Chapter Eight

* Alpha King Zed *

The party ends up at dawn and I haven't seen Madine after what happened in the cellar. The she-wolf could be in bed with another warrior of the pack I am sure of it. I know her well enough to question myself why I still used her. Now that I have a wife, should I do it with her? I thought about her innocent face and the way she reacted to our first kiss at the ceremony. Hell! I curse at myself while sitting in my bed, I just had a quick cold shower but I felt my blood getting hot at the thought of her wearing nothing on.

I can't deny the fact that she looks beautiful with an alluring sexy body she's not even aware of how a man looks at her. I groaned and buried myself in the sheets to get some sleep but I could smell her scent still lingering in the big room I have to let the servants clean this chamber thoroughly tomorrow morning.

But my eyes quickly open at five am an hour before sunrise. It's the time for me to do my run and check the borders followed by a sweaty workout.

"Good morning your majesty!"

As usual, Beta Osuof is already waiting for me when I land in the garden. "Morning to you Beta Osuof, now let's race outside."

Shifted into my big wolf form, I am faster. My thick grey fur appears to be flowing against the wind. Beta Osuof is a dark wolf with long hair which makes him look scary and feared by other warriors of the pack.

"Your too fast your majesty, as always!"

Beta Osuof paces faster to follow me as we leap high from the fence of the Palace and into the Vast mountain behind it. I smell the scent of tall grass trees and even the tiny insects, everything is normal. "Follow me to the nearest border Beta."

"Yes, your Majesty!"

I smiled to myself when I heard the footsteps of the others on the ground. The warriors are all awake and running in the grasses surrounding the Palace. As I pace faster, I choose the path that leads to the Far East. Then up on the hill, I stop.

"I wanted to select a few warriors to follow my Father on the East Villa."

Beta Osuof nodded and stood beside me. We were both looking down on the clear road in the middle of the forest where my Father's location is.

"That's a good idea, your Majesty, I thought about that too and discussed it with your Father once but he is opposed to it."

I sighed. "It doesn't matter if he agrees or not if the enemies know that my Father is alone far in the East with only the company of his butler it would give them funny ideas."

We were at peace for many years, but it doesn't mean that our enemies are gone. Evil wolves are everywhere and they will soon want to try and take the Palace territory from us.

"You are right your Majesty, we can protect your Father by sending a few selected warriors to the Villa of the East and I will choose the stronger ones."

"Thank you Beta Osuof, and let the warriors tell my Father that they will lose their job if he sends them back."

Beta Osuof nodded. It's the only way I could think of to make him accept the protection that he needs. Sometimes my Father is more stubborn than anyone in the Palace, being the former Alpha King made him do so. As the sun slowly rises from the East I embrace the first rays that touch my nose.

"Your Majesty, shall we head back now so that we can start selecting the warriors to be sent to the East?"

I turned my head towards Beta Osuof and nodded then I started running to the training grounds. He followed me while cursing, it was only to humor me but Beta Osuof runs faster only against the other warriors. With me, he ranks just second.

* Althea *

I stared at the beautiful ceiling where there was a chandelier that glittered as it turns around. And then my eyes turned to the wall at the farthest part of the bedroom and his young self smiled towards me. I like to look at his face first thing in the morning, not his current face as of the present day.

"Good morning your Majesty. Are you awake?"

A female voice followed by a knock on my bedroom door made me rise from the bed and sit. "Yes, good morning. You can come in."

The door opens and the head maid comes in with a fellow servant following her. They stop in front of me and bow their head. "Your Majesty, this is Donna the servant in charge of cleaning your room. Would you like to wait in the balcony while she cleans and I get your breakfast ready?"

I look at the young woman, she is just a year older than me. I feel a certain pinch in my heart as I recall my life a year ago, at least I wasn't a servant although I also belonged to the low-class wolves.

"Oh, hey Donna! Yes, I can do that. Or it would be better if I take a shower first."

Donna straightened her body and met my gaze. "As you wish your Majesty."

Alberta waited for my order for breakfast and so I turned to her. "I am not hungry Alberta, you can bring me a cup of black coffee with milk and sugar on the side."

"Yes, your Majesty. It will be here as soon as you finish your shower."

I nodded. "Thank you, Alberta."

"My pleasure your Majesty."

I walked to the bathroom and closed the door giving time for the young maid to clean my room. I turned the shower on and then placed myself under the running water. I wonder what I would do today, thinking of the words the Alpha has said, that I could do anything that I want. By anything, there are still limitations.

After I finish my shower I walk out of the bathroom carefully drying myself and then head to the walk-in closet to find my house dress. As I saw that Donna was still going to clean the bathroom, I went to the balcony drying my hair on the gentle heat of the sun. I smelled the cup of coffee before Alberta brought it to me on the small table on the balcony.

"Thank you, Alberta."

She smiled and bowed her head before leaving. I looked at the sun gazing at me on the East then brought the cup of coffee to my lips.

"Thea! My dear sister in law!"

The cheerful voice of Zeina coming from the door made me smile as I turned towards the glass doors that separated the balcony and bedroom.

"I'm on the balcony Zeina, please come forward."

Zeina walks out of the balcony and I stand up to greet her with a peck on the cheek. She looks stunning in a short summer dress and cute flat sandals on her feet.

"Thea, I thought you were in the master's chambers. But I guess my brother is making a little drama by making you move in here."

I smiled and held her shoulders. "It's alright Zeina, I guess I and the Alpha King need more time to get to know each other first. I am not against this setup this is better for me."

Zeina sits down in front of me. "Of course! I do understand your part, Thea, I mean who would sleep with someone they just met right? But at least my brother could have made you stay in the same room with him so that you two can have more time to talk to each other."

I shook my head. "Oh no, it's better this way Zeina."

Zeina pouted. "This is not a better way because my brother will not talk to you like this. Or he would never give his time to you if you stayed away from him. I don't like this Thea.”

I just laughed and took a sip at the coffee in my cup. Zeina and I could not do anything if the Alpha King would not allow it so we better just keep our mouths shut. But I love the feeling, of knowing that there is someone who cares for me in this Palace. At least I have the Alpha King's sister on my side.