The Alpha King and His Human Queen

TheTraitor

Alexandra

“I’ve been looking for you,” Sirius says, referring to me and not even looking at Lave.

“Really, why?” I ask instead of greeting him. Sirius comes closer - I notice he is dressed formally and that he is wearing more jewels than usual so I assume he is going to have an official meeting later. Or he’s already had it.

Sirius glances between me and Lave and Lave tips his head at me, not greeting Sirius.

“I will see you later. “ Lave says, “Are you coming to dinner with us?”

“Okay,” I say quietly and he leaves, casting another look at Sirius.

Once we are alone, the older man approaches me.

“I hope you are doing okay, I haven’t seen you lately.”

He gives me another look and I figure it’s because of the way I am dressed.

“I just thought I would be more useful if I did anything with my time here. Lave offered to teach me to fight.”

I answer the unasked question and Sirius frowns.

“So terrible, “ he outstretched his hand, running it through my hair and I stiffened. What is he doing? I am so startled that I don’t even move.

“What he did to you, terrible…”

Sirius holds his hand in my hair and I take a step back from him. Sirius’ hand remains hanging in the air.

“What are you talking about?” I ask and he pulls his hand back.

“The woman, the servant who did that to you, she wasn’t acting on her own…”

I want to take another step away. I don’t like the way he sounds and I have a bad feeling about this. But there's something inside me, some part of me that keeps whispering “Don’t trust this man”. At the same time- I have no reason not to. Sirius hasn’t done anything to me since I came here.

“What… What about her?” I ask, the lump in my throat growing.

“So, so sad, “ he shakes his head and casts his eyes down. “She was one of the prince’s closest informants. “

“This woman?” I gasp. “No, no…That’s not true. She…“ I run my hands through my now slightly longer hair.

“He… if he sent her to violate me why would he then get me out of the dungeon and save me?”

Sirius’ face clouds.

“To win your trust, “ he says. “You did change the way you think of him after, didn’t you?”

“I…” I start hesitantly.

“Has he promised you something, or…?” Sirius asks, “Maybe… oh, no…”

“What?” My heart is pounding, this is getting worse by the second and I’ve never felt like such an i***t before. Sirius continues in the same affectionate voice.

“Have you met Kai?”

“Yes, “ I say carefully, and discover I am holding my breath. Since Nathaniel left I met his beta a few times. He never spoke to me, but he also hasn’t approached me. Blade, as he introduced himself, always keeps his distance from me- I can tell he doesn’t like me at all. But as I said- he also hasn’t approached me again and is actively avoiding me.

“He is… he is a wolf. “ Sirius says.

“I can tell, “

“But he is not just that. His sister as well, I assume you’ve seen her, too? “

“Maeve? Yes. What about her? “

“See.. the two of them are… not like the others. “

“How so?” I ask.

“They have certain powers. For example - Maeve is a good healer, but she is so powerful, she can calm you down. She can affect the way you feel. While Kai… he can force you into admitting whatever you are hiding. “

I stare at Sirius as if this is some kind of a joke.

“I am sure that this sounds bizarre. But you must have noticed it, “ he says, “Do you remember feeling strange around them?”

“No, I…”

I search my memory while Sirius is patiently waiting. Then I remember it… the first time we met I felt weird, it was that time Blade threatened me.

Sirius only smiles thinly and nods.

“I thought so. I am sure it’s difficult to grasp all this information, “ he says and clasps his hands behind his back.

“That’s why I am so worried you spend time with Lave. He is one of them, after all. I am just worried they will influence you to do things you don’t want to. “

Influence me... is this why I thought Maeve was nice? Did she make me feel this?

I am still processing what he just said when Sirius asks the question that would change the course of everything for me.

“You don’t have to believe me, “ he goes on, “But allow me a final question.”

“Okay, “ I say, hesitantly.

“Have you felt strange around Nathaniel?”

The expression on my face must have been a horrified one because Sirius nods.

“Maybe he’s managed to use Kai’s powers on you somehow. You can't trust yourself around them, it's a strange feeling.“

“No…” I whisper and feel like a complete i***t. This attraction, this desire I felt for Nathaniel… It was too strange for me to understand where it came from and why. And now I know…

My vision blurs and Sirius approaches, placing a careful hand on my shoulder.

“I know how you feel, “ he says, “Nathaniel has done worse things. Influencing you into feeling a certain way is definitely not the worst. But we managed to discover it on time. “

“I… this is…” I push Sirius’s hand slightly away. “I need to think this over, I am sorry. “

“Of course. “

he says. “Anything you need. One of the good things is that Nathaniel is not here and I can tell you all of this. “

“Where is he?” I find the courage in myself to ask and Sirius eyes me.

“They haven’t told you this, too, I assume.”

“Told me what?”

“There’s an uprising in the south. And Nathaniel went there to put it off. I hope his wolves haven’t killed all the locals there. “

Then he exhales and turns his back on me.

“I have a very important meeting, “ he excuses himself, “I am glad we could talk. And as I said- you can always come to me and tell me what you need. “

I walk blindly towards my room. How much more evidence do I need to finally accept that Nathaniel is exactly what his uncle says he is?

I can’t believe I was so stupid to hesitate. To question what this man says. I am so, so stupid…

I clench my teeth against the tears threatening to spill. The servant, all of the bad things that happened to me were because of Nathaniel. Part of is a big game.

Opal stirs as I get in my room. The raven has been staying with me the whole time since Nathaniel left but right now, I don't want to see this bird.

“You are one of them, aren’t you?” I speak to the raven as if it understands and that makes me even more angry.

“All of you are his pawns, constantly scheming and lying so that he can get what he wants!”

I raise my voice, it comes out between sobs. I am so angry that I am crying.

“Get out of here!” I yell to the bird and he flaps his wings.

“Get out and never come back! Tell your master I hope he dies!”

The raven flies through the open window and disappears in the night.

Once I am alone I throw my clothes angrily on the floor. I wash my body and hair with warm water, prepared for me. My tears are running down my face, mixing with the water dripping from my hair.

I feel so alone with no one to talk to. And I hate him. But I hate myself more for letting him deceive me.

***

When morning comes I remain in my room. I don’t want to see anyone, at least Lave or anyone else that has to do with Nathaniel. I wrap my arms around my knees and curl myself on the armchair.

Nathaniel staged all of this- the servant's death, “rescuing me” from the dungeon, everything… And Lave - he knew about all of this. He didn’t even tell me about Blade and his sister…

I hear shouts in the yard but don’t go to the window to see what’s going on. I don’t care. Then I hear cheers and greetings but remain in my seat.

An hour later a servant comes to my room.

“His Majesty is back,” she announces and my heart makes a painful pang in my chest despite everything.

“I was sent to call you to him, “ she says. I don’t move and she shifts nervously.

“Now. “ she speaks louder.

“I don’t care. “ The servant exhales audibly and I glance at her. I couldn’t care less if she would get in trouble if I didn’t obey his order. I am tired of his whims, of his lies and the cruel way he is using everybody. He can send me to jail if he wants to, I don’t care. I’d rather die than be his pawn.

“But he said…” she tried again and I snapped.

“I said I don't care. I am sure he can call someone else to his room. “

“He is not calling you in his bedroom, “the servant says. “But in the library. He says it’s about your father.”

“My father?” I gasp and get up from my seat. “What happened to my father?”

Before I know it I am already rushing after her.