Playing The Alphas

Samantha

After King Lionel had asked Vera if she had proof, she lifted her chin and met his gaze without flinching. "Yes, Your Majesty. I have proof."

The room fell into a tense silence. I could feel the walls closing in around me, the air growing thick and suffocating. King Lionel’s eyes narrowed, his fingers drumming against the armrest of his throne. "Okay? Where is your proof?"

Vera clasped her hands before her, her voice steady and calm. "There are books buried in Samantha’s room. Dangerous books. Forbidden books. Books that contain knowledge on how to destroy the royal bloodline. She has been planning to take out the princes with dangerous things one by one until there is no one left. She intends to wipe the Cunningham name from existence."

A collective gasp rippled through the hall. I could feel the weight of every gaze upon me, heavy with suspicion and judgment. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I could barely breathe. This was madness. Complete and utter madness.

King Lionel turned to me, his eyes blazing with barely contained fury. "Is this true, Samantha?"

"No, Your Majesty!" I cried out, my voice cracking with desperation. "I swear to you, I have no such books! I don’t even know what she’s talking about!"

Before I could say another word, Darlington stepped closer to me. His hand found my arm, his grip gentle but firm. He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, "Tell me the truth, Samantha. I need to know what we’re dealing with before we go to your room. If there’s anything there, anything at all, I need to know so I can handle it properly."

I turned to him, my eyes pleading. "There’s nothing there, Your Highness. I am clean. I have never touched a forbidden book in my life. I don’t even know where the library is. Please, you have to believe me."

Something flickered in Darlington’s eyes. Relief? Doubt? I couldn’t tell. But he nodded slowly and stepped back, his expression hardening with resolve. "Very well. Let us go and see for ourselves."

King Lionel rose from his throne, his presence commanding the room. "Vera, lead the way. If what you say is true, Samantha will face the full consequences of her actions. But if you are lying..." His voice trailed off, the threat hanging in the air like a blade.

Vera bowed her head. "I am not lying, Your Majesty. I swear on my life."

The procession moved through the palace corridors, a somber march of guards, nobles, and royals. I walked in the center, flanked by guards who watched my every move. Darlington walked beside me, his presence a small comfort in the midst of the storm. Behind us, King Lionel followed with Vera, her footsteps steady and confident.

My mind raced as we approached my small room. How could Vera have planted books in my room? I had barely been there over the past few days. Between the training, the competitions, and Jayce’s relentless assaults, I had spent almost no time in my own space. Anyone could have sneaked in and hidden something.

When we arrived, my maid was inside, sweeping the floor. She looked up in surprise as the door burst open and the royal entourage flooded in. Her eyes widened with fear, and she immediately dropped to her knees.

"Your Majesty!" she stammered. "I—I didn’t know—"

"Step aside," King Lionel commanded. "And do not touch anything."

The maid scrambled out of the way, pressing herself against the wall. Vera moved through the room with purpose, her eyes scanning every corner. She stopped at the foot of my bed and knelt down, reaching beneath the frame.

My heart stopped.

Vera pulled out a knife. It was unlike any weapon I had ever seen. The blade was curved and gleaming, etched with ancient symbols that seemed to pulse with an eerie light. The handle was wrapped in leather, worn and dark with age. She held it up for all to see.

"Proof one," Vera declared, her voice echoing in the small room. "See. A knife used to cut angel wings."

Darlington stepped forward, his face pale. The guards behind him gasped, their hands instinctively moving to their swords. I could hear whispers spreading through the crowd, words of shock and horror.

"Angel wings," one of the guards muttered. "I’ve heard of those. They’re used to—"

"To kill Lycans," Darlington finished, his voice tight. "The blade is forged with silver and enchanted with dark magic. It can sever the bond between a wolf and their human form. One cut is enough to render a Lycan powerless. A second cut can kill them outright. It’s one of the most dangerous weapons in existence."

I stared at the knife, my blood running cold. I had never seen it before in my life. How had it gotten into my room? Who had placed it there?

King Lionel’s eyes bore into me. "Samantha, do you recognize this weapon?"

"No, Your Majesty!" I cried out, shaking my head frantically. "I’ve never seen it before! I swear to you, I don’t know how it got here!"

"Lies!" Vera snapped, her composure finally cracking. "She has been planning this for weeks! She wanted to kill the princes one by one. First Prince Jayce, then Prince Finnian, then Prince Darlington. She wanted to destroy the royal family from the inside!"

"That’s not true!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face. "I would never—I could never—"

The crowd parted suddenly, and Kylie, the sister of the triplets, stepped forward. Her eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. She looked from the knife to me, her expression unreadable. She turned to Darlington and whispered something, her voice too low for me to hear.

Darlington nodded, his jaw tight. He whispered back, and I caught fragments of their conversation. "Angel wings... impossible... Samantha would never..."

Kylie’s gaze met mine, and I saw something flicker in her eyes. Pity? Doubt? I couldn’t tell. But she didn’t speak in my defense. She simply watched, her arms crossed, her face carefully neutral.

I was shaking now, my entire body trembling uncontrollably. How could this happen? How could such a sweet librarian—a woman who spent her days surrounded by books and knowledge—come up with such deathly accusations against me? I had barely spoken two words to her in my entire time at the palace. Why would she want to destroy me?

"Your Majesty," Vera said, her voice dripping with false humility, "I have more to show you. Can I show you proof two?"