Owned By The Alpha Brothers

Ciara.

The palace was a beauty to behold. Blake had shown me around and I couldn't stop rethinking the fact that indeed, I now lived there. I had apologised to Blake about kissing Liam, and even though he had been earlier disappointed, he forgave me easily and made me pinky swear to not do such again.

I was worried however. I felt completely useless, just taking from the royal family of the Silver Crest Pack without giving back. I was so grateful to them for my life and every other thing, but I was penniless, not helpful and I didn't have the means to express my gratitude by doing something meaningful for them.

Two knocks sounded lightly on the door and I closed my eyes abruptly, knowing it was Joan and she was probably here to tell me to go down for dinner.

All day, I had tried desperately to avoid the messengers from the Moonstone Pack, and I couldn't afford to ruin it all by letting them see me at dinner.

Joan came in when she didn't get a response. "My lady, I came to inform you that dinner has been served," she announced.

My eyes remained shut and I didn't move, not until I felt something tickle my feet.

I jumped up in fright, believing it to be a spider, and when I calmed down, I saw Joan trying unsuccessfully to hide her laughter.

"That was just my finger, Lady Ciara. I wanted to be sure that you were asleep. I'm sorry I did that, but the Alpha King will be at the dining hall and it wouldn't speak well of you if you do not show up," she explained.

I sighed. "You're right. I can't dishonour him by not going down to the dining hall, especially when he has bestowed such great kindness upon me," I agreed, but with a downcast look.

"If it's the messengers you're worried about, do not be dismayed, for they just traveled back to the Moonstone Pack," she told me.

My mood instantly went from a zero to a hundred and I smiled so brightly. "Really? That's great news then," I said, heading over to the wardrobe, where I picked a blue silk evening dress to put on.

"I noticed their presence bothered you," she noted.

I nodded. "They looked scary with their weapons and appearance."

"Oh, I understand now," she said.

After stepping into the dress, I wore my hair down and followed Joan out of the room and into the dining hall, where everyone was already seated and waiting for me.

"Greetings, Alpha King. Greetings, Luna," I bowed my head.

"Greetings, young maiden. I see now why the Moon Goddess sent you our way. You embody elegance, befitting of a princess. I'm sure you come from a very good home, it's indeed sad that you do not have any memories whatsoever of your life before," the Alpha stated.

"You speak so kindly, Alpha. Thank you so much, and I believe my memories shall be recovered in no time,” I said.

"Isn't it a bit of a wonder that no one has sent word looking for you? If you did come from a good home with an affluent family, word would have traveled around by now of your disappearance," the Luna said, eyeing me with curious grey eyes, as I took my seat beside Blake.

"For once, we agree on something. I'm not surprised though. You of all people would know if someone isn't from an affluent home. After all, you did spend half of your life stricken with poverty," Liam chipped in. "That's enough, Liam," Alden said, slightly raising his voice.

"So, messengers came from the Moonstone Pack today," Blake stated, attempting to change the conversation, with his mouth full of food.

My fingers began to tremble at the mention of those words. "Did they say why they were here?" I blurted out.

"They brought terrible news. The Alpha of the Moonstone Pack is dead," the Alpha responded.

It seemed to be news to everyone at the table; except for the Alpha and Luna.

"I met the late Alpha once, and he was really kind. It's terrible news indeed," Blake said.

"Did-did they say who killed him?" I asked, and it was only after the words had been uttered that I realized how suspicious I sounded.

"The cause of his death wasn't even mentioned yet. How then did you assume that he had been killed? Is there something you're not telling us?" Liam interrogated.

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All eyes fell on me and all I could do was pick at my food, twirling my fingers tightly around the fork as I tried to come up with a suitable excuse, all to no avail.

"She obviously meant to ask about what killed him, not who. We all make mistakes, it shouldn't be that big of a deal," Alden said firmly, coming to my rescue once again.

I smiled as a form of appreciation, but he barely glanced at me and diverted his gaze to his father.

"Tell me, father, do your shoulders still hurt?" Alden asked.

"They do, and the pain has extended to my back. I'll call in the Pack's doctor early tomorrow morning," he responded.

Liam scoffed. "It seems the Luna's magical hands don't do the massage properly anymore. Perhaps, father, it might be time to take on a new wife, someone younger who can help you get rid of all the pains you're feeling."

The Luna was obviously annoyed, and in her haste to reply Liam, something got stuck in her throat and she began to choke, coughing loudly.

Alden hurriedly rushed to his feet and began smacking her back until she was able to cough up what had gotten stuck. He helped her with a large glass of water; which she tossed aside, spilling it all over him.

"Get your hands off me. Do not pretend to care about your pathetic mother who has apparently caused you nothing but shame and embarrassment," she snapped.

"Mother," Alden grabbed her hand.

She flung his hand away immediately, and stood up, then exited from the dining hall.

The Alpha called her back, but she didn't turn back, and he shot daggers at Liam with his eyes.

"Oops. There's trouble in paradise," Liam joked.

The Alpha slammed his fists on the table as his claws shot out, revealing his fury. "I've had enough of all this, Liam! One week! You are to spend one week in the dungeon without food or water, and anyone who tries to offer you such would receive a hundred lashes of the cane in the town square," he declared.

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"Father, you can't be serious" Liam was cut off.

"Oh, you'll soon see how serious I am. Guards, seize him and drag him like a common criminal to the dungeon!" the Alpha proclaimed.

"Yes, Your Highness," two hefty guards responded and proceeded to grab Liam from his seat.

"Get your filthy hands off me right this minute! Father, you can't do this to me. I am your son!" Liam screamed as loud as he could as he was dragged away forcefully.

"Luckily for me, you're not the only son I was blessed with. Mind you, your punishment shall continue indefinitely if you fail to apologize to the Luna and change your ways after a week passes," the Alpha stated.

"Father, don't you think you're being too harsh?" Alden asked after the guards had left.

"He insulted your mother, I should have punished him a long time ago. And what did your mother mean when you gave her water to drink? I hope you didn't tell her you're ashamed of her," he said. Alden hung his head low, without saying a word.

"I am highly disappointed in you, Alden. Let it be known that if you or any other person ever hurts my wife again with either their words or in whatever way, I will also hurt that person. Today taught me that I could die at any moment, and trust me when I say I don't want to die as the man who failed to protect his wife from disrespect and abuse. From now on, I will no longer turn a blind eye or keep quiet!" Alpha King Rowland said authoritatively, and with that, he stood up, nodded at me in acknowledgement, before walking out of the dining hall.

"Are you okay?" I asked, squeezing Alden's hands softly.

He flinched, withdrawing from me. "This is all your fault. Stay away from me," he said, and with that, he also left.

A few minutes passed, as I pondered over what had happened and how I had in any way been the one responsible for the dysfunctional family which they were.

"Hey, everyone's just messed up right now, but none of these is your fault," Blake said as though he could read my mind, and with a pat on my back, he also exited the room.

The dinner had been barely touched and as I sat there in the deafening silence, a thought came across my mind. I had been worried about being totally useless and just taking from them without giving back.

I now knew what I had to do. Despite their lavish lifestyle, wealth and prestige, this family was in shambles. I decided that henceforth, I would be solely responsible for patching things up and making them become one happy family. If truly this was all my fault, then it was the more reason I had to find a solution to their problem.

I had been given a second chance at life, and before my identity was uncovered, I needed to prove that I truly didn't deserve to die that night. This, I believed, was my one shot at doing so.