Luna of the Cursed Alpha King (Helga and Siegren)

"WOW!" Helga's eyes widened in amazement as she caught sight of the colorful festival flags hanging throughout the Central Plaza. Each one was a different hue, dancing in the breeze and casting cheerful shadows on the ground. She had only ever seen such a sight in newspapers when they covered the grand Hunting Festival that took place in the Capital every year. But now, standing in the midst of it all, her heart fluttered with excitement. For a brief moment, she forgot about her frustration and loneliness over being avoided by her mate. "It's so lively in here even though the festival hasn't started yet."

"Is this your first time attending the Hunting festival in the capital, Your Majesty?" Gamma Lucian asked, stealing a quick glance at Helga. He was relieved to see that she was now smiling, and her mood appeared to be improving.

"Yes," She nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on the joyful children playing near the fountain. They too, were all mesmerized by the vibrant flags dancing in the breeze. "I've always wanted to go to the festival with the previous Alpha and Luna of Incarnadine, but they never allowed it. This year will be my first time attending,"

"I see, His Majesty informed me that you would be representing our pack in the upcoming hunt. Will you be fine? It's your first time, after all.” he asked, his voice tinged with genuine concern. The Hunting Festival was always a joyous occasion, especially when the sun set, and the streets bustled with food stalls and lively performances. However, the competition itself, where one member from each pack across Verdentia must partake, was a dangerous event that demanded both strength and skill. Yet, despite the risks, everyone was eager to participate because the prize was enticing, and the rewards were highly coveted.

"I don't have much experience in hunting, but I'm sure I'll manage." Helga smiled confidently as she turned her head to face the Gamma, "There will be a banquet in the Palace on the night of the festival, right? Do you think it would be acceptable for me to attend the festivities here in the Central Plaza instead? Banquets are starting to bore me,"

"I can't say for certain since all participants of the Hunting are required to attend the celebratory banquet." He shrugged, "Besides, as the Queen, it is expected that you will be by his Majesty's side during the party."

"Right," she sighed, remembering that she couldn't do whatever she wanted to with her current position.

"But

you can sneak in after the awards ceremony. Do you want me to help you?" he chuckled as if they were devising a mischievous plan.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

"Won't you be in trouble? You're the general of the royal pack, you know." Helga chuckled before she turned her attention to the front and saw a familiar kid running towards her.

"Your Majesty!" the boy exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with happiness upon seeing her. "I saw you in the newspaper, I knew you are part of the royals but, I had no idea you were the Queen."

"Do you know this kid, Your Majesty?" Lucian asked, and Helga nodded before crouching down to not strain the young boy's neck. She was relieved to see him wearing clean clothes, and it appeared he was just here to play and not to make a living. like before.

"How are you? Are you not selling flowers anymore?" she asked, patting the boy's head.

"Ah, my

mother stopped me from selling them." he smiled, "You see, she and my father were able to find jobs thanks to the efforts of the Alpha King."

Helga's eyes

widened in surprise as Siegren was brought up in their conversation. She couldn't help but feel her heart flutter with pride and admiration for her husband, especially since she could see the positive changes he had brought about within the city. His hard work and dedication to his people are finally paying off, and she was truly happy for him.

"I see, I'm glad." Helga smiled but couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt for questioning Siegren's busy schedule, and assumed he was just using that as an excuse to avoid her. Maybe he truly was swamped with work and that was the real reason for his limited time to spend with her. "Would you like to attend school? The King and I are planning to build a school for underprivileged children, and the construction will begin once we raise enough funds,"

"Yes!" The young boy's face lit up with excitement as he nodded vigorously. "That's my dream, my lady-I mean your Majesty, I want to go to school and learn everything I can so that when I grow up, I can find a good job and support my family."

"Very well, I promise to make your dream a reality," Helga beamed, feeling a sense of joy and purpose as she had the opportunity to change a child's future. Initially, she only volunteered during Luna's selection for survival, but now her goals and motivations have shifted entirely. She was determined to make the most out of this chance.

"I appreciate your kindness, Your Majesty. I also want to express my gratitude towards the Alpha King, although it may not be possible for me to do so. Would you kindly convey my thanks to him on my behalf?" the boy asked, causing Helga to giggle, impressed by how well he spoke for his age. She could already see a bright future ahead for him.

"Of course, I'll gladly deliver your gratitude to His Majesty. But first, tell me your name."

"My name's Elias,"

"All right, Elias, I'll see you again when school starts," she said with a playful ruffle of his hair. The boy thanked her once more before bowing politely in a show of respect. As he left, Helga straightened up and turned to Lucian, who seemed amazed by her interaction with the child.

"Shall we look around more?" she asked him, but he couldn't respond immediately. It took him a moment before he nodded and shook off his awe.

"Do you think you'll be okay? There are a lot of people here and they might start to crowd you." Lucian scanned the Plaza, noting that they were already drawing attention from passersby. It wasn't uncommon for members of the Royal pack to stroll around the Plaza, but it was rare for the King and Queen to do so casually in public.

"Don't worry, they won't. They have shown respect for personal space so far; if they planned to surround me, they would have done it when I arrived." She shrugged and started walking, prompting Lucian to focus his attention on her and stay close by to ensure her safety.

For an hour, they strolled around the plaza and taking in the sights and interacting with some of the Alpha who were organizing the festival. Luckily, she did not run into Ezra, who had already arrived in the Capital a few days ago. Despite the turmoil his pack had faced, he still chose to participate in planning the annual hunting event. Rumor had it that Incarnadine's financial situation was suffering since their main factory, which produced various goods like fabrics and silks, had been destroyed. It wasn't a surprise though, since Helga already expected the pack's downfall.

After arriving back at the palace, Helga expressed her gratitude to Lucian for accompanying her and then made her way to study where Siegren was still diligently working. During her outing today, she had come to a realization and wanted to discuss it with her mate for the sake of her own peace of mind.

"I'd like to go back to my previous bed chambers, Your Majesty." she requested respectfully, causing Siegren to flinch and look at her with wide eyes. "What?" his brows furrowed together in confusion, "Why?"

"Lately, I've noticed that you've been sleeping here in your study or at the hotel. I can't help but wonder if it's because you're too busy or if you simply don't want to share a bed with me," she began, mustering all the courage to just bluntly tell him what's on her mind. Because she knew that avoiding the issue would only lead to further deterioration of their relationship, and she feared she would lose it completely, “I have a feeling why, since we're mates after all. That's why I want to go back to my own chambers. Please, allow yourself a good night's rest on the bed instead of sleeping on the sofa."

"I won't try to get in your way until you're ready to communicate with me," Helga's lips twisted into a bitter smile that made Siegren grit his teeth. He wanted to defend himself and explain his actions, but he couldn't find the courage to do so.

"Also, during my walk around the Plaza, I ran into Elias, a young boy I had previously encountered during my first visit. He had sold me some flowers while dressed in shabby clothing, but this time he approached me looking neat and without any flowers on hand," she added, recalling her interaction with Elias. Since she promised to pass on his gratitude to the Alpha king, she knew she had to keep her word, even though her relationship with her mate was distant and cold, "He told me he had stopped selling flowers because his parents were able to find a job because of you... Elias wanted me to thank you on his behalf."

Helga gave a small bow before standing tall and locking eyes with Siegren, causing her heart to race as she tried to decipher the conflicting emotions in his eyes. Despite their bond, she couldn't sense exactly what he was thinking or feeling at the moment because he was expertly concealing it.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." she said, her voice remaining calm, but the hint of loneliness was unmistakable, “I'll take my leave, please take care of yourself.”