Chapter Eleven

Hunter

Inside my chamber, I sat on my ornate chair, frustration etched across my brow. Lucia stood before me, her eyes ablaze with anger. The tension in the room was evident as we were about to embark on a heated exchange.

“Hunter,” Lucia began, her voice trembling with suppressed emotions, “I cannot bear your constant visits to that young servant, Amelia. It’s becoming unbearable.”

My jaw tightened as I responded, “Lucia, you know I need an heir. We’ve been married for years, and still, there’s no child.”

Lucia’s cheeks flushed with anger. “How dare you blame me for our lack of an heir? It’s not my fault.”

My eyes narrowed, my tone cold. “If you could provide me with an heir, I wouldn’t have to search for someone a breeder.”

Lucia seethed with anger, her words dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, of course, it’s all my fault. Blame me for not being able to give you what you want.”

My patience was wearing thin. “Lucia, it’s tradition for an Alpha to find a breeder. You know this.”

Lucia shot back, her voice rising, “I understand the tradition, but I don’t like Amelia one bit. You can choose anyone else among your servants, just not her.”

I was taken aback by Lucia’s hatred. “Why are you speaking this way, Lucia?”

Lucia’s gaze bore into me, her eyes stormy. “I just can’t explain it. My spirit revolts against her, Hunter.”

I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair. “Amelia is the only one I’ve felt any connection with in years of searching for a breeder. That’s why I paid a considerable sum for her.”

Lucia’s annoyance simmered. “I know she’s pretty, but that doesn’t mean she’s the right choice. She’s a servant, for heaven’s sake.”

My frustration surged. “Lucia, I’m tired of arguing about this. It’s Amelia or no one.”

Lucia, unable to contain her anger any longer, retorted, “Maybe she’s put a spell on you or something.”

My face twisted in disbelief. “A spell? Lucia, don’t be ridiculous.”

Our argument hung in the air, heavy and unresolved. My stubborn attraction to Amelia clashed with Lucia’s fierce opposition, leaving us both drained and resentful. In the suffocating silence that followed, I knew this was a battle neither of us was willing to surrender, and our chamber felt colder than ever before.

I sat on the edge of the room, my brows furrowed, and frustration eating away at my patience. Lucia stared back at me with determination in her eyes, her arms folded tightly across her chest. The room felt stifling, filled with tension that had been building for hours.

“I can’t continue this talk anymore,” I finally managed to say, my voice laced with annoyance.

Lucia’s eyes flashed with her own annoyance, and she leaned forward slightly. “You can’t just run away from this, Hunter. Every time I bring up the topic, you shut me out.”

I couldn’t contain my anger any longer, and I abruptly pushed myself up from the bed, my frustration boiling over. “Enough, Lucia! I don’t want to hear about it anymore.”

Lucia pressed her lips together, her anger matching my own. She watched in silence as I stormed out of the room, my footsteps echoing down the corridor.

My frustration propelled me to the training ground, a place where I typically spent my early mornings honing my skills. But today was different; I was there in the fading light of the evening. As I arrived, Jace, my Beta looked up in surprise, concern written across his face.

“Hunter, what’s got you out here at this hour?” Jace asked, his curiosity evident.

I sighed heavily and leaned against a nearby tree, my turmoil still evident in my voice. “It’s Lucia,” I admitted.

Jace nodded knowingly. “Amelia again?”

I nodded, feeling the weight of the argument still on my shoulders. “Exactly. She won’t let it go.”

Jace moved closer, his perceptive eyes studying me carefully. “You know, Hunter, I can sense the connection between you and Amelia. Maybe she’s your chosen one.”

I ran a hand through my hair, my frustration apparent. “You might be right, Jace. I can’t stop thinking about her, no matter how often I visit her room.”

Jace placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You need to clear your mind, my friend. How about a spar? It might help you forget your troubles, at least for a while.”

A spark of excitement lit up within me at the suggestion. “That’s exactly what I need. Although, be warned, you might regret asking because I’m going to whoop your ass, just like always.”

Jace chuckled, his eyes filled with mischief. “We’ll see about that.”

With an unspoken agreement, we faced each other on the training ground, our movements fluid and precise. In the heat of our fierce combat, the world around us faded away, and it was just Jace and me, battling it out. Each punch and dodge served as a temporary escape from our troubles.

As the sun went down below the horizon, Jace and I continued our sparring match. Every strike and parry reinforced our unbreakable bond as friends and warriors. In that moment, the frustrations and tensions of the day melted away, replaced by the shared passion for combat.

Jace and me locked in a determined struggle. The outside world ceased to exist, and for a while, we found solace in the physicality of the fight.

After a grueling training session on the unforgiving training ground, I found myself standing at a crossroads. The last thing I wanted was to return to my chamber, where the inevitable arguments with my wife, Lucia, awaited. The tension between us had been escalating for weeks, and I craved a respite from it all.

My thoughts drifted to Amelia. Her room seemed like a sanctuary of pleasure. Yet, frustration gnawed at me too. The nature of our relationship weighed on me heavily, like a shroud of guilt.

Turning away from the path that led to my chamber, I headed back towards the training ground, where Jace was now rounding up the young soldiers, their faces flushed with exertion, as they gathered weapons and prepared for dinner. Michael, ever observant, caught sight of me and raised an eyebrow.

“Back for another round, Hunter?” he quipped, a smirk playing on his lips. He was always ready for a friendly spar, but right now, I had a different idea in mind.

I chuckled at his jest. “Not today, my friend,” I replied. “I’ve had enough of your beatings for one day.” I was undoubtedly the better fighter, but I had let him win this time around just for the fun of it.

“Then what brings you back here?” Jace asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes.

I hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to reveal my intentions. Finally, I decided to trust him. “How about we go grab a drink together?” I suggested.

His expression shifted from amusement to surprise. He glanced over at the soldiers, who were now under the watchful eye of his deputy. With a nod, he agreed, “Alright, Hunter. A drink sounds good right about now.”

We left the training ground behind, the shouts of the soldiers fading into the distance. As we walked towards the nearby tavern, I couldn’t help but feel a weight lift from my shoulders. For a brief moment, the troubles with Lucia and the complexities of my affair with Amelia were forgotten, replaced by the familiarity of friendship and the promise of a relaxing evening ahead.

The tavern was with the comforting hum of conversation filling the air. We found an empty table in the corner and settled in, the worn wooden surface cool beneath my fingertips. The bartender, a portly man with a hearty laugh, greeted us warmly.

“What’ll it be Alpa, Jace?” he asked, acknowledging us both.

I ordered two mugs of drinks, and Michael nodded in agreement. As the drinks were placed before us, I raised my mug in a toast. “To old friends and moments of respite,” I said, a genuine smile gracing my lips.

Michael clinked his mug against mine. “To that,” he replied, his eyes reflecting the sentiment.

We drank and talked, reminiscing about the battles we’d fought side by side, the victories and defeats that had shaped us. The burdens of our personal lives seemed to fade away again in the warmth of the tavern.

As the evening wore on, our laughter grew louder, our stories more animated. The tension that had weighed on my shoulders earlier now felt like a distant memory. It was a simple pleasure, this time spent with a friend, but it was exactly what I needed.

Soon I and Jace were completely drunk from all the mugs of beer we had. Jace sat in his chair across from me as if he was going to pass out. I struggled to get up myself and dragged him to his feet for us to leave. We staggered towards the exit of the tavern, the bartender looking at us and shaking his head, not bothered about his payment, he knew we were too drunk to even remember how much we owed him. We dragged ourselves out of the place with our laughters