Bewitching The Alpha King

Chapter 5

Arthur walked side by side with her. He had reluctantly let go of her hand once he noticed how uncomfortable she was. Even as they walked into the woods, somewhere familiar to her, she looked anxious. She was stealing glances at him from the corners of her eyes, fidgeting with her fingers.

Arthur knew exactly why she is acting like that. It's his aura. It makes her feel so small. And the fact that she is alone in the woods with someone like him made her restless.

Arthur cleared his throat uncomfortably, wanting to start a conversation with her, "Do you remember your family?" He started, looking her way, "Or how did you end up in the Red Pride?" He trailed softly, noticing how her facial expressions had changed when he brought that up.

Perhaps he chose the wrong subject to talk to her.

Elise stiffened, not liking that the King has touched the sore subject, "No, your highness" She shook her head at him, exhaling a sharp breath, "I wish I can remember them" She added in a small voice, looking up at the sky.

"Your pack was the last one to survive the attacks from vampires" Arthur found himself saying after a few fleeting moments, deciding against what he had initially thought. He didn't want to break about her family to her but he couldn't bear to see the anguish on her face, "I heard they moved from time to time, just to be safe" He continued when her wide eyes shot up to meet his relatively calm ones.

She stopped walking, "You know about them?!" Elise gasped, astounded that someone knew about her family.

Arthur shook his head, "Not well enough" He answered her question honestly. "But, I know someone who does" He added quickly when he saw her face fell.

Arthur only knows that she is from the last foxes pack but he doesn't know who were her parents or how she had made it to the pack borders considering she was only three that time and the distance between her pack and the Red Pride was too far for a three-year-old.

Elise was over the moon. This is something she had waited for a long time now, "I need to meet them" She squealed happily, unconsciously grabbing both of Arthur's arms, "I have to find out what happened to them!" She continued with a determined tone, her eyes holding him as a prisoner.

Arthur nodded his head right away in agreement, "I will help you with that" He said with a small smile. He could talk to Amos about it and he was sure that Amos would jump at the opportunity of helping the Luna Queen, "Can you demonstrate your powers for me?" Arthur asked, changing the subject.

Arthur wanted to keep the conversation going but at the same time, talking about her parents or her pack doesn't feel good so he chose a different topic.

Elise almost frowned at the King and when she realized what she was about to do, she looked away at once, casting her frowning eyes on a tree, "Um, I have been trying to get a hold of it but I am not- I am not sure how to do it" She said, her voice trailing towards the end of her sentence, unsurely, dropping her hands from his arms.

Arthur smiled, "Try," He said, it wasn't a command but he hoped she would agree to that.

Elise looked down at her hands. She didn't want to disappoint the King, "Okay" She sighed, at the same time, she couldn't go against the King's wishes so she closed her eyes shut and took some deep breaths, rolling her shoulders a little as if she was preparing herself to attack someone.

Arthur watched in amusement as she did that. She definitely needs a mentor. When it comes to using one's powers, he or she would be able to channel it without preparing themselves like this.

It will have to come naturally in just a single thought.

Arthur could understand that she is wretchedly new to this, in this life so he isn't going to judge her. He watched her as she looked down at her hands before putting them forward. She looked at the ground in utmost concentration that Arthur wondered what she was attempting to do.

A few seconds later, she groaned under her breath in disappointment, "I told you I am not good at it. I am not sure what I should do" She looked up at Arthur, shaking her head, "I am not even sure what I am" She sighed, disappointment flared in her eyes.

How did she 'use' her powers in the first place, she wondered as she looked down at her hands once again before clenching both of his hands into tight little fists.

"You're an elemental," Arthur said, clasping his hands behind his back.

It took every muscle in Elise's body to resist the frown that was trying to color her face. She had been hearing the word 'elemental' frequently nowadays and it was starting to get on her nerves lately.

So what if she is a damn elemental? Why does she feel like the whole world was suddenly interested in her because of her powers?

She felt a flicker of irritation. It was enough her father was looking at her with so much hope in his eyes. Now to see that same hope in the King's eyes made her feel like she was trapped in someone's expectations, "Yeah, that's what my father told me" She said, looking up at Arthur, "But what does that mean? Where does that put me? You're here in Red Pride because I am a threat, right?" She asked away some of the million questions that have been circling in her thoughts.

She knew Alpha Christian wouldn't do that to her so maybe that's why the King had to come here for himself so he could banish her right away easily. That's what her assumption is.

Arthur stared at her incredulously at what she had suggested, "No why would you think that?" He asked, clearly appalled at how that escalated.

Elise's eyebrows knitted together in confusion, "You're not here to kick me out from this pack?" She asked, watching him warily. Then why he is here? She pondered.

Arthur's eyes darkened in irritation, "Do you think that lowly of me and my kind?" Arthur asked somewhat offended that something like that has crossed her mind.

Her eyes widened and she started to shake her head in panic, "No!" She said frantically, "That is what I wanted to say, your highness," She said, bowing her head a little to show him her humility.

"You could be the most powerful person on earth and the best defense for the werewolves" Arthur continued, watching her as she straightened up her back, "Why would I get rid of something so precious like you?" He asked, looking at her incredulously again.

Elise felt a sense of Deja Vu when Arthur said that so she stared at him quietly while Arthur grew conscious of her eyes, "What? Is something on my face?" He grunted, looking away.

From the corners of his eyes, he saw her shaking her head, "No, it just felt like I heard that before" She said, looking at him as if he was the puzzle piece that she was trying to put together.

Where did she hear that? She doesn't know.

Arthur's eyes widened in realization. He was the one who told her that in his past life. He remembered every conversation they shared vividly.

Her memories of her past life are dormant. He knew he has to take her away as soon as he can, "You're going to come with me, to the United Kingdom to train there. Under my personal supervision" He said, making her eyes go wide.

The thought of her leaving her family almost hurts physically. She never left The Red Pride even once because she couldn't be away from her family. Now the idea of her leaving her family to the United Kingdom with the King sounds too hard for her.

But can she deny the King when he had been merciful enough to give Alpha Christian the permission to let her stay with them?

Elise swallowed loudly, "Can't I stay here?" She asked him, her eyes brimming with the emotions that she was feeling, "I can learn from here" She tried to bargain.

Of course, she can do that but Arthur didn't want her to be far away from him. He wanted to keep her to himself, where he could always watch her and help her if she needed any protection.

He wasn't going to let the history repeat again.

Arthur shook his head at Elise, his facial features hardening so that Elise wouldn't try to argue or persuade him anymore, "You can visit now and then" He said watching her eyes well with unshed tears, "What's important is your power and how you handle them. You need to learn more about yourself" He stated, keeping his tone firm.

He hated to hurt her like this but it was necessary.

Elise looked away from him to quickly brush off the tears that had fallen on her cheeks. She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked at him again, her thick fringe of lashes was wet with tears, "I know, I can understand. It's just-"

"You need to learn how to use your powers" Arthur interrupted her icily. His tone turned acidic.

Elise flinched away from him, unintentionally breaking Arthur's heart a little, "I see, then I guess I have no choice but to give in to you, King" She started, brushing her tears away that kept falling down on her cheeks like torrents, "I have to tell my father-"

Arthur shook his head, "There is no need for that. I have already told him" He announced, starting to walk again, "You will with me in two days' time. I know how hard it is for you but, I promise you that you will never feel alone in my castle" He said, pausing in his steps to look behind at her.

Elise dabbed on her cheeks, avoiding his eyes. She felt embarrassed to cry in front of him like that. Now he might think of her like a cry baby. She wasn't always the one who will easily shed tears. In fact, she doesn't remember the last time she had cried. Alpha Christian never allowed anyone to hurt her emotionally or physically so she never had the reason to cry.

"Yes, King" She nodded her head at him, sounding detached already.

Arthur knows that no matter what he says to reassure her, it won't be enough. She would still leave her home with a heavy heart. "I am sorry, Elise. I am afraid it is the only way" He said. This is the first time he had apologized to anyone. He never uttered the word 'sorry' or 'forgive me' before this. Not even to Eliza.

Elise's eyes widened. A king never apologizes to anyone or at least that's what her father told her last night when a certain topic came up.

Her wide eyes shot up to look at Arthur, "That's alright, King. I am sure you would want the best for all of us" She said, struggling to put on a smile on her face.

Arthur pondered about it for some fleeting moments and crossed the distance between them in a flash, startling her again, "You're one of the most selfless people that I have ever seen, Elise" He said, putting a hand over her cheek, "I am so proud and blessed to have you by my side" He added.

She was selfless in her past life and she had brought that quality into this life too.

Elise's eyes widened again, "Th-thank you, King" She stuttered, her heartbeat accelerating. A lovely shade of pink formed on her cheeks and neck, "I believe my mother would be waiting for you to have your lunch. She has prepared a feast" She said quickly, looking away from his captivating blue eyes, "Her food is the best in Red Pride" She added.

She was rambling and she was mortified about it! 

Oh my, what is these feelings? She shouldn't be feeling this way...yet she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. She can bet that every female he had encountered felt the same way. There's something about him that just captivates her...even in the state that she is now.

How can she let a man, a King at that make her feel this way!

Arthur smiled, "Then we shouldn't keep her waiting," He said, retrieving his hand from her face, "Shall we?" He gestured for her to start walking.

Elise licked her dry lips to moisten them and nodded her head at him before starting to walk in the front, oblivious that the King is smiling behind her, knowing the kind of effects he has on her as he walked behind her.

Oh, Elise. I will make you fall for me. Just like the way I did a hundred years ago, Arthur vowed to himself.