she could feel the wary gazes of the park members, all on edge knowing that a traitor lurked among them. No one was to be trusted, not even those who had been close companions before. And wherever she went, a watchful royal guard trailed behind her, a constant reminder of the danger that still loomed. But thankfully, no further attempts had been made on her life. The chilling display of the maid's body hanging outside the palace walls had served as a powerful deterrent against anyone foolish enough to try again.

Despite all that, Helga's mind was consumed with worry over one pressing matter; she had not caught even the faintest glimpse of the Alpha King since they went to the dungeon. Not shadow, not a lingering scent in the air. She knew he was preoccupied with investigating the threat to her life and the royal bloodline, but the absence of his presence still gnawed at her, especially when the wedding date was drawing near.

"THE ALPHA KING usually takes walks in the garden at night. Would you like to go for a walk tonight? You might catch a glimpse of him." Portia suggested, gazing at Helga who seemed lost in thought. They were sitting inside the greenhouse, enjoying their usual tea time. With all the wedding preparations completed, they just had to wait for the big day to arrive.

"It seemed he was avoiding me on purpose though." Helga forced a smile as she took a sip of her tea and admired the flowers inside the greenhouse.

"The King might be feeling guilty. Knowing him, I wouldn't be surprised if he was blaming himself for what had happened. to you recently." Portia sighed, "He's probably keeping his distance because he knows he's the reason your life was put at risk.

"That's stupid." Helga's words were blunt and almost caused Porta to choke on her drink. Startled, she coughed and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, unable to believe that Helga had actually spoken that word aloud. While the words weren't exactly directed at King himself, saying it was stupid that he was distancing himself was just plain bold

"Well, I guess there's no harm in trying to accidentally bump into him. I will go on a walk later; I hope to at least be able to talk to him before the ceremony arrives." Helga shrugged, and the Moon Goddess seemed to be listening because she Chapter 25

actually y ran into the Alpha King while strolling through the garden with her two royal guards flanking her.

"Your Majest" she addressed him but stopped short when he turned towards her, his gaze icy and his face devoid of

emotion.

"Do you still have the luxury to be out this late at night when your life is at risk?" Siegren scowled, the night breeze blowing around them. It was cold, just like his voice that sent a chill down Helga's spine.

"Are you suggesting I isolate myself in my chambers, Your Majesty?" she questioned, growing more irritated with his behavior towards her. She could see why he was worried but avoiding ouldn't solve any problems. "Are you beginning

i to push me away because you believe it will keep me out of harm's way?

The Alpha King remained silent, his narrowed eyes piercing into Help ad sense the ley aura emanating from him, making her uneasy. But she was wise enough not to push herself ont someone who clearly didn't want her around. Despite her intense desire to win over the Alpha King's affection, she refused to let go of her dignity.

"Lapologize for overstepping my boundaries." Helga's eyes held ho emotion which made Siegren startled. He was about to open his mouth, but Helga was quick to give a curt bow, "I'll see you at the wedding. Your Majesty"

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