I
t was late afternoon when Alphose finally decided to go to the Tower and check on the Alpha King.
Before he made that decision, he'd been in an argument with himself about whether to go visit or not. Wolfaraine had a lot of recovering to do, so he needs to spend some intimate time alone with his mate.
But at the same time, he knows that the longer he stays without telling him about the human in Naturiah, the more it's gonna cause a problem when he finds out on his own. Hence, his decision.
At the Tower gates, the changelings on duty greeted the cougar Alpha with a bow of their heads as he entered and headed for the entrance door.
The smell of sex harassed his nose even right from the third stair and only got stronger with every step he took closer to that door. So, Alphose hesitated at the door, not wanting to interrupt anything. He pitied and admired Ismena.
Poor little woman. She has a lot of giving to do if those infected, rhodium wounds are ever gonna heal early. And from the scent of it, she was giving a lot.
"Good morning, Alpha Alphose. Are you looking for the Alpha King?"
Alphose turned to the voice of the housekeeper coming from behind him, "Good morning to you too, Mirian. You are looking very good this morning."
A sweet smile spread over the older woman's face, "Thank you so much, but you flatter an old woman, My Lord."
"Sixty is the peak of life, Mirian." Alphose drawled, giving the older woman a smile that younger changeling females call 'charming' and swooned over, "Yes, I am indeed looking for the Alpha King. His door is locked, so I was reconsidering knocking. I don't wanna disturb them."
"Oh no, you can't disturb them. It's only My Lady inside that room now, still catching her nap. The poor woman hasn't woken since morning." Worry flashed on her face before it dissolved, "The Alpha King is in his study. He is working."
"Oh?" He thought about that, "Alright, I'll go to his study. Thank you, Mirian."
"You're welcome, My Lord."
The enticing scent of sex was starting to mess with him, so, Alphose was quick to leave so it doesn't make him start craving one too.
At the huge door of the study, he paused and knocked once.
"Come in." Came the familiar deep voice.
He entered, his eyes automatically finding Wolfaraine where he was seated on the huge throne-like chair behind an equally huge gold table that looks like it's been carved from the best stone.
The Alpha King's eyes were focused on a paper resting on the table, his brows furrowed in concentration. Even with the frown on his face, Alphose noticed that he was looking visibly relaxed and refreshed this morning. That is a good sign.
"Good morning, Alpha King. I trust you had a good night's rest?" His eyes went to his legs-or where they would be if not for the huge table shielding his view.
"Good morning, Alphose. I had the best a night can ever offer. I hope you did the same?" He spared his friend a glance.
"I did." No, he didn't. His night was restless because his dreams were filled with Kassandra and intimate moments with her. He'd woken up heavily aroused.
Finally, Wolfaraine put the papers away. He straightened, giving Alphose his full attention. "How is the cougar clan?"
"Bountiful. Velez's mate gave birth while you were away. They have been celebrating."
"Congratulations to him," Valez is one of Alpha's sentinels, "It is great news."
"It is indeed. The little lad has a strong vocal cord. He can cry." Alphose revealed, pride reverberating from him.
"I will send my gifts to them later." A small smile touched Wolfaraine's lips.
He does not want children, but he was always happy when his people reproduce not only because more children means more life for Naturiah, but also because his people love and absolutely adore children. He is happy for a child being born, and he even sends gifts too. But he never visits.
"I'm sure Valez will be beside himself with happiness to hear that."
After that, Alphose cleared his throat and adjusted himself uncomfortably on his seat.
Wolfaraine saw it and arched his brows, knowing something was up. He did not say anything, which only made Alphose warier.
He cleared his throat again, "I found my mate." He blurted out.
Clearly, that wasn't the news Wolfaraine was expecting. The frown disappeared from his face and his eyes widened, "By the heavens, that is great news!"
"It is, isn't it?" Alphose let out a nervous laugh.
But the Alpha King was very happy and it showed on his face. For the first time since Alphose can remember, a big smile was on his face.
It completely transformed his face; shaving off a few years from his age, making him look young and strikingly handsome.
Alphose was too dumbfounded to say any word. He has never seen Wolfaraine smile this way before.
Wolfaraine rose-automatically Alphose rose with him-he walked around the table and hugged his good friend. "I am happy for you, Alphose."
His reaction was everything to Alphose. The cougar leader was surprised when tears burned the back of his eyes but he quickly blinked them back, "Thank you, Wolfaraine. I am happy for myself too."
"You should be. I know how long you've wanted this." The Alpha King pulled away and surveyed his good friend, Sentinel, and Alpha, really well... "You do not look too happy though."
"Is anything the matter?" Wolfaraine went ahead to ask, "Did she reject you? Which clan is she from? If it's anything dire, I'll speak to the clan leader on your behalf."
"No, no, it's nothing like that. Actually, she doesn't know that she is my mate yet. She is not from any clan because she is human." He finished, looking Wolfaraine in the eyes.
Wolfaraine blinked in confusion, "I know you do not have hatred for humans as I do, so I do not understand how that is a problem. Even before I met Ismena, I have always accepted the human mates of my people. If a human is your other-half, your soulmate, I will not temper with that no matter how much I dislike their kind. Instead, I set my differences aside and embrace my people's human mates."
"I guess I've always known that." He has always known that, but it still feels great to hear it from his mouth.
He stepped back and surveyed him carefully, "What exactly is the problem, Alphose? There is more that you are not letting on here."
"I am not sure she is mine. I am not sure she is my mate." He let out at last.
The Alpha King's confusion was apparent, "I do not understand."
"The cougar goes crazy for her, just like I do. Even worse. The cougar is possessive of her, it's practically been restless since I separated myself from her. I've tried running, hunting, and even fighting games but it's not working. I...the cougar... we want her."
"So, go get her. It's very obvious that she is your mate. The animal never gets involved unless she is a mate. You know this more than I do. You have enthusiastically followed up on mates and mating all your life."
"I know, Alpha King, I do. That is the only hope I have." He took a deep breath and turned back to face his King, "she does not have the scent, any scent at all. She does not have the scent of a potential mate and I've touched her a few times but she doesn't have my scent too. Not even a little. Just her unique, feminine scent."
Silence descended afterward. It was heavy. Pregnant.
Wolfaraine walked back to his seat and lowered himself on it.
"Oh. That is a problem." Wolfaraine admitted at last.
"Yeah." Alphose followed him, taking the chair directly in front of him with his huge table separating them.
"So, you have to bring her to Naturiah and spend some time with her. Give it more time."
"I have brought her here." He confessed.
"You have?"
"Yes, Alpha King." Alphose was not seeing any way to get around that particular bump so, he went for the truth, "The truth is; while you were away, Ismena's younger sister had a critical problem that landed her in the emergency room. Eline brought a crying Ismena to me who began pleading that I take her to her sister. I tried to dissuade her, but it did not work. So, I agreed to take her."
Wolfariane's brows arched, his face held that unreadable note of expression that was no stranger to him.
He continued in a rush, "We stayed for only a few hours in the hospital and that was where I met her, my mate. Turns out she is Ismena's best friend, her name is Kassandra. She came to the hospital too. After I explained things to your mate, she talked Kassandra into following us back to Naturiah. All this was a week ago."
Silence.
Resounding, loud silence.
"You took Ismena to the human world without my permission? Knowing fully well how dangerous it is for her there with the ring still missing?" He asked calmly.
Alphose has heard that calm voice a good number of times to know how much of a sham it is, especially in situations like this. Wolfaraine was furious.
He rose from his seat and inclined his head, "I apologize, Alpha King. I acknowledge my wrong and I will take any punishment you wish to give for that."
"Was there any attack?"
The cougar Alpha hesitated, "Yes. Wolfhunters came to the hospital. I killed all of them but their leader went missing. There was something strange about it all..."
His brows arched again. He said nothing.
"In less than thirty minutes after we arrived at the hospital, they were there already. Usually, it takes time for them to get wind of our movement into their world and when they do, it takes time for them to arrive too." He cocked his head to the side in thought, "It was as if they were right there when we arrived. But there was no other changeling in that area which they would have been there for-and I checked too-so it's just us."
Another round of silence descended between them. This time, longer and more deafening than the first time. It made Alphose more uncomfortable.
"Anyway, I killed them all, but couldn't find the leader. Once we confirmed Valentina would be alright, your mate got Kassandra and we began our return journey. We did not stay longer than three hours there." He finished.
Silence.
The Alpha King did not say a word for a long time. Too long.
"Say something, please." Alphose was forced to say at last.
Finally, the frown dissipated from his face, he raised his head, "We will discuss this much later, Alphose. Now, I want to see our newest visitor to Naturiah. Go and get her."
Oh? Alphose blinked. Twice.
That was not what he was expecting.
If Wolfaraine was still very angry, it wasn't showing in his voice. Alphose took that as a plus on his side. "I will do that, Alpha King."
"I will survey her to know if she is truly your mate, and I will invite the cougar too."
Alphose had been hoping on that too, even as he dreaded the outcome of it. "Thank you so much, Alpha King."
"Good. Go and get her." Then, he dismissed him by picking up the piece of paper he'd dropped when Alphose entered his study.
Alphose walked to the door, remembered something, and stopped. He turned around, "How is your leg healing?" He asked, concerned.
The remaining hard edges that had appeared when the Alpha King's face when he talked about taking Ismena to the human world dissolved.
"It's healed. Completely." He appeared most relaxed as he looked down on his leg in question. A glint flashed in his eyes...as if he was remembering the 'healing process.'
"Really?" Alphose's eyes widened, "All of it?"
"All of it."
"Bloody hell!" Alphose winced, "How is Ismena? Is she alright?"
Wolfaraine arched his brows, dropped the document he was holding, crossed his arms, and leaned back on his chair in a comforting manner. "Seriously?"
The cougar Alpha shifted uncomfortably, "She is human, Your Highness. You have to take it easy on her."
A smile feathered his lips, "Ismena is strong, Alphose." Is that pride in his voice? "Contrary to what you and Mirian think, I did not kill her. She is alive and well."
"Of course, she is a very strong female, especially because she is taking you on-and I do not even mean that in a sexual way. That, is not disputable."
Wolfaraine narrowed his eyes, "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Nothing, nothing." The Alpha King is a hard and scary male to be with, and while his people love him greatly, they prefer to love him from afar. Ismena seems to be doing a great job loving him closely and for that Alphose was grateful to her.
For the first time, for as long as he could remember, Wolfaraine was spending the day in a mood that can be termed as a great mood. A first of its kind. Alphose will forever be grateful to Ismena for that.
If any male deserves to be happy in life, it is the Alpha King. A male who has been through so many unspeakable hard times that scarred him irreparably.
"What are you thinking about in so much concentration?"
His voice snapped Alphose out of his own head, "Nothing serious. I am just happy that your wounds healed completely overnight."
"It is good to have all my senses working perfectly again, not being dulled by pain or an infected wound. You know, I could not scent much yesterday, and I could not hear far either." He admitted, "It was that bad."
Unbiddenly, Alphose remembered that very faint scent of the Alpha King he'd perceived in Nalaila's room the night before.
Now Wolfaraine said this, it made him wonder if, perhaps that scent had really been there but the Alpha King did not perceive it because his enhanced senses were dulled by his injury?
Was Ismena really in Nalaila's room knowing fully well how dangerous that is? His brows furrowed as he thought of that.
Speaking of Ismena...
It was Alphose's turn to arch his brows, "You said Ismena is alive and 'well' but according to Mirian, she has been sleeping since last night."
"She has. And so?"
Alphose narrowed his eyes, "It's early evening, Alpha King."
Suddenly, Wolfaraine was giving that piece of the document on his desk more attention than it deserves. "I do not understand what you are implying here, Alphose."
"Oh yes, you do." He would have sworn the bridge of their leader's nose turned slightly ruby. Alphose smirked, "You gotta take it easy on her though. Trust me, you do not want to kill your own mate with your infamous large appetite for sex."
Wolfaraine rubbed the stubble of his beard on his jawline in thought.
His large appetite for sex, like Alphose put it, was not even the problem in this situation. Yes, he does have a large appetite for sex just like every changeling does, but unlike most changelings, he can abstain from the act if it's not 'needed'. He can do little to nothing with a female and be completely okay with it.
No, his large appetite for sex is not the problem here, but his large appetite for her. For Ismena. That, is the main problem here.
"I wish it was all because of my sexual appetite." He grunted, under his breath.
"Huh? What did you say?" Alphose did not hear correctly because he wasn't tuning in with his 'cougar ears'.
Wolfaraine only shook his head, "That is enough jest for today. Go and get me your mate, Alphose. I think it is time we become properly introduced."
Alphose was smiling when he walked out of the door. But, as the door closed behind him, the smile died slowly.
If anyone can identify a mate, it is the Alpha King of Naturiah. Soon, he will get to know if Kassandra is his mate or not.
His belly knotted in dread.