His eyes anchored me in place as he walked towards me, everyone as if on cue moved out of his way, giving him a clear path
“There you are, I’ve been looking everywhere for you” he smiled towering over me
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know, please forgive me your highness” I said bowing nervously, trembling with fear in front of him, why was he looking for me, why me, what does he want?
He grabbed my cheek making me look up at him, his piercing blue eyes making my lips quiver, he makes me nervous, I can’t say no to him, he has a dominating presence that just bends my will to whatever he wants
I looked around and everyone was just watching all this unfold not saying a word, the ballroom was quite, you could hear a pin drop
“So, this is the one you’ve chosen” a roaring voice came from above the stairs vibrating in the still room, all the men bowed, and all the women curtsied, not wanting to offend I willed my body to move, I wanted to join them in showing respect, but I couldn’t, Alexander's eyes kept me locked in place.
Everyone avoided his gaze, he stood at the stop of the stairs wearing a black tux all buttoned up with a bow tie, he had silver grey hair, but his body still looked strong, he rushed down the stairs coming to meet us
“Yes father, she is magnificent isn’t she?” he gleamed looking into my eyes as the older gentleman stood beside him
“Indeed” he nodded in approval, what the fuck is going on? My heart raced beating hard in my chest as my breath quickened
“If you’re ready we can leave” Alexander said looking right at me, but the ringing noise in my head confused me, I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or his father
“Well, are you?” Alexander's father asked pushing me to answer, the commanding weight in his tone making my body jump back
“Leave and go where?” I looked back and forth between them, rubbing my fingers together trying to stop them from shaking
“Isn’t it obvious, I’m taking you as my bride” everything in my body stopped functioning
“Shall we?” he offered me his elbow; I shook my head unable to say the words
“You dare refuse the prince of the wolves?” Alexander's father boomed, I shook trembling as I realised that I was standing in front of Prince Alexander and King Aziel
“No, your highness…I uh…I uh…”
“If I may your highness” Kein walked down the stairs and I breathed a sigh of relief, he looked hot as he raced through the crowd to save me
“Yes, what is it?” King Aziel boomed
“It’s just that…” Kein hesitated
“Spit it out” King Aziel was getting impatient, no one dared defy him, he was not born with kings’ blood, but he was an Alpha of a pack in the amazon, my dad told me stories about how he mobilised close to twenty packs including our own to fight the tyrant king Omari, little did they know they were substituting one tyrant for another
“She is my employee your highness…I brought her here and I’m afraid I can’t leave without her…sir” Kein said with his hands on the sides of his body offering the king a low bow, the king laughed long, hard, and loud
“I guess she won’t be coming in tomorrow” he said still chuckling softly “well it’s time to go” he growled brushing off Kein’s statement, and Alexander grabbed my hand pulling me to him
“Kein” I breathed, fear radiating from every fibre of my being, how am I supposed to go with these people, and bride, what does he mean bride?
“She is my mate! Your highness” Kein barked
“Your mate hu, is that so?” Alexander mocked, turning to look at Kein still holding me by the wrist “then why have you not claimed her?” his grip tightened, and I hissed
“Let go of her!” Kein growled
“You dare command me” Alexander growled crouching preparing to attack
“Wait son, let's hear him out” King Aziel said softly but his teeth were clenched and the rage in his eyes told me that he was only holding back because of the audience around us “well…why is she still unmarked, why haven’t you claimed her yet?”
Kein looked at his feet and took a deep breath “I haven’t fully claimed her yet because I’m still tied to another, but the situation will soon be resolved”
“Enough of this, you know the rules” Alexander barked
“Rules…what rules?” I whispered looking from Alexander to Kein to the King
“That any she wolf who comes before the king unmarked consents to being claimed by the king or any member of the royal family” another gentleman with jet black hair, and masculine broad shoulders spoke from the top of the stairs, he had a presence about him but not as much as prince Alexander and definitely not at the lever of King Aziel
“Alpha Sobong, welcome” King Aziel said looking up at the man descending the stairs
“She didn’t know, she only came here as my guest” Kein pleaded
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse” Alpha Sobong said as he stood next to Kein taping him on the shoulder as if to say 'you've lost this one' “please go ahead your highness, I will deal with this” to this Alexander started walking pulling me to him, I protested tugging my hand away
“You will come with me now” he whispered in my ear, his deep smooth voice invading every muscle in my body, and I started to move, he had control over me, I tried to stop but my body would not listen to me anymore, it only obeyed him.
“No, please…please…please” I pleaded but my body was still walking willingly by his side despite all of my efforts commanding it to stop, he was unaffected by my plea
“Ali come to me!” Kein growled bringing my wolf out trapping me in my own body again
“How dare you!” Alpha Sobong said hitting Kein across the face with the back of his hand, the King was fuming, he looked at his guards
“Bring me his head” King Aziel roared, his eyes wide with rage, two guards quickly moved and grabbed Kein, his lip was bleeding from the Alphas strike, they held his arms pulling hard on either side, he growled as they brought him to his knees, another guard inching back preparing for a running start to kick Kein’s head clean off his head, I locked eyes with him, he was breathing heavily preparing himself for his end.
I forced my wolf back switching places and ran to Kein, throwing my body over his “No, please don’t, I’ll go with you…I’ll go with you…I will go, I will go, I will go” I breathed tears running down my face
“Very well, let us be off” the king hissed with a hint of disgust in his voice, the two men holding Kein let go and moved back, I unwrapped my arms from around Kein’s neck cupping his face in my palms
Both of us looking intently into each other’s eyes, there were so many things I wanted to say to him, I wanted to tell him how sorry I was for not letting him mark me, I wanted to reassure him and tell him not to blame himself, and most of all I wanted to tell him how happy he made me.
“You were the perfect mate” I whispered, I leaned in to kiss him one last time “aaaahh” I screamed as Alexander scooped me of the floor flinging me over his shoulder walking carrying me towards the elevator that was already open, he put me down holding my hand, I fought the tingling sensation that his touch sent through me and watched as the elevator closed on the love of my life.