Chapter 10: Concern And An Order

Kai Drakkon

"Varek?" I called my Beta to my side during the meeting with the council to ask him about my wife.

"Yes, your majesty." He bowed low and brought his ears to my mouth so I could whisper into it.

"Tell Sierra not to bother about the broth this evening, but she can come around to my study in the next two hours, and I'll be ready to take it."

Varek look mortified, but he tried so hard and failed to hide it. He nodded stiffly in response, not believing that his cold Prince was looking forward to taking the fertility broths that his new wife kept feeding him with.

"Yes, your majesty." He bowed in response and disappeared out of sight, making me turn my attention back to the council.

"Sorry for the slight distraction, dear elders." I apologized smoothly. "It has come to my notice that the werewolves are beginning to cross their boundaries, and we have to put them in place before anything can happen. My scouts have reported to me that the Alpha of Glendale Pack is seeking to have powers akin to us."

The table rippled with laughter and mockery. "Werewolves? Ha! They can dream on. Such a thing can never be possible. Even the Alpha King isn't as strong as you are, your majesty."

But I wasn't laughing because I didn't find any bit of it funny. "They are using witchcraft, Elder Morwen."

Their laughter disappeared almost instantly as they began shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

"But... How?"

"Why?"

"It would require the blood sacrifices of their infant children..."

"They may be proud and arrogant, yes, but I don't think any of them would go that far to sacrifice their pup."

The murmurs around the table continued until I couldn't take it anymore. "Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but it is already happening as the Alpha of Glendale Pack has willingly put his child in protective custody to be able to use the child for the blood moon ritual. And we need to—"

I paused when Varek reappeared by the door with a look of worry on his face. I knew something was wrong instantly, and it had to do with Sierra. I didn't wait for Varek to come to me as I stood up hurriedly to meet him.

"What happened? Is she okay?" I didn't understand the protective instincts that had taken over me ever since she came into my life, but I wanted her protected at all costs.

"Your majesty... You wouldn't like—"

"Speak already, Varek!" I clenched my teeth, my heart pounding in fear. Was she alright? If only we had consummated the bond and I officially marked her, I would know how she's feeling and whatever is happening to her. But I wanted to take things slowly until she was comfortable enough to trust me.

"Um... Sierra... Sorry, your wife... It seems she has forgotten about the broth. I went to the kitchens and they said she hasn't sent any word to them since morning. Even her breakfast and lunch are untouched." The more he spoke, the more my heart sank. Had she been kidnapped? Who had the effrontery to do that on my estate? Did they want to die??

"Send out all the guards and find her immediately. If she isn't found before the night falls, I will behead every soldier there is in this kingdom."

Varek's eyes widened in fear. "No, your majesty. I didn't say she's missing." He gulped. "She has been training with the elite warriors since morning, and she hasn't had anything to eat."

*

The sight in front of me was what I least expected. I wanted to go to the training grounds and berate all of them for not sending me word about Sierra's presence, but when I saw Fenris atop of her, my vision went red.

"What do you think you're doing, Fenris?" I felt my blood roaring in my ears, the Lycan inside me was screaming to be let out to tear this impudent warrior into pieces.

Sierra was covered in sweat, mud and had bruises all over her body, and it only sent me into rage.

Fenris jumped off her immediately and put some space between us as he fell on his knees to begin pleading. "Your majesty, it's not what you think. I can explain. We are just training... We are just..."

"Kai..." Her warm voice filled my head, and I felt my Lycan begin to calm inside me as we turned to her, gently helping her up from the ground. "I was the one who came here myself and forced them to train me. If there's anyone you want to blame, let it be me."

How the hell would I blame her for anything? She was perfect in everything possible, and blameless in every sense of it. I was extremely worried, because she needed the rest. She just gave birth and hadn't even had time to heal properly after she was treated that way in Darius' pack, and now she was joining the worst of my warriors to train? Warriors that were soulless?

"Are you going to tell me what this is all about?" I picked her up gently in my arms, ignoring the shocked looks on their faces. "Did someone say something to you?"

I thought about it, and I knew that was the only explanation that would have made her push herself so hard to this limit. Had someone commented on her weight or something? Did anyone in the estate try to make her feel bad?

"It's nothing, Kai." She was quite surprised, but she didn't stop me. "I was just bored and I wanted to do something interesting."

From her heartbeat, I could tell she was lying. She didn't trust me yet to tell me what was really going on with her, but I wasn't going to push her to tell me, but I was going to investigate it all on my own. And if anyone had tried to mock her, I was going to make sure they got beheaded.

After I dropped her off in her quarters, I called Varek in immediately.

"Varek. I need you to investigate something for me."

"Of course, my Prince."

"I want to know if anyone in this palace has spoken ill of my wife. Anyone who has mocked her size, her status, her wolf, or anything else. I want names. I want details. And I want it done by morning."

Varek's expression didn't change. "Understood. And when I find them?"

"Bring them to me. And spread the word." I looked back at Sierra, who was being tended to by her head maid, still covered in dirt. "If anyone in this palace dares to make my mate feel less than she is, they will be beheaded without mercy."