Chapter 2: Alpha Austin's Humiliation

ONE YEAR LATER

Austin came back after a whole year of dreadful fighting with the werecoyotes. In his hand wrapped in a blood drenched garment was the head of the King of Coyotes. 

"Well done," said King Leonardo.

FLASHBACK TO THE PAST

"You came to kill me, so you can marry his daughter?" asked the King of Coyotes.

"Yes. I did," answered Austin.

"That man is full of trickery. How would you know he would marry off his favorite daughter to you?" 

"Because he promise."

"You? You're just a new king of a dying werewolf pack, you don't deserve such a beauty."

"Yes. I do."

Austin flew into him and flung his sword at him. The coyote dodged. He was fast, but not enough to escape his sword. His right leg got a deep cut and it was gushing out blood. He couldn't run as he was injured. He was grunting in pain.

"Today is your death. So, give me your head, and I will set your pack free," said Austin. He raised his sword up as he was about to cut off his head.

"We have been at war for far too long. At least, I will go down as an honorable man."

Swing! Austin's sword flew and the head of the coyote's King went flying into the air. 

BACK TO PRESENT

Austin threw the cloth with the King Coyote's head to his foot.

"Check it," said King Leonardo.

His beta, Orlando Gate, nodded his head. He opened up the cloth to check the head. He said, "Yes. It's indeed the King's head."

"Very well." 

“You said you would let me marry your daughter,” said Austin.

“Yes. I did." King Leonard smiled at him. 

“So, please hand her over.”

“Oh, my. I didn’t think you would be so eager to have my daughter as your Luna. Can’t you wait until you’re at your kingdom to properly claim her?”

“A promise is a promise.”

“I did promise you. A daughter of mine, which I have many. But now, I am only down to two." 

"Two?"

"Yes. Two."

Austin frowns.

"Which I will choose one to let you marry." King Leonardo folded his hands together. 

“What daughter? You only have one left.”

King Leonardo shook his head.

Austin was beginning to worry.

“I said I would let you marry, my daughter. And out of my two daughters I will choose one to let you marry," said King Leonardo. 

Austin frowns deepened. “I want Juniper as my Luna.”

King Leonard folded his hands together and said, "My precious daughter."

"You know I wanted to marry her."

King Leonard laughed loudly. 

Austin’s frown deepened and he asked, “What’s so funny?”

King Leonard leaned his head on head, looking at Austin with pure ecastic. 

Austin’s face pale. “You mean her?”

King Leonard sneered wickedly at him.

“Bring Agatha here.”

“What!”

“King Austin, I will let you marry my daughter as promised. Agatha Grey will be your bride. Tomorrow morning you will come pick her up in your saddle.”

Austin was boiling mad. He was so angry that he was near bursting in front of the Great Grey Wolf. He clenched his fist tightly as he was tricked by King Leonard.

"On second thought, I think it's best to have your wedding here," said King Leonardo, tapping his fingertips on his armchair. 

"What do you mean?"

"I meant that I want to see you marry my daughter properly."

"Why should you care about her?"

"She's still my daughter."

"So?"

"So, I would like to see her wedding done correctly. I want to see your mating scent with her."

"So, you're saying you don't trust me."

King Leonardo laughed. "Everyone across this land knows who she is. The cursed princess. I'm just saying I don't want you throwing her into your pack of wolves to be devoured, so in order to ensure everything is done without any ill intentions, I need to see it with my own eyes. 

Austin was frustrated. Not only did he humiliate him, but also demanded him to show his faith and loyalty to him. Angrily, he stormed out of the palace.

“That old goat! How could he. He used me to slay the King Werecoyotes and now he’s mocking me by marrying me to his cursed daughter! Who does he think I am!” shouted Austin.

“Please, King Austin,” panted his Beta Grump Lloyd. He was running behind Austin.

“What! What is it!” 

“This could still be of advantage to you.”

“How? That greedy old man have given me his trash!”

“Well, a trash could still become a treasure.”

“You’re not helping!” Austin continued walking off.

“Please, your highness. Wait!”

“What!” exclaimed Austin, stopping abruptly.

Grump bumped into his shoulder with a thump. "Ouch. Could you not stop like that," groaned Grump. He was rubbing his nose from the painful encounter with Austin's rock hard body. 

"Tell me, before I start walking again."

“You say you wanted to have a grey wolf in your pack, right?”

“And?”

“Which the cursed princess is a Grey wolf.”

“So what? She’s a jinx, a curse, everyone on this land knows that.”

“I know. I know.”

“And she will be of no use to me. She will not be my mate!”

“But she’s marrying you tomorrow, as your bride.”

“She may be my bride, but not my Luna. I choose who I want as my Luna.”

“Yes. Yes, as it’s always been.”

“Then what is it that you’re trying to propose.”

“That you can use her name and title to get acclaim as the Grey wolf son-in-law. Then soon the other wolf pack will fear us.”

“Of course, I know that. But how to not fully make her my mate."

"How about just giving off a small scent of mating. Even if she accepts it, it's not strong enough to declare her as your full mate and Luna."

Austin frowns. He had thought of the same idea, but he wasn't sure if it would truly work. What if that cruse woman did become his mate. "Do you think that we would be truly bonded?"

"So? If you do, just break it off with her by having yourself another mate. She will become heartbroken, and the bond will be broken. Worst case scenario she will die."

"I thought of that too."

"Then there should be no problem. Whether she die or not, shouldn't matter to you. She's just part of your plan." Grump walked next to him. "A pawn you can use and dispose at your own will."

Austin knew it was true. In this world the strong ruled over the weak. The rich governed the poor. The most powerful beings ruled over the ungifted wolves. He sighed as he thought Grump's words was what he thought of doing since his plan didn't go accordingly. 

Austin smashed his fist into the pillar. "But I just can’t believe that the old, crocked man have become senile after he lost his wife and played me like a fool. He got me to do the dirty work and instead of thanking me, he insulted me. Marrying that filth to me. The King of the Black wolves.”  

“I understand your frustration your highness but think of it as a good way. That we have a Grey wolf coming into our Black wolf. In the past it have it have never been done before, especially with our pack.”

“Humph! I will get that old man back!" Austin stormed off.