The Alpha King and the Shadow

Chapter 4

He was looking around the room and Fen and I started to worry. Then Royal Beta Markus took the microphone and started speaking. His voice was clear and commanding, but not disrespectful.

"Good evening everyone and I am happy to see that you were all able to make it to this year’s ball. We are gathered today in hopes that more higher ranks are able to find their mate. That being said, it is even more special this year because our King will be choosing his future Queen this evening." His voice trailed on but I tuned him out. My face drained of color and I looked towards the King. His eyes were still scanning the crowd and when he gazed past me, I held my breath. As soon as his gaze kept running past me, I released my breath. "With all this being said, enjoy your dinner and the rest of your evening." Beta Markus closed.

We all took our seats and the dinner started in full swing. Laura was sitting next to me and looked down at my plate realizing that I didn't touch the salad or the roasted duck in front of me she asked "What’s wrong Lee?" Just low enough for the whole table to hear, but not the surrounding tables. I took a deep breath and looked up and around, the whole table stopped eating and was looking at me. I sighed and looked at Laura and Jona and touched my necklace. Only the people who knew about the necklace new what I was saying. That is my family, jonah and laura. Realization hit them and they all nodded their heads and started eating again. I took a bite of the duck and it was amazing. Although I didn't have the appetite for it I choked it down. Once the main course was over and we all received dessert.

Jonah piped in my head, using midlink, with the one question I hated to answer. "Who?" I could tell that the mindlike was open for just the people who know. I sighed. My eyes started to glow as Fen was nearing the surface. My brother put his hand on my shoulder releasing some calm energy to try and keep her at bay. My brother is also an empath, but has yet to master his skill like me. I answered them saying out loud so that the look on their faces would be a give away and Laura’s big mouth would be able to be concealed if others were talking.

"The King.. doesn’t seem to want to be here. He also doesn’t look like how I expected." That started everyone besides us at the table talking. The other’s just look at me. Jona and my father’s jaw were ticking, while the rest had their mouths open.

People started getting up from each table to start mingling around the room. Dinner was officially over and now it was social time. I got up without saying a word and walked towards one of the big windows on the side of the room. I realized that it was a balcony and decided that I needed air.

I was staring at the dark blue sky. It was a clear night, the stars were dazzling and the crescent moon shone bright. "Why moon goddess? What have you done? Why have you punished me?"

I hear footsteps and see Laura and Jona. "Are you okay?" Laura asks.

"What do you think Laur?" I ask back and she comes up and hugs me.

"Fen says that we will not be able to make it through his rejection. It would be too strong." I say.

"What are you going to do?" Jona asks.

"Ignore him and hope the necklace keeps working." I say as I start back inside.

Laura speaks up. "What if he is different from the others? He is the King and he is looking for a mate. What better than his actual mate?" She asks and it stops me in my tracks. I turn to look at her and scowl.

" No" is all I say as I continue walking inside.

The next hour goes by with me sitting at the table scowling at every man who tries to ask me to dance. I see the Royal Beta taking girls up to speak with the King and watch them all victoriously walking back to their people.

"Look at that one. She is walking like she has a literal stick up her ass." Fen says. I smirk, but then I notice the Royal Beta making his way towards me. My smile falls and I quickly stand up and walk to Sebastian.

"On second thought I would love to dance." I said as I took his arm and led him to the dance floor.

"What was that?" He asked as we started to waltz. I looked at him then glanced at the Beta markus.

"He was coming for me." I mind linked him. Seb turned his head and he looked back at me.

"What are you going to do? You know he will just wait for you to be finished. You can't avoid him." He mindlinked back to me.

"I just needed some time to figure out what I am going to do." I answered him back. He nodded and we continued to dance. The beta actually grabbed another woman and took her to the king, but I know he will be back. Seb interrupted my thoughts.

"Figure it out yet?" HE asked.

"Yes, but I may get in trouble." He squinted his eyes.

"What do you mean you MAY get in trouble?" He asked, but by then the song ended and as we were walking back. The Royal Beta Markus stopped us.He was about 6ft 4in tall with gelled back blond hair. He kind of reminded me of my brother except a tad taller and he has brown eyes.

"Ma’am if I may request you come with me for a few moments. We won’t be long." He gestured with his hand for me to start walking with him.

"No thank you". I say as I start walking away. The look on his face was priceless. My brother stood there, mouth hanging open as I walked away. Beta Markus looked to my brother then back to me, brows furrowed like he did not know what just happened. Quickly he regained his composure and stepped in front of me again.

"Miss. I apologize. It was not a matter of me asking if you would accompany me, it was me informing you that you will come with me." His voice was laced with little irritation.

"No Beta, you said and I quote IF I MAY REQUEST. That is a question therefore you were asking me to go with you, not you informing me I was to go with you." I smiled my sweet and innocent smile.

He clears his throat, clearly irritated that I am testing him and grabs my elbow and starts leading me to the front of the ballroom to the stage. His emotions are all over the place. He is irritated and angry for the blatant disrespect I showed him. He is also anxious and hopeful? That is weird.

"Your Highness. "The beta nods and takes a step back from me. I inhale and hold my breath. He smells intoxicating, like a forest right after rain and citrusy. I do a small curtsy and look into his eyes. My breath hitches. Please don’t. Please goddess let the necklace work. All I see are his light brown eyes with flakes of green in them. He squints his eyes at the disrespect of me making eye contact. Once he sees that I am not going to avert my eyes and looks at me up and down and makes a humph sound. Good, the necklace is working. I think to myself. Then he speaks.

"You will do good to know your place, Gamma."

I look at him with questioning and daring eyes. "You disrespected my Beta and now you are disrespecting me. I am your King and you will show respect, Gamma." He says in a stern voice. Fen scoffs in my head.

"Asshole." She spits. My face is void of emotion, but I feel him trying to assert his dominance by letting some of his aura out. The guards behind him bow their heads but I do not. I am unphased.

"Do it." Fen urges me. Here we go I think.