The Alpha's Temptation

For the past two days, Tania hadn't sent a single message to Menkar. She had sent one after her first visit to the orchards. If she was guessing right, then her Master might be sending his hunched spy to check after her. After taking a bath, she rushed back to her room, changed into a black nightgown, tied her hair up in a messy bun and set out to the orchards where she would find Nomia. This time she decided she wouldn't go very far from the secret passage which led out to the rose garden. The first time she went, she was lost and thankfully the king had come to rescue her. She didn't want to be a burden every time. So, she decided to keep the trip short.

Tania almost sprinted through the passage and reached out. The faint smell of roses filled her lungs and she sucked in a sharp breath. Hurriedly, she strode to the spot she had chosen to meet Nomia. Nomia was a clever owl and Tania didn't know how he became Menkar's pet, but she was impressed by him.

She called the bird by letting out a low whistle and then waited. She wondered if she should tell how close she had become to Eltanin, but the thought pricked her heart like a sickle shaped thorn. She decided against it. How could she mention her relationship with the king? It was so beautiful and pure and felt naturally right. She was going to keep it like that. Her cheeks heated up as images of her pleasuring him flashed across her mind. She clenched her thighs when a thought crossed her mind—she wanted to do that all over again and without the spells working around them. Her hand went to her neck and she rubbed it as she giggled.

Her gaze swept across the tall oaks and aspens, the leaves of which looked dark against the night sky that had clouds roiling angrily. She whistled again to call Nomia, but the bird didn't come. It was beginning to get colder. She rubbed her arms to warm herself. Winter was slowly descending on Draka and she hoped that this time the snow was merciful. As if on her cue, the first flake of snow landed right on her cheek.

"What are you doing here?" a gruff voice sounded from behind.

Tania whirled and saw Eltanin standing behind a small rose shrub with a panicked expression. He was panting as if he had run all the way through the passage as fast as possible. In the dim light of the sconce that burned at the entrance of the tunnel, she could make out his hair that was sticking to his forehead in clumps because of sweat.

"I—I—" she stuttered, startled. What could she say? Her mind raced to make an excuse for being caught. She had never imagined that he would come back after her.

Eltanin rounded the bush and closed the gap between them. He narrowed his eyes as he didn't waver his gaze away from her. He went to stand right in front of her and she craned her neck to see him. She was so nervous about being caught like this that she didn't realize when he held her hands and brought them to his lips. Her breath lodged in her throat not only because of her anxiety that the king caught her whistling, but also because of the sensation that his kiss elicited in her.

"I— I wanted some fresh air," she blurted as her cheeks blushed because of the lie and her heart raced wildly. Had he understood her plan? Would he execute her?

"You cannot come out like this unescorted, Tania," he said in a low voice. A flake of snow floated through the air and settled on his hair.

She watched it settling over him and then another one that came right over his ear. "I think it's safe here," she replied, relieved that he hadn't suspected her. At the same time, a kernel of anxiety came in her chest. Where was Nomia and why hadn't he come? How would she send the message back to Menkar. Another snowflake drifted through the air and settled in her eyelash.

He tugged her towards him and curled one hand around her waist. The snowflake over her eyelash looked so beautiful and pristine just like her that he bent down and kissed it away. "You aren't safe until you are doing my work as my secret scribe." Once he got the Yunabi book from Humval ruins, he was surely going to announce her to the world. He didn't want to wait any further. He couldn't. Every day, his wolf was getting more desperate than the last. When he didn't see her in the room, panic bubbled in his chest like acid. He sniffed her all the way to here and only when he saw her, did he calm down. "Please don't come out without informing me. I can accompany you if you want fresh air. You can go and visit Ladon. He would like to have you anytime."

How could she accept that? She had work to do as a spy. She nodded, hating that she was lying to him. But she knew one thing— once her Master freed her, she was going to kill him. He was a merciless man who deceived her at every step, but Eltanin never once deceived her. He had warned her that the king was a cunning wolf who had a mercurial temper, had a sharp tongue and was ruthless to his enemies. And she had witnessed how powerful he was.

"Then come inside. We have to go to Humval mound tomorrow very early in the morning. I have already informed Glenn. He will be waiting for us."

She was sure that Menkar had never thought that she would also be adventuring as a part of her job. She loved it. "I look forward to it," she said with a smile. Nomia was forgotten.

He pulled her tight in his embrace as he grasped the back of her head and pressed it against his chest. A knot formed in his stomach and his throat coated with a burn of fear when he thought that he would be using her to extract the arcana. It was a dangerous mission. With his hand over hers, he brought her back to his bedchamber. He left her over there because he wanted her to decide whether she wanted to sleep in his bed or hers. Either way he was going to be with her. He went to his closet to change and when he returned, he found that she had gone to her room. So, it was going to be her room tonight. He trudged his way to her bed and lay beside her over the blanket she was tucked in.

He turned to his side and inched his fingers towards her open hand. Placing his palm on hers, he lifted his eyes to see her and found that she was staring at him. The two continued to look at each other until her eyes became droopy and she went off to sleep. Eltanin watched her for a long time before he dozed off.

Next morning when Tania came out of the passageway, she saw Glenn standing with two horses.