Chapter 3: The Alpha King's Brother

ISOLDE 

“Isolde! Are you in there?” The voice started coming towards us.

“I will find you! Just stay strong!” The voice was getting thicker and colder.

I started to shiver on the floor. The hounds stilled. They sniffed the dark and angry aura I felt and started to walk away.

Wait…that was the aura I felt before I found myself here.

Was it the person who threw me here?

If he was the one, why was he looking for me again?

Or was it Alpha King Rowan who had finally remembered our love again?

A tiny smile found its way to my lips, admitting my tears and pain as the hounds finally left me, my back on the cold and stony ground.

My heart rose and fell as I lay flat on the cold floor, broken, bleeding. He should find me like this. He should see what he has done to me.

“Isolde,” A voice bent over and cupped my face, lifting me up. A warm, gentle breath hit my face. My blurry eyes raised as I saw his golden eyes that shone through the dungeon. 

He was in his wolf turning state. Strong. Protective.

“I'm sorry this is happening to you,” he said, dragging me to his body, hugging me as if I were something precious. I blinked to see clearly between the blurry.

I reached out to him, my hand clutching his collar. I slammed my red lips on his quickly before he could speak again.

My tongue dominated his, in appreciation, his lips felt like ash and rain. 

I felt him shiver and freeze under me, this only gave me more power to dominate him. I kissed him like that was the last time I would do it.

It was as if that was everything I needed, the kiss was so smooth and tender, it almost washed away all my pain. 

I broke the kiss when I had had enough.

His lips were softer than usual, and I dragged him closer to me again, meeting his wide golden eyes that bore into my dark green eyes.

“I know you would come, my King” I whispered tiredly.

“I'm not…King Rowan, Isolde,” the man stammered in fear or shock.

What?!

But how…come?!

He felt like so much of him. His voice. His body. Even though I couldn't see him clearly in the dark.

They all had gold eyes at their turning state and could decide to be in that mode, so I couldn't see his real eyes either.

What have I done?

What was I thinking?

How would I think Alpha King Rowan, who threw me here, would come and get me out?

I was so stupid!

But who could this be?

I reached for his cheek and felt a long hair dangling at the back of my hand. My hand trembling, traced his long hair to his neck.

He had long hair?!

My hand dropped and I fell into darkness immediately.

 ***

The Next Day 

The light creeped through the windows slowly as I forced myself to open my eyes. I shifted on the floor, hoping to feel cold but instead I felt warm.

I stretched around the surroundings to know what was going on, and felt a bedsheet instead.

I sat up quickly, heart beating fast. Eyes scanning the room or cell…maybe not. Stoned walls yes but it but it was polished, decorated with a large sized bed.

This was…a chamber.

What was going on?

How did I get in here?

I should be happy, at least I was out of the darkness, but instead fear found it way to my heart as I remembered the wolf I kissed yesterday.

He was an Alpha wolf, he felt like I should have known him, but I couldn't remember him and I felt like I had betrayed Alpha King Rowan.

Knock. Knock.

I flinched.

Sliding off the bed, smoothing my long brown hair and walked towards the door. My hand hesitated a second to the door handle.

I opened the door and froze.

It's him.

The wolf that saved me.

If I had known, I wouldn't have opened it.

I was expecting the king which I kept beating myself mentally why I wouldn't stop thinking about him.

Why didn't I want to accept that he had given upon us?

This wolf wasn't in his beast mode, the resemblance with Rowan was strikingly obvious. Tall, broad shoulders, Sharp jaw.

His light blue eyes that resemble the sky looked at me with queit intensity. His long black hair that reached his neck was still damp, maybe from a bath. He wore a black leather uniform, a sword strapped to his right side…definitely a warrior.

I stepped aside quietly for him to enter, keeping the shiver in my gut. 

His strawberry scent washed over me quickly as he moved closer to me.

He looked like Alpha King Rowan but younger…softer. His eyes didn't leave me for once before he cleared his throat and spoke,”Good morning…Queen,” his voice was deep and steady.

I stepped back once again,”Who are…you?” my voice broke.

“I'm Prince Finnian Maddox. The Alpha King's younger brother,” my eyes widened in realization.

I once heard king had a younger brother but I had never seen him, not before or during our marriage.

“Where were you all…these while? Why haven't I see you?” I couldn't help but asked.

“I left home since I was seventeen to become a warrior. And now I'm back to protect King Rowan,” his deep voice cracked my mind slightly sending an electric touch to my heart.

He was protecting him. Not me.

I swallowed slightly while nodding and looked at the floor slowly, his real face played the incident that happened between us yesterday, I still remembered how I kissed him, how his lips tremble under my control.

‘Isolde, what are you thinking?! Focus!’ a voice warned and i got hold of myself quickly.

“I'm so…”

“You do…”

We said at the same time.

An awkward giggle found it way to my lips,”You can go first, my prince,” I bowed slightly.

“You don't have to call me that. You can call me Fin or Finnian” he corrected me.

Huh?

My heart raised a bit.

I forced myself to look into his light blue eyes, I tried to figure out one or two emotions but I found none before looking away.

“You don't have anything to be worried about. I will see to the end of this matter and fetch out the killer of the heir,” his voice was laced with a slight anger, his aura changing.

My eyes met his eyes and he calmed immediately,”Why are you helping me? Why did you believe…I didn't do it?”

“Because I know you didn't. My brother used to praise you a lot. You were his strength. A good woman, the best thing that has ever happened to him,” his eyes softened.”That kind of woman can never hurt a child .”

He walked towards the table placed beside a wall, unstrapped his long black sword and placed it on the table.

“But he didn't believe me,” I whispered but I was sure he could hear me.

He sat on the bed, gesturing me to sit, I hesitated but sat, keeping a space between us.

”He might have changed but trust me, he would come around.”

I let out a bitter chuckle,”After he killed me?” 

His jaw tightened,“It won't reach that. Not when I'm alive” he said looking away.

But why?

Why would you protect me?