Chapter 6: Unraveling Secrets

It was a cold and quiet evening just few minutes close to midnight. The maids and some of the guards who where off duty had retired for the day. The cold breeze blew in through the open window of the Alpha king's room but he did not feel the need to shut the windows.

He was restless lying on his back and at intervals turning to lay on his side. It had been like this since the time he dismissed his council claiming that he needed to rest and also did not need any form of disturbance.

He had skipped dinner which happened to be quite unusual and haven shut the door behind him,he had paced about in his room. He thought he had it going for him but it turned out that he didn't.

The food he ate no longer tasted nice neither did the variety of drinks and water that passed down his throat. Every thing appeared dull and lifeless in his eyes.

There was no other presence that excited him while he ate at the dinning table. The sweat scent of Yennifer was gone and it went with the atmosphere of peace and security that he had discovered could exist in his house.

The house looked bigger and quieter save for the hushing sounds made by the maids as they went about their daily duties.

The Alpha king had not realized the tremendous impact that Yennifier's presence had on him till this period when every thing that he caught in sight reminded him of her. He heard footsteps close to his door.

There was a pause and he heard the footsteps again. He wondered who it could have been at that time of the night and in curiousity,he flung the door to his room open to peek immediately at the hallway.

To his surprise,there was no one in sight and it made him much more curious. The Alpha king tried to walk towards the direction to which the footsteps had led to till he found himself at the balcony.

The mere sight of the balcony brought back memories that he was fighting so hard within himself to let go of. He remembered the evenings when he would stand beside Yennifer as they would gaze at the garden and sometimes at the stars and fire flies as they talked about literally a wide variety of discuss ranging from politics, tradition,to the delicate and romantic issues which included matters of the heart.

He had always thought that he was passing away time and causing his little puppet Yennifer or so he thought to be more drawn to him. He could still perceive her scent though he was not certain if it was because his mind was playing with him or it was actually true.

Slowly,he walked towards the balcony and standing in silence he stared at the stars. He felt so lonely doing this without her and then he had a prompting to call out her name.

"Yennifer" he could not explain what brought about this prompting but as illogical as it was,he expected a response. He would make do with any response he got. An object falling or a bird humming would be enough consolidation that his call got to her and she was fine.

His imagination made him laugh at himself. It had changed him or better still, the arrival of Yennifer into his life had changed him. He was so lost in his thoughts when he felt a firm but gentle hand touch his shoulders from behind.

Still lost in his fantasy of the woman he missed so much, he called out her name again

"Yennifer is that you?" There was no response but the sound of a throat been cleared.

It made him snap out if his hallucination and the stern awe returned.

Henry’s POV

I turned around to face the person behind me, expecting to see Yennifer standing there. However, to my surprise, it was one of my most trusted advisors, Lord Harrington.

"No, Your Majesty, it's not Lady Yennifer," Lord Harrington replied with a respectful bow. "I apologize for startling you, but I felt it necessary to speak with you about an urgent matter."

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the disappointment and regain my composure. "What is it, Lord Harrington? Speak quickly."

Lord Harrington's expression turned grave as he began to relay the troubling news. "Your Majesty, there are rumors circulating within the kingdom. Whispers of a plot to overthrow you and take control of the throne. It seems that some powerful forces are aligning against you, and I believe we must take immediate action to protect both your life and the stability of our kingdom."

My heart pounded in my chest at the revelation. "How can this be? Who would dare challenge my rule?"

Lord Harrington hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Your Majesty, we have reason to believe that Yennifer's stepfather, whom you trusted, may have been involved in these plans. It appears that he had been working secretly with one of the rival alphas to orchestrate your downfall."

Shock coursed through me at this revelation. Yennifer's stepfather, the man who had sold her to me, was in cahoots with my enemies. It was a betrayal I never saw coming. Anger simmered within me, but I knew I had to remain composed.

"We must act swiftly," I declared, my voice filled with determination. "Summon my most loyal soldiers and advisors. We need to secure the palace, uncover the extent of this conspiracy, and bring those responsible to justice."

Lord Harrington nodded, his eyes reflecting the same resolve that burned within me. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will gather the troops immediately and investigate further. We shall not let these traitors succeed."

As Lord Harrington left to carry out my orders, I leaned against the balcony railing, staring out into the night sky. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, torn between the longing for Yennifer's return and the burning desire to protect my kingdom.

But amidst the chaos, a new thought emerged. Yennifer's disappearance had sparked a change within me. I realized the depth of my feelings for her, and the mistakes I had made in taking her for granted. It was time for me to rectify those errors and prove that I could be the leader she deserved.

With renewed determination, I made a silent vow to find Yennifer, reconcile with her, and build a future together. But first, I had to face the challenges that lay ahead—the traitors within my kingdom and the brother I had just discovered, who posed a potential threat to my reign.

~~~

Days turned into nights as I immersed myself in the task of securing the palace and uncovering the web of treachery that had been woven around me. The loyal soldiers and advisors stood by my side, ready to defend our kingdom at all costs. Together, we worked tirelessly, interrogating suspects, following leads, and piecing together the puzzle that would reveal the extent of the conspiracy.

As the investigations progressed, the true nature of Yennifer's stepfather was unveiled. It was a shocking revelation, confirming his deep involvement in the plot against me. Betrayal gnawed at my heart, fueling my determination to bring him to justice. The pain of knowing that the man I had trusted, the one who had sold Yennifer into my possession, had played a key role in jeopardizing our kingdom was unbearable.

In the midst of the chaos, a message arrived, delivered by a messenger from a distant village. The message bore a seal that I recognized all too well—the symbol of the Moon Goddess, the deity we revered and sought guidance from. With curiosity and hope, I broke the seal and read the words inscribed on the parchment.

"Alpha King, there is a hidden curse that shackles your destiny. Only through true love can you break free and secure the future of our kingdom."

The words struck me like a bolt of lightning. A curse? Could it be possible? My mind raced as I recalled the moments I had spent with Yennifer, the connection that had grown between us despite my ignorance of its true nature. Was she the key to unlocking this curse?

Determined to uncover the truth, I delved deeper into the ancient texts and sought counsel from the high priestess of the Moon Goddess. She revealed to me the details of the curse, explaining that only through true love and the acknowledgment of our bond could it be broken.

My heart clenched with a mixture of hope and apprehension. Could I convince Yennifer of the sincerity of my feelings, even after all the pain and suffering I had caused her?

While my search for Yennifer continued, so did the hunt for the traitors within my inner circle. Each day brought new revelations, uncovering the extent of the conspiracy and the danger that lurked around every corner.

Yet, amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope burned within me, fueled by the belief that Yennifer and I held the key to not only our own happiness but also the fate of our kingdom.