Playing The Alphas

SAMANTHA

The next morning, I was dragged from my small room before I could even properly wake. Rough hands grabbed my arms, and I was marched through the winding corridors of the palace. Servants and guards alike stared as I passed, their whispers following me like a trailing shadow. My heart pounded with each step. I had done nothing wrong, so why was I being summoned so urgently?

When I was brought to the high room, I found King Lionel seated on his throne, his expression dark and foreboding. The morning light streamed through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the marble floor. And there, kneeling before him, was Vera.

"Your Majesty," Vera said, her voice trembling with feigned sincerity, "I have something to confess."

King Lionel’s eyes narrowed. "Speak."

Vera bowed her head lower, her hands clasped before her. "I came yesterday night to tell Prince Darlington that there’s a threat to the palace. I warned him of the danger, but he refused to take it seriously. He dismissed my concerns as if they were nothing."

My blood ran cold. That wasn’t what had happened. Darlington had listened. He had been concerned, cautious. Why was Vera lying?

Darlington stepped forward, his brow furrowed with confusion. "What are you talking about? I took your words very seriously. I told you to gather more evidence—"

"Your Majesty," Vera interrupted, her voice rising with desperation, "please, you must believe me. The danger is real, and it is under this very roof."

King Lionel’s gaze hardened. "Stand up and speak properly. What exactly did you tell Prince Darlington?"

Vera rose slowly, her eyes darting around the room before settling on the king. "I told him that there is a young maiden in this palace who has been plotting against the royal family. She has been borrowing forbidden books from the library. Books about poisons, curses, and ways to bring down the royals and Lycans. She is the threat, Your Majesty."

The king leaned forward, his fingers gripping the armrests of his throne. "Who is it?"

Vera lifted her arm, her finger pointing directly at me. "It’s her! Samantha Samuels! She is the one who came to the library seeking dangerous knowledge!"

The room erupted into gasps and murmurs. I felt the weight of every gaze upon me—some curious, some hostile, some simply waiting for my downfall. My heart slammed against my ribs, and I could barely breathe.

"That’s not true!" I cried out, stepping forward. "I never went to the library! I’ve never borrowed any books!"

"Silence!" King Lionel’s voice boomed through the hall, cutting through my protests like a blade. "You will speak when I give you permission."

I bit my tongue, my hands trembling at my sides. The injustice of it all threatened to overwhelm me. Vera was lying, and she was doing it so convincingly that even I almost believed her.

Vera continued, her voice steady and confident. "Samantha came to me several days ago, Your Majesty. She asked for books on how to wipe royals and Lycans from the face of the earth. She said she had allies outside the palace, enemies of the throne, who were waiting for her signal. She has been gathering information, planning an attack."

"That’s a lie!" I shouted, unable to contain myself any longer. "I’ve never spoken to Vera about anything! I’ve never even been to the library!"

King Lionel’s eyes flashed with anger. "I told you to be silent!"

"But Your Majesty, she’s lying! She’s making all of this up!" I could feel the panic rising in my chest, threatening to choke me.

Vera pressed on, her voice dripping with false concern. "She also told me she has been poisoning the food of the guards, weakening their strength. She has been meeting with spies from the neighboring kingdoms in secret. She has been seducing the princes to gain their trust and gather information. And she has been practicing dark magic in her room at night to curse the royal family."

Each accusation was more absurd than the last. Poisoning guards? Meeting with spies? Dark magic? I didn’t even know how to practice magic. I was barely surviving, let alone plotting against the most powerful family in the land.

"Your Majesty, please!" I dropped to my knees, tears streaming down my face. "I swear to you, none of this is true! I have never done any of those things! I don’t even know how to—"

King Lionel rose from his throne, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over me. He walked slowly, deliberately, until he stood directly before me. His eyes bore into mine, searching for any sign of guilt.

"Is it true, Samantha?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet. "Are you plotting against my family?"

"No, Your Majesty!" I sobbed, shaking my head frantically. "I would never! I have no reason to! Why would I want to harm the royals? They’ve given me shelter, food, a place to live. I’m nothing but a sex slave. What could I possibly gain from destroying the very people who keep me alive?"

"Desperate people do desperate things," Vera interjected smoothly. "Perhaps she thought she could gain her freedom through treachery."

King Lionel held up a hand, silencing her. "Enough. I will hear her out."

I looked up at him, my eyes pleading. "Your Majesty, please. Call Prince Darlington. He was there last night. He heard everything Vera said. He will confirm that she is lying. Please, I beg you. He will be my savior. He knows the truth."

The king studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he turned to one of his guards. "Bring Prince Darlington here immediately."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the guard responded, bowing before rushing out of the room.

The silence that followed was suffocating. I remained on my knees, tears still streaming down my cheeks. Vera stood to the side, her expression carefully neutral. Darlington had been called, and I prayed he would come in time. If he didn’t, if he refused to speak on my behalf, I would be doomed.

The minutes stretched on like hours. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, judging me, condemning me. The weight of their stares pressed down on my shoulders, threatening to crush me.

Finally, the doors swung open. Darlington strode into the room, his expression dark with concern. He took in the scene before him—me on my knees, Vera standing calmly, the king’s stern gaze—and his jaw tightened.

"Father," he said, bowing slightly. "You summoned me?"

King Lionel gestured toward me. "Samantha claims you can clear her name. She says Vera’s accusations are lies."

Darlington’s eyes flickered to Vera, and I saw a flash of anger cross his face. "Vera came to me last night," he said slowly. "She warned me of a threat to the palace. She refused to name the person she was accusing, saying she needed more evidence. She asked me to be patient."

"And now she claims you dismissed her concerns," King Lionel said, his voice flat.

"That is not true," Darlington replied firmly. "I took her words very seriously. But I also know that Samantha is innocent. I have known her for weeks now, Father. She is not capable of such treachery."

Vera’s face paled, but she quickly recovered. "Your Highness, you are being deceived. She has bewitched you with her charm. She is a master manipulator. She has—"

"I will not listen to another word of this," King Lionel interrupted, his voice thunderous. "Vera, you have brought serious accusations before me without proof. You have slandered an innocent woman and wasted my time."

"Your Majesty, please—" Vera began.

"Guards!" King Lionel bellowed. "Arrest this woman for treason!"

The guards moved swiftly, their hands gripping Vera’s arms. She struggled against them, her composure finally shattering. "No! Your Majesty, please! I only wanted to protect you! I only look out for the throne."

King Lionel paused. "Do you have proof?"