The Alpha and His General

t h r e e

I could only gape in shock as my ears rang with the sound of rock hitting against rock. The man’s body slumped backward almost lifelessly and the hot blood on my face only served as a reminder that Eros Volkov, the King of the Werewolves, was here in the Underbelly with me and that once again even after years he has come to my rescue. 

When the ringing finally stopped, all I could hear was my own heavy breathing, the droplets of sewage water trickling down the stone walls, the popping of knuckle bones that reconstructed and healed itself back into place from the King’s hand, and my heartbeat that thumped against my chest. 

“I didn’t think I would find you here, General.” The King spoke quietly, his eyes and expression unreadable as he completely disregarded the unmoving body in front of us.

“Is he… is he dead?” I managed to ask instead, trying to get a better look of the man. The moment I looked, I wish I hadn’t. His jaw was completely broken, mouth agape with blood and his nose at an awkward angle. But I heard it, the soft beating of a heart.

“He should be.” A flash of what I could only describe as pure rage went through the King’s entire rigid body. “But he’s only out cold. At least for now.”

I swallowed, unable to meet his steely gaze. “W-what are you doing here?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “I was looking for you.” 

“Ah?” I cringed at my pathetic reply. I could have done better or said better but I was alcohol heavy and was anything but sober for this conversation. As if an afterthought that shouldn’t be, I added, “Your Majesty?”

The King stared into my eyes, the beauty of his steely blues looking right into my soul causing me to shiver. “You’ve been drinking.”

“As per Kaleb.” I was slurring my words. No wonder the man from earlier wasn’t the slightest bit intimidated by me.  

He sighed tiredly, running a large hand over his face. There were dark circles under his tired eyes. “I’ll speak with my Beta about this. For now, let me take you back to your room.” 

“Why were you looking for me?” I ask, following after him as he gestures for the exit. Beside his tall and thick stature, I looked pitiful. Short and thin… like a french fry beside a Big Mac. Not that I would identify the King of the Werewolves with a burger— 

The King’s expression hardened as if only now remembering the reason he came for his General at this particular time. Just when I thought he was going to answer my question, he shakes his head disapprovingly. “I told you to rest.”

My arms fall limp on my side, feeling ashamed for having been caught disobeying direct orders. “I was about to.” 

He stopped walking, turning his full attention on me with his nose sniffing the air. “Who were you with?”

Feeling conscious, I hug my coat closer to myself. “What do you mean who was I with?” 

“You drank with someone. I can smell him on you.” He says, sounding angry and dare I say it, jealous or was that just my imagination? Was that the dizzying sewage water talking or the unbearably strong alcohol? Either way I was delusional. 

“Caine.” I confessed. It wasn’t exactly a secret that we were close. “General Caine.”

The King stopped in his tracks, nose flaring and either the darkness was playing tricks on me or the blues of his eyes completely vanished. “Are my Generals having an affair?”

Unable to control myself, I could only laugh. If he only knew. “I’m not his type.”

“Is he yours?” He questioned with a frown. 

‘No but apparently you are.’ I nearly said. To distract myself from speaking such blasphemous words, I savored the sight of him with all his darkness and handsomeness. “Caine and I are just friends. Nothing else.”

“You didn’t answer my question, General.” The King pressed, looking suspicious. 

I held my breath, not knowing where this interrogation was going but was painfully aware of how close he was to me and how his fingers were brushing against mine. “He isn’t, Your Majesty.” 

He became quiet after that, his attention faraway and expression stone cold.

Like always, there’s a darkness hidden under his steely blue eyes. A darkness that wasn’t in the retired Queen’s eyes nor the Princess’. It was a look of a man that wasn’t afraid of damnation and would do anything for his people and family. 

And I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. 

He was my savior and my downfall… and I loved it… I craved it. 

I wanted it.

I quietly wondered then if I could ask him if he’s nervous for tomorrow. The King is young with him being only a few years older than I am but here he was being forced to find his mate, forced to have children to continue the bloodline and forced again by duty to deal with all of that even if he isn’t ready. I lied to Caine when I said I wasn’t worried about tomorrow. Tomorrow’s gathering will be the last. Meaning the entire world has been at the castle for him to meet. It was very likely if he was to ever meet his mate, it would be tomorrow. 

“Don’t look at me like that.” The King grumbled under his breath. 

I blinked in surprise. “Like what?”

“Don’t look at me as though my world is about to end tomorrow. I’ve had enough of that from Alexandra.” The annoyance was clear in his tone and I quickly looked away to stop myself. “It won’t happen anyway. Recent statistics show only thirty percent of werewolves find their mates.” 

“You might be part of that thirty.” I say with feign happiness and immediately felt guilty for it. 

Shouldn’t the man who saved me deserve to have a mate? A soulmate that would be perfect for him? Someone to love and hold him each night after a difficult day? 

How selfish was I to want him to stay the way he is?

He peers down at me, his now blue eyes searching. “Are you part of that thirty?” 

“Doesn’t seem likely. I’ve already traveled the world and I haven’t met mine.” I say truthfully. Mostly because it was true. I have been all over the world, met all the packs and rogues alike. None of them were my mate. 

“Or your mate is closer to home than you think.” The King comments fleetingly and softly to the point that I had to strain my ears just to hear it. 

I nearly choked on the air I was breathing. “Y-Your Majesty?”

He points to a door or more specifically my bedroom door. 

We had already arrived and I didn’t even notice. 

The King came close, so close that I could smell the soap he used in his bath. His rough fingers brush along my cheeks, softly wiping away something— the blood of the man from the Underbelly and I think I might actually pass out. “Rest well, General.” 

No words seemed to come as I stumbled into my room and closed the door behind me. With my back to the door, I slid down to the soft carpeted floor. If I let my imagination wonder, I could almost picture the King on the other side of the door leaning against it as well. 

If only.

What was I doing? Why was I fantasizing about the King? This should be treason. 

This probably is treason.

 I need to get a grip.

Horrified at myself, I force myself to sleep but the ordered rest, however, would not come for a long time and before I know it the sun is rising once more.

Normally I would wake, join the morning training outside and get myself ready for the day but today I was woken up from my sleep by a handful of castle maids rushing into my room. 

“Good morning, General.” They bowed in unison before making the bed that I was still on. 

I squint as they pull back my curtains letting the bright sunlight in my room. “Good morning?”

“The King sends his regards.” Another maid says, bringing a basket of freshly baked bread and a plate full of sliced fruits to my bedside table. “We also have a platter of meats coming if you prefer that. He also included coffee. He said you liked that before starting your day.”

I felt mute as the girls continued to clean up my room. My cheeks were flushed through all of this because the King had sent them and told them how I liked to start my day.

He knew… but then again what person didn’t start their day with a cup of coffee? 

I watched the maids pour cream— the same amount I put in. “He also instructed us to put in two creams. The way you take it?”

“Yes. Exactly how I take it.” I felt elated and frozen at the same time. Now I’m not just dreaming, he really did know how I like to start my day.

She gave me a curt nod. “We’ll help you get ready for the ball tonight. The dresses will be presented to you after your bath.”

“My bath?” It’s not that I wasn’t accustomed to being well taken care of, more so it’s because Generals are almost never home to witness it but also there’s the fact that the King has personally sent them to me. “I thought I was to wear my military uniform?”

The maids don’t say another word and quickly get to work on removing my clothes until I am butt naked in bed. In the other room I could hear the bath running and could smell the strong essential oils, soaps and other fragrances being added. I’m ushered into my bathroom, tossed unceremoniously into the bathtub and was scrubbed until my skin felt raw. 

I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed with everything when a knock came from my door. The girls hoisted me out of the tub, and was promptly wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe before they could open the door.

“Caine!” I greeted with a relieved sigh. 

He looked around in surprise at my room with about a dozen working maids, many of which ogled at him. “Alright here?”

I knew he could feel my unease from where he stood and I gave him a look that hopefully screamed ‘help’. “Yes, well, they’re helping me get ready.” 

“Clearly.” Caine mused, kindly waving away the maid that tried to take his coat. “I’m fine thanks— I’m glad I’ve caught you.”

I eagerly took the bait. “What’s wrong?”

He grinned, happy to help. “I was hiding away in the borders to make sure I didn’t have to get in this mess but can you believe it? The King sought me out there, found me and gave me the job of looking into every family that’s coming. It’s as if he’s punishing me.”

I bit my lower lip, remembering just how angry the King looked when he thought Caine and I were having an affair. 

Was the King punishing him for that? Surely not.

Caine pulled a seat towards the bed where I sat, looking all important and business like for the benefit of the maids who lingered and eyed him. “Anyway, I was thinking since you’re the one to meet all these nobles, you might as well learn with me.”

“Great. I’m dying to know about every single one of them.” I sarcastically say. 

“Alright.” He rifles through his papers until he brings up what looks to be a resume but instead of a way to get a job it’s a resume to get the King. “First up we have your dear friend Halvar and the youngest of his sisters Annalise.”

“She’s at least half the King’s age.” I protested with disgust, staring at a beautiful girl with gorgeous red hair who couldn’t be more than fourteen. 

“Doesn’t matter. She’s a shifted wolf and in the eyes of the council… still eligible.” Caine continues on with the women coming to take their chance to be the King’s mate, each more beautiful and noble in blood than the last. 

Not that the King Eros Volkov would so much as bat an eye at any haughty noblewoman. I doubt he’d look even if they appeared in their sexiest dress and wrapped up in a cloud of sweet perfume. He wasn’t the type. Never was the type. 

“Now this one you have to look out for.” Caine stiffened, showing a picture of a girl with golden hair. She looked perfect, scarless and dressed in full tulle. 

Basically everything I was not. 

I felt insecure just looking at her low resolution picture.

“Giselle Maximillian is top pedigree when it comes to all things nobility.” He traced down her ‘resume’ towards her family tree that was star studded with well known werewolves. “She comes from a prominent and illustrious family of corrupt Alphas, abusive Generals and rich council members. She’s the youngest of five, her four brothers being big in politics, the eldest is an Alpha and if she were not to meet her mate, she has a long line of suitors in varying degrees of richness.”

Of course. There was always one of her kind during these gatherings: the perfect girl for the King… at least in paper. 

Alexandra Volkov used to laugh whenever the council would give her own list of eligible bachelors. She’d tear it up right in front of the council, smirking all the while and stomping on all their dreams of continuing the Basco bloodline.

With all that said, the perfect girl on paper and in person never grabbed the King’s attention. No amount of beauty or family power or wealth could ever catch his interest. He never even looked at any girl that came to see him and never called for anyone to stay longer in the castle. 

His interest was elsewhere— if I had to guess in his war room with his maps and paperwork. 

A look of utter disgust fills Caine’s face. “The catch? She’s already slept her way through our ranks and is aiming for the highest position she can climb.”

Suddenly, it all clicked. Caine’s reaction and her familiar name. “Is this the same girl that snuck into your room and threw herself at you?”

“The same one.” He shuddered as if the mere memory of her scandalized him. “She interrogated my bloodline while trying to get into my pants and when she realized I was not of noble blood, she repelled away so quickly it’s as if my impure blood burned her.”

Far be it for me to question Caine’s warning and knowing full well of the story, I give him a thumbs up. “Copy. Keep the King far away from her.”

Caine waved around her photo with all its low quality yet managing to still look perfect. “If you can. The claws on this one will be a real challenge.”

“General,” The maids interrupted. “It’s time for you to get ready. The King is expecting you shortly.”

And with that, Caine and I shared a look of pure dread before I was whisked away towards the smell of thick perfume and hairspray. 

It was okay… after all, I’m only going to do this once. 

I think. 

I hope.