The Queen of Alphas

10. Deceit and desire

Victoria

“How impolite of me, allow me to introduce you to my closest allies,” Henrik declared smugly, his voice carrying condescendence.

But right now, I didn’t even have eyes for him. My eyes were still lost in the deep green ones of that male. He smelled like the forest, pine tree, and sandalwood; I couldn’t stop breathing it in as much as I could. I just wanted to lose myself in that sensation.

“This is Alpha Elijah, my counselor. General Rainer, an Alpha himself, and Alpha Philip. They are two of my main supporters.” Henrik added, his smile half mockery and half- arrogance.

For an instant, I forgot how to breathe, and I felt my eyes tear. The male in front of me, the one that made my heart jump and swell, was one of Henrik’s main supporters. Of course, he also wanted my ruin.

What else could he be? He was by Henrik’s side. But why did he have to be one of the main supporters and not just a regular supporter?

Besides, why did my heart, my mind, and even my body bubbled with new and very intense feelings and sensations for him?

‘Mate,’ the word was pronounced in my mind. Was it my wolf or my subconscious?

I only knew that it was a disaster.

I looked at Marg and squeezed hers and Shelby’s hands.

“I am pleased to meet you all,” I said, avoiding looking at his green eyes. If I looked at them for a second longer, one of these two things would happen, I would melt into a puddle, or my heart would jump out of my mouth. Or worse than that, I would run to his arms, like something inside me urged me to do. The wisest thing I could do was to run in the other direction, farther away from him as possible.

“Excuse me, I need to refresh myself,” I said, looking at Henrik, and then my eyes roamed to Shelby and Marg and I pulled them with me.

“What is happening? Why do you look pale? Don’t let the Prince bully you!” Marg said, squeezing my hand in reassurance.

“I wish it was the cause,” I sighed, bringing my sweating hand to my chin.

Once we were away from them and surrounded by lots of people and noise, I whispered as quietly as I could, “Alpha Philip…I think, actually, I am quite sure he is my mate…”

Shelby’s eyes popped open, and she tapped her hand onto her widely open mouth.

“No! Freaking Fates! That can’t be! He is Prince Henrik's best friend, they are inseparable. Vicky, he is the enemy!” Marg exclaimed out loud, her jaw also dropped open.

“At least he is yummy!” Shelby shuddered, attracting Marg’s dirty look at her.

“What? I am only stating the facts!” Shelby added, as she patted my shoulder and gazed at me with a sympathetic look.

I breathed deeply, trying to escape the fog of my confusion.

This ball was indeed a trap, but a trap from the Fates, from destiny.

~ * ~

Philip

I pulled Henrik aside and mind-linked him, “We have to talk, it’s very important. Let’s go to your office.”

“Now?” he furrowed his brows. I nodded in response; Henrik huffed but followed suit.

It wasn’t a matter that could wait. I didn’t know what to do.

Even though I wanted to envelop her in my arms and keep her there, I knew that I shouldn’t. I couldn’t.

She was a vile throne usurper.

She was a cold and egoistic creature, the child of a heartless Goddess.

She was only here to jeopardize everything I believed in: justice, loyalty, my best friend’s right to the throne.

“She smells good, and she is MINE” Chaos growled in my mind.

I knew Chaos was loyal and had principles too, and in the end, it would win against the raw and instinctive desire. It had to.

It would be much easier once we rejected her.

Once we closed the door of the office and were away from prying eyes, I started, “I have just found my fated female…”

“That is amazing, the Phoenix Pack will finally have a Luna…” a huge smile curled up in Henrik’s face, as he hugged me and patted my back.

“No, it isn’t.” My words made him furrow his brows in confusion and frown slightly.

“This fated mate is Victoria,” I told him with a sharp exhale.

“The bastard?” he growled ferally, making the walls vibrate as his eyes started glowing.

Henrik walked to his desk and placed his hands there for support, as he stood there looking thoughtful. His eyes fixed on the desk’s dark wooden surface, but his mind was surely distant.

He had no reason to worry. I wouldn’t ever betray him; I wouldn’t ever make such an awful female mine. This thought brought a pang to my heart; the mate bond was already strong even after a simple thing like the exchange of a single look.

Hence, I had to be stronger.

My wolf released a mournful howl inside my mind. It was hard for him; it was hard for me too. But the greatness of character is shown when we do the right thing, regardless of how hard it is.

I was a good Alpha. I had to do the right thing.

“I’ll reject her,” I said, taking a few steps towards Henrik. There was no doubt in my mind.

“No, you shouldn’t,” Henrik replied, looking at me, surprising me.

I looked intently at him, overtaken by confusion.

“You should win her trust, then you can spy and sabotage her, help our cause,” Henrik added.

I scrubbed the back of my head restlessly, trying to think about it.

“I wouldn’t ask you to do that if it wasn’t fundamentally necessary. Her followers are growing exponentially. General Rainer informed me about it a few hours ago, Alpha Zachary, from the Desideratum Sea Pack, declared that his pack is also supporting the bastard.” He added with a sharp exhale.

I sat on the desk, burying my face in my hands. This was a very hard decision to make. I didn’t like the idea of acting sneakily, like a spy. I wasn’t like that.

“Philip, I fear that is the only way for me to keep my throne and protect our people from the whims of a selfish and frivolous female like her.” He muttered, patting my shoulder.

I looked at him, his glowing eyes had a pleading quality that one could hardly find in the gaze of an Alpha, let alone the Alpha King.

He was desperate. I had to do it, for him, for our Realm and our people.

I hated being the mate of the throne’s usurper. I wasn’t sure if I could bear being close to her. First because she was a nasty usurper. Second, because this cursed bond made me madly drawn to her.

“But you can’t mark and mate her. If you do it, you will be lost. The bond will grow on you like a plague, and you won’t be able to resist her manipulation, her web of lies, and her games,” he said, unexpectedly calmly, looking into my eyes.

“Don’t worry! I would never even consider putting my mark on that female! She is unworthy!” I nodded.

I wouldn’t ever do it. Not even the bond or her manipulation could bewitch me to such an extent that I would make that vile creature mine, unite my soul with hers for eternity.

The Fates were as cruel as the Goddess to match me with such a female.

“Now, let’s go back to the party. You should start getting closer to her, win her trust. We have no time to lose, Philp. I know that is a huge sacrifice to make, but I believe you can do it. You will save our campaign, our Realm.” Henrik said, wrapping his hand on my shoulder once again.

I clenched my eyes shut for a second and inhaled a deep intake of air.

I could do it.

~ * ~

When we arrived at the ballroom once again, my eyes couldn’t find her, although her caramel flowery scent still lingered in the air.

I closed my eyes and let her scent guide me to her. However, it was a mistake, her scent was a sweet poison, that made me even more drawn to her. Hypnotized, she was as dangerous as an evil sorceress.

When my eyes met her now blue ones, she moved farther away, going in the direction of one of the balconies. My legs moved in their own accord, following her. Chaos took a lot of comfort in her smell.

I had to control myself and my wolf.

“Soon, let’s only smell her first, inhale her deeply.” my wolf probed, making me shake my head. But I conceded, just for an instant.

She was now on the balcony, her back against the fence of the fourth floor, the moonlight behind her pale frame, reminding me that he was a forbidden fruit, a rotten, poisoned fruit.

She gasped and gaped at me, looking almost innocent, like a bunny rabbit. But she wouldn’t lure me. I knew that she wasn’t innocent, not the least. She was an evil schemer, her manipulation powers should be remarkable for one of such a young age. As Alpha Elijah and Henrik said, Victoria learned her cunning ways with the most self-interested of the creatures, her mother.

“Victoria,” I muttered, taking a couple of slow steps towards her.

She just stood there frozen like a statue. Her hair was partially up, but some locks cascaded down in brown waves. Her rosy and flashy lips parted, her nose delicate and small, her eyes blue and deep, like the waters of infinity, laced with fake innocence.

My eyes wandered down to her bosom, her flashy globes weren’t especially big or small. They would fit my hands perfectly. Her waist was thin and delicate. I should stop looking at her like that, otherwise, Chaos would lose control.

I stretched my hand to her. I could hear her heart beating erratically, unsteady and her breath was breaking. An adorable, good actress?

She took my hand hesitantly, her widely opened eyes still fixed on mine. Our touch made a strong surge of tingles emerge in my hand, radiating to my spine.

I pulled her flush to my body and wrapped my arms around her waist, something in me became unsettled to see her that close to the fence, even to see her exposed to the cold evening wind. It was insanity, she wouldn’t fall, she surely could dematerialize in the thin air or open portals. Why did I even care?

“Mate bond,” my wolf said in my mind, rolling his eyes at me. “We can’t reject her and avoid this feeling, this need. So, you will let me at least make her warm.” He added.

Victoria looked up at me, her eyes fixed on mine, her breath still faltering a bit.

She kept still there, frozen, statuesque, and perfect.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t, the man in me, my rational side, my convictions, and every belief said no, my desire, and my wolf wanted her.

Fates indeed like to play us, as if we were their puppets.

Henrik was right, it was a dangerous mission, this proximity alone, her smell and her pretty eyes, the slender and delicate curve of her neck made it hard to resist.

It would be very difficult, but I’m an Alpha, my willpower, rationality, and loyalty should overpower my desire and its misguidance.