The Alpha’s Prize

I thought it was just another tantrum, just like the other words she’d blurted out while flailing.

When I removed my body to see what she meant, she scurried away to a corner in terror.

I wanted to hold her in my arms, remembering the herbivore-like look in her eyes, my hands twitching. But if I moved rashly, I feared you’d be frightened again, so I held myself back and sat up.

“Since they found out I’m an Awakener, the contract is over, isn’t it!”

You shouted again, bringing up a promise from long ago, pleading to be let go. Yes, those were the terms.

But you overlooked one thing. I was born of a lowly race. I was a disorderly wretch who survived by deceiving even the eyes of the gods—I do not keep promises.

“I have no memory of ever promising an end date.”

Yes, an end will come someday. For you and me. Perhaps when one of our lives is over. Did you sense my vile thoughts? Your expression was one of injustice. My heart threatened to soften at your tearful face, but what couldn’t be, couldn’t be.

You are mine, and I am yours.

It was already decided.

When I spoke curtly, you became angry, clutching the back of your neck and retreating to lean against the wall. If I were to tell you that I felt a possessiveness even towards that wall you had entrusted your body to, would you laugh at me?

“Don’t lean against the wall. It’s cold.”

Come here. Lean on me. When I urged you to come to my side, feigning the cold as an excuse, you pouted your rosy lips and sealed them tight.

Unable to resist your sly behavior, I reached out my hand, but you once again brought up a cruel reality.

“Get a grip, Karvan. You seem to have forgotten, but I’m an Awakener! The Destroyer who drove your people into the wilderness!”

How could I not know? I know better than anyone the pathetic state of one who has imprinted on an enemy, dreaming of a life together.

You didn’t miss that and dug into it.

But this time, I had no intention of running away either.

“Does it matter, at this point?”

When I spoke shamelessly, you had a look of shock.

Why that look? We’ve coupled dozens of times, yet you still don’t know? That this is who I am.

“The past is just the past. Forget it. That’s all you have to do.”

“…I, I won’t forget anything.”

What did you decide then? I want to know what was in your small head.

“We can’t keep living like this. I’m bound to leave someday.”

“Where do you intend to leave to?”

“Well, I… this world…”

You were about to say something, but then you clamped your mouth shut. Even when I asked if you distrusted me after I had promised not to kill you, you remained silent. A shadow was cast on your complicated face.

“Whatever you’re thinking, give it up. I have no intention of letting my queen leave.”

“…What?”

“I hear humans call the Valtael that. Queen.”

Once, I was curious about the meaning of your name and searched for a human book, something I would never do.

Shinbi. Something so mysterious and strange that it cannot be understood with common sense. Something secret.

Bi. The king’s wife.

Even your name suits you.

As if born to be my mate, a perfect fit.

“You are my queen. Shinbi.”

So just admit it, that you will be my mate. Even as I held you in my arms and gently soothed you, you pouted your lips and grew angry.

“You must be mistaken, thinking I got you the antidote! I-I was just using you!”

“Right.”

“Because you… you guys block the Ob—no. The Grim Reapers. When you die, there’s no one to protect me, so I just helped you!”

“Is that so. My queen is also merciful.”

“Ugh, I told you not to call me that!”

Why is it so delightful even when you pout, saying things you don’t mean? As I held you tight and licked away your precious tears, you finally made a face of disgust.

“I told the clan that you are an Awakener. No one will call you a Destroyer anymore.”

“What? What does that…!”

I lightly sealed your whining lips. My own way.

I bit and sucked your sensitive pink breast, and you writhed with pleasure.

The female Varg’s breasts only swell this much when they are with child. Fat accumulates to store milk for the soon-to-be-born cub.

Humans, on the other hand, always have swollen breasts. Like you, right now—rosy and plump like a ripe fruit.

“Hey, y-you promised, you b-b*stard…”

“I believe I said a wolf.”

Was I drawn to you from the start because I knew you were human? Was it destiny for you to be my mate? Or were you, as you said, a destiny that came to destroy me?

“Hngh, ah! No, don’t bite! You canine b*stard, aaah!”

“Yes, bear my child. My queen.”

“D-don’t say strange things… hngh!”

I’ll find out when I have more of you. When you carry my seed in that flat belly of yours, and become with child.

It won’t be too late to think then, once you are wholly mine. For you are mine.

“Ah, hngh, ah…!”

I have lived my life in denial.

My very origins were erased by you Destroyers, my existence denied.

So now, I will deny you.

You are no longer a Destroyer.

You are my queen.

Chirp, chirp, the sun rises unusually early on the snowy mountain. Morning dawns first on the Valta’s palace, built against the cliffs at the very top of Bahalgras.

I winced at the sunlight shining on my eyes, and then blinked, feeling a weight on my waist.

Karvan was sleeping, holding me tightly around my waist.

Since his side of the bed was always empty when I woke up, it was the first time I had seen him sleeping.

Long eyelashes veiling those piercing eyes. Past the chiseled jawline and the prominent Adam’s apple, his broad shoulders were covered in claw marks. My creations.

“Karvan? Ugh, mmmph…!”

I couldn’t believe what had happened last night.

Right after returning from the Igra’s nest, I made the antidote, distributed it, and then dozed off. When I came to my senses, Karvan was kissing me.

His gaze was somehow complicated, so when I asked what had happened, if the antidote wasn’t working, he suddenly held me.

“Shinbi.”

Softly, gently. As if we were lovers. He whispered to me with a tender gaze I had never seen before.

At that, I grew inexplicably anxious and hurried to speak.

Now that they knew I was an Awakener, I asked him to let me go.

I always put your race in danger, and your race dislikes me, doesn’t it?

It’s a losing deal for both of us, so it would be better to part ways, I said. But he had no intention of letting me go.

“B-but our contract is over!”

“Over? It’s just the beginning. My queen.”

Whenever I tried to retort, he would slip his tongue in to silence me, and before I had time to think, he would gift me with pleasure.

“No one will call you a Destroyer.”

What did he mean, why was he suddenly acting this way, was the antidote wrong? I got angry, pleaded, and even tried to negotiate. But his answer was always the same.

“Shinbi. My queen.”

Calling me queen, saying all sorts of strange things, yet when I cried that it was too much, he would obediently stop, sit me on his lap, and kiss me gently as if we were lovers.

He held me, calling my name until it wore thin—Bi, Shinbi.

I was confused. I couldn’t understand the man’s thoughts.

What was he thinking? Did his attitude change so completely just because I saved the clan and didn’t run away? Were beasts usually this simple? Maybe it was another whim.

“Bi.”

“Ah…! Y-you scared me!”

As I was sitting up, lost in troubled thoughts, I was startled by the hands that suddenly embraced me from behind.

“How is your body.”

“…You, after tormenting me all night, do you have a conscience?”

At my sullen voice, I heard a low laugh. It was the first time I had seen him laugh out loud. I was momentarily stunned, and he turned me around and kissed me gently.

Mwah, mwah. He bit and released my lower lip, then held me and stroked my back as if to soothe me. This was something I was used to, something we did out of necessity for the Imprint Sickness, regardless of whether we liked it or not.

“I’m sorry for being so rough.”

The man’s suddenly tender voice was unfamiliar. When he was on his sickbed, I had at least suspected he was about to die, but now he was perfectly fine.

Wondering if something was wrong with my ears, I stared at him blankly, and he slowly caressed my cheek. From my earlobe to my chin.

“As a token of my apology, I shall stay by your side all day today.”

“…That’s only good for you. For me, it’s a punishment.”

“That’s harsh.”

“Ugh, don’t pretend to be hurt! You’re smiling!”

The man who was caressing my cheek laughed again.

His ice-like eyes melted silently. His beastly golden eyes shone gently like the spring sun.

Since that day, Karvan began to act strangely.

In the morning, he made me receive the morning greetings with him. In the afternoon, he took me to the council meeting and had me sit next to him, and in the evening, he gathered the Varg and held a hunting competition.

The Varg who brought the most valuable trophy would be the winner.

“You will award this crown to the winner.”

“Do I have to put it on him myself?”

“Yes! That’s the tradition. Originally, the Valtael’s seat was vacant, so the winner always put it on himself… Finally!”

Bewildered, I had to wait for the contestants in the central plaza of Bahalgras, holding a crown exquisitely woven from mistletoe leaves.

All the Sura I knew, including Karvan, had participated in the competition, so I was sitting alone awkwardly on the main seat when someone spoke to me.

“Valtael.”

Crunch.
The man who approached me was wearing a pitch-black fur pelt and a red eyepatch. The three claw marks that reached from his forehead to his chin were chilling every time I saw them.

“…Have I introduced myself.”

As I was looking at him with wary eyes, wondering what he was going to say, he met my gaze and bowed his head slightly.

“I am Radugan of the Black Manes.”