The Alpha King and His Human Queen

Nate

Nathaniel

“It’s still not too late to do something,” Lave mind links me. “Nate, please think this over. “

“No, I am going to do this. I’ll go there. Whatever happens, right?”

He doesn’t say anything but I can sense his worry, seeping through the mind- link.

“This will be disastrous. “ he mutters. I hear Kai whose anger is evident through his tone.

“I can just kill Sirius and be done with this. “ Kai says, “Or I can force him to confess everything.”

“Not a bad idea, but you are forgetting something” Lave counters, “He never lets you near him for this exact reason. He is way smarter than this, we’ve already been through this. “

“Damn it. There has to be something we can use, or…” Kai continues searching for ways to avoid this, but there’s no going back.

I brace myself and head towards the crown room.

“Call us if you need anything,” Lave reminds me again although they all know it’s me who has to deal with this.

And I am not backing off from this. I am ready to face whatever happens.

As I walk I remember the look on her face when I saw her yesterday. Something changed in her. I don’t know if Sirius is behind all of this - and I assume he is - I can only imagine what he told her but at the same time - she can choose what to think or do.

And yet… What I found in her eyes wasn’t a disappointment. It was something else. It was anger. Anger is still the better option.

“She feels it too,” my wolf says,” she can feel me. “

“Well, I guess she prefers not to trust you but my uncle, so shut up.”

“And you don’t plan to do anything about it?”

“Nope. “

My wolf doesn’t like the response and threatens to start clawing at me.

“If she doesn’t trust me I can’t force her into it. “ I tell him, “She was right- maybe I underestimated her but not the way she thinks I did.”

I just wanted her to choose on her own and decide whether to work with Sirius consciously. If she’s made this decision I will have to deal with the consequences.

“You can’t be serious, “ my wolf says.

“I am always serious. “

I run my hand over my coat as I continue walking. The deep cut on my right side reminds me of itself and Maeve’s warnings echo in my mind.

“Don’t move so much because this will open.”

We heal much faster than people but this injury is way too severe. It will take days before it starts closing in the first place, let alone healing.

But I can’t rest, there’s no time for this. I have to deal with this.

“You want to bleed out in front of everyone,” my wolf says bitterly.

“If I have to.” I cut in and reached the grand hall.

The guards open the doors of the hall for me and everyone bows their head as I step in. Sirius is here, talking to Alexandra’s father.

My uncle looks victorious. He is sure he will get what he wants.

He smiles at me.

“Ah,” Sirius outstretched his hand urging me to join them. “My favourite nephew.”

“You don’t have another,” I smile at him, “I killed your other one, remember? At least that’s what you’ve been telling everyone, right? ”

Everyone present shifts at my remark and glances at me. They don’t say anything and resume talking pretending I never said anything.

“Nathan,” Sirius says, “I see you are upset. “

My wolf stirs. Upset doesn’t even begin to cover it but I tell him to calm down. I can’t shift as quickly now, anyway. So we are stuck with remaining calm- and human- for now.

“Please, excuse my nephew, he is very tired.” Sirius says apologetically to Dametri, “He just came back from the South.”

“No, of course .” Alexandra’s father says and I finally turn to see him.

Alexandra looks nothing like him. The man is tall - not as much as I am, but most people and wolves are shorter than me. Plain features. But he looks like a good and caring man. Firm and honest.

And then Dametri smiles at me and there it is- something in that smile reminds me of Alexandra.

“Your Majesty,” he says and I tip my head at him.

“Welcome to the Infernia kingdom.”

I told him. Something passes between the two of us - a quiet understanding that neither side wants a war.

However, this understanding, this fragile friendship - it is all going to change in a second because I sense Alexandra is coming to the grand hall.

Here we go… I hear Lave and Kai. For some reason, I can't sense much from Maeve today. Perhaps she is trying to settle the atmosphere into a more pleasant one although she would never do something without telling us.

Whatever it is, she is suspiciously quiet.

The doors open for Alexandra and as soon as she steps in I sense the atmosphere changing. Everyone turns to look at her.

I turn to see her too.

My wolf jumped instantly at the sight of her, he felt her way earlier and he tried to remain calm. But not now…. he can’t remain calm. To be honest, I find it difficult too because I see her.

And I pause.

Alexandra is dressed in a beautiful red dress and her hair is put back, decorated with many flowers and jewels. She is wearing makeup and she looks so…Beautiful…

My wolf says.

Beautiful, mine, mine….

Then he picks up a silent howling, it’s like a murmur at the back of my mind, a calling that’s coming from somewhere very deep inside me.

My mate, mate, mate.

A few of the guests bow to Alexandra, thinking she is a royal as she walks past them.

Wait, she is a royal and she looks exactly like a noblewoman now.

Something's not right… What is she doing?

I search her face and then she meets my eyes. My wolf jumps inside me, and his song, calling for her grows louder and stronger.

I clench my teeth against the need - my wolf’s need - to be closer to her and remain where I am.

But then Alexandra smiles at me the way she’s never smiled before and wraps her arms around my forearm, her scent filling all my senses, making it impossible for me to think.

“Nate, “ she says, “I am so sorry I am late, but the servants took longer than usual for my dress. I wanted it to be perfect, so… “

Then she turns to her father, still smiling widely.

“Father! I am so happy you came to see us. “

Us…

Alexandra unwraps her delicate hand from my forearm and I already miss the warmth of her touch. She hugs her father and they exchange greetings.

My eyes flutter to Sirius whose skin has paled to a dangerously grayish color. He looks as stunned as ever.

To be honest, I am not sure what’s going on and why she changed her mind too…