Rise Of The Alpha Queen

Chapter 4

I woke up that morning feeling more refreshed than I had in ages. For once, the nightmares didn’t plague my sleep, and I was stunned to find it was already 11 : 30 a.m.

Stretching and wiping the sleep from my eyes, I slid out of bed, only to freeze when I saw Magnus. He was perched on the couch, his gaze fixed intently on me. The thought that he might have been watching me sleep was unsettling.

I realized only then that I was clad in nothing but a thin tank top and lace panties. Surprisingly, I wasn’t self-conscious. Despite the situation, I felt a strange thrill.

“Enjoying the view?” I teased, crossing my arms over my chest. My stomach fluttered at his intense stare.

Magnus was dressed formally again, in a long-sleeve shirt, black slacks, leather gloves, and that ever-present mask covering the lower half of his face. The mask irritated me more than usual today, and my curiosity about what lay beneath it grew stronger.

He rolled his eyes in a way that sent a shiver down my spine and tapped his watch, clearly unimpressed by my attempt to provoke him.

"Don’t worry; we’ll get that mask off sooner or later," Kira teased in my mind, imagining all sorts of scenarios involving his hidden lips.

“I’m not after removing it for a kiss,” I muttered, though my words felt hollow.

With a sigh, I put my hands on my hips. “You’ve never taken a day off?”

He shook his head, and his disheveled dark hair swayed with the movement.

“Wow, you really are dedicated,” I remarked, walking over to my dresser and pulling out a blouse and some jean shorts. My eyes darted to the splintered bathroom door, and a smirk tugged at my lips.

Turning my back to him, I slipped my tank top off, feeling a flush of warmth as his eyes lingered on my bare skin. A shiver ran down my spine as I imagined his gaze roaming my body.

I quickly donned a black bra and faced him again. His gaze was once again fixed on me, and I couldn’t help but smirk.

“I could feel your eyes on me,” I said, meeting his gaze. The mask only intensified his allure, making him even more intriguing.

A peculiar thrill ran through me as he looked away, a gesture that seemed almost forced. I pondered how many women he had been assigned to guard and how many had tried to distract him like I was now. The thought left a sour taste in my mouth.

“Maybe things will change,” I said, letting my words linger as I finished dressing.

A soft knock on the door interrupted me. “Come in,” I called out, a bit annoyed.

Ember peeked in, her eyes darting between Magnus and the broken door. My face flushed slightly, though I hoped she wouldn’t jump to conclusions.

“Girl, I’ve been waiting for ages,” Ember huffed, crossing her arms.

I gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I overslept.”

“You know Vesper’s going to be upset. She’s out at the gazebo waiting for you,” Ember said, shaking her head.

I cursed under my breath, realizing I had forgotten Vesper was coming home today. “Crap, let’s go!” I said, catching Magnus’s gaze for a moment. Did he really spend all morning just watching me?

We hurried to the gazebo, where Vesper was already standing up from one of the chairs.

“Oh, I see. A few days away, and you’ve already forgotten about me,” she said dramatically, rolling her blue eyes and flicking her sandy blonde hair behind her shoulder.

I offered a reassuring smile. “Forget you? Impossible. You wouldn’t let me if I tried,” I teased, watching her features soften a bit.

Vesper was slender and taller than me, but I still had a more rounded figure that seemed resistant to change despite my efforts.

As we sat down at the table, my stomach rumbled at the sight of the food cart approaching. Vesper didn’t wait for an invitation and grabbed a couple of finger sandwiches, while Ember gave me a small smile. I nodded in thanks; Ember always knew I appreciated the breakfast and sometimes lunch we shared.

“So, you won’t believe what happened while I was gone,” Vesper began excitedly, and I settled back, ready to listen.

“What—” I started to ask, but she cut me off.

“Here we go,” Ember whispered with a chuckle.

Vesper’s gaze shifted to Magnus, her eyes widening with curiosity. “Who is that?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at me with a sly smile.

“Um, he’s—” I started, but Vesper interrupted.

“You got yourself a boyfriend while I was away? Wow, Aurelia! He’s huge,” she said in a stage whisper, clearly forgetting that Lycans had exceptionally sharp hearing.

“Vesper,” I said firmly, giving her a pointed look. She raised her hands in mock surrender.

“Let her speak, Vesper,” Ember said, shaking her head with amusement.

Vesper’s smirk remained. “What? He is.”

“Nope,” I said with a chuckle, glancing at Magnus. His eyes seemed locked on me, and I could have sworn I saw something flicker in their depths at my words.

Vesper’s jaw dropped in surprise. “He’s not your boyfriend?”

“Nope,” I repeated, knowing full well where this conversation was headed.

“Magnus, huh?” Vesper mused, her gaze lingering over Magnus’s form. I stifled a growl of annoyance, perplexed by the strange surge of possessiveness I felt today.

I toyed with the fruit on my plate, exchanging a knowing glance with Ember.

“So, is he single?” Vesper’s eyes shifted to Magnus, who remained intently focused on me.

I tried to dismiss the unexpected possessiveness and shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m not sure.”

“Really? Haven’t you asked?” Vesper’s voice was barely a whisper, though her eyes remained fixed on Magnus.

Rolling my eyes at her failed attempt at subtlety, I replied, “He doesn’t talk much. Besides, why would I need to know?” My irritation was growing. Even though it wasn’t strictly my business, I found myself wanting to know. Was Magnus seeing someone?

“Hey, Magnus?” Vesper’s voice broke the silence, and I couldn’t help but notice Magnus’s fleeting glance toward her.

Sighing, I let my gaze return to his face. His eyebrow twitched slightly at Vesper, igniting a spark of jealousy within me. Vesper’s behavior was always the same, but something about Magnus made me feel differently this time.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Vesper asked, leaning forward with a mischievous grin.

I fought back a smug smile as Magnus’s eyes flicked back to me. “No,” he answered firmly. His deep voice resonated with a shiver that I was sure he noticed.

“Aw, that’s a shame,” Vesper’s tone carried a hint of mock sympathy, though her gaze stayed fixed on Magnus.

“What did you do before this, Magnus?” she asked, her voice dripping with intrigue.

I sighed and pushed aside the strange jealousy I felt. “He doesn’t really talk,” I said, popping a grape into my mouth. “I told you.”

“Maybe I can change that,” Vesper said with a giggle, her eyes never leaving Magnus.

“If you manage it, do let me know your secret,” I said with a smirk.

“What were you going to say before you got distracted by Aurelia’s bodyguard?” Ember asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Ember’s cheeks flushed slightly as she sputtered, “Well, I ran into an ex of mine, and we really hit it off. We might have even kissed.” She giggled, though her gaze kept returning to Magnus.

“But, I think we’re better off as friends,” Vesper added, shooting a pointed look toward Magnus that didn’t escape my notice. Ember chuckled, clearly picking up on the same vibe.

“Well, I have to head out. I’ve got a long shift today,” Ember said with a sigh. We hugged her goodbye, and she left, her excitement about the party still palpable.

Leaning forward, Ember said, “So, there’s this party tomorrow night. I really want you to come.” She practically bounced with enthusiasm.

I frowned, “I’m not sure if Dad will approve.”

“Oh, it’s just a small gathering. If he’s okay with you drinking, he shouldn’t mind a party,” Ember said, flipping her hair back nonchalantly.

I rolled my eyes, “He’s okay with me drinking because I’m a Lycan. It takes a lot to get us drunk.”

Ember shrugged, “Just ask him. Tell him it’s a casual get-together, and that Magnus will be there.” She added a playful giggle.

“Alright, I’ll ask him,” I said with a smirk.

“Aurelia, could you come to my office?” My uncle’s voice echoed in my mind.

“Sure, I’ll be there soon,” I replied, ending the mind-link.

“I’ve got to go, Vesper. My uncle’s calling,” I said with a sigh.

Ember laughed, “I love that mind-link thing you wolves have. It’s like having a cellphone in your head.”

I chuckled, “Yeah, a cellphone you can never turn off.”

“Don’t forget to text me after you talk to your dad!” Vesper called as I stood up.

“I won’t forget. I’ll try to catch up with you later!” I replied, grinning as I headed out.

As I walked away, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease from last night’s dinner. I suspected that my dad and uncle were keeping something from me. I knew the basics: we were on the brink of war with another kingdom, though I hadn’t met any of the other rulers.

Dad always tried to shield me from the grim details, despite my persistent questions. If I was to eventually take his place, I needed to understand the full scope of our situation. My uncle, on the other hand, seemed more willing to provide glimpses of the truth. It was time to see what I could learn from him.