The king’s first advances
Prince Greg’s POV
There was something about Raxon that always put me on edge. He was one of the oldest and most respected elders, but his loyalty was to my brother, the king. I knew this meeting wasn’t a social call.
Raxon took a long sip from his mug before setting it down and leaning forward. "Let me tell you a story, Prince Greg. A tale from our clan’s ancient past."
I raised an eyebrow, curious but wary. This story had better be good. "Go on."
He smiled again, that same cold, calculating smile I hated. "Once, there was a deer who roamed the forest, proud and free. This deer believed it could challenge the mightiest of creatures, the tiger. Despite the warnings of others, the deer persisted, convinced of its own strength and cunning. But when the deer finally faced the tiger, it was no match. The tiger, powerful and ruthless, destroyed the deer, leaving nothing but a cautionary tale."
Raxon paused, letting the story sink in. I could see the metaphor coming from a mile away, but I waited for him to continue.
"You see, Prince Greg," he said slowly, his eyes locking onto mine, "you are the deer in this story. And your brother, the king, is the tiger. If you continue to challenge him, you will be destroyed. It’s not a question of if, but when."
I chuckled softly, leaning back in my chair. "And what makes you so sure, Raxon? What makes you think I’m the deer and not something far more formidable?"
Raxon’s smile faltered for a brief moment before he composed himself. "I know you possess certain…abilities. Powers that could be a threat to the stability of our clan. But understand this: if you use your magic against your brother or in any way that disrupts the order of our society, you will face severe consequences. Not just from me, but from your brother, the king. As an elder, I have the authority to enforce these rules, and I will not hesitate to do so."
“And who said I was threatening anyone? You’re the one doing that right now.”
“No,” he leaned further. “Mine is a warning. Don’t cross the line boy.”
Boy? Did he just call me boy? Oh no he didn’t.
The threat hung heavy in the air, but instead of feeling intimidated, I felt a surge of defiance.
Raxon didn’t know the extent of my abilities, nor did he understand the strength of my mind. He saw me as a threat, yes, but he underestimated the lengths I would go to show that I didn’t care about his “threats”.
"Raxon," I said, my voice calm but laced with steel, "you may see me as a deer, but you don’t know the true extent of my power. My brother may be the king and alpha, but that doesn’t make him invincible. I won’t back down because of your threats or anyone else’s. If you think you can control me with fear, you’re sorely mistaken."
Raxon’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I saw a flash of anger. But he quickly masked it with a façade of calm. "Be careful, Prince Greg. Arrogance has been the downfall of many. Remember the deer."
I stood up, looking down at the elder with a mixture of pity and resolve. "I’m not going to say anything that could be used against me. I’ll let you be with your threats.”
I leaned closer to him, letting my aura run off. “But the minute you threaten me again and try to pull off a funny stunt is the day you know what hell tastes like. Don’t play with me elder.”
Without waiting for a reply from him, I walked away and headed for my room.
Anna’s POV
I hurried through the winding corridors of the palace, the echoes of my footsteps mingling with the low murmur of voices and the distant sounds of people talking in different rooms.
When I reached the throne room, a guard stopped me. “What are you here for?”
“I was summoned by the alpha.”
“The Alpha is in his quarters,” he said curtly, nodding down another hallway.
I hesitated for a moment, then thanked the guard and made my way to the Alpha’s private quarters.
As I approached the door, my mind raced with possibilities. What could he want from me in such a private setting?
We usually had our meetings with an elder and in a more public setting. This was not the case now.
The door to his room was slightly ajar, and I knocked softly before pushing it open.
The sight that greeted me made my breath catch. The Alpha stood in the middle of the room, clad only in his briefs.
His muscled physique was evident, but there was something unsettling about the way he looked at me.
His eyes were predatory like he was lusting over someone or something.
“Anna,” he purred, his voice dripping with charm. “Come in.”
I averted my gaze, feeling a flush of discomfort. I shouldn’t be here. “Alpha,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady, “you summoned me?”
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “Yes, I did. Come here, to the bed.”
Every instinct screamed at me to turn and leave, but I forced myself to stay composed.
I walked towards him, my movements stiff with unease.
As I reached the bed, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me down beside him. His touch was firm, almost possessive but I couldn’t do anything as he was the king.
“My brother,” he started to say. “How has he been doing with you by his side?”
“I don’t understand the question, my lord.”
I was confused as he chuckled.
“Does he know about your position as my spy?” I refused to answer as he leaned forward. “If he knows, then that could be a very big problem and I’m guessing you know why.”
I looked away from him with heavy breathing as he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. “You know, Anna, I’ve been watching you. You’re quite the intriguing one.”