*Alonso*
She is breathtaking. Slowly, she is slipping through my boundaries and making me want to do things I resented most. My heart belongs to only one woman and has always been. So why does my heart beat each time she is close? Why do I feel that each time she is away that a greater part of me was missing?
I watched her sleep throughout the night, admiring the slow rise and fall of her chest. The way her mouth was opened slightly, oblivious to the world around her, trusting me to protect her. It made my heart swell.
I reached my hand out and removed a hair that had fallen to her face, and kissed her forehead. What is happening to me? Is this love? No! I can’t fall in love with her. It’s impossible! She is becoming wild, and this wildness began recently and I suspect it’s since she started mingling with my brother, Alfred.
The thought shrunk my heart, branding in me the primal need to protect her from him. He wasn’t right for her and would never be. Thinking about him made me think of who would have dared to go into her room.
This is the time I need my Beta beside me but since Lancelot was not close, it means I would have to handle this myself. Today I will have a meeting with the elders. It’s high time I act fast. Whoever had the guts to come to her room must pay direly. Something tells me it has something to do with her father that has broken out of the dungeon with the help of that nuisance Derrick. I have to make an example out of them, to show others planning to snake their way out, what I am capable of.
Danika tossed on my chest, her legs wrapping around my waist, and muttered something incoherent. Even in her sleep, she’s a talking drum. She was so adorable when she sleeps. I like this version of her better, not like the first time I met her when she was so clueless and too modest.
How can someone so exquisite not have been loved by her family? She was kind, sweet, and lovely-all engulfed in a small ball of fire. It aches my heart whenever I see hurt flash through her eyes, as much as she tries to mask it from me. I wish things were different then I would have-
I shook my head, not wanting to think about anything that would disrupt my plans.
Morning light soon shone faster than I thought, reminding me I had duties to uphold this morning. I stood from the bed and gently placed her by her side, tucking her in. She mumbled in protest, her fingers wrapping around my forearm sleepily before falling to her side. I gave her a brief glance and made my way out of the room reluctantly, wanting nothing short of going back to cradle her in my arms. I can’t have these thoughts. They were distracting.
Making my way out of the room, I went straight to my room to freshen up and prepare for the day. It’s time to put on my ruthless garters and get busy. Someone has to pay for stepping on my toes.
I sent out a message through the pack link to the elders, including my brother and the Gamma. As the head of the pack warriors, he needed to be present so we can all put our heads together to draw out a plan to go about fishing out our enemies. The wolves at the border need to be changed, and the border fortified with a more powerful barrier.
It didn’t take long, the conference room in another part of the mansion was filled to the brim with elders and notable high-ranking wolves. They were looking at me with questions in their eyes.
I stood from the throne-like chair at the head of the table, my eyes rounding up on everyone seated, taking note that my brother wasn’t yet present. Of course, he would want to go against my order to be early, and come anytime he pleases, to shove it in my face that he doesn’t follow my command.
He isn’t my problem for today. When the time is right, I would appropriately look into his case.
“You are all welcomed. It has come to my notice that we have spies amongst us…” The hall broke out with murmurings from the elders, most of their countenances one of shock. “I do not condone spies in my Kingdom or any of the packs I lord over. They must be fished out and punished appropriately!”
“Yes, they shall!” they chorused.
“Last night, my guest’s room was broken into. Thanks to the goddess she wasn’t present, who knows what would have happened.” I surged on, still watching their reactions.
“Lance’s mate?” Arnold, the oldest tracker asked, earning a stiff nod from me even though hearing them refer to Danika as Lance’s mate twisted my guts.
“Has it gotten that far? Then we have to act fast!” Gregory, the chief guardian’s voice howled over the others. “This is the home of the Alpha King and such atrocities won’t be tolerated!”
“So now I ask, what shall we do?” I sat down, waiting for them to finish deliberating among themselves to provide me with answers. I have learned a long time ago that seeking the wise advice of the elders helped keep us in unity. I am not a man of calm action. Left for me, I would prefer bloodshed to get what I want. And they knew that, which is why they were constantly happy when I ask for their opinion.
“I think we should set a trap for them, yes! After all-” His speech was interrupted by the grand entrance of Alfred. He stood at the entrance to sweep his eyes in the crowd, thereafter walking gallantly to his position which was still vacant. My mother. She was the only reason I still allow him these privileges. If not, he won’t dare in any way to defile me. He knows better, twins or not.
“What have I missed?” He had the guts to ask, grazing me with that annoying smirk that doesn’t cease to irritate me.
“Maybe next time you should consider coming earlier if you cared enough to participate fully in the deliberations. How about that?” I cocked my brow to my forehead, daring him to talk back at me. He won’t dare. He knows the repercussions of doing that in front of the elders. They would devour him. Here in our Kingdom, it was taboo to talk when your King is talking. My father would eat you raw, and feed your bones to the dogs. I have been very lenient with him because of the blood we share and of course, my dear mother.
His smirk morphed into a smile, then he shrugged and opened his mouth to reply. “Well, I guess I will go with whatever I can get.”
I flashed him an equal devilish grin. “That would pass.”
“So as I was saying, we would have to set a trap for whoever the miscreant is. If they are now bold enough to trespass into the territory after all our fortifications, it means they’re getting help from within. And then the creature had the guts to enter the King’s palace. Trap it is.”
“I totally agree with him,” Madame Agnes the pack witch concurred, sitting up from her position. She was a woman highly feared because of the power she wielded. If there is anyone she fears in this Kingdom, it is me. She sees most of the dangers before they befall us. She was born a Hybrid but was cursed by birth and lost her wolf. Fortunately for her, she still retains her witch abilities. “I think we should use the guest in question as the trap. If they went to her room, that means they want something from her. Can I see the person?”
I thought about it. I don’t want to bring Danika into this. And if Madame Agnes sees her, she would instantly uncover who she was. I didn’t want that. Nothing surpasses her, her witchery is that powerful.
I cleared my throat, maintaining my stoic expression. “I don’t think that would be necessary. She has been extremely shaken since last night, she has refused to see anyone yet. But I promise to bring her to you once she is fully recovered from the shock.”
She appraised me with those hawk eyes that seem to see through your soul when you meet them. I averted my gaze, denying her that pleasure.
“Does anyone have anything else to say before we make the final conclusion?” I asked, skimming everyone around the vast table.
“I have something to say,” Alfred said, standing up from his chair, our similar blue eyes clashing over space and him seeking my approval to speak. I relaxed back on my seat to gauge him. As far as I was concerned, when it comes to pack business, everyone has a say-no partiality, no bias. We are enemies outside the door, but once here, I mean business. That was what my father taught me.
“Go ahead,” I voiced, entwining my fingers as I locked my gaze on him.
His face morphed into seriousness, losing that signature smirk that has become a part of him. “From the little I heard. I think someone was attacked in this palace yester night and we are looking for a solution…”
The rest of what he said was lost in the whirlwind of imagination and wild thoughts that consumed my head. How did he know it happened last night? He wasn’t here when I said it, so how? Well, maybe he might have sneaked into someone’s head to get the core of what we were talking about. That’s what he does most times since we discovered we were Hybrid seventeen years ago.
I watched him, thinking back to those days. I had been jubilant even though frightened to an extent because I couldn’t discern how we became Hybrids when my mother and father were both pure breeds. I started striving to find out what my other self was, already knowing one part represented my wolf blood.
It was three years later I found out I was a half Vampire. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to be a Vampire, it sickened me. It was then I realized why oftentimes I had been drawn to blood or had this silly urge to sink my teeth into ladies’ necks when I catch a peek of it. I didn’t tell anyone, I left it to myself and made the witch that told me swear never to tell anyone. I fought to overcome that craving because I was never going to become a bloodhound.
Just like me, till this day, I had no idea what my brother’s other half was and I didn’t ask. Asking would have led to sharing mine and that was something I was reluctant to do. My parents didn’t care to ask. My father only told me that whatever I am, I should always remember that the blood of a wolf runs in me and that one day I shall be King. This solidified my resolution to fight my demons and put them in chains. It surfaces sometimes, especially presently, whenever I was with Danika. There was always this need to sink my teeth into her neck and have her essence flowing through me, but I often survive controlling my desire, instead, distracting myself with other things. The thought of her had my cock hardening in my trouser. I reached out to adjust my pants, looking up as Alfred sat down.
“I think what you have a point too,” I heard them say and recovered from my reverie. What kind of King drifts away during pack deliberation? Now, I would have to link with Nathan, my Gamma to fill me in afterward. Danika would not be the death of me.
…