Treein

Kestrel was a beta, and an aggressive one that most folks didn't like much. The Empire had picked a future husband for her. This guy was pretty much perfect: born into a high-class family, good-looking, rich, nice, and the envy of everyone around.
People were quick to start whispering.
"Why did such a great guy end up with her? She can't even make tea right and she barely passed her cooking class."
"He won't be able to put up with her for long."
"Right, their love story is a train wreck waiting to happen."
Hearing this stuff over and over, Kestrel started to think that she and her guy, Tarian, were doomed from the start. So, when Tarian showed up with a sweet and pretty girl, Kestrel pulled off her engagement ring and tossed it into the gutter.
From that moment, Kestrel lived free and happy, like a bird soaring in the sky, a fish swimming in the wide ocean.
But a few years into her easy-going life, at a royal shindig, Tarian cornered her. His eyes were all red, and he confessed that he was sorry for everything and that he couldn't stop thinking about her. But Kestrel, wild as ever, wasn't interested in going back to her old life.
Tarian turned white, gritted his teeth and said, "I don't care what you're like, and I can handle your shortcomings. You won't find a more understanding alpha than me."
"Well, I already have a new alpha." To totally shake him off, Kestrel made up a name on the spot. She quickly thought of all the alphas she'd met on the battlefield over the years, and chose the name of a buddy she was tight with, guessing he wouldn't mind.
"He's a good listener, and we're a perfect fit. Plus, he really likes me and doesn't care about my mistakes."
Right after a bummed-out Tarian took off, Kestrel turned around and smacked right into the guy she'd just made up. This guy, a real war hero who'd taken down tons of enemies, turned a bit pink, looked away, and muttered, "You... when did you figure out that I have a crush on you?"

The Beta Dominates Alphas

The first time Kestrel laid eyes on the Queen, she had been struck by her elegance, gentleness, and sheer beauty that seemed to radiate from her. Just being in her presence created this irresistible pull, a feeling that she should be closer to her.

Now, the Queen was positioned gracefully by the window, her crown resting on her head and draped in a flowing white gown. Behind her, a breathtaking view of the Empire's main city stretched out. Her beauty was still undeniable, but it gave Kestrel an uneasy feeling.

It was as if she was staring at a massive, intimidating creature. Suddenly, Kestrel felt her body tense up, a tingling sensation running down her back and her hands beginning to perspire.

Before, she felt like a naive young animal, oblivious to the powerful force she was confronting, blissfully fearless. But now, as if she'd matured without even realizing it, she could truly sense the overwhelming and somewhat scary presence that stood before her.

One of A Kind (1)